Mulititudes on Mondays

Florida 2011
Sam and Lisa
Henry, Jonah and Bridget on the beach at sunset. :)

November is upon us and I just LOVE this season. Fall weather is here, Thanksgiving is coming, fall sports are winding down, lots of good things baking in the kitchen...it just the best. And along with all of that is my return to blogging...and my list of one thousand gifts, which I've neglected for far too long. So here goes, another batch for the never-ending list:

191. leaves falling from the trees
192. crunchy footsteps across the backyard
193. stacking firewood in preparation for winter
194. the first fire of the season
195. sitting in front of that fire with Sam, just enjoying an evening to talk
196. our new dog, Fred, who is such a joy
197. the ease of communicating through texting (saving me phone calls while I'm trying to teach my children)
198. homeschool routines falling into place
199. easy peel clementines-yum!
200. my three cameras (one of them is always handy no matter where I am)
201. Henry's first deer hunt
202. bonding between Sam and his son
203. Henry's first THREE deer
204. a freezer full of deer meat
205. a chicken who lays a bluish/green egg for me every day
206. Reader's Digest. There is always something interesting in there!
207. my strong, healthy husband who cut down all of our dead trees last week
208. the two trees that fell across the ditch, leaving two fun bridges for the kids to play on
209. a surprise coffee visit from a friend and time to catch up and visit
210. jell-o!
211. uplifting, energizing music playing in my kitchen
212. candy corn (shaped) cookies
213. extra boxes of kleenex for the sniffly season that seems to have descended on our house

214. home school field trip group
215. two scheduled field trips (dairy museum and the Nutcracker!)
216. the prospect of an upcoming ladies Bible study here in my home
217. GRACE
218. Christmas music (I'm not listening to it yet, but my husband is singing it already--and I love hearing him sing!)
219. Cub Scouts and the fun kids that I get to teach
220. hand drawn portraits of me, taped to the screen so that I see them every time I sit at the computer

I'll stop for now, but I have LOTS more...my heart is overflowing with gratitude. I'm so thankful for so many, many things. Will you join me and start (or continue) to count the blessings in your life and watch how an attitude of thankfulness changes your life? :)

Multitudes on Mondays

Spring/Summer is upon us here in Texas! The sheets are on the line to dry...

the chickens are back on egg-laying duty...

flowers abound, on the porch and in the fields...

abundance in the garden...

and I can't leave out a picture of the great new nest boxes that Sam built for me this week! :)

I haven't blogged in a month! I miss it and need to get some posts up. When we're busiest and have the most things I'd like to share, I tend to have the least amount of time. Even if I haven't posted them, I've continued to note the wonderful, lovely gifts in my everyday life. It is amazing how just taking the time to thank the giver, God the father, makes me notice even more of the simple, everyday ways He blesses me. Here are but a few to add to the never-ending list....

146. Sheets flapping as they dry on the line
147. new chicken nest boxes (Sam surprised me!)
148. time spent in the garden
149. a thriving garden (almost everything is coming up this year!)
150. Bridget's first birthday party invitation
151. a group of giggling four year olds in pajamas
152. Henry's TWO soccer goals at the game on Saturday
153. our new camper
154. old camper sold in less than 24 hours
155. finishing up classes, paperwork, home study, etc with Bair
156. friendship bread in a bag on the counter
157. making lists and filling the camper
158. chickens running happily around the backyard
159. neighbors who are willing to take our problem birds (the guineas) and give them a home
160. marigolds blooming all around our house
161. beautiful buckets of colorful flowers on the front porch, that I haven't let die yet :)
162. learning a new game with friends
163. getting that same new game in the mail from Amazon three days later
164. planning for my mom to visit (yay!)
165. finishing up a Bible study on the book of Revelation
166. Henry's first paying job (picking up a friend's yard)
167. watching two of my beautiful nieces dance in their year-end recital
168. packing Easter baskets for friends and family
169. warm, windy days
170. craft supplies lying all over the house from a spur-of-the-moment idea
171. neighbor kid's bikes left in our yard for days
172. a super clean house that lasted for two days!
172. a messy, kinda cluttered house that represents happy days
173. finishing Narnia and not wanting to put it away on the bookshelf
174. watching Nugget (dog) and Smokey (baby donkey) run up and down the fence line together
175. popcorn made in the new air-popper...yum!
176. Henry and Jonah's animal artwork decorating the refrigerator
177. great garage sale find...pink cowboy boots in Bridget's size for only a dollar
178. an easy and fun visit to the dentist with all three kids
179. Angry Birds on the ipad
180. family dinner out at Chili's
181. Jonah's first t-ball game of the season
182. Jonah catching a ball, hearing everyone yelling, "throw it to first, throw it to FIRST" and watching him look around, pause and then throw it home.
183. five little kids running between our yard and the neighbors with super-hero capes on
184. chocolate waffles for breakfast
185. finding Bridget's long-lost Dora water bottle in a little used backpack
186. a hole lovingly rubbed into Rufus's ear by chubby little toddler fingers
187. purple sparkly nail polish
188. red, white and blue popsicles eaten on the back porch
189. Sam jumping on the trampoline with the kids
190. bluebonnets, indian paintbrush, and so many other beautiful wild flowers dotting the fields and roadsides

Won't you join in and start counting your never-ending list of gifts, blessings, joys? :)

Multitudes on Mondays

I'm probably not alone in saying that this week's world events changed my prayer life and showed me even more the importance of being thankful each and every day.
"Relent, LORD! How long will it be?
Have compassion on your servants.

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all of our days."
Psalm 90:13-14

And the never-ending list continues! :) (sorry this one is long, I skipped a week or two)

104. Celebrating 2 1/2 months of daily (EVERY day) Bible reading
105. Rejoicing in this new habit being built into our children's lives
106. Listening to Bridget reading stories to her puppies
107. Boys racing out of the house, slamming doors in their excitement to get to Spanish class
108. Bridget's smiling face popping up over the side of my bed to ask, "Do you want to snuggle with me?"
109. Sending Morse Code messages back and forth with Henry and Jonah during the school day
110. Early morning fires that chase the chill out of the house
111. Sam arranging a babysitter for a dinner and movie night for just us
112. A cozy soft new purple throw blanket to snuggle up with on the couch
113. Keeping up with library books and having no overdue fines (a miracle!)
114. Seeing a day-old baby goat while taking care of the Miller's animals
115. Finding a pony wandering down the road all by itself
116. Said pony sticking it's nose right in my van window
117. Lunch at Sky Ranch with Sam
118. Driving up on a herd of horses that slipped out of a fence at Sky
119. More daylight each and every day...love the longer days!
120. Dinner with the Sky Ranch OA's at our house and a fun game of Pictionary
121. Pajamas washed with a sticker on the front
122. Celebrating Mary Beth's 70th birthday with a whole weekend of activities dedicated to her
123. Ann Marie back in the neighborhood
124. Ann Marie's surprise gift of a jar of honey and a big bag of incredible apples
125. Jonah's revelation about the name Spaghetti-o's (They're made of spaghetti and they're shaped like o's...I'll bet that is why they call them that!!!)
126. Bridget, unasked but looking to serve, bringing my slippers and silently sliding them onto my feet during quiet time
127. Three joyful kids, dressed in pj's and robes tumbling down the stairs to ask if they could maybe, just maybe watch Toy Story 3.
128. Jonah loaning Bridget his slippers, leaving himself with none-just because she was sad to not have any.
129. Henry's excitement at realizing Blake was home in the middle of the day...gotta love Spring Break!
130. Henry walking around with only one slipper on because he couldn't find the other one
131. Playdate at the park with a new friend and fellow homeschooling mom
131. Another day at the same park with an old friend who knows me well
132. Watching the kids play near the edge of the water and eventually stepping in and getting wet-muddy-filthy-happy.
133. Rescuing Ella's ball from the middle of the lake with a very looooong stick
134. Bridget's sweet bedtime prayers for her friends
135. A random, accidentally dialed phone call that connected me with a friend I haven't talked with in months
136. March Madness!
137. Henry's first soccer practice of the season
138. Sam put up a soccer goal in the backyard...so fun!
139. Hilarious, belly-laughing moments at the dinner table (Bridget, "He sat on the car! HAHAHA!") that aren't even really funny, but they are moments we will treasure forever.
140. Leaning over to tell Sam, "We should see that movie Bryan mentioned in church today" only to have Beth lean over from the other side a few minutes later to say, "Have you ever seen that movie? I have it if you want to borrow it!"
141. Finding 11 eggs in one nest today, and 2 guinea eggs hiding underneath the boxes
142. Best deal ever, a boxed set of Francine Rivers books (brand new!) for $2 at a garage sale
143. Second best deal ever, a bag full of cute, new socks for Bridget from that same sale for $1
144. Henry's Lego magazine finally arrived!
145. Our first tulip bloomed...and we weren't even sure they would come up this year!


Won't you join me on a journey of thankfulness??? :)

Multitudes on Mondays

What a beautiful habit is thankfulness! I almost missed out on posting this today, simply because of the busy-ness of the day...but how many joys would I overlook if I didn't stop a moment to thank the giver of all good and perfect gifts...God the Father, Jesus the Son, The Holy Spirit!
85. Play-doh mornings
86. fields of brilliant yellow daffodils, glowing in the sun
87. a much needed and refreshing talk with Sam
88. plans coming together for a fun upcoming celebration
89. finishing a (very) long series of classes
90. hearing from Henry's soccer coach that practice begins this week!
91. windy, blustery days
92. early morning thunderstorms waking us all up
93. Bridget taking refuge in our bed after said thunderstorms
94. having a picnic in our backyard with friends
95. little-bitty tips of tulips and daffodils poking out of the ground, later than expected, but joyous nonetheless!
96. party night with the kids (pizza, How to Train Your Dragon, popcorn, lots of Narnia)
97. Sunday morning photo shoot with the kids
98. cooperative smiles, beautiful lighting, great pictures!
99. so many books on my to-read list that it's difficult to decide what to read at any given free moment
100. a friend to meet for morning runs
101. card playing friends who gather on Sunday many evenings to talk/play cards/hang out
102. new friends to meet at the park this week
103. an empty schedule that is quickly becoming filled

Won't you join the fun in counting your blessings with me? :)

Multitudes on Mondays

I hardly know where to pick up...it's been a busy month of February this year! So many things to be grateful for, so many memories made, so many lovely gifts...

On with the list, my heart overflows!

51. Play-doh at the kitchen table, creativity abounding
52.-62. Mom Heart Conference (an overnight getaway, uninterrupted conversation with other moms, a beautiful hotel room, meeting up with two blogging friends I had formerly only known online, listening to encouraging speakers, eating out at fun restaurants with the girls, pages of notes outlining my desires to be a better mom, a new book that I've been wanting (and not having to wait for it to ship to me!), 600+ moms coming together to praise the Lord!).
63. Mini-vacation to Great Wolf Lodge
64. Amazing family who joins us to make vacations extra special
65. Playing cards in the hallway while kids nap in the hotel room
66. Kids who know how to swim
67. Three incredibly different personalities in three wonderfully unique children
68. One with a heart to be independant
69. One with a heart for adventure
70. One with a heart full of joy
71. Precious hearts entrusted to my care
72. Visiting with my mom, talking and enjoying her company
73. The smiles on the kids faces when they realized Grandma had surprised them!
74. Sky the Donkey, smiling in her own way after a good ear rub...bending her head to the ground in happiness
75. A morning text from my father in law, rejoicing in the song of the birds outside
76. Finishing another book in Narnia...and the kids begging for more
77. Henry's revelation that, "Aslan is just like Jesus!"
78. Sam's new sidewalk down to the shop
79. Sam's excitement over the new sidewalk down to the shop. ;)
80. The orange glow of a beautiful, huge, full moon cresting over the tree tops as we drive
81. Finding kettle corn on sale for $0.99 at the grocery store
82. Sunday morning chats in the foyer at church...catching up with precious ones I don't see often enough
83. Sharing laughter with a lovely neighbor over the phone
84. A cardboard box that has now become a microwave, an oven and other kitchen appliances...

Won't you join me in taking note of your every day gifts? Even if you're not a blogger, take a moment to thank God for the lovely, every day, holy moments He has blessed you with today! "The LORD has done great things for us and we are filled with JOY!" Psalm 126:3 :)

Multitudes on Mondays

It's a lovely habit to be thankful for the beauty in our everyday lives. I'm so enjoying this new means of showing my thankfulness.

A happy boy with lots of snow to enjoy.
Snow on the trampoline! Couldn't get much better for these two. :)

These birds come every winter on their journey South. The sound when all those little wings take flight is just amazing!

35. a sweet toddler tug at the hem of my shirt to whisper "I love you, Mommy!"
36. skype dates with my mom
37. a houseful of pint sized superheroes
38. the smile on a six year old's face right before he blows out his candles
39. family gathered together to watch the superbowl and play ping pong
40. the beautiful sound of the wind chimes blowing in the breeze outside my window
41. gloves, scarves, hats strewn about-evidence of wonderful memories made
42. new collage pictures arriving in the mail
43. adult friends willing to spend their Saturday afternoon celebrating our little Bear
44. hundreds of blackbirds taking refuge in our fields for a few days on their long journey South
45. a full month of quiet times in the morning for the kids and me (a life-giving new habit)
46. cut out snowflakes on the window
47. beautiful rainbows sparkling through the house from the crystal snowflake hanging in the kitchen window
48. a boy who can't quit whistling, because he whistles when he is happy
49. a grateful six year old filling out thank you cards on his birthday
50. the surprise of picking my mom up at the airport today!

Multitudes on Mondays

Already it's the end of January, and I can't believe how beautiful the weather has been around here! Sunshine always makes my heart happy, and it's been 65-70 degrees too...love it! More and more to be thankful for...
18. polka dot couch pillows
19. deer antlers that little boys found at the park (such a treasure!)
20. riding bikes at the nature preserve
21. visiting the zoo in January
22. memories of Aunt Sue and summer days in her front yard
23. happy moments caught by the quick snap of my camera
24. telling stories by a roaring campfire
25. little ones running through the dark woods, being chased by 'bears' (their Dads)
26. playing tennis with Sam in the winter...and sweating
27. an animated 5 year old story teller
28. sitting on a log playing the telephone game with my littlest two
29. Bridget's bike bell ring-ringing through the nature trail
30. high school girl's community group starting tonight...and a faithful friend to help with it!
31. blog books, five years of memories and pictures bound into beautiful books
32. the feeling of Elmer's glue between my fingers
33. Sam's pile of dead trees, vines and leaves, still smoldering after two days
34. too many books waiting for me to read

Multitudes on Mondays

Have you found Ann Voskamp's blog yet? If you have, then you probably understand when I say that my heart sometimes aches when I read the words this woman writes. Such beauty, challenge, and love is found there and it all points right back to Jesus. If you haven't read it yet, you need to head over there. Go ahead. Click here!
Trust me, you'll be glad you did. :)

On with the list already! I'm so excited to start my own (never-ending) list of gifts, things which I am so thankful for...

1. sunny winter days
2. swing-set in the backyard
3. overwhelming giggles at the kitchen table
4. construction paper weaved together and taped to my fridge
5. planning Jonah's upcoming 6th birthday
6. my travel coffee mug with a picture of my boys on it
7. Henry's love for order and cleanliness
8. laundry that is never truly 'finished'
9. a book on the way from Amazon...One Thousand Gifts!
10. little fabric flags that will hang from my daughter's bed posts
11. my favorite homeschool tool...my date stamp!
12. teaching Jonah to read
13. Bridget's love for books
14. my incredible husband who works so hard to provide for us
15. kvne (local Christian radio station)
16. elk postcards hanging in the kitchen, reminding me of Sam
17. a piece of strawberry bubble gum that Henry gave me out of his personal stash