Multitude on Mondays

There are so many simple things to be thankful for . . . and it is especially easy after returning from a vacation.  Two vacations . . .

• walking barefoot on clean wood floors after two weeks of constantly having shoes on
• a well-watered garden (thanks Christina!)

• grocery stores that are open at 10:00 PM  . . . otherwise we would have had nothing but kimchi for breakfast the morning proceeding our evening arrival home from Family Camp (see what we learned).  We were “supposed” to pull into our driveway at 5:38 PM according to the GPS . . . try something closer to 9:00.  At least when you travel with potty training kids . . . your legs never get stiff!
• ginger . . . the lid for stomachs that frequently want to dump themselves when traveling in the car . . . not that I had to pull over beside a field in Canada or anything. 

• Great-Grandpa holding his 13th great-granddaughter

• free oils that make water taste yummy

• walking laps in the pool with Naomi while the boys swam with the Engineer
• sweet weeks of fellowship with both sets of grandparents
• the jiggle of the doorknob . . . the same doorknob I used 30 years ago

• a patient great-uncle who taught my son how to fish

• living out of my comfort zone to impress my sons

• a perfect start to rock jumping with my dad . . . and the boys (kind of)

• passing memories on to my children

• a quick processing of passports
• leaving surprises for others to find and contribute to

• a perfect Saturday . . . staying home
• the Engineer
• receiving texts from the Engineer while hibernating in Canada – the wonders of technology when I was so far removed from electricity

• finding Gabe . . . twice
• how my mom brings hospitability to the woods with morning lattes
• kayaking through a field of lily pads

• kayaking alongside the Engineer while he swam a 1/2 mile
• that at least I have my dad’s and uncle’s pictures of our Canada trip
• the generosity of Ezra’s teacher to loan me a memory card while at Fort Wilderness
• Nana who was willing to tote Gabe’s potty wherever he wanted to sit
• a late night canoe ride with my dad
• sunsets

• moon rises

 

• strong arms and close proximity for when a motor drinks all of its sustenance

• daily coffees delivered to me at Fort Wilderness Family Camp compliments of my MIL
• having the majority of my Young Living oils with me to reduce fevers, soothe stomachs, stop ralphing, annoy bugs, calm itchy bug bites, dress burns, eradicate headaches

 

• amazing weather

• fresh Canadian blueberries at my doorstep

1000 Gifts

So, I go to write this post – just so that you know there is more to me and my blog than reviews . . .

And I find myself disappointed.

I haven’t written anything down in my journal that I am thankful for since I last updated my 1000 gifts. 

Maybe that’s my problem. 

Not really.  I know what my problem is and it is getting fixed.  It feels so good.  Thank you , Jesus.

Looking through my pictures . . . I came up with an impromptu list of which I am quite proud.

~~~~~~~~~

153.  A new resolve to spend time in the Word.  Really In. The. Word.  not just a topical study.  A book of the Bible.  With Kay.  MacKenzie.  Sarah.  Inductive.  Like a gentle spring rain to a freshly planted garden, is this Bible study to my soul. 

154.  A thirst to date Jesus again.  Finally.  To be won over by Him.  To desire to live for Him.  Dying to myself.  Such a good feeling.  Such assurance.

155.  Finding my favorite colored pencils after having been lost for as long as I took my vacation from my Bible. 

156.  A birthday date with the Engineer.

157.  Asher placing birthday cards all over my bedroom for me to discover after our perfect date.  He has learned well.  Of course, he has a good teacher. 

158.  Two Mother’s Day quiches turning out perfectly.  And yes, I do plan on sharing the recipe one of these days.

159.  A little boy who learned how to swing . . . for my birthday gift.

160.  That same little boy who demonstrate bravery and had his tooth pulled without tears or timidity.

 

161.    Her smiles.

 

162.  His curls.   And concentration.  (PS. Gabe’s turning 3 tomorrow!)

163.  Awana (is over . . . we just need a break from activity.  Nothing against Awana.)  Having all the grandparents there for the Awards Ceremony this year was priceless. 

  

164.  Dinner with Nicole while our Engineer’s went to play in the woods.

165.  Answers to prayer and a little boy name Lukas being restored to health.

166.  Using behavioral issues as learning lessons and opportunities to disciple.  Thank you Sally Clarkson, The Ministry of Motherhood.

167.  Grace bestowed upon me through Jolanthe.

168.  Talks of skirts with Melanie.

169.  Restorative comments from Michelle.

170.  A sweet gift from my mom that she left for me prior to her vacation.

One Thousand Gifts continued . . .

108.  Adult dog teeth, because puppy teeth are sharp.

110.  Cartridge World (thanks Michelle!)

111.  The Engineer who stayed up late to help me lay out my garden, complete with graphing paper.

112.  Listening to the Engineer instruct his “arrows” around the dinner table about the Resurrection.   And how the Engineer did a so-like-Brian thing . . . he used his phone and the phone read the Bible passages.  Of which, his arrows thought was great!  Which made for some very disappointed little boys when Mommy took over Bible this morning.

116.  scratch and sniff stickers

117.  a free Earth Day tree

120.  The surprise color of my emerging tulips.

121.  Baby poop that still smells like a breastfed baby . . . despite starting solids.  Oh how my dread turned to delight!

125.  Dying to self in order to give another a gift.

126.  The patience of one of my last sling customers . . . especially with the tardiness of my completing her order. 

128.  Hearing friends sing worship songs while I fed Naomi her supper. 

129.  Beautiful, delicate buds at a boy birthday party.

130.  lemon in my water

131.  Young Living Pan Away Essential Oil

132.  Jesus

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?

 

1000 Gifts

It’s not that I’m an ungrateful, unthankful, or unappreciative person.

My eucharisto journal unfortunately got stuffed behind the computer when we had some guests over . . . and it stayed there all week.

Out of site, out of mind.  (Kind of.)

I am thankful for . . .

24.  A quick 2 hour drive to Cincinnati with a special friend (Nicole) that made my tired body refreshed with fellowship.

25.  Two days wearing my sweet baby girl.

43.  And with that sweet baby girl, making bloggy friends into IRL friends . . . such as Dianna from Grapevine Studies . . .

and Joy and her sister from Timberdoodle . . .

and Marie Rippel from All About Spelling . . .

25.  The Engineer who easily slipped into the role of teacher, while I was gone at the Homeschooling Conference.

26.  Inspiring talks that have already reshaped our dinner table.  I hope to share soon.

29.  White linens.

30.  A picked-up home after being absent.  I tell you, the Engineer is not only handy . . . but an awesome husband.

32.  Passing puppy kindergarten . . . despite us not training as much as we should have.

 

33.  Raspberry flavored Emergen-C.

39.  Turkish Delight.

40.  Even better is the friend who comes bearing Turkish Delight.

 

41.  Having some spare time waiting for above friend (Auntie) to people watch at the airport.  I even started crying after observing one sweet reunion. 

43.  Fitting into pre-baby pants.

44.  Poke-A-Dots.

What have you been especially thankful for recently?

Seeing The Gifts In Front of My Face

This journal.

It has glass glued on the front cover, much to the dismay of my inquisitive son who attempts to explain everything. 

I’ve had it since the Hottie came back from India. 

(By the way, I think I’m going to change his name, from Hottie to something you all could actually call him while sitting around the family dinner table – not that you talk about us during your meals. 

At least, I hope not.

Because I highly doubt your husband or boyfriend would be happy if you said, “Hottie is biking across the country on his blog.  You should join him.”  That wouldn’t go over well – you calling another man, “Hottie.”

Not appropriate. 

At least I won’t have to let the Social Security Administration know that. . . I’m changing Hottie’s name.

I’m thinking – the Cyclist or something bike related.  His guy friends could probably come up with a better name . . . but none of them read my blog.)

Anyhoodle . . . the journal.

I’ve saved it.  Saved it for something special.  Meaningful.  Something that will impact my children, impart wisdom to them should I go to slumber in my Father’s arms before the trumpet blast .  . .

But is has come time to use it.  I’ve found just the thing to fill it’s pages with. 

I’ll let you in on a family secret.  I can be a grouch.  A baboon is what we call it in our house.

In fact, recently it was flippantly remarked that I can be well . . . negative.

So, instead of wishing to be something different.  I’ll do something different.  I’ll practice gratitude, along with Ann Voskcamp who wrote, 1000 Gifts:  A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You  Are, the book the Cyclist and I are reading for our nightly devotions together.

Because we aren’t going anywhere. 

God has called us to the land of “horizontal beauty,” as my pastor would say.    And it’s time to be content with that. 

If being thankful changed one woman’s life . . . why not mine?  Motherhood doesn’t have to be dreary.  Whole foods cooking doesn't have to be overwhelming.   Laborious.  I don’t have to be surrounded by laughter but never able to penetrate the barrier to join in. 

 

This morning these words were printed into my handcrafted journal . . . may they provide a legacy of gratitude, to be passed down from one generation to the next. 

1. getting to sleep through the night, solid, uninterrupted . . .
2. hearing Naomi swallow as she nurses and tightly grips my hand as if to squeeze more milk out
3. a flowing, turquoise pen that reminds me of the ones at my grandma’s house, except hers were ALWAYS red or black
4. Dutch-pressed unsweetened cocoa instead of generic cocoa in my espresso
5. the crinkle of a down comforter
6. Veggietales Worship music blaring down the hall as I remain swaddled by the pages of my Bible in mysterious lamplight
7. a sassy haircut
8. the Cyclist taking out the trash, despite the need to hop on his chosen mode of transportation this morning:  the bicycle
9. glorious sunshine that is like a natural opiate to my brain
10. effective nursing pads (‘nough said)
11. airplanes flirting through the sky on their way to a surprise location . . . reminds me of summer days
12. a used house . . . used – not clean – used
13. the return of my camera, Willow
14. a friend who loaned me her amazing camera and with whom I get to hang out with tonight . . . and tomorrow night
15. surprise gifts from Sarah and Maureen 
16. my mom’s endless supply of international teas that come with a story
17. daffodils