December 13 - Monkey

Today our wonderful Monkey turns 5.  Five years of this wonderfully unique and immeasurably precious little girl.

For any mom I think the moment your first born baby takes it's first breath is a moment that is literally unforgettable.  It was for me. I remember it so clearly.  And when I close my eyes and remember her tiny, warm body laying on my chest I well with tears.  Oh that sweet bundle instantaneously kidnapped me, smothered me, and ground my heart into fairy dust.  Oh that little baby, my Monkey, changed me and she renamed me "Mom".  Precious she is, and cherished always.

Monkey is bright.  Brown hair, blue eyes, spunky and giddy.  She is enthusiastic.  VERY. ENTHUSIASTIC.  She jumps and wiggles and does the hokey-pokey whenever she has something to share.  She is a joker.  I foresee that in the coming years I will be the brunt of many-a-practical joke.  She is proper when she wants to be and detail oriented.  Her memory is sharp and her use of a napkin (na-kim) is a thing to behold.

She loves eggs and toast, nuggets and dip, carrots, broccoli, pizza, meatballs, and cookies.  Well, all sugar really.  "Special Treats" as she refers to them.  She can woof down a piece of cake or cookie or pie before I can put the spatula down and walk to my seat. 

Monkey loves Pipsqueak.  I mean, LO-HUVES her.  They are best friends and though they have their disagreements, they LOVE like sisters too.  She takes care of her little sister and looks after her.  She tells her what to do too.  She loves to tell Pip what to say when they're playing pretend.  It's rather funny.  She sings Pip songs before naps or bedtime.  She is content to have one sister since she is the best sister. (Love this)

As any mother can attest the list I could write on my child seems endless.  I'm so grateful to be her mom, to have the opportunity to nurture, mold, prune, and love on this little person.  I'm still finding it hard to believe she's reached this milestone of turning 5, but she has and boy, am I glad.

Day 30: Thanksgiving Month

Finale.  All morning I've been mulling over in my head what I should say today.  Nothing profound, nothing witty, nothing quippy comes to mind. What remains is sincere gratitude for the hard work this month has been.  It's been such an amazing exercise to sit at my desk every day and think on things to be grateful for.  By the end of this post I will have listed 400 things, small and great, that I thank God for.  That's 400 things that I go about my day on the usual month and don't acknowledge as a gift.  Or maybe it's not that I don't acknowledge, but that I don't always acknowledge as a gift.  Most days (well, everyday) I thank God for Handsome and Monkey and Pipsqueak, but I really don't give much consideration to my toothbrush nor the behemoth pack of Costco toothpaste in my closet.

Here's the question I'm thinking over:  Do I continue on this blog?  I sure hope so.  I may not make it everyday but I want to continue to cultivate a heart of gratitude.  How will this look?  We'll see.  I'm hoping to open up the forum here for others to write too.  If you're looking for an avenue to write, please let me know!  Most importantly, if you have anything wonderful you'd like to "Give Thanks" for, I will post it!

Tomorrow is December 1.  The beginning of the countdown to Christmas.  This is what we all are most thankful, right?!  The Son of God coming to earth.....

381.  Compact Mirrors
382.  Make up
383.  Proactive Facewash
384.  Face lotion
385.  Clean Bathroom!!!!
386.  Monkey singing naptime songs to Pip
387.  Pics of my nieces
388.  Christmas Decorations out in the house
389.  Pancakes for lunch
390.  Orange juice mixed with cranberry juice (and a splash of zeltzer)
391.  I had fish sticks in my freezer last night when I really didn't want to make anything.
392.  Keeping up every day (minus one) writing on this blog
393.  Monkey still enjoys cleaning up the play room with me
394.  Both my girls told me (yesterday and today) that they want to be a mom, like me, when they grow up.  Bestill my heart!!!! (and tears still form in my eyes)
395.  Handsome going to work even when he feels sick.  What a guy.
396.  How Handsome always irons his own clothes... that is one thing I will ALWAYS be grateful that he does... and never once suggested that I should do it. Love him!  And thank you, Army, for teaching him that chore :)
397.  She's having a girl!!!  (you know who you are!!!)
398.  Grace to persevere through hard times 
399.  Friends who encourage me along the way
400.  Amazing grace to make it to #400

Day 29: Thanksgiving Month

We are on the Eve of the end of Thanksgiving Month.  Our house has a few sick people and I can't remember when I last put real clothes on.  Jammies seem to be the order of every day these days.  Coffee is flowing, sleep is not sweet, and bedtime seems to be so far away everytime I look at the clock.  All these things are true, but this I know to be truer.  There is still more to be thankful for.

361.  Breath in my lungs
362.  A Heart that beats
363.  Hair on my head
364.  Socks on my feet
365.  A Christmas Tree in my living room
366.  My collection of Nutcrackers
367.  A delivery of oranges and clementines last night
368.  Ice cream in the freezer
369.  A new trampoline for the girls.
370.  Classical Music Radio  (with the now occasional Christmas song)
371.  Creativity
372.  Sending and receiving pictures
373.  Leftover Soup
374.  Books on the shelves
375.  Lots and lots of warm scarves
376.  Lots of warm hats
377.  Plug in speakers
378.  Yummy Seltzer Water
379.  The funny things my girls say
380.  My flat iron.... I wish i had one in high school... I needed one then!

Day 28: Thanksgiving Month

"It's the little things", right?  That's what "they" say.

So here's what I'm sayin'.   Check out all these little things that I'm grateful for today.

341.  Forks, Knives, Spoons
342.  Napkins
343.  Coushions on chairs
344.  Different kinds of hairbrushes.  Some round, some square, some oval...
345.  Ready Made coffee creamer
346.  Kitchen gadgets.  Can you believe all the specialized kitchen gadgets we have out there?  Can you imagine a pioneer woman coming into your kitchen and seeing a can opener or an electric stand mixer?  Woa.  We have so much to be grateful for.
347.  Tissues
348.  Tape
349.  Carpet
350.  Space heaters
351.  Humidifiers
352.  Multiple Bibles all over the house.
353.  Bowl of hot soup
354.  Hand lotion
355.  Volume control
356.  Redbox
357.  Hot Tea
358.  Juice (in the fridge, no need to squeeze fruit myself)
359.  Monkey's paintings
360.  Pip's belly laugh.

Day 27: Thanksgiving Month

330.  Kids with mostly happy hearts this morning
331.  My dear friend who understands when I need to cancel our time together
332.  Oatmeal for breakfast... with whipped cream on top!!
333.  Snow prediction this afternoon
334.  Pipsqueak's perseverance through this cold.  Nary a complaint this morning even as the cold is turning into a cough.  She's still playing... love this kid!
335.  A new book on my ipad
336.  Handsome's continuous generous service.  Heading to the store for Milk this morning (BEFORE WORK) so that I didn't have to go out with the sick girlie.  He's just the B.E.S.T.   For realz!
337.  I'm almost done the laundry this week... I see the finish line!
338.  "Every morning that breaks there are mercies anew.  Every breath that I take is Your faithfulness proved..."
339.  Sourdough Bread rising on my counter
340.  Video chat with my mom yesterday... getting a tour of the new house!

Day 26: Thanksgiving Month

Happy "Slow Internet" Day... otherwise known as Cyber Monday.  On a day like today when we are all looking for the best deals and more things, it's good for me to remind myself of what I already have and all I have to be thankful for. 

I spent a wonderful time with my extended family yesterday.  People, this is what I'm thankful for.  The laughs, the comradery, the sense of belonging, the deep understanding that when you are alone you are not alone at all.  Blood can indeed be thicker than water and love really is all you need.  Well, love and a table full of food.  And I guess you need water too.  So love, food, and water is all you need. 

321.  Pipsqueak slept all night long
322.  Pip even looks 75% better this morning than she did when she begged to go to bed last night (at 6:15pm)
323.  Handsome's "work at home" day is today!! 
324.  caution: this may not be something I'm thankful for right now, but I'm saying it anyway.  Saying  it is half the battle, right?    Ok.....                    A sink and counter and dishwasher full of dirty dishes.         There, I said it.   I am grateful becauuuuuuse........   Life without dishes would be hard and I would be miserable.  Dishes are a gift!!  Pretty dishes are a gift.  Dishes that are my own are a gift.  I'm so grateful that I get to own dishes and feed my family on them.  See, I honestly feel better and more thankful already!! YEHAW. 
325.  Monk and Pip working together, "as a team", this morning to let the dog out.  So sweet.
326.  More coffee to fill my cup when it's empty
327.  I'm so thankful that my heart is continuing to grow in hope.
328.  A week with minimal appointments. 
329.  Wegmans :)  :)
330.  Costco :)

Now... one more cup of coffee then it's off to clean that kitchen. And probably bake a loaf of bread... and do some laundry... and some dusting.  Oh yes dusting.... and if I can fit it all in, maybe pull out some Christmas decorations! 

Day 25: Thanksgiving Month

I'm sad I missed yesterday.  However, I have no guilt as I was out and about with my dear family and dear friends for a day of fun and chopping down our Christmas tree. There was not a moment to be had at my computer.  That about sums up my list of thanks from yesterday. We'll call yesterday #311.

Today I'm able to sit at my computer again.  Not for long I think as my littlest Pipsqueak is for sure sick this morning.  By the end of our day yesterday I could tell she was coming down with something.  What clued me in could've been the extreme emotions, or the fact that she fell asleep in the car and was virtually un-wakeable.  It also is in part due to her nose running and constant sneezing.  After a long and tiresome night of waking up multiple times, I'm distracted from what I could be thankful for.  So here I go, redirecting my gaze away from the grey clouds and on to the silver lining. 

312.  Pipsqueak will get better
313.  God designed our bodies to heal themselves. So grateful!
314.  Our tree looks beautiful in our living room
315.  Today I get to see my brother, Sister (in law), nieces, cousins, aunts and uncles.  Wahoo!
315.  Veggie Tales
316.  New shows on tv that are so good that I get hooked.
317.  Music - the kind that plays in the background and becomes a soundtrack to your life
318.  Green Tea
319.  Boxes of cereal sitting in the cabinet. 
320.  Strength for today.

Day 23: Thanksgiving Month

The day after Thanksgiving.  For some reason I'm finding it hard to understand the psychology of today.  The day after the "Day of Thanks" and it feels as if I'm all out of ideas for this list.  It's as if all the hype and gratitude culminated in last night's fare and today is quiet, still, and small.   It doesn't help that I'm dealing with the carb overload from last nights dinner and minimal sleep.  Woe is me, right?  Too much food. Not enough time in my warm soft bed.  I'm laughing right now because I can so easily turn what is a blessing into something to complain about.

301.  Family Dinner last night
302.  Leftover turkey to take home
303.  Turkey sandwich for lunch!!
304.  Handsome's new glasses
305.  Handsome bringing me home some Starbucks!!
306.  Black Friday shopping for an hour alone
307.  Beautiful weather today
308.  Special "I'm sorry" email from someone
309.  Warm Slippers
310.  Pizza/Movie/Family night with Handsome, Monkey, and Pipsqueak.  So blessed!

Day 22: Thanksgiving Month

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!!  

Today I'm sticking with the big ones.  Those things that are foundations. Solid, always there, large categories.


291.  I'm thankful that I am found in Christ.  That all my badness, all my selfishness, all my wrongness, all my disobedience, all my rebellion, all my pride is covered by the blood of Jesus and The Father sees Jesus when he sees me. 
292.  I am hemmed in, behind and before.  His hand is upon me. 
293.  I am thankful that I have not given up on these truths and I continue seek Him who will be found.
294.  My family. The parents who raised me, the brothers who sharpened me.  The Husband that loves and treasures me.  My daughters that delight me.
295.  My friends.  The ever faithful, every available, and ever wise friends of mine.  What would I do without you?
 296.  My In Laws.  For accepting me and loving me
297.   My Church.  Though we have had some downs this past year, I am more grateful than ever for the way we have been trained by discipline and how we are experiencing much grace and freedom and joy in repentance!
298.  My Small Group.  Each one is an inspiration.  Each one wise and ..... funny!
299.  My home and vehicles.  Of all things that I could choose to keep in life that is tangible, these two things are in the top three.  So blessed to be sheltered and mobile.
300.  FOOD!!   I'll end on this note. 

As I go off to bake dinner rolls for our feast this evening I'm thankful that we are so rich!!  

Day 21: Thanksgiving Month

Tomorrow is the big day. THANSKGIVING!   The day I'll be doing nothing but baking bread, putting on stretchy pants and heading to the in-laws for some T-to the- URKEY!

That's tomorrow... today I'm thinking of more things to add to my list of thanks.

281.  My desk is clean
282.  Only 2 loads of laundry to fold and put away today! WAHOO!
283.  Friends who bless friends when they are in need
284.  Receiving my grandma's old hat boxes and finding there are two hats still in them... like vintage pill hats with net veils.  LOVE!
285.  I'm thankful my Mamaw taught me how to crochet when I was a little girl.  I love making things!
286.  Handsome going to the store for me on his way home from work.  This is no small thing!!!  Even though he doesn't understand why it was such a big deal for me, it really is a big deal.  I did NOT want to go!
287.  I was thinking this morning that the house isn't "fully stocked".  Then I realized that I have more than enough to last until after all the holiday festivities.  What an overabundance of grace!  The culture I live in is all about food and stocking up on food for the holidays.... but we have what we need and then some.  Thank You, Lord!
288.  Lip Balm
289.  Hand Lotion (so much washing of the hands + cold weather = chapped hands!)
290.  Pipsqueak coming out of her room this morning still half asleep.  Before she even hugs me and says "good morning" she barely gets the words out, "Mom, can you help me put on my Cindalella dwess?"

Day 20: Thanksgiving Month

276.  Handsome gave me his old ipod thingy-ma-bob.  Now I can listen to my ipod on my kitchen/living room area - through my radio.  that's pretty sweet!!
277.  "No Electronics or Battery Powered Games" day with the girls.  All sorts of dresses, dancing, imagination going over here.
278.  Making my first loaf of bread using my new sourdough starter.  It's exciting.  I'm really, really trying to not get my hopes up.  It might fail... but, that's ok, I can just try again, right?  right.
279.  Texts from my parents this morning.... sigh.
280.  My family... parents and bros.  word!

Day 19: Thanksgiving Month

Right now, I'm living and holding on to "The Lord is my shepherd" for a bit.  "I shall not be in want".   Various versions say things like "I lack no good thing" or "I lack nothing".  The Message says "I don't need a thing."

pause.   repeat.    meditate.

I find so much peace, comfort, and contentment knowing that all I must do is graze like a sheep in the pasture that my shepherd puts me in.  Wherever that pasture may be, I eat.  Yes, sometimes I poop too... and usually it's not pretty when I have a poopy attitude.  But mostly I eat.  I should not worry about a thing for my shepherd keeps watch.  He plans my ways, He guards my steps, and when I'm dirty he washes me.  Sometimes I'm so dirty or there's a knot so big that he must sheer me too.  But even the sheering is for my good.  Sometimes that discarded wool can be used for good too!!

266.  Continued grace to keep up with this exercise
267.  Though my heart is so prone to complain and wonder and focus on "bad", I'm not thrown out of the fold.
268.  Pumpkin Flax Seed Granola for breakfast
269.  A Text from my aunt (xoxo)
270.  Waking up to find that my 4th attempt at sourdough starter seems to be viable.  I'm still holding out hope that, yes, those bubbles and foam, and sour yeasty smell might actually mean I DID IT!!  (crosses fingers)
271.  It's haircut day!!
272.  Leftover soup for lunch today.  One of my best homemade soups yet... God is good!
273.  Handsome... can I really only have his name on here once?  nope,  he's one of God's richest blessings on me and I choose to continually remember that.  Stay tuned!  You'll see his name on here a few more times before I'm through.
274.  Folding half of the mountain of clothes last night
275.  Pinterest

Day 18: Thanksgiving Month

It's a tired, two cups of coffee, moving slowly, no brain function type of morning.  Fingers are typing the wrong words, or should I say "wrods", and ................... there are significant absences in thought processes mid sentence........................   Asking God to help me find all my blessings this morning.

246.  I'm thankful that I'm not a farmer today.  No need to get up with the sun and milk the cows or (cough, cough-goats).
247.  No plans on the calendar today
248.  Handsome being home... I just love it when he's home!
249.  Monkey's drawing this morning.  Her skills are improving
250.  I'm thankful that I know the Lord will help me to fold this pile of laundry that's been sitting in my office for a few days now... it's big.  Like lose a child in it big.... sigh... I know He will help me
251.  Girl-Time out with a dear friend yesterday... Movie, dinner, drinks, shopping.  It was so lovely!!  I really needed that time
261.  Living Social coupons/deals.  For realz!
262.  ...........(thinking)..................................The little electronic games my girls play with
263.  This exercise each morning.  It's real sweaty work some mornings to think through my blessings, but it's necessary for my soul and heart
264.  Target's $1 section
265.  A new box of herbal tea!

Day 17: Thanksgiving Month

235.  Friends on Facebook who are listing what they're thankful for
236.  The way Pipsqueak says "u-nuver-wan"  instead of "another one"  AHH! So cute!!
237.  Monkey who likes to help out around the house.
238.  When I wake up, I can tell the relative time by whether I smell coffee in the air... love a timer on the machine and LOVE the smell of coffee luring me out of my comfy bed.
240.  Emails from family
241.  Handsome sleeping in
242.  Going out this afternoon for some resetting time... dinner, drinks, movie!
243.  Slow, no plans mornings
244.  No condemnation over a messy house
245.  Strength to push through "how I feel" and slowly pick up said messy house.

Day 16: Thanksgiving Month

Last night I was working on my assignment for my small group ladies meeting.  "Write 10 things your grateful for."   Sure, I can use one of my already listed 210 things that way I won't run out of things to write for today's post.    .....

....Oops, I guess I'm still not getting the point of this exercise.  There is still MORE to be thankful for.  It reminded me of when I was a kid and I was proud of myself for counting to 100. (by the way, Monkey can count to 100 now and it is a big accomplishment!).  Then I realized that numbers don't stop at 100.  All you need to do is add a one and you can keep going.  One hundred one, one hundred two, one hundred three, and so on.  The moment you think you've counted as far as you can count you can always, always add a one and keep going.  One trillion billion gazillion .... and one.  So it is with God and his blessings.  Infinite.  Generous. Kind..... and one.....

(begin last nights list)

211.  Texts from friends
212.  Monkey's happy helping
213.  Roasted chicken drippings
214.  Christmas cards coming in teh mail
215.  Beer, wine, vodka martinis
216.  Jillian Michaels who kicks my butt
217.  Handsome's generosity
218.  Pipsqueak's love for her mommy
219.  Mugs.  So much variety.  Pretty, witty, ugly, and plain.  Happy, sappy, funny or vain. (I just rhymed)
220.  Socks without holes

(end last night's list)

(begin today's list)

221.  The ladies in my small group
222.  Prayer
223.  Using my words to encourage someone
224.  Laughing
225.  Understanding between friends
226.  A dear lady giving me Leapfrog videos for the kids
227.  Cramps, bloat, and the blehs...... means my body is working.... it's a stretch to be grateful for this one
228.  Sleeping in to 8:15 this morning
229.  Handsome getting home early so I can hit the grocery store BEFORE care group
230.  It being cold enough that my groceries didn't need refridgeration other than my trunk.
231.  Having a new carton of Almond Milk to surprise Monkey with this morning.  Oh the cheers of joy!!
232.  The girls enjoying playing pretend with the new honey bear bottle and using two green aloe bottles as their pretend fish tanks.  I LOVE their imaginations and they're friendship!
233.  Bread in the bread machine!
235.  Turkey sandwiches for lunch later.  Monkey's been asking for one for almost a week now and as of my trip last night I can finally give her one .... on homemade bread!!  Life is good!!

Day 15: Thanksgiving Month

I'm in the two-hundreds!  Amazing... I can't think of a time when I've ever written a list over ONE hundred.  I guess it goes to show that I have far more to be thankful for than I do to complain over.

201.  New coffee from Handsome.  Nothing like a thoughtful "traveling present"!
202.  Sourdough Starter.  I'm honestly on my 4th attempt to make sourdough starter. It's been frustrating before, but now I'm grateful because it's teaching me patience. And maybe it won't work out this time either, but if so, that will be an opportunity for me to find peace in disappointment!
203.  My ipod. 
204.  Erasers  (correcting mistakes, wahoo!!)
205.  Balloons
206.  Hair Clips
207.  White out
208.  "Ask, and it shall be given you"
209.  Pencil Sharpeners
210.  Jokes on Facebook that make me laugh out loud!

Day 14: Thanksgiving Month

Handsome got home last night from a 4.5 day trip away, and, oh my, I am so happy to see him!! His safe return is what I'm thankful for most, but of course, there's still more to be thankful for.
 
191.  Brakes on our vehicles
192.  Technology
193.  Ice Cream
194.  Pipsqueak who generously shares her ice cream with sprinkles!!
195.  Those rare but wonderful moments when Monkey wants to snuggle me or gets excited to hold my hand when we're out.
196.  The play room in the basement!!
197.  Handsome taking a day off work to spend time with us
198.  Being together with the crew I love the most in this world (handsome, monk and pip)
199.  Green Tea
200.  Moments of quiet and content in our home

Day 13: Thanksgiving Month

At first glance it seems I am just listing a bunch of things.  Random items thrown together on a list can look very trite.  But if you go deeper on each item, assign value to them, imagine life without them, or realize that some of them are not items that have been around since the dawn of time, you start to realize they are all reasons for thankfulness.  

171.  Sweatpants
172.  The weather yesterday!!  65-70 degrees, wonderfully windy, so refreshing!
173.  Simple breakfast for dinner
174.  Airplanes.  Fast travel from far off places.
175.  Anticipation of a wonderful thing
176.  Toothbrushes
177.  Toothpaste
178.  Sunglasses
179.  Homemade bread
180.  The outfits that Monkey puts together when she decides to get dressed
181.  Pipsqueak who never wears clothes.... only dress up dresses. 
182.  Exercising with the girls outside
183.  I can do 3. THREE. TRES!!!!  normal push ups.  Like from your feet not your knees!  That's pretty significant for me... the person who could barely hold the plank position for more than 2 seconds. 
184.  Scissors
185.  Crayons
186.  Books
187.  Our imaginations
188.  Vitamin supplements
189.  Chewing gum
190.  Light bulbs

Day 12: Thanksgiving Month

146.  Safety while sleeping
147.  Dishwashers
148.  Skype
149.  Eggs, toast and cheese!
150.  Waterpressure
151.  Clean water to drink
152.  Tylenol
153.  Tweezers
154.  Carpet
155.  Locks on doors
156.  The ability to read
157.  Kids TV
158.  Salt
159.  Garlic!!!!!!!
160.  Chicken
161.  Cheese
162.  Grocery Stores
163.  Jammies
164.  Monkey's blue eyes
165.  Pipsqueak's Hazel/green eyes
166.  Handsome's kind green eyes
167.  Pipsqueak speaking ever-so-kindly to her sister, "no fankyu, you kin havit."
168.  uhhh.... coffee again
169.  Beautiful weather!!
170.  Sneakers

Day 11: Thanksgiving Month

Distractions are all around me today:  How I feel,  my to-do list, my kids and the way they are reacting to each other, what I don't want to do...

Nevertheless... I will count my blessings

126. Veterans
127.  The Internet and all the helpful information so readily available
128.  Pancake mix (from a box!).  Such a wonderful convenience
129.  Video monitors.
130.  Sound Machines
131.  Stuffed animals
132.  The "kids bathroom" toilet fixing itself so that I didn't have to plunge
133.  Costco with my bro.
134.  The bill being significantly less than I expected!!  Wahoo!
135.  Library books waiting for me to pick up anytime.  Love the "hold" list!!
136.  No plans for today
137.  After searching forever for someone who was very special to me as a child, I've FINALLY found them on FB.... hoping we can connect.
138.  My memory.  It's not perfect, but it remembers things... Ever seen the movie "50 First Dates".... that would totally stink if that was me.  So glad that I can remember things!
140.  My cedar chest. One of my favorite hand-me-downs from my mom.
141.  My new china!  Another of my most favorite things given me from my mom!!
142.  All my aunts and uncles.  They are all just so fantastic!
143.  Also, all my cousins... woa am I a blessed girl!!
144.  The slipcover on my couch.  It's held up pretty well all these years, and I'm grateful that I was able to buy one and keep it for so long.
145.  Coconut milk in my coffee :)