Daily Grace

Lovely

2008-09-11T10:45:00.000-07:00

76. Maya's fascination with the fairy beds (green moss).

77. Madi sitting in her backpack, content, head back to look upon the dancing tree tops.

78. Zak behaving very gentlemanly.

79. Fun conversation with friends.

80. The perfect spring temperature and being able to be outside to enjoy it.

81. Budding trees, flowering cherries and dogwoods.

82. Madi's 2 new teeth.

A small blessing

2008-09-11T10:37:00.000-07:00

After taking some time off this summer(not from being thankful but just from posting) I am back to my list.

69. Vivian wanting to hold the baby.."pahwease".

70. Dirty hands from outside play.

71. Wilken's gummy smile.

72. A bird building a nest right outside my studio window.

73. An hour on the swing with my 2 littles and some books.

74. Boys playing adventurer.

75. A family hike.

salt air

2008-07-22T04:20:00.000-07:00

..the smell, only found within miles of the ocean. Undescribable, yet known instantly.

..dolphins close to shore, playful and beautiful to watch. Gray skin shining in the sun as they break the surface of the waves.

..smiles, laughing and the feeling that all this togetherness builds unbreakable bonds among family; immediate and extended.

..feeling the grains of warm sand beneath my feet.

Sweet

2008-06-19T04:45:00.000-07:00

64. Maya's first haircut at age 4, she was very excited.

65. Madi's hugs when she buries her face in my shoulder.

66. Max's questions..... Why did God make poison?? ( as in poison ivy, its only spring

and he is already covered.

67. Dan and Carli having fun at BizTown; quality time together.

68. Maya eating a tomato like an apple; red juice running everywhere.

Endless

2008-06-02T05:06:00.000-07:00

58. Dan getting all the screens in the window...bug free fresh air.

59. Max recognizing letters on a page and picking them out.

60. Maya climbing onto my lap, "just cuz".

61. Are we "ausmos" there? Translate : almost

62. "smfarchmellows" = fresh marshmellows. Small voices, so sweet.

63. new comfy "running" sneakers

blessed

2008-06-01T04:26:00.000-07:00

51. A faithful, furry, family member; Veda.

52. Pictures, memories and more pictures.

53. Boys goodnight kisses (over and over again)

54. Birds chirping and singing all morning. Heralding the arrival of spring.

55. Plowed fields, the sound of tractors back to work. I adore spring.

56. Early morning light, coming through the kitchen window.

57. Hot coffee in my favorite mug.

Blessed

2008-05-21T04:56:00.001-07:00

45. A playful husband. 46. Quiet time alone in the morning to read my bible.
47. Beef & Pepper stirfry that turned out great!
48. Happy faces around the dinner table.
49. Childrens' laughter coming from the swing set.

50. Sparkling, clean counters.

Smile

2008-05-07T04:50:00.000-07:00

40. Madi's constant smile and contentness.

41. Nana & Chanon always being cheerleaders.

42. Meemaw helping out with the kids.

43. Dirty kids at the end of the day.

44. Bath time with bubbles for hair and bubble beards.

2008-05-02T04:34:00.000-07:00

34. Zak's compassion as he tries to save a bird egg found laying out of the nest.

35. Slamming Screen Doors = Springs Arrival

36. The colors of sunrise.

37. A heat vent right at my feet by my kitchen sink.

38. Carli's awesome performance at competition.
39. The gracious way she takes a compliment.

Peace

2008-04-28T14:05:00.000-07:00

29. Quiet reading time in bed with Carli reading at my side. Priceless.

30. Little toes poking me trying to get under my back in bed.(Max is such a spinner in bed)

31. Piles of laundry.

32. Dishes to be done.

33. A Poppa who will drop everything to come help as soon as he gets a call.

love

2008-04-28T13:59:00.000-07:00

23. Boys & their bikes! Their joy to just ride.

24. Early morning quiet.

25. Delicious chicken curry: as good as our favorite Thai restaurant, prepared at home.

26. window screens installed.

27. A bike strewn driveway.

28. Friends who love my baby as much as me.

JOY

2008-04-26T03:50:00.000-07:00

" Be THANKFUL in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you

who belong to Christ Jesus." 1 Thes 5:18

19. Max's meltdowns..."In ALL things, be thankful..." I know these moments are teaching me patience. And patiently I still look for the rest of the lesson.

20. Open windows and fresh air. After months of having the house shut up, it's wonderful to be able to fling open the windows and doors.

21. The tick, tock, tick, tock of the clock in the living room. It was a wedding present and the noise reminds me of nan & paps' mantel clock. Such good memories evoked by such a small sound.

22. Two tiny pearly whites, finally making an appearance. Just enough to provide some relief for baby girl.

Happy

2008-04-21T10:38:00.000-07:00

15. Bright yellow flowers! Tulips and daffodils; turning their bright faces up to the sky. Happy in who they are, showing all their glory. They make me happy.

16. An answered prayer, in an unexpected way.

17. A spring thunderstorm at bedtime. Listening to the rain's lullaby on the roof outside my bedroom window. Blissful.

18. Good Friends. Debbie took Carli and Zak to see the Wizard of Oz. They loved it and had such a good time.

Rejoice

2008-04-16T04:29:00.000-07:00

12. 72 and sunny in the beginning of April, unusually warm. Just glorious to feel the warm sunshine.

13. Having lunch and dinner prepared by noon. All the mess cleaned up and a quiet afternoon to be had(as quiet as it gets around here anyways)

14. Sibling Love. Max and Maya playing beautifully for hours. Pretending and imagining all sorts of fun things.

2008-04-16T03:57:00.000-07:00

7. Unparalled sensitivity found in a 9 year old man-child. Such a beautiful heart.

8. Carpools = less driving = more sanity for me. Soccer, gymnastics; need I say more than Thank You!

9. Soft fluffy towels, piled high, warm from the dryer. Softly scented, ready for action from all the little people in the house. Simple Joys.

10. Stinky breathed, good morning kisses.

11. Open space, clutter cleared away. Room to breath and empty the mind of clutter too.

1000 Gifts

2008-04-14T09:21:00.000-07:00

4. A sweet sight. Max in my bed, propped upright with all the pillows, sound asleep. Surrounded by books all over the bed and every light in the room on. I am blessed.

5. Infant pain reliever and the relief it provides for a fevered, teething baby in the middle of the night.

6. Loving cuddles from a 12 year old. She has the look of a blossoming young woman with the heart of a child who still needs mom, cuddles included.

Gifts

2008-04-14T04:45:00.000-07:00

1. Nursing Madi in the predawn quiet of a house with 5 children. Her soft chubby fingers grabbing hold tightly until she has had her fill and drifts off to dreamland again.

2. An organized, labeled pantry. If only for today it looks amazingly clutter free and it opens my mind.. Sweet Space....

3. Soft yarn running through my fingertips. The gentle clicking of the bamboo needles as I knit a hat for a little one. The calming quiet rhythm soothes my soul.

Intent

2008-04-11T10:30:00.000-07:00

Minutes into hours, hours into days, days into months and years.... Sometimes all those little moments, all the small stuff that means so much, slip by so quickly without notice. Daily life or"the grind" can muddy up the blessed waters of the everyday. If I let it, the water gets murky and I can't see the good stuff, the sweet words, the giggles, the soft hand of a toddler reaching out for mine and the moments are lost. But if I am mindful and look with intention for all the blessings showered on me daily from above the water starts to clear. Gratitude clears away all that is not important and allows me to be refreshed with joy in all that I have been given. I am truly blessed. The more I open my eyes to the little joys in the everyday the more I see; God's love is evident right where I am. In the middle of a room full of toys strewn about, in the laundry room with 10 loads that still need to be done, listening to some bickering over who gets to go next; God is there. He showers me daily with so many blessings if I only open my eyes to see.
I have kept gratitude journals off and on for years. When I am intentional in finding those joy nuggets to write down I always find more joy in the mundane. I am a happier person. I express my gratitude and feel true joy. It is my intent on this blog to join Ann at A Holy Experience in listing 1000 gifts. To live with my eyes wide open and accept each joy gratefully.