Thanksgiving

So much to be thankful for these days...

354. watching Justin play with the boys (so different from the way I do it)
355. kisses goodbye before the sun rises as he goes off to work
356. a husband who loves God
357. the group of ladies in my Bible study sharing their lives
358. a husband who goes with me to the grocery store at night so we can use the car
359. discussing deep things of God with friends
360. play dates
361. a small trampoline at home to bounce out boy energy!
362. flowers picked by little boys
363. sound of wind rustling in the trees
364. a husband who trusts me
365. Justin taking over the nighttime/bath routine
366. rain storms
367. our pastor praying with us in the hallway at church
368. being with Nana in the hospital
369. telling her I love her
370. hearing her tell me she loves me
371. knowing my sweet Nana is with Jesus
372. sweet memories
373. successful ankle surgery
374. planning a tropical getaway
375. watching how much my boys love babies
376. that Justin makes talking to his family a priority
377. the way Justin loves his mom
378. that he never asks questions when I have not cooked dinner
379. his support as I homeschool the boys
380. checking on our children sleeping before going to bed
381. the yoga mat that has become a makeshift bed in our floor for scared little boys
382. spending time with my sister and her sweet girls in Texas
383. food cooked by friends that blessed us while I'm "out of commission"
384. so many prayers lifted up on my behalf
385. a great new Bible-wonderful maps and notes
386. getting "kissy face" pictures in my inbox from my niece
387. studying God's promises in the book of Isaiah
388. memorizing Scripture with our whole church - Matthew 5:3-10

Multitudes on Mondays

#324-343 of His gifts...

*spiky-haired boys, freshly bathed
*wind whipping the rain to look like snow
*Lego building--a sea plane
*booklet for memorizing Colossians
*precious quilt with our wedding date embroidered
*soft, red, warm boy cheeks upon waking
*stomach problems solved!
*stainless steel coffee pot--unable to be broken by my clumsiness
*praying for a friend's son's first day of school
*taxi driver's amusement at my silly, sweet boys
*new bedtime routine--boys to bed at separate times
*"Great is Thy Faithfulness"--a wonderful hymn
*seeing the Christian community faithfully surround friends
*rearranging the furniture *smile*
*a clean house and how it calms my mind
*a car ride with a sweet friend~just uninterrupted talking
*honest conversations
*finding another homeschool family in Singapore with kids our kids' ages
*retrieving the "lost" coin my oldest swallowed 9 days ago

The Year of Here

The boys and I got a book from the library recently called Now It Is Winter. It's about a little mouse who wants to know if spring will ever come, who wonders if he will get to do all those things that spring brings ever again. His mother assures him that spring will come, but that winter has so many things that only winter brings so he should enjoy them now. Snow angels. Ice skating. Snowmen. Eating oatmeal with brown sugar.

At the end of the story, the mother says, "Now is the blessing. Now is the time to love. Now is the time to be."

Those words resonated with me because I've been thinking about what I want this year to be for me. Who do I want to be at the end of this year? What do I want to have accomplished?

This is the year of here.

"Now is the blessing. Now is the time to love. Now is the time to be."

Here. present wherever I am. thankful for where I am. not distracted. not wishing to be somewhere else. or someone else. content. with who I am. and where I am. fully engaged. present for my children and husband.

"I profane this moment when I won’t stay in it.

I desecrate now when I dismiss it in my push for the next."

-(Ann Voskamp, aholyexperience.com)

I don't want to always be pushing for the next moment. I don't want to wish my kids would grow up just a little bit faster or wish we lived in Texas when we don't. I just want to be here where God has put me. And do the things He has planned for me. Give my children the mother they deserve.

And not always be wanting things to be different.

Live in the HERE and now.

Multitudes on Mondays

#310-320 of His endless gifts...

-Caleb staying in his bed all night (not every night...but progress!)
-watching my boys be so sweet and gentle with babies
-baby laughs
-being able to hold someone else's baby
-cool afternoons at the park
-Caleb playing easily with stranger children on the playground
-old friends who check on me
-seeing a friend for the first time in weeks
-big hugs after absence
-movie time--all 4 of us

Multitudes on Mondays

Continuing my gift list from my Heavenly Father, part of finding contentment and giving thanks in all circumstances.

#149 hot tea to soothe sore throats
#150 good medical care for a sick kid in Singapore
#151 sweet kisses from two little boys
#152 long distance phone calls on Thanksgiving Day
#153 chance to give back to a friend
#154 favorite prayer journal to record praises and requests and His faithful answers
#155 realizing we have missionary friends on 4 continents
#156 good friends to walk this Singapore journey with me
#157 that God uses my hardships to minister to and help others
#158 good, strong preaching from God's Word every Sunday
#159 continual lessons from 1 Samuel
#160 air conditioning to sleep in
#161 comfortable beds
#162 watching and helping my oldest to read
#163 soft, warm towels from the dryer
#164 little boy laughs
#165 games to play with family
#166 hot water to wash dishes with
#167 Skype calls with friends and family, keeping in touch across the oceans
#168 my niece singing songs to me via Skype
#169 funny things my kids say
#170 lights on the Christmas tree
#171 special ornaments from years past decorating our tree