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

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

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Praise be to the Lord,

the God of Israel,

the God of our Land, the God of my home, the God of my family,

because He has come to His people and redeemed them.

He has redeemed me.

Us.

He has raised up a horn of salvation for us (as He said),

Jesus.

~

Daily I seek You through Your letter to me.

Your letter to everyone.

Words that contain hope . . .

Encouragement . . .

Comfort.

On this Christmas season may the Story . . .

The only Story Of Innocence . . .

bless you, sustain you,

and bring you life.

 

Merry Christmas,

The Granola Family

(Brian, Jodi, Asher, Ezra,

Gabe, and Naomi)

Thanks be to God, the Hottie has some time off . . . and I will also be taking a break from my “habit” of blogging.  We will be spending some much needed time as a family – resting and recuperating from our busy fall filled with moving, a new baby, a wrap-up of many engineering projects for the Hottie, and healing from the empty spot in our kitchen with the loss of our dog.

See you after the New Year. 

(I will probably post a link next Friday for the Elementary Round Up, though.)

Stay tuned for upcoming giveaways in honor of my new blog design from The Frilly Coconut:  Pick and Draw, Tropical Traditions, and hopefully a few other surprises.

Be sure to check out Melanie’s giveaway (only if you want to work on having some gratitude, though!)!

30 Days of Thanks: Day 5

Connie, over at From the Heart of My "Haus" is celebrating 30 days of Thanks during the month of November. Be sure to visit her blog and link up with us as we celebrate God's goodness.

I am thankful for . . .

1. the two little boys who feel asleep on the couch this afternoon. I am thankful that I listened to my mothering instinct and just let them curl up on the couch. They look precious. It is always a gift to catch your children sleeping so sweetly, snuggled in safely under a parent's watch.
2. our outing into the woods for our Nature Explorers lesson.
3. talking with my friend, Tina, who was very patient as I continually interrupted her to spot a nest, roll a log back, or unhook the boys from thorns.
4. It is an honor to be famous for a brief moment in time with an article published about what God has done in and through our family.
5. Lord willing, I will be having some fun fondue tonight--though the sleeping boys are slightly cramping my housekeeping responsibilities right now.
6. Praise God for giving people talent to create classical music. Beautiful music is wafting throughout our house along with the smell of a baked pumpkin.
7. I finally washed my favorite brown hooded sweatshirt.
8. Nemo is still alive.
9. I actually woke up early (5:30 AM) and spent some time in the Word BEFORE the boys woke up. Precious. It fueled me for the day. I love the Psalms.
10. My dishwasher may not work, but I have running water to wash my dishes by hand. (Is it wrong to pray that H.H. Gregg or some famous dishwasher company would give me a new dishwasher to review? Am I getting greedy?)
    

Please leave a thankful comment at these lovely ladies who are also blogging about thankfulness . . .

• Mozi Esme
• Out of the Miry Clay
• Munchkin Farm

Are any of my flesh-in-blood, I can give you a hug, blogging friends thankful? I haven't heard from you . . . hint hint.

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