1000 Gifts: Celebrations all around

October is turning out to be a busy  month for us.  The first weekend I was sent away to a beach house by my sweet husband for sometime with some gals on the Atlantic Coast.  I had some time to think, relax, and breathe. This weekend we celebrated the first of two birthdays in our household.  Next weekend we celebrate another.   With the business of fall in full swing I take time to give thanks... remembering that what I truly have is nothing.... it all comes from His hand.  Thank You, Father....

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my husband sending me away for some time to breathe

boys' sleeping bags on the floor for a weekend campout at home

mantown weekend at home with dad

sharing a coastal beach house with the girls

late night chats

sleeping in until 8

staying in pajamas until early afternoon just talking

the quiet of the morning to read a good book

a lighthouse standing tall above the treeline to show the way

the sun's explosions of light from behind shade of gray

clouds dotting the blue sky

newlywed pictures at a resort

the feel of warm sand between my toes

the crashing waves

Duck Donuts

bringing prizes home for my little ones

a new kite

having no real schedule

feeling refreshed and restored

coming home to "Mommy! We missed you!"

a 7 year old's wisdom that the waves bow down to their Maker

celebrating the first 365 days of our wee one

bright blue eyes

a smile with only eight teeth

friends and family who join the celebration

the first feel of cake between the fingers

the blessings of gifts

the gifts of blessings

birthday song phone calls from far away :)

a park to play, run, jump, and climb 

coming home for a quick dinner and a warm tub

pajama comfort

rocking my littlest to sleep 

remembering the needed pain that brought him into the world

prayers and hope for his future

the feel of his little muscles relaxing into sleep

slow steady breath sounds

so thankful for all that God has done!  

1 YEAR OLD!!!

Today we celebrate the first 365 days of our littlest man.  As I type this I remember the doctor and nurses, the hospital room, the pain... but none of it compares to the sweet joy of having our sweet one in our lives.  I remember it like it was yesterday.  New pink skin, alert eyes, all wrapped up burrito style.   

Happy FIRST Birthday to my sweet little man.  I am so excited to see how God grows you in this next year.  Your life is a gift to us.  You were the best surprise yet!  We love you!

1000 Gifts: Random

I know that I missed Monday, again.  We were busy getting ready to have no school on Tuesday because we had a full schedule Tuesday...not at the house.  We spent the full day at church today... having some Eucharisteo.  And as God would have it... hearing about Eucharisteo from a friend who spoke at a ladies' luncheon.  I love how the Father brings to the front things on which HE really yearns for us to focus!

So I continue my counting... no pictures today... just counting... but thankful, all the same.

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*the Father providing relationships that encourage us to look more like Him
*hearing about Eucharisteo at church
*striving to stop sinning in my grumbling
*hearing my sweet littles singing praises and quoting Scripture when they don't know I'm listening
*the fact that my littles are "getting IT"
*boys sharing cookies with friends
*my sweet friend finding out "It's a girl!"
*a friend returning from AR - it's about time!
*being encouraged
*knowing my Father sings sweetly over me (Zeph 3:17)
*a new ministry opportunity
*somehow finding grace in even the yucky stuff


won't you follow to the gratitude community?

First day of school - not really

Well - I've been encouraged to take pictures of the first day of school.  Normally, any mom would be doing this, right?  Because I never sent my kids off on a bus, because I never dropped them off at the door or picked them up at the end of the day I never thought to take pictures if we were just staying at home for school.  

This year I remembered only after seeing everyone else posting first day of school pictures on Facebook.  So I laid out clothes last night. Told the boys that first thing in the morning they were to get dressed because we were taking First Day of School pictures.  After the funny looks and the explanation was finished (because today is actually our 13th day of school) we were ready.  This morning we walked out the door, my camera in hand to capture the "almost" first day of school.  As soon as we were finished I marched myself back in to the house and wrote on my calendar for next August..."Don't forget first day pictures. "  :) 

Here they are... second grade and almost Kindergarten. Here's to another year of homeschooling!

1000 Gifts: How quickly I forget

Yep, we are experiencing the adventures of an active boy ... again! You'd think I'd remember this since this is my third boy.  The mischief that they find... things for a mom the years seem to allow to fade away, until of course, it happens all over again. 

So here my list continues... today scattered with all the things a momma forgets as her little ones mature.

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~dirt piles on the floor from potted plants

~toilet paper unraveled in a heap under the holder

~underwear that once was folded and in drawers - strewn everywhere

~the box of duplo blocks that was just picked up - now all over the floor- again

~the need for a bath after every meal because somehow food gets in hair

~my bathroom drawer open and hair brushes out

~splashes of water on the toilet seat - praying that my older ones flushed before hand

~chewed grass

~chewed books

~chewed everything

~clothes folded neatly in a laundry basket - no longer folded neatly

~splashes of water all over the floor of the bathroom after a bath

~food around his chair at meal's end... oh how I miss having a dog!

~cheerios stuck to every body part exposed

~retrieving my sweet one from nursery at church, watching him play sweetly until he spots me then seeing him bursting into tears

~the coffee table being cleared of various items - you guessed it... on the floor

~the chase to the electrical outlets

~grocery bags removed from their space

~drinking from bottles that have nothing in them

~magnets that started out on the fridge

~getting into the crayon drawer and finding a snack

~watching my little one grow and explore - even though it may mean another mess needs cleaning

... for these and so many other things I am thankful - and so the counting continues.

 

(sorry some of the pictures a blurry - I just had to include them )

1000 Gifts: Summer recap

So I've been gone all summer... doing things... golly - we did so much. I was so busy that I neglected to blog all summer... and I didn't count.  I didn't count the blessings. So-

On a day when things have been a struggle... school still isn't finished and it's 2:50 here (we're usually finished by noon - if that says anything)

On a day when I feel like giving up to trudge back to the comfy warmth of my bed....

On a day when all I can do is pray for the strength to take another step in the long race I have to run...

I continue to count! Why? Because it takes my focus off of my struggles and focuses my attention on the ONE who is higher.  It elevates my head from the downward/inward fight... to the glorious King who has already conquered!

And I continue on... praising and giving thanks - because it's been way too long!

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A husband willing to put together a garden in the spring heat
Dirty fingers
A brow filled with sweat
A late spring day to play outside - hinting of summer
flip-flops
Walk for Life
Painted Faces
Walking with friends
God's creatures
A visit from GrammaHio
Vacation Bible School
Mission VBS at St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children
The first harvest
Seeing old friends
swimteam cheers
competition
doing your best
summer showers leading to its bounty
fresh veggies grown ourselves
the excitement of finding fruit you didn't think was successful
garden friends
visits home
first roller coaster rides
a wet Aunt who rides the log flume 3 times in a row
playing with a cousin in the pool in the backyard
watching kids squirt each other in the face while wearing swimming masks
the progression from sitting to crawling... FAST!
silly brother pictures

botanical garden mazes
a party for Great Grandma - 93 years! Whew!
pirates playing on hurricane days

This, of course, is just a bit of our summer.  We have already started school - we are on our second week , and I am looking forward to the structure that the fall brings.  So I keep counting... won't you join me?

so I'm a day late... I at least started it on Monday. :)