In Septemeber

Yesterday I picked up a large pumpkin from Aldi, had a pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks, and laid out all the ingredients to bake pumpkin bread. October begins tomorrow. Fall is here and with it a reminder to reflect upon our many blessings.

In September...

I was thankful for:

1. A day to grill out a delicious meal instead of just slapping something on the table in a mad rush to get the kids somewhere

2. A moment where my girls chose to help one another with schoolwork instead of fighting one another over nail polish ownership

3. Being delighted with the number of women who showed up at a Bible study I offered on loving our people well.

4. When our fridge broke..remembering to be grateful that we normally have a fridge that works. I normally have cream in my coffee that doesn't curdle. When our dryer broke, remembering to be thankful that we normally have soft fluffy towels. When our washer broke...trying to remember that I don't have to scrub our clothes in a river... When our van broke...remembering to be grateful that we could still put food on the table and get it repaired.

5. My daughter deciding to give her limited time and abundant talents to serving at church and school

 

6. Waking up on a rare Saturday morning feeling well-rested, ready to conquer the day- happy to be at home in our house- happy that A is a great Dad who wants to take our kids on dates

7. Thankful for Will's baptism- deep-rooted peace that all five of our children will have roots in knowing the Savior - asking for wisdom is learning how to lead each of them in their discipleship journeys

 

8. Enjoying A's company beside me on a soggy bleacher during our son's baseball game

9. Resting in God's sovereign goodness that we will be ok whatever is decided about our future at work

10. A blissful moment when kids were lost in the reading of good books sipping green smoothies. Hearing a song progress with repeated violin-piano-guitar practice. Feeling happy that they are really gaining some skills.

11. Being able to help my self-directed girl in an hour of need. Being there to give a hand at crunch time.

12. A Sunday School games night that coaxed the quiet ones out of their shells. Discovering that quiet ones can be hysterically funny. A delicious marinated chicken recipe shared.

13. Spending a rainy day at the lake with lifelong family friends. Guys huddled inside watching a ball game. Kids splashing in the puddles. The women processing life together. Teenagers texting people as they sit beside other friends.

 

 

14. Shared laughter in our Sunday School class. Feeling community grow.

15. Brothers and sisters shopping for small birthday gifts for one another. A moment (however fleeting) of thinking of others.

16. Dressing up for salads at California Dreaming in honor of a friend's birthday. Being able to meet my mom for Asian food another day for lunch.

 

 

17. Daughters that count it a privilege to sleep in my room when my man is away on business. Mother-daughter sleepovers, "Taylor the latte boy" sing-alongs, and stencil projects

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXS0nEOx_20&sns=em

 

18. A son that says "thank you for loving me" and squeezes my hand when getting out of the car before going into school. A moment of appreciation for birthday surprises.

 

Being happy that I bought birthday doughnuts for B's breakfast when I saw the "healthy kid birthday muffin" acceptable at school

 

19. A once-a-year tailgate at a high school football game with friends.

 

 

20. Thankful to be able to give our son a paintball-milkshake outing with friends for his birthday

 

 

21. Thankful to be able to hand down phones to our daughters. Thankful to be able to communicate with them in all our many different directions.

L's new best friend, Mr. Verizon guy

22. A chance to eat Zoe's Greek chicken salads with my girls after church

23. An early morning hour to light a candle and renew my soul with Jesus when I am so exhausted

24. Being able to share contemplative ideas with a friend during bleacher time at a ball game- happy to see an orchestra section added to our contemporary worship service

25. Playful wrestling moments, thinking of you texts, or journal entries, however brief, that help us stay connected during this crazy busy life with kids phase of our marriage

 

26. Trying to come to terms with the different personalities and levels of motivation in our family. Praying for wisdom in how to parent those with different interests well.

27. Walking around the zoo together as a family- Doing something interactive with our children when the norm is becoming each kid going off in his own direction or into her own room

28. A circle of praying girlfriends who weep together and share collective advice on heartbreak and parenting fails

29. Finally finding a time and date to meet a young friend for coffee ( on national coffee day ) and hear about her sweet first year of marriage. Resolving to act more like a new bride than a co-carpool driver in year fifteen.

30. My husband opening his arms to invite me to waltz on the front lawn before dawn..and even though it always bumbles and turns silly, I cherish those few moments of twirling connection