Being thankful when you don't wanna!!!

The kids were up way too late last night and had trouble falling asleep. I was up way too late last night. None of us really wanted to get up this morning, but there were lunches to make, breakfast to eat, and school to go to. Elizabeth was particularly grumpy to get up, but I figured a field trip to Russell Orchards with her class would snap her out of it. Nope.

She was whiny and clingy. She didn't want to play with her classmates or talk to her teachers. She especially didn't want me talking to other parents. She generally LOVES school, but not today. Instead of a pleasant morning, I got whine.

But, these are the days when you need to look for things to be thankful about.

11. Beautiful weather: the day was warm and the sky was clear
12. Bountiful apples: the crop is just amazing this year
13. The feel of a little girl's hand in yours
14. Apple Cider Donuts
15. A husband who comes home early from work
16. Same husband reading stories to the whiny one
17. That same husband getting whiny, tired child to take a nap
18. New "for fun" books from the library
19. A quiet evening to read
20. Anticipation of discipleship group in the morning

I am so grateful!

Being Thankful

Life hasn't been easy these days... not in the ways that make life physically hard, but in the ways that make life mentally and emotionally hard. Until today I haven't been able to put my finger on why, but today the answer came at me loud and clear... DISCONTENTMENT.

The only way I have found to combat this feeling is through gratitude, so for the next 30 days I am going to challenge myself to identify 10 different reason why TODAY I am thankful. 300 reasons sounds like a pretty good start to me!

1. Morning prayer with my husband: over the last 3 months Daryl has been so good about calling us into prayer together. I am so grateful!
2. Friends up the street and all morning playdates: Elizabeth had a friend all morning to play with which allowed me to make some needed phone calls. I am so grateful!
3. Phone call with mom and dad: It has been a while since I talked to them and it was so good to hear their voices and to just share every day stuff. I am so grateful!
4. Phone call with a good friend: It is good to have a friend to share heart stuff with and for her to pray. I am so grateful!
5. "Play a story with me": Elizabeth wants me to play with her and it is good when I stop long enough to join her. I am so grateful!
6. Clothes shopping for me with the girls: This went surprisingly well! They had fun finding clothes for me and even though I mostly bought the stuff I picked out. It was fun to see what they chose. I am so grateful!
7. Several new shirts and a long sweater: I am so grateful!
8. Home group tonight: I am so grateful!
9. A walk home with a friend: I am so grateful!
10. First night of my desire to get fit, exercises I can do at home while watching something! I am so grateful!

Photo taken during one of my morning walks.

Psalm 19

This morning I was up at 5 am to go to my discipleship meeting. This has been such a life-giving time for me. I get to meet with two ladies who have committed themselves to walking through a year together, sharing life and the Word.

As I got out of my car, it was "O-dark thirty," the stars were magnificent! Truly...

"The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands."

Psalm 19:1

Sketching by the Sea

Today was a half-day for Hannah and Grace. I have been trying to get the girls outside on Tuesday afternoons to get some exercise and enjoy the beautiful fall weather. We have gone hiking/running at Ravenswood; Biking/running at the O'Maley track; and today we went hiking/sketching at Halibut Point State Park. It was a gorgeous day!

The waves were crashing on the rocks. I had brought each of us a notebook in case the girls wanted to sit and draw. Two of them LOVED doing this! The third one was much more interested in wading through(and slipping into) the tide pools.

Elizabeth did sit for a little while and then she was off exploring.

Elizabeth's thoughts are summed up perfectly here.

Grace was focused on the different colors and shading in the sky, sea and on the rocks in front of us. 

Hannah was our detail person.

I was amazed by the many things that captured our senses.

My day in 25 words

Rain, pouring torrents

Kids loving Narnia, Silver Chair

Alone hours

Discipleship Thoughts

Mindless reading

"Play a story"

Crockpot Fajitas

Apple Pie

Baths

Reading snuggles

Quiet

Just Write...

I have been neglecting this blog for over a year now. I like to write, but I just haven't sat down and made time for it. Perhaps I will try again. My goal will be to "just write." So I went back into my last batch of downloaded pictures and picked two. These are the two I picked.

Elizabeth and Hannah taking a spill off their boogie boards.

Grace's "watch me mommy" as she dove completely under the water.

What do these pictures capture for me? These pictures capture some of the joys of summer and the growth of my little girls. We really are "growing by the sea."

After seeing some great pictures of our friends using their boogie boards, I decided that this might be something our girls would enjoy. Typically I have avoided GHB because of the crowds and the potential nightmare of keeping eye on all three of them by myself. However, we found a great time to go (late afternoon) where the crowds are less and the waves are fun.

The first time we went I had to get the girls into position on their boards to catch a wave. By the end of the summer they knew what to do and could ride the waves all the way in. Earlier in the summer, Grace was very nervous about the waves and being tossed under. By the end of the summer, she was jumping over and diving under herself. I loved watching them gain confidence in the water and (when I had another adult around) going out deeper with Hannah to ride and jump the waves together.

It has been a great summer.

Questions with Grace, age 6

1. What is your favorite color? Light colors (pink)
2. What is your favorite toy? Legos
3. What is your favorite fruit? Watermelon
4. What is your favorite tv show? Miles from Tomorrowland
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Peanut butter sandwiches
6. What is your favorite outfit? Purple dress
7. What is your favorite game? Monopoly Junior
8. What is your favorite snack? Goldfish
9. What is your favorite animal? Elephant

 
10. What is your favorite song? Jingle Bells
11. What is your favorite book? science books
12. Who is your best friend?  Joe Binns
13. What is your favorite cereal? Honeycombs
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Jump rope
15. What is your favorite drink? lemonade
16. What is your favorite holiday? Trick or Treating
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night?  Sackie, Blue dog flashlight
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Poppi's oatmeal
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Pizza, corn (off the cob), watermelon, carrots with hummus, cake and strawberry ice cream
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Ballerina Teacher
21. What was your favorite thing about being 5? Playing with my friends at co-op

 
22. What are you looking forward to about being 6? Going to school  

Happy Birthday, Grace!

You have found your confidence and are ready to start Kindergarten next week. You love schedules and knowing what is next. Two teeth have fallen out already. You make friends easily and that is what you are looking forward to doing in school. Your sisters are some of your best playmates. You love daddy's made-up stories about "Fruityville." Board games are a favorite past-time. Numbers make sense to you and you are looking forward to learning how to read. 

We love you!