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Archive for June, 2011

Thanks in the Little Things

13 Jun

It has been a busy week for us and this week’s list seems to reflect that…or maybe it is longer only because I have made myself more aware of what is going on and making a more conscious effort to thank Him for all of the “little things” in life this week. Yes, I’m fairly sure that is the cause for the longer list. Thank you, God, for helping me to remember to give thanks.

holy experience

158. “I yuv you”
159. Kids singing praises in the back seat
160. Thank you, God, that days do end
161. Children sleeping
162. Cement board on kitchen cabinets
163. Seeing the husband
164. The small touches
165. Tomorrows that come
166. Surprise rose bushes
167. Thunder in the distance
168. New beginnings
169. Safety on wet roads
170. He speaks in my defense
171. “Father Abraham had many sons, Many sons had Father Abraham…”
172. Friends on porches
173. Family
174. Long days and dirty wash clothes
175. Sitting
176. He who calms all fears
177. The power of prayer
178. Friends finally home
179. Bleeding that stops
180. Doctors with God-given knowledge
181. His guiding hand
182. Little hands on my fingers
183. Little compliments
184. Norwegian friends
185. Laughter
186. Peace
187. Flattened flowers
188. Letters written
189. A break in the heat

 
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Posted in 1000 Gifts

 

When Days Don’t Go As Planned

07 Jun

Some days stink.  And by ‘stink’, I mean they are horrible, no-good, very bad days.

Today was one of them.

Hubs has been working doubles.  Alot. (No, I’m not blaming him.  Really)

So, since the kids haven’t seen their Daddy in over two days, they are going crazy.  They refuse to obey many rules, break down into baby puddles at just about any correction, and because they have just a bit of me in them (A-hem), they might be just a little dramatic about the smaller things in life.  Like flies in the house.  Or a tuft of dog hair on someone’s shirt.

It’s those days….the ones that you know are going to be like that by 9 in the morning….that we have Jammy Day.  We all stay in our jammies and we sit and watch movies all day long.  We do carpet picnics for lunch and dinner and just try (the key word being “try”) to chillax.

Jammy Days have bare-bones routines to them.  We have a nap after lunch….whenever lunch happens…and we go to bed after dinner……whenever dinner happens.  I may, or may not, get a load of laundry done on a Jammy Day.

Some of our favorite movies:

Jammy Days….they work for me!

 
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Posted in Life

 

Happy Birthday, Little One

05 Jun

Exactly 4 years ago, I was taken to the hospital for possible pre-term later.  Less than an hour later, our daughter was born.  She was a full 3 months premature and weighed just over 2 1/2 pounds.  She was a miracle.

And now, 4 years later….she is still a miracle.  She’s one smart little girl…emphasis on the word “little”.  But, she makes up for her size with her attitude.  I’m proud of her.







Happy Birthday, Baby Girl!  Your mommy and daddy love you very, very much!!

 

P.S.~ Dear friends of ours took photos of both of my kids holding the letters M, O, and Y for part of my mother’s day present.  After getting a frame that will hold 5 photos, I’ll have a wonderful framed “Mommy” art to hang on my wall.

 
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Posted in Frenzied Fours, Life

 

Thankfulness

05 Jun

holy experience

143. Thank you, God, for grass to mow
144. Thank you, God, for grass to mow
145. The shining sun
146. A cool breeze
147. The small word of encouragement
148. Two becoming one
149. That small touch
150. Determination
151. Kitchen cabinets
152. A husband who cares
153. Friends who offer
154. Smiles from friends
155. Rumbling thunder
156. Flashing lightening
157. Soft pillows

 
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Posted in 1000 Gifts

 

Perspective

02 Jun

Months ago, our pastor preached a sermon talking about perspective.  Now, I’m no excerpt at seeing the big picture, but when things come up, I don’t often have a hard time putting things in perspective….unless I’m having a hard day with my kids.

Lately, Hubs and I have been shoulder deep in a kitchen remodel.  I’ve lived 3 years without what we in the US call a ‘proper kitchen’.  In the last month, we’ve really done alot of work and I finally have more than 3 kitchen cabinets.  But I digress…    The construction along with day after day after day without a routine for the kids have just made life unpleasant.

It’s those days when I’ve been battling with the kids over every. single. little. thing. that I just want to run away screaming.  The task of raising our kids seems more like a chore….or torture…than anything else.  And then Hubs reminds me, usually with horrible timing, that I should look at raising our children as a privilege instead of a chore.

So yesterday when I was mowing our knee-high grass (thanks to 14 days straight of storms and the busyness of the kitchen remodel) in 92 degree weather, I tried to change my perspective.  I started to think about the girl in Ethiopia that we sponsor through Compassion.  I am sure that compared to how she has to live her life in poverty, mowing grass in the heat is a drop in the proverbial bucket.  Then I thought of Ann and her list of thanks and I began giving thanks.

“Thank you, God, for grass to mow.  Thank you, God, for grass to mow.  Thank you, God, for grass to mow.  Thank you, God, for the sun today.”  And then, “Thank you, God, for the warmth.  Thank you, God, for the breeze that blows.  Thank you, God, for the lawn mower that pushes itself.”  On and on I went, looking for and finding things to give thanks for.

And you know what?  Pretty soon the lawn was mowed, grass no longer as tall as my knees.  I was hot and drenched in sweat and I felt wonderful.

Thank you, God, for perspective!

 
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Posted in 1000 Gifts, Life, Parenting