Today's gratitude in 25 words

Rain to Sun

Zoo with Friends

Beautiful Colors

Majestic Lions

Playful Gorillas

Lunch Outside

Playground

Kangaroos

Nap Coming Home

Bed repaired by Daddy

Friday's gratefulness

The day started before the sun rose. The sky was grey, hinting at the rain to come. I was 31) warm in my bed, waking up from a dream I cannot quite remember, except for the fact that it was 32) not stressful or scary. I relief from the dreams of late.

While the rest of the family slept, snug in their beds, I was up making lunches for Grace and Hannah, 33) grateful for the food available to keep them alert and ready to learn at school. 34) Elizabeth skipped into her classroom without a backwards glance, eager to engage her teacher and discover what was set out for her to explore. Gordon-Conwell Nursery School is such a blessing to our family. I was able to come home for some 35) quiet time with Daryl before heading off on a 36) birthday breakfast with my church colleagues. During that breakfast of much laughter and catching up, 37) God provided a wonderful display of his creativity in a rainbow that pointed to a treasure at the edge of the marsh.

The afternoon was spent preparing for trunk or treat at the girls' school. 38) Daryl's creativity was evident in the garden scene he created in the back of our van. 39) The girls, dressed as a ladybug, a butterfly and a dragonfly, enjoyed collecting treats and interacting with friends. 40) The weather was perfect as the rain had stopped much earlier in the afternoon and the evening was a hit!

I am so grateful for today!

Prayer leading to Thankfulness

Several friends have been praying for me this week. Just knowing that has a way of pointing my spirits towards gratitude.

21. Early morning discussions about the prodigal son. What do you think the son was feeling after receiving the response of his father?
22. A text from a sweet friend
23. Silly time with Elizabeth
24. Finding pieces of the girls' costumes at Second Glance
25. An excited, brave girl wanting to go into her dentist appointment "just like her sisters," meaning she wanted mommy to stay in the waiting room. This was after asking all day (and week) if it was time to go to the appointment.
26. A good report from the dentist
27. Hannah enjoying time playing a pick-up game of soccer with her friends after afterschool Spanish
28. Connecting with the other moms and sharing some laughs
29. Sharing thankful stories at supper
30. Hearing about a positive email concerning Daryl and his team's hard work over the long weekend

Gratitude is contagious!

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.