1000 Gifts: October!

"It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High,

to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night...

for You make me glad by your deeds, O LORD;

I sing for joy at the works of your hands.

How great are your works, O LORD..."

Psalm 92: 1-2, 4-5

At the onset of another week,

I pause to catch my breath, to prepare, to recharge and regroup and remind

of all that matters... of all that counts.

And I focus on Him... on His love... and the gifts of His hand...

and continue my list once again~

0776

a new season... my favorite season!

0777

which means a new month on the calendar... and new beginnings

0778

possibilities

0779

"Thanks for doing this, Mom!"

0780

the generosity of a very great friend... who opened her home when rain shut down the park

(thanks again, Laura!)

0781

a whole afternoon to play & to celebrate... and an impromptu dinner to cap it all off

0782

wonderfully thoughtful birthday gifts... my family room now a Lego fortress

0783

youth group excitement, enthusiasm, and energy... and a youth pastor who truly cares

0784

Wednesday night small group Bible studies and my boy's desire to be there every. single. time.

0785

11-year old faith... 11-year old boldness... determined to share the love of Christ... praying with his pastor... reading a book given just for him

0786

explosions of thanks... this heart overflowing

0787

our World War 1 studies and the reminder that, even then, our God was in control

0788

learning alongside my boys

0789

a tasty treat found stashed in the cupboard...

0790

blue!

0791

a weekend to play... with an afternoon at the fair

0792
family

0793
and the fullness of His love

Rejoice, give thanks, and sing!

and the list continues...

Before the rain

Aren't little helpers the best??!

1000 Gifts: September's end

"This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Psalm 118:24

Rejoicing in the gifts of His hand, I add another page to my journal~

0757

rain

0758

RAIN, glorious rain!

0759

and the prospect of more to come

0760

garden helpers, even as the season comes to an end

0761

end-of-summer deliciousness, ripening on the vine

0762

and the anticiaption of a few more tomatoes from our backyard experiment

0763

homemade mashed potatoes-- made from our-very-own-garden spuds

0764

and end-of-summer color... I'll take it as long as it lasts!

0765

a birthday celebration and the joy that comes with turning six

0766

special friends and a dinner at Wegmans (a birthday first for us... and likely a first amongst all six-year old boys... but that was his choice... and it turned out to be a blast!)

0767

hiding in the bathroom for 60 seconds (please don't tell me I'm the only one who does this :)... only to be interrupted by my very confused two-year old... "You potty training??"

0768

those unexpected moments of levity

0769

and the reminder that they grow too quickly.... so cherish it while it lasts!

0770

meals around the table

0771

being reminded by my two-year old daughter that we forgot to say grace

0772

an email from a special gal whom I've never even met face to face...

and her words of encouragement, her words of truth, her words of compassion...

that point me to Jesus, every. single. time

0773

a community of believers and the accountability it provides

0774

darling kindergarten girls and the opportunity to serve in their class

0775

and eternal security, found only in Jesus Christ

"... and the cry of my heart is to bring You praise

from the inside out

Lord, my soul cries out..."

~From the Inside Out, Hillsong

and the list continues...

Six.

Happy birthday, Big Man!

You're the 6-year old apple of my eye, and I love you with all my heart!

Everything I need to know I learned in kindergarten

This past week... something new.

Here's the sketch: Fridays= co-op days. This year, Big Man is a part of the kindergarten class-- nine 4 and 5-year olds, all energetic, enthusiastic, and excited about learning and playing and exploring. Led by a fabulous team of women, these children will surely thrive! So needless to say, Big Man adores this time. And every single week we count down the days until we get to go back. Of course when we have a week off from co-op, near tragedy strikes. But that's a whole other story~

Back to Friday. I was able to sit in on the beginning of the kindergarten class before I had to leave to teach my own, and while there, I was able to observe their regular morning routine. Circle time, Bible time, poem time-- this go round a sweet little one about manners.

We say "thank you"

We say "please"

And "excuse me" when we sneeze.

That's the way we do

what's right

We have manners

We're polite!

Well, before reviewing the poem, Mrs. D. asked the kiddos if they could remember any of the manners they had discussed the week before. Of course, little hands flew up and immediately a whole plethera of manners were discussed and demonstrated and discussed once again... until an eager little beaver raised her hand and shared this one... a "manner" I've never ever heard before., but one I will surely never forget. In her squeaky little voice she emphatically stated:

NEVER sneak out the window!

Hmmm... I never realized window-sneaking was such a problem in the kindergarten co-op arena. But now I know, and now a whole classroom full of kindergarten blessings knows that they are NOT to go there either.

Surely this new-found knowledge will come in handy in the days and weeks to come... after all, I DID learn it in kindergarten.

1000 Gifts: September blessings

"The true way to live is to enjoy every moment as it passes,

and surely it is in the everyday things around us that the true life lies."

~Laura Ingalls Wilder

So once again I give thanks for the everyday things and the incredible gifts of His hand~

0734

home

0735

our very own beds

0736

a roof over our heads, a kitchen full of good eats

0737

the reminder that we are RICH while millions are not...

and the burden to give, to do, to offer something more

0738

answers... whenever they may come

0739

this sparkling brood... my nest of four

0740

and their constant chatter, their endless mirth, their childlike faith... their joy

0741

a fun new toy and the music he creates :)

0742

plus a turn or two for his favorite little protege

0743

with summer's end, her very favorite possession (at least for this moment in time)~

this end-of-the-season find... her very own flops

0744

a weekend with my folks and Saturday picnic fun

0745

patience

0746

face paint

0747

and charming results

0748

watermelon

0749

a special someone to share it with

0750

and togetherness

0751

a morning in the church nursery, my boys-- helping-- at my side

0752

an afternoon nap

0753

and then "Sunday School Musical"-- a production written and choreographed by a favorite 14- yo friend

0754

the ministry-- the faith-- of the students involved

0755

and His ways... so much higher than my own

0756

redemption

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;

His love endures forever."

1 Chronicles 16:34

and the list continues...

Back in the saddle

Wow! It's been a while, a long while...

But we're back.... back from our two gloriously restful weeks at the beach... back to life as we know it here in the burbs. And it didn't take long. In fact, as soon as our feet returned to northern Virginia soil, we hit the ground running. It's funny how it works like that... no gradual return to normalcy for us. Just vacation, then LIFE with no transition in between. And, much to my dismay, the home repair fairy didn't show up while we were away. No, the house is still a mess, and I am just as anxious as ever for repairs to be completely complete. Thankfully, three very kind gentlemen are here now-- they're starting from the outside in, securing new roofing, new windows, new flashing and the like. And hopefully, in a few more days, they'll head indoors: to my kitchen, to my pantry, to my laundry room... and the dust will really start to fly.

But God. is. good. So far the boys and I (after two and a half years with a little girl, I still say that-- the boys and I :)... make that, the five of us... have been able to function normally even as hammers pound and trim pieces fall. School is well under way, and the boys are swimming like fish once again. The beach is a far too distant memory (unfortunately) as World War 1, transitive verbs, and algebraic equations now take center stage in our minds. But fun we're having-- with a field trip in to DC (the Wright Brothers plane is at eye-level now, right on the floor... down from the rafters for a special display, and wow, is it cool!) and a special play date with no-longer-faraway friends. A leisurely afternoon in the woods with favorite people will truly do wonders for your soul! Ah, and lest I forget-- a new development on the home front since we've returned from vacation... Bub is now in the youth group at church (I know, will someone please tell me how THAT happened!), and this trying-to-be-brave mama is rejoicing with him over this very exciting time (as she clings to the Father and trusts that He really does have her boy in His hands).

And every day I'm being reminded... over and over and over again... that even though the pace is somewhat frantic at times, even though I can't always see the forest for the trees, even though I collapse into bed (often earlier than I'd like) at the end of another exhausting day-- these days are gifts. Gifts from Abba Father to be used for His glory as we study and work and play and pray. Gifts to be cherished, gifts to be embraced, gifts to be nurtured and savored and treasured. Gifts that rush me to the feet of Jesus and keep me there~

And that's a good thing... because isn't that exactly where I oughta be?

Happy Thursday, everyone... it's good to be home!

Oops! I almost forgot... congratulations Stephan & Jessica on your recent engagement... I am so very, very happy for you! May the Lord pour out His blessing on your marriage and your new life together, and may He be glorified through it all!