Thanks 3

I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.  Gilbert Keith Chesterton

Rain today.  But rain that did not depress . . . or aggravate my easily disturbed homeostasis.  It did not tightly bottle the energy of my children to the point of a water kefir explosion with permanent discoloration upon their souls. 

They . . . they delighted in learning.  Swift hugs.  Air kisses.  Letter C’s.  Cuneiform.  The land of Sumer, home to paper and the Fertile Crescent.  A stick figure Elijah who had faith to call upon heaven and light afire on wet wood.

Random quotes from my husband such as, “It’s big, heavy, colors don’t match.{dramatic pause}  I wouldn’t have it.” and “I’m so tired; I think I’ll fall asleep riding my bike to work tomorrow.” 

And me, imagining my Engineer in plaid pajamas (even though I have never known him to wear such a bold covering), long cap with a fuzzy white pom pom, and Snoopy pillow . . . being towed by Jeff.  The very Jeff who wants me to write about how our food is delivered to our doorstep.  (Please tell them I sent you.)

A white sink that appeared after a long absence; discovered by my mom who is braver than I.

Romano encrusted chicken salad delivered.  Even though I haven’t lived with my mom in years, she still feeds me with her hands.

Candles that flicker to the graceful keystrokes of David Neveu.

A simple coffee shared with the Engineer . . . over a provocative discussion involving carpet tiles.

The second post . . . the third day . . . in November.  Thankful.

Visit my friend Conny to make your own list.  Don’t have a blog?  Leave a comment here . . . or there.

Thanks . . .

This marks the third year.  The third year that I have known Conny and that she has offered thanks.  In November.  For the month of November.

She really is thankful during the other 11 months.  It’s just that she is making a POINT of tell the WORLD in November that she has some things that she just wants to say thanks about. 

“You shouldn’t have God.  But You did.  Thanks from little ‘ol me.”

I’ll join her. 

November 1 and 2 . . .

Number 1:  Ya know that I attended the Relevant Conference.  I learned lots and really need to share.  It is thru writing that I process.  More on that later.  BUT because of this conference I had that chance to truly see that the Engineer . . . rocks.

I normally try and stay silent about his major rock-ness.  But I can’t.  The guy basically lactated.  Not really.  But he totally took care of Naomi.  She was even wearing pink when I returned.  (At least, I think she was.  She matched.)

Number 2: The house was picked-up.

Number 3:  And the Engineer . . . was preparing lunch.  Number 4: I was greeted by his backside.  Which I didn’t mind.

Number 5: Bonus . . . . flowers.

Number 6:  The hugs have continued from my sons even though I have been home since Sunday morning.  Love this.  I’m thinking about leaving again, just so that I can feel like a celebrity upon my arrival home again.

Number 7:  Obedience equals milk and a happily reunited mommy and nursing babe.

Number 8:  Leaves on the trees.  Still. 

I love that I encountered snow, but returned home to sunshine.

Number 9:  The dirt pile is gone!  I have a driveway again.

Number 10:  A good school day.  A nice mother-in-law who brings lunch, coffee, folds laundry, and helps with Awana verses.

Multitudes on Mondays: Bellies

I think pregnant women are beautiful. 

Especially their bellies. 

I got to rub this one . . . and take pictures. 

Amateur photos, that is.

Honored.  Thankful.  Amazed. 

Being with a laboring woman . . . to feel the power of life.  The miracle of life. 

God is a creative One.  Of that I am sure.

¹³ For you created my inmost being;
   you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
   your works are wonderful,
   I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
   when I was made in the secret place,
   when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
   all the days ordained for me were written in your book
   before one of them came to be.
¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts,God!
   How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸ Were I to count them,
   they would outnumber the grains of sand—
   when I awake, I am still with you.

Psalm 139:  13-18

So . . . not a list of multitudes.  Just one.

Life.  Powerful. 

OK . . . I can’t resist.  Here are a few more.  My journal is beside me.

250.  Mountain biking with my sons and experiencing “danger” with them prayerfully.

251.  Bagels roasted over an open fire.

252.  A computer box in the hands of a UPS man, just before we left for vacation.

253.  Grimy bathrooms that house gentle showers and refreshment at a campground.

257.  A meal filled with ingredients from our garden.

258.  A night of delivering essential oils like St. Nicholas.

262.  My mother-in-law and her Kerug . . . while camping.  Thank you electric campsites.

263.  Electric dog training collars.

264.  A 7 year old boy who wanted to make sure his brothers received presents on HIS birthday.

265.  Fellowship and feasts . . . miles from home.

The Thanks Continues . . .

• stumps in the middle of a beach

• and grateful that the Engineer took an even better picture.

• climbing a very tall sand dune . . . and not being a wimp . . . making my boys think that I am strong and cool.

See?

 

 

• a funny Engineer . . . can we have every day be a vacation?

• Mama’s (grandma) who wears their granddaughters

 

• the perfect view for a quiet time

 

So much more . . . but the beauty of motherhood calls . . . and for that I can be thankful . . . since I wasn’t supposed to have any children.

Multitudes on Monday’s . . . 

1000 Gifts

Continuing my list of things that I am thankful for . . .

44.  Pink poke-a-dot gauze curtains billowing from a spring breeze as I nurse my baby.

45.  open windows

46.  noses that stop running like a leaky faucet

47.  meeting an email Young Living  friend after several years of correspondence

48.  that same friend giving me an amazing neck massage that I had prayed for earlier that morning, unbeknownst to her

49.  smelling new essential oils, like rose . . .

50.  breakfast in bed on a morning I don’t feel so well . . . by my son and complete with a napkin

51.  Naomi in sunglasses

52.  Spring weather that unveils baby feet.

53.  Costco samples

54.  Soooooooooo thankful that the Engineer doesn’t like danger and adventure nearly as much as the man in the movie, 127 Hours, that we watched on date night.

55.  a little boy who wore a clip-on tie with a Thomas the Train shirt and camouflage shorts, complete with orange crocks, a jean hat, and sunglasses while he played in the sand table.  I wish I  had a picture.

56.  a blooming rhododendron that hopefully I won’t kill (I killed two at our old house.)

57.  packages ready to be mailed

58.  a slight sunburn that implies that I actually rested on Sabbath

60.  no gate in our kitchen, which means Ruthie can be trusted a smidgen more

61.  externally, mind you, a cleaned and organized kitchen

61.  smelling the essential oil, rose.

Have you been thankful for any of these things?

 

30 Days of Thanks: Happy Thanksgiving!

May you have a blessed Thanksgiving celebrating all the great things God has done for you and yours!


I am thankful for you readers who consider my words and the blogging that God has called me to.


These cute pictures are of Mr. Smackdown when he was two and wanted to help prepare the Thanksgiving meal.