Downtime Gratitude. . .

My heart overflows. . .

*  For this time of year ~ windows open cool breezes flowing through the house.

*  For downtime with my oldest son.  Time to play UNO and Go Fish, to read aloud, to draw and paint, to sit together and do schoolwork, to sleep close by, to hear his little sleepy breaths, to be there when he needs me. . .  This has been such a blessing in the midst of something not fun.  I love being his mom.  I am so thankful.

*  For a doctor husband.  I don't have to be the bad guy and tighten the braces.  And, when Joshua scared me silly the other night by waking up, but yet not being really awake, shaking all over, speaking only in incoherent mumbles (until Erik asked him the capital of Iowa, and he very clearly answered Des Moines at which point Erik deemed him fine), I was so thankful to have a resident physician to look after him.  I was ready to call 911.

*  The trash talk between my older two!  Somehow it came up that Joshua wouldn't be able to play basketball for a while.  So, JCT said in a very threatening manner, "Well, I'm gonna be training hard over the next 4-5 weeks practicing my moves!!"  Like watch out, big bro, I'm going to be ready for you when you get back to playing!  To which Joshua quickly replied, "Well, I'll be watching basketball on TV over the next 4-5 weeks, and then I'm going to apply all my moves on you!"  Daddy loved this!!  He let out one of his deep belly laughs as he listened to his two big boys go back and forth.  I am so thankful for the relationship between these two little boys.  I pray God grows it richer and deeper year after year.

*  For a windy, rainy day.  For the peace that filled my home as we slowly worked through a day of school.  No rush.  No hurry.  Just four boys and one mama making it work.

*  For grace that covers all that I lack, all that I long to be, but seem unable to meet the standard.  For grace that holds me firmly in His hands, never letting me go.

*  For the hope of spring.  The green in the grass that is just beginning to arise from peaceful slumber.  For daffodils and lilies slowly making their way up and out ~ spring life surrounded by the dead leaves of winter.  A reminder of God's faithfulness throughout the seasons of the year and the seasons of our lives.

Lije, Rejoicing, and Monday's Gratitude (a.k.a. really random post)

Lije, my Lije, has kept a sweet smile on my face all day today.  Three is just the cutest of ages!!  At 3 children are old enough to really verbalize their thoughts well, and yet they are still figuring things out.  Thus, they get things a little mixed up which is so cute!

This morning sweet Lije told Erik and I that Batman "two-feeted da bad guy!" (defeated).  He was so animated and cute when he was telling us!! Fun, fun!  Then, a few hours later, I was doing school with the big boys, and I asked Elijah if he would rather play a game on the computer or the ipad?  He said very seriously as he stared out the bay window in front of our kitchen table, "Neither.  I'd rather just sit here on the bench and watch the wind blow. . ."  I agreed, and a few minutes later I passed by the kitchen table again and this is what I saw. . .

Sweet little man sitting on the bench with his mouth up against the screen of the open window, saying in a quiet voice, "God, God, can you hear me?  Are you there, God?"

I love this age!  Then, tonight he announced to me that, "When Joshua and James are at bastikball practice, I'm da big brudder!!!"  He was so proud!  He is going to love having the new baby!!  I can't wait to introduce the baby to my Lije!

I love the fact that I have gotten to rejoice with those who rejoice this weekend!!  One friend got engaged!! :-)  We all know how happy that is!!!

And, our neighbors and dear friends, the husband is coach of our local high school basketball team, led the team to win the north half of our state 3A championship, and now it is off to state!!  This is so fun especially in our small town that LOVES sports!!!  With each game they'd win, I'd text my friend and ask how many hours of sleep they got.  As they continued to win game after game, the sweet couple slept fewer and fewer hours each night!!  When they won the north half, I text her and asked if she'd like Erik to call them in some ambien!!  I think I've read her response a thousand times and pondered it even more times than that!!

She said, "Prob need something!!!!!  We both said when we sleep it makes the moment disappear so we would rather stay awake."  

Life so good you don't want to sleep for missing it!!!  How awesome!  I just loved it!  In 5 months she only missed 3 games, and she takes her 3 children (the oldest is 4!) with her to the games.  Not to mention the fact that she is 28 weeks pregnant with #4!!!! So supportive!

I am so thankful for. . .

* Open windows and fresh air flowing freely through my home.

*  Birthday cake and ice cream and Deana B who sent me home from her son's awesome birthday party with leftovers!!!!  Yum!!  But, even more than that I am thankful that God has given us the privilege of sharing life with Sean and Deana B.  I still pass Deana B on the road sometimes driving through town, and say to myself, "Oh. My. Goodness. She lives here!"  And, occasionally I see our husbands names together on the sign in front of their office and think, "Oh. My. Goodness. Erik always dreamed of this, and it is actually happening!"  I don't know what tomorrow holds, but I am so thankful for today, and for the moments that our families have shared over the past 4 years!

*  The little one who kicks crazily within me!

*  A weekend visit from Pop!  The way Erik Daniel ran around the yard like a wild man when his truck pulled in the driveway!

*  My sweet friend, Sara, who turned 35 on Sunday!!!!  We've been friends for 22 years now if I've counted correctly!  Whoa!!!  And, my sweet friend, Sarah, who turned 35 last Friday!

* Moments, sweet moments, and life so good you don't want to sleep for missing it. . .

Monday's Gratitude

Today it is winter for sure. . .

Sometimes in the south one can be fooled into believing spring is around the corner by a splash of warm winter weather here and there. Yesterday we had such a splash with temps in the low 50's, and the boys played outside wildly! But, today winter is back ~ the wind is bitter, the clouds are grey, and the forecast suggested the possibility, albeit slim, of flurries. Two of my boys are fighting low grade fevers, and this slows them down a good bit, and so our day has been quiet, slow, and relatively calm.

I am thankful for. . .

* A warm house on a cold afternoon.

* Boys wrapped in blankets cuddled on the couch.

* The ripples of the wind moving the surface of the water on the pond out back.

* God everywhere! God in the sad, gentle eyes of my sweet, sick sons, God in the trees blowing, in the birds outside my window, in the peace filling my heart ~ peace only He gives, God in the music that fills my home, God in the laughter of my little boys, in the the tea kettle boiling on the stove, God in the schoolroom, God in history, in science, in His word, God in my heart, my bones, my every fiber, filling me, giving me strength, passion, perseverance, confidence, all that I need for this moment, this breath. God filling my husband, filling his patient rooms, his office, God filling our home~ room after room, each corner, each crack, each crevice.

* Another week beginning, another year beginning for my two oldest sons!

* The steam that surrounds the hot water as I pour from my kettle.

* The sweet one holding blanket and sucking thumb sitting on my lap!

* Taking Rain out on a cold, dreary day and staring into the windows of my home from the road ~ school room and kitchen alight with a radiant, soft, inviting glow on a bitterly cold day. The warmth that filled my soul as I looked on watching little bodies scurry to and fro in front of the windows. Thankful.

* The gift of the simple, the everyday, the ordinary!!

The Remains of a Fun Week. . .

And, now it is back to work as usual! Actually, we had a very good and productive day today! We started at 8 sharp and finished at 3. It was a full, good day. But, I am missing the snow and all the fun that went along with it!!

Oh, well.

Today, I am so thankful! I am thankful for. . .

* The little one inside of me who is getting so much bigger as evidenced by the increasing intensity of the kicks I am feeling!

* For a home and a husband home with me, a home cooked meal cooking in the oven, clean clothes rolling and tumbling in the dryer, little boys scurrying about at my feet, and soft praise music playing for the sake of my sanity. :-)

* I am thankful for friends of all shapes and kinds that God has blessed me with over the years. I am thankful for old friends and new friends. Friends who understand my life, and friends who think I'm crazy ~ but love me anyway!

* I am thankful for a resolute and unwavering husband. He is my right hand, my anchor, my rock. I am so glad to have him home again!

* For my selfless Mama who I miss with all my heart ~ our late night talks, early morning chats over hot tea and coffee, the spiritual mentor she is to me ~ challenging me like crazy, and all the laughs at my silly boys!

* The changes God is making in me each day as I attempt to lay down my life and serve my family without complaining too much!

* My Lord Who is faithful and good to me despite my raging internal battles with pride and control!! I believe He will see me through!

Now off to work a bit before my sweet hubs comes home!

Thankful Monday

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving full of fun and energy and peace all wrapped up into one big happy package!!! We celebrated with Erik's brother, Jason, Jen, and their sweet family ~ 10 children total (This number includes the wee one in my belly who made no noise but did kick a bit to let me know that he/she, too, wanted to be part of the fun!) As always, I regret that I didn't take pictures, but there is always so much going on that playing photographer seems to fall to the waste side!

The kids had a blast with their cousins. God has been so sweet to our families. We feel so blessed. Jen and I met and quickly united ourselves in college prior to falling in love with our precious brother husbands. So, the whole idea that we are raising cousins floors us from time to time! Our children are stairsteps ~ all very close in age. Last week before we left to visit them, James Christofer announced, "Joshua's friend is Caleb. My friend is Katey. Elijah's friend is Abby. Erik Daniel's friend is Ella. And, our new baby's friend will be Noah (my new one month old, cute, little nephew.) When JCT said this, my heart nearly burst!! Such a blessing!!

So, today, I am extra thankful for so many things!!!

* I am thankful for rich conversations while sipping coffee and listening to the coos and squeaks of a newborn.

* I am thankful for the frost that welcomed us home the morning after we returned from Florida. And, as Erik said when he looked out the window and saw the frost and the bare trees which lost their leaves in our absence, "Winter came while we were away!" I am thankful for changing seasons ~ especially since the end of fall means Christmas is coming!!!!!

* I am thankful that God is ever patient with me ~ refining me and growing me in ways that I never anticipated.

* I am thankful to feel refreshed and ready to go again at least for another 3 weeks, then it is break time again!!! Hurray!! :-)

* I am thankful for the way Christmas decor makes a home feel so warm and cozy. . .

* I am thankful for a God Who is just plain BIG. Who cannot be placed in a box or understood by anyone no matter how learned he is.

* I am thankful that Rain is back home and healthy. He had surgery while we were away for Thanksgiving. Elijah took one look at his boo boo's and melted into a puddle of tears. He prayed tonight that Rain would "get his body back." He loves that dog so much!! Here is a picture of his biggest boo boo. . .

Bless his heart!!! We are babying him around here! I think he is glad to be back home in his room and on his big, soft bed!!!

The vet said he was surprised at how quickly Rain bounced back after surgery! He may be 12.5 years old, but he still acts like a puppy!!! We are so thankful for our Rain dog!!!!

Monday's Gratitude

My goal last week was to begin posting gratitude and my weekly menu plan on Mondays. Well, my menu plan this week is a bit sketchy, so I am going to skip that part and go straight to gratitude! There is always next week!!

Today my heart is thankful for. . .

A long morning! By 7:45 I had been up almost 3 hours. . .

And, for those sweet little risers who do not understand the meaning of falling back. . .

Also, I am thankful for the sun rising through the trees out back. . .

Sunlight dancing on the pond's water. . .

A belly beginning to grow with life. . .

Boys full of life, energy, and love. . .

Reading time and holding littles close. . .

The peace that comes over the house at naptime. . .

Cold weather and hot peach tea. . .

Little football pad wearing boys laughing and playing outside my window. . .

And, most of all, I am thankful for a God Who loves tenderly, sweetly, and intimately.

He is good.

Happy Monday!!