Gratitude Wrap Up

A reflection on 4 days spent with family

Brothers

Sisters

Laughter

Cousins

Food

Mother and Father-in-law
(thank you for loving all of your "daughters" as if they were your own from the beginning)

Comfort

A wonderful place for my baby to nap

Our best friend cousins
Memories
And finally.....
"Breaking Dawn" (yep, I'm that girl!)

Gratitude for November 22nd

Aaron getting a night out with friends

A thanksgiving feast with a bunch of kindergarten and 1st grade kids

Watching Eli play through the window of his classroom (I love when they don't know you are watching)

Teachers that guide my boys

My healthy, brilliant, and beautiful children (a mom can type that and not be blamed for bragging)

Gratitude

Our Church

My 3 and 4 year-olds in Sunday School

Eli saying, "The teacher is my mommy."

Eli's Bible in his hands while I share the word of God

Making a tent so we know how some may have worshiped

Little voices singing while in our tent

Little prayers that are heard as true conversations to God

Late night parent night with friends every Sunday night

Unexpected "real" friendships

The kind of friendship where you wear no make-up, but you do wear pj's

Fast Car

I have always loved this song.  It brings back so many memories of being younger.  I think it was one of the first songs that I actually appreciated lyrically and musically.  Today it took on a new meaning.  I was at McDonalds with a friend and our kids.  We were chatting away while the boys played and the girls sat in our laps.  Then I spotted one of my former Junior High students.  I have taught many at risk students and this particular girl was one of the most at risk.  She was dealt all the "rough cards" in life.  She became pregnant shortly after I had Owen, making her a 15-year-old mommy.  When I saw her, I am ashamed to say, that I initially avoided her.  She was dressed quite inappropriately, and her language wasn't much better.  She had three children, all hers.  We were at similar stages in life in regards to child rearing, but her life had not gotten any easier.  I could tell she was struggling.  So, why didn't I go to her and talk?  Why didn't I ask her about her children?  I tried to catch her attention once or twice, but she didn't seem to recognize me.  All of my former students remember me.  It was Junior High, you remember those teachers, you remember all teachers!  Maybe she didn't want to talk.  Maybe she really didn't remember me, but I do wish I could go back and talk to her.  I wish I could go back and not worry about how awkward the conversation might have been or how difficult it would have been to manage my kids and hers without a melt down.  I wish I could go back and offer her friendship, from one mommy to another.

On the way home, I heard this song and each word traced back to this student. 

"You got a fast car

I want a ticket to anywhere

Maybe we make a deal

Maybe together we can get somewhere

Anyplace is better

Starting from zero got nothing to lose

Maybe we'll make something

But me myself I got nothing to prove

You got a fast car

But is it fast enough so you can fly away

You gotta make a decision

You leave tonight or live and die this way"

I prayed for you last night dear student.  I prayed for your babies.  I prayed for your precious mommy heart.  I pray that the Lord will let our paths cross again and this time I will step up and let you know that I love you.

Gratitude

A husband who runs at 4:30 in the morning to make life easier for me

Kickboxing for me tonight

Lunch with friends

Honesty

Bubbles in the sink

A new book

A quiet house

Gratitude

This long weekend gave me many reasons to be thankful.

Here are just a few

Sleeping in

My love home for 4 days (the reason why I didn't post this till today)

Our family of 5 together for 4 days (another reason why)

Christmas decorating

Major cleaning

Husband scrubbing along with me (I love that man)

Leaf tunnels

Daddy telling the boys stories on the tree swing

Daddy playing and playing and playing

Watching thy boys idolize their Daddy, savoring every word he says

This life, with this man, and these amazing miracles we call children

Gratitude

(For November 11th)

An extra day off for Daddy

Christmas decorating
A surprise visit from Papa and Nana

The boys "decorating" their own tree

"Look what I found!"

"This is so pretty!"

"Ella will love this!"

"Put that one here!"

I loved their excitement

I love this time of year!

Ella's Birthday

Gratitude

Alone time with Ella
Three clean bathrooms
Cozy, rainy, cuddly kind of day
A new book
"Table time" to talk with Aaron
Making goals
Listening to brothers become friends

Gratitude

Today I am thankful for
Aaron always having Mondays off
The precious time we have with Eli and Ella on these days
Eli on Daddy's shoulders, laughing so hard tears stream down his cheeks
Grocery shopping
The ability to always fill our cart
Goodwill-always a fun adventure to treasure hunt
Aaron making special time for each boy

Good news at the doctor
Precious twins
Tiny baby nursing
Tiny baby drinking from a bottle
The miracle of modern medicine
Premature twins looking at me
A precious friend that trusted in the Lord
A merciful God that kept them strong
BABY MIRACLES

Gratitude

Today I am thankful for
The power going out at 3 am, leading to...
Two boys snuggled between Daddy and Mommy
Two sleepy boys...so the 4 of us really slept together
Hoods
Warm, fuzzy hoods
Lunch with Mom and Dad
Texts from my bro
Sleeping baby girl
Softly touching whispy hair of sleeping baby girl

Gratitude Journal

My goal this month is to post what I am grateful for 5 days a week, so here is November 1st and 2nd

November 1st
Prayer time before the bus
Trampoline jumping
Baby giggles
Eli's heart breaking smile
Big brother snuggling little sister
Wind in my hair
Staring at the sky with Eli and Ella

November 2nd
An unexpected ache for my oldest-reminds me he's still my baby
Library Story Time-Ella clapping, crawling, chasing bubbles
Taking a walk with my middle and baby
Finding a forest
Pretending
Swinging
Crawling on crunchy leaves
Nap time
Oldest coming home-seeing his smile as he hops off the bus
When my love first walks in from work... Ella clapping and reaching
Where does my love go? To me FIRST.
His Kiss
The joy I see when baby gets her way and is in his arms...

Sweet Girls

It's so much fun to have a niece and a baby girl.
Thank you Katie for loving this as much as me!

Joys of Fall

If I could bottle this joy, I would.