Continuing to count the countless gifts (forgot to number somewhere along the line, good thing they are countless)    :)

~ a husband who is willing to listen to me wrestle with my demons even when he is in pain
~ St. Valentine's Day, the day of love
~ children growing step by microscopic step into civilized people
~ Jeffrey's little mispronunciations (time to put on my glubs and go outside!) ...so sweet
~ pretty sunrises, creative gifts from our Creator
~ the not-so-little bunny sitting outside in the early dawn-- always a reminder to me, for some reason, that God is listening and thinking of me.
~ Wii Fit competitions
~ hot chocolate
~ tears that help purge nasty stress from my body
~ the site I newly discovered - examen.me - and how it helps me break down God's word into manageable pieces and reflect on them daily.  He's *speaking* to me...how sad of me to forget that His Word is His Word and that's a major way He connects with us.
~ a warm week ahead, it may get into the 50s! ;-)
~ the strength from God to make hard decisions, even though I mourn the loss of the other options (hard), there is peace in wanting to do the *right thing*
~ for the gift of Grace (our daughter), whose birthday is this week (and of course the other grace too!)

~everything, just everything...

ETA:  how every time I see my 5yo, she is wearing a different outfit and dress-up combination. I love that! It's so her.

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Multitude Monday

Today I'm thankful for -

~intercession of the saints, on Earth and in Heaven

~St. Nicholas' Day...especially the fact that my kids didn't mind it was totally lame.  Honestly, they didn't even remember at all and were excited to see shoes and a few coins and candy lined up in the morning.

~St. Andrew's Novena. I know I keep saying it, but it is one of the most beautiful prayers I have ever prayed. This one is a close second

~Finding some things that really seem to be working for my oldest academically.  Days only *plod* along now, instead of coming to a screeching halt when math/reading/spelling/anything come out.  Specifically, Apples and Pears Spelling and the "Key to..." math workbooks followed by Life of Fred.  Historical fiction for most of history. Lots of talk.

~That the children all decided to go in on one big group/family gift for all of us (Wii Fit). Fun for us and SO much easier than hunting down 25 dollar store type junk gifts for each kid to give each other kid.

~I have the best dh in the world. He knows I'm struggling and is trying so hard, with all his other concerns, to make me know I'm loved.  And it's hard - I can be hard to love and it's especially hard for me to believe another really loves me...so he must be *really* trying for me to feel it. ;-)

~Jotham's Journey. Even though I know how it ends now, I still enjoy every minute of it (well, maybe not the minutes where my preschooler is screaming and wrestling with another child because he wants the pencil she is drawing with...)

~Advent. I love the quiet anticipation.  My whole life is a searching, even in my dreams, and at least in Christ I know that come Christmastime I've found what I'm looking for.

~Amazon Prime. While I would never actually pay for it (I got it free for several months by signing up with Amazon Mom), I am so thankful for the free 2-day shipping this year.

~hair dryers.  If the world goes to heck in a handbasket and we don't have power anymore, I think this is one of the things I will miss the most.  I can wash clothes by hand, dry them on a line, cook on a fire, but I look STOOPID when my hair air dries. ;-)

Happy Multitude Monday/St. Nicholas Day, everyone!

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Multitude Monday

Thanks to some mighty prayer warriors, I'm able to keep walking step by step on what dawned another of a thousand dark mornings where I just wanted to give up. You dear ones are carrying the burden with me and I am so thankful.

Joining with Ann on a Multitude Monday, and continuing my month of thanks:

--most thankful for prayer warriors, unafraid to take on some of my burden when theirs is also heavy

--for little boys in red footie pajamas

--Trader Joe's runs, and having the money to shop there, especially for the allergen free things

--parking spaces in a tiny lot

--an excellent final show from my dd's improv group, and that a certain girl was brave enough to volunteer...such a big thing for her

--my dh's laugh, and hearing it several times today, truly it makes all manner of things well

--the quiet of a house when all are in bed but me and the "baby" (three year old baby!)

--deep talks

--autumn, God painting me yet another beautiful one (they're all beautiful)

--cookie monster

--baby wipes and their 1001 uses

--bedtime. Goodnight.

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Thanks-ful

I accidentally wrote "thanksful" in the title, but decided I liked it!

Skipped a day yesterday,  ungrateful soul that I am, LOL.  Seriously though - I was thankful, just busy!

...thankful that I had time and strength to do a major "straighten-up" yesterday. Best part? My parents invited themselves over for today after I cleaned (they didn't know) and now *I'm done* and don't need to straighten for them!

...that dh had a slightly better day at work yesterday.  It's been baaaaaad.

...that he appreciates all I've been doing lately to help him.

...I'm seeing a little gray in a place where I was unhealthily only seeing black and white

...I've got this running list of complaints/issues I'm dealing with. It's getting long, lol!  But I'm thankful that it seems to be helping.  I can go to the list, vent my soul, and mostly *drop it there* and get on with my life.

...that my 2nd born will be 11 tomorrow. E-le-ven! When did this happen??  (Don't even get me started on my oldest turning 13 in two weeks).

...how cute Jeffrey is when he's running or dancing.  Three year old boys are so funny!

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My thankfulness list...

...has got me thinking, is there a difference between gratitude, gratefulness, and thankfulness?  I guess I could look them up. ;-) (eta, then I would realize I spelled one of them wrong, LOL!)

Today, I'm thankful for:

...my dh, again (as always), slaying dragons for us.

... that I could be there for him when he was down

...buying shoes in MY SIZE for my oldest dd. It's fun to watch her grow up!  And now I can borrow. :-P

...mascara, so I don't always look half asleep (even when I am). Trying "Lash Blast" this time.

...reading Puff Puff Chugga Chugga to Jeffrey

...time to get our errands done and good weather to do them in (and only one nasty family-size comment)

...candlelight.

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Thankful for...

....a looooong project of dh's being almost done.  Of course, there will always be a *next* project, but it won't be this one! :)  I am SO thankful that he is a hard, honest worker who goes to bat for our family.

...candy.  OK, personally I'm still happy for ME that there is candy in the house. But it is making my children nutty and I'm about to put it away until St. Nick's day.

...penicillin. Did I mention this last time?  My rapid-strep test came back negative at the docs (they are only 85% accurate anyway), but I went from not being able to swallow without horrid pain, slight fever, achy for several days --to 75% better after two doses of penicillin ... makes me think that even if it *wasn't* strep, it was certainly bacterial.

...my mom who was able to get Leah to soccer so that I could drop Grace at skating, get Maggie to her tournament game (lost in overtime!), run back to get Grace at skating, watch rest of tournament, meet mom/Juliet/Leah at the game,  take Juliet/Maggie to skating, run home for lunch for the littles, run back to drop Grace at soccer then pick up Juliet/Maggie at skating (they ended at the same time Graces game began), then all to watch Grace at soccer. Which I didn't really do because Jeffrey fell asleep and then woke up cranky, only wanting me to sit in the car. :-P

...the nice nurse who when I made a face after she weighed me said, "Aww, that's not so bad!"

...google chat.  Dh isn't the kind of person to call or email me during his work day, but sometimes I'll check email and he'll see that I'm online, and send a quick, "Hey, how are you!" message. MAKES. MY. DAY.

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Oooo, this is getting harder...Thankful on a Thursday

I *could* look through my days and find the little things to be thankful for (raspberry iced tea...netflix), but I feel God urging me strongly to be thankful for the difficulties right now...so here goes:

1. I'm thankful that I'm sick. It gives me time to think, things to offer up, compassion with others who are struggling, brings me closer to God.

2. ...that dh has to work a gazillion hours (from work and home) this week/weekend.  Because it makes me stronger, reminds me to pray for him, brings us money, the loneliness brings me closer to God.

3. ...that dh is in pain today. (Yikes, just saying this is making me cry...how can I be thankful?? ...)  because it makes him stronger, brings him closer to God, gives me something to pray about, allows me to spend myself serving him (and Him), brings me closer to God.

4.  ...for the rain (this one is easy!) because it cancels soccer practice tonight! :)

5.  ...that Jeffrey is going through a really rough stage, because it forces me to pay more attention to him, to hug him more, to love him more (not that I didn't before! but it increases the depth of our relationship), to -- if I do this right -- show him God through myself.

6  ...for the difficulty I will have with my weekend  (ROFL, I typed it "weakend!" ain't that the truth!) being 6 places at once all the while worrying about dh...because it forces me to be humble, to ask for help of someone I hate asking for help, because only in my weakness and impossibility can God show His grandeur, and ....say it with me ... it brings me closer to God.

Because isn't that what it's all about?

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It couldn't have come at a worse time...

...dear Elizabeth's post (Nitty Gritty Rhythm).  In it she details how in opening her schedule to God, humbly, it all worked out.  I read, transfixed...and feeling horribly sorry for myself.  Soccer and skating season collided with a semi-disabled husband (as in, if he sits and does nothing, he's relatively OK, if he does much of anything, he pays dearly) and an anxiety ridden wife, new schooling ways and the loss of friends and family who can help ... and I am left spinning and shaking in my boots.  This weekend is particularly impossible, and to top it off I'm sicker than I've been in awhile, and I have to stay away from my dh and try to keep the kids healthy so he doesn't get sick. Among other things.

So I read Elizabeth's post, and it hit me hard.  "Great, another person prays and their needs are met, better than they expected.  Hello God, are you really there? For me? I understand you are there for others, but me? I pray and talk to you constantly ... where's my hour at Starbucks? Where are my friends? My help?  You? Where are You?"  Sigh. Woe. More Woe. (And the voice of Archie Asparagus going through my head - "Where's MY waterbuffalo! We're going to get letters!")

And then, gently the Holy Spirit must have reminded me that I was not taking Elizabeth's Best Advice Ever: Keep Your Eyes On Your Own Work.  God gently nudged, "You are not her.  Your needs are not her needs.  Is your husband gone often?  Your son? When a virus goes through your house are 10-11 people vomiting? No?  She needs what I gave her...and you don't.

If you *did* I would have given it to you. Trust me."

Dear Elizabeth, your post couldn't have come at a better time.  I needed God's gentle rebuke today.

Thank you. Seriously.

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More thanks...

1. For this post and this post.

2. ...the alarm on my watch that rings at 8, 12, and 5 reminding me to pray (and start school, and get the 3yo down for a nap, and make sure dinner is cooking, lol)

3. ...that the conking heads of late has only resulted in a big lump, a sort of black eye, some scrapes, instead of anything more serious.

4.  ...I'm sick but not SICK.

5.  ...sunshine. How I love blue skies and sun, especially when it's cold out.

6. ...kids did more work today then they have been, w/o too much pressure on my part

7. ...warm footie pajamas on little boys

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A month of Thanks...

For yesterday (because I'm always a day late and about $60K short, lol):

1. For beautiful (if chilly) weather and a chance to spend a little time with distant friends

2. ...the chance to serve my husband in love

3. ...a supermarket full of food and even dairy free chocolate chips

4. ...that we weren't late for a class even though I missed an exit and had to drive far out of my way

5. ...I've gotta say it: for Reece's Peanut Butter cups, that I only allow myself once a year (family allergies)


For today:
1.  For Sarah who always, always has a kind word for me, even though I visit her space daily, mute - not knowing how to add to the beauty of her space.

2. ... my soft brown shirt that always makes Jeffrey rub my arm and say, "I love you shirt Mommy"

3. ... our school/chore charts that allow me to be less of the "bad guy" and more of the "director of studies"

4.  ...for my patient Savior (shouldn't this have been first???).  Late have I loved Thee...

5. ...for autumn leaves, so beautiful

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Multitude Monday

...continuing to count my multitudinous blessings...

60. That there are things like this Multitude Monday to help me see the good in a Monday morning

61. Dh and I being of one mind on an important topic, even though it is a hard decision

62. God loves me even when I make mistakes, and reminds me that mistakes and outright sin are two completely different things

63. light snow is easy to shovel

64. the beautiful sparkles of crystals in the early morning light. God's universe is so remarkably beautiful

65. another chance to get things done school-wise this week

66. electronic machines to help me climb Mt. Laundry

67. Birthday Month!

68. that homeschooling allows me to say yes when my 4yo asks if she can wear shorts over her pants today. ;-)

69. warm showers

70. haircuts!

...

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Multitude Monday

...continuing to count my many blessings...

51. Noises in the wee hours of the morning that were just the howling, slamming wind and not an intruder

52. A dh who will take bat in hand to defend me ... against the wind

53. A house that shelters us against the storm

54. Making some progress on the organization/declutter front, some clarity of mind (thank you Holy Spirit)

55. Little faces who brighten my morning

56. Hot chocolate with real cocoa and a dash of cinnamon

57. Electricity

58. Running water

59. Audubon Birds, even when they are all chirping at once

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Multitude Monday

...continuing to count my many blessings...

41. Book club friends, a chance to laugh

42. Hugs from a little boy who misses his mama

43. Love, true love

44. Compliments from dh on how homeschooling is going

45. "hand-me-overs" - clothes from a friend with girls, for our girls

46. Christmas in January: getting our boxes out of storage at a friend's

47. Friends to visit daughters and the hours long giggle-fest that will ensue

48. Blue skies

49. When someone puts my thoughts into poetry

50. Humor found in the midst of a trying time

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Multitude Monday

...continuing to count my many blessings...

31. the cuteness that is toddlerhood

32. dimples in 2yo cheecks

33. forgiveness, given and taken

34. a husband who will cook dinner

35. a chance to go back to bed after an "underslept" night

36. is it possible the sun is setting just a tad later?

37. a beautiful house to ponder, even if it will never be mine, the pondering itself a gift

38. friends, especially those who when you get together it's like you never left

39. the touch of hands at the kiss of peace, that brings a little light to a tired, suffering man

40. books and the opportunity to read and discuss them

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Multitude Monday

Counting my many blessings...

17. My blog readers willing to hop over here and answer my silly questions.

18. My reaction to a single line on a certain test, which even though it's what we say we need, makes me understand I still care, that my *heart* is in the right place

19. Two wonderful weeks off with dh, and the grace to start fresh today

20. My 4yo's multitudinous drawings, all of which say "I ♥ you mom" - literally and figuratively

21. Michael Clay Thompson's language arts series. We are all loving it, and break out into Grammar Rock songs on a regular basis

22. 10yo's new glasses and her willingness to wear them

23. Warm blankets

24. Knitting needles and crochet hooks...even though they are empty and staring at me accusingly ;-)

25. Vitamin C

26. Latin DVDs and CDs.... ♫ dona nobis pacem...dona nobis pacem... ♫

27. HTML

28. Two year old boys in footie pajamas

29. Crunchy cut up apples shared between siblings (and their Mama)

30. Epiphany! It's very special around here.

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Multitude Monday

...11. A good doctor's visit for dh and a (temporary) diagnosis of something not earth shattering.

12. In-laws with kids who come visit, play Wii, have fun with us, partake of food together, celebrate Christmas

13. The birth of my Savior, in a cave/stable, so many years ago. Thankful not only for the fact that He Existed and Exists, but for the lessons in humility and simplicity I can learn from that humble birth.

14. Shampoo bars and apple cider vinegar rinses

15. the bittersweetness of my son beginning to wean and sleep without me "rightthere"

16. two weeks of vacation for DH. It's been SO NICE

...and on I count...

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Multitude Monday

Long ago, in a blog far, far away, I once kept a gratitude list. I am feeling the need to get back into that. Ann's Multitude Mondays and 1000 gifts lists seem like the perfect vehicle right now.

Today I want to share a little story first. I had been bemoaning the fact that many of my friends in blogland were getting prayers answered - of the "God even cares about my littlest wants!" variety - and I was not. Of course, I was happy for THEM - I am always happy when my friends are pleased and giving glory to God. I was just envious, and feeling like God was overlooking my needs and wants.

Back up a few months, and you'll see us breaking our only two serving bowls (almost daily use items, here) and several lunch plates. We resorted to serving our dinners in a big plastic bowl we had, but I hated to put hot food in plastic due to any leaching that might occur. I went shopping several times, hoping to find something big enough to use for our family, and could not find anything. I guess I kind of gave up, and kept using the plastic. I kept praying to find something or be given something better. I kept waiting. Little thing, I know. And it's not that I couldn't spare the money, but I didn't have the time, nor do I enjoy purchasing something if there is a better alternative. I'm all about simplicity and NON-consumption here (homeschooling curriculum is my only weakness! LOL)

Fast forward to this weekend. We pulled our Christmas boxes out of storage, and I decided to use the snowed-in time to go through EVERY box we had in our small storage space. I found boxes of dh's old textbooks and notebooks. Lots of luggage. Two fans. And two boxes of what I thought were only a bunch of brandy snifters and old tea set that I had been given by my late maternal grandmother. As we had no need for those things, I unwrapped everything to check it's condition and was going to repackage it all to give to charity. So I'm unwrapping a brandy snifter...OK, another glass...teapot...wait, what is this? Plates? Hey, I remember these plates, they were from my mother-law! We packed them away because they were an extra set, and I forgot about them. So we now have enough plates for ourselves AND any company - I don't have to serve some of us on paper! :) And...wait for it...I found a beautiful, large, white SERVING BOWL. Yes, it's a punch bowl, but we don't care. It's our pasta bowl now. And I feel loved.

So with that I will renew my gratitude list.

I am grateful for my endless gifts...

1. A God who does show he cares in the little ways sometimes
2. A punch bowl pretty white serving bowl.
3. Some new-to-me plates
4. A beautiful snowfall
5. Strength to shovel the snowfall
6. Sun to warm my face
7. A husband to rub sore muscles
8. I've got to say it... Wii. The kids LOVE it.
9. Money to replace the breaking down things
10. My blog readers

...more to come...

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A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings

Come join us each Wednesday as we give thanks to God for His many blessings in our lives. A thankful heart is a joyful heart!

Lord, I thank you for your many blessings in my life. In particular, this week, I am thankful for:

1~ My almost two-year-old's emerging language

2~ My daughter is not *acting* too sick despite having an all over itchy body rash and intermittent high fever all week. And that no one's caught it yet!

3~ St. DH actually took himself to the doctor and got checked out.

4~ My Vitacost order came. More healthy goodness!

5~ God's beautiful natural world


Join Judy and other's in this wonderful meme!

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A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings

Please join Judy and others as we recount our blessings!

A thankful heart is a joyful heart!

Join us each week as we share five blessings and give thanks to the Lord!

Oh most gracious and loving God, my Father in Heaven, I give thee praise, honor, glory, and THANKS for:

1) A nicely progressing recovery for my mother-in-law

2) Some newfound diet ideas that will hopefully bring health, and some insights on other family diet woes here

3) My wonderful dh with his awesome smile and outlook that warms my heart

4) A handful of ripe heirloom tomatoes in our garden

5) A God who loves me despite my constant (constant!) falling...

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The Joys of Today

-eating raw peas straight from the garden with the children in the fading sunlight

-thinking of my beloved in the middle of a conversation with my daughter and realizing later that it was the moment his plane was landing

-mint chocolate chip ice cream in my favorite mug. I don't even like mint chocolate chip ice cream but that perfect-shade-of-blue mug makes me so *happy*. I don't even care that it has a goofy computer aided design company label that I don't even know what it stands for.

-teaching Skye how to improve her cartwheel, and knowing that at 40 years old with 5 kids, I can still do a cartwheel and not kill myself

-watching Jeffrey so carefully imitate everyone, from kneeling in prayer, to climbing the swingset and kicking a soccer ball, to lying on his tummy with his hands under his chin right next to all his sisters doing the same at the laptop computer.

- bed time. Ahh yes.

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