Tags, Release, and Counting

This one is going to come in right under the wire for Multitude Mondays and counting blessings, but you're never late to count blessings.  They come in at all times... little things that you may not notice unless your looking for them.  That is the key - to look.  To notice.  To consciously recognize the gift - given by the Maker of the Universe to bless you... for your pleasure... for His delight... for His praise.

I wonder what goes through His mind when His creation stops and recognizes small things that He does everyday... a rainbow after a rainstorm,  a shooting star, a gorgeous sunset, the little people who hug your neck so hard you think you'll pass out, the breathing sounds of a sleeping babe.  I wonder if it makes Him giddy when He sees His loved ones receive the gift and then thank Him. -  Not giddy because of the praise... but because of the gift.  If He rejoices over me with singing - like it says in Zephaniah 3:17 - I can only imagine that it's the giddy excited feeling - that can't wait to be with someone feeling.  So it's with great adoration and love that I say thanks to my Daddy - Abba - for all of the things that He's let me witness and experience this week - I'll keep on counting.

863-900

* "Mommy, I missed you!" from my 3 year old upon returning from the grocery store
* Healing Hurts
* kids playing in the neighborhood
* a smile with 6 teeth
* getting laundry done
* a clean floor
* open windows with fresh air flowing
* cool fall temperatures
* a friend home from the mission field
*  an extra blanket for the bed
* the crispness of the morning
* the need for a warm drink in the morning
* good news of healing
* faithful friends taking my kids to BSF
* tagging monarchs to release for a 3000 mile journey to Mexico
* naming our butterflies
* 9 year old photobombs

* running around the Botanical Gardens - expending energy and learning in the process - the best type of school
* hugs between friends
*quiet rides in the car running errands
* the song that speaks to you being played on the radio
* hearing the quiet whisper of the Maker
* putting on spiritual armor and being ready for the fight
*standing in the gap
*a denim jacket
* fuzzy footed jammies and the 10 month old wearing them
* the anticipation of a tv premier fav
* soccer
* chalk drawing with friends in wheelchairs
* Chopsy and I visiting and ministering to friends with special needs
* Chopsy and J having a race - J in a wheelchair and Chops with his feet.
* the friendly disposition of a sweet almost 7 year old who doesn't know a stranger
* J teaching Chopsy how to drive his chair and the smile that it brought to his face
* kombucha tea - a new favorite
* sitting on the couch reading
* having school on the couch
* a new recipe
* the sound of hundreds of women singing to the King
* the pure acceptance of the love of Christ

It's been a LOOOOONG time... (back to the counting board).

It's been almost 2 years since I've blogged.  I look at my last post and am amazed that it has been that long.  Since then I've been running after my then babe, now almost three year old.  And somewhere in there had another one... this time a little warrior princess who is quickly approaching one.

I hadn't realized how quickly not counting blessings ran me backward.  I realized I had lost the wonder of the blessing of little things.  My praise became off kilter.  Sadly, I'm having to strain to see the blessing when before it was a habit.   So I'm picking up where I left off... to count again... gaining ground to 1000 and continuing beyond.  There are oh so many to count...

832-862

* getting back to counting blessings - becoming a priority once again
* the friend who encouraged it
* a comfy bed for a sleep deprived momma
* a marigolds for me from a little in our class for our first Sunday teaching 2s
* cooler fall temps
* another year of school started with new subjects, new struggles, new schedules
* my littles growing ever bigger - never stopping even when I command it :)
* lentil tacos
* Ohio State Football
* old friendships - a piece of heaven
* known and being known
* discipleship
* putting on armor daily with my boys to prepare for the fight
* the symphony of raindrops
* chocolate chip cookie in a mug
* struggles - a uncomfortable way God hones you into a shinier piece of metal to reflect Him
* hearing my 3 year old singing how Jesus loves him at the top of his lungs
* watching him do the snake dance move
* my biggest - a strong and willing helper for his momma
* piles of laundry needing to be folded
* sun setting low in the sky - evidence of autumn
* open windows
* brothers
* fresh air
* cool nights
* summer visits to see grammas and grandpas and aunts and uncles and cousins
* blowing bubbles
* popping bubbles
* park playing and climbing on a summer day
* the giggles of children
* a smile