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

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....

795-831

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.

783-794

*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!