Thanksgiving 2016

The Gingers in our Family

We have a running joke in our family about "forced family fun". The kids eye roll and complain when we ask them to remain unplugged for a few hours. We work a puzzle. We feast on a meal that took Mom days to create. We take a stroll around the neighborhood and look through the viewfinder to find moments that last a lifetime.

I asked one child (who was most reluctant to leave his gaming community for seven hours) if he would come back and visit me when he is grown. 

He looked up from his active screen and said he would. I'll hold him to it. 😀

October 2016 Gratitude

1. Practicing mindfulness and deep breathing in the midst of the chaos of the kids' region audition- a cafeteria full of instruments playing different things at the same time and a sense of anxiety and worry thrumming in the air

2. Sitting under the twinkle lights on the back porch with A and Della washing off sadness and frustration

3. A hug and a kiss from my son; an "I love you, Mom" after a sullen afternoon (year and a half)

4. Looking back on Della's hyper puppy video when we first got her- boundless energy

5. Five days off of school (and not driving carpool)

6. The scent of fall pumpkin bread baking; sprinkling pumpkin spice into my own Starbucks and saving the $5

7. Trying a new coffee shop on our getaway anniversary weekend; retreating with my man; Seeing the pressure roll off of him from work; the rental of a beautiful cabin

8. Exploring covered bridges and waterfalls; following a map in a small mountain town- happy to have "my" mountain time too this year (as the family always opts for the beach); stopping to take silly pictures on top of hay bales or chimney ruins

9. Taking a quiet, truly relaxed Sabbath morning- no leadership responsibilities

10. Praying with my man, back-to-back in a mossy grotto by a lily pond under a shade tree; idyllic

11. Laying down on a park bench with my head in A's lap (for a change) watching the sunlight filter through the river trees; watching giant river turtles sun themselves on submerged civil war wreckage; waltzing down a historic bridge covered in padlocks (like we left in Latvia)

12. Teaching Will how to vacuum and glad that he'll be able to help out around his own house one day

13. Ever hopeful when I transplant swamp wildflowers: They withered, but it was worth a shot

14. A little taste of something sweet on the weekends

15. A church that plans elaborate fall retreats for youth

16. The freshness of a morning to help me remember my place in the world, in the universe, in time

17. Being so very tired- a reminder that I am not always this exhausted, most days are better

18. Thankful for my husband's strong work ethic

19. Working on puzzles together for Will's extra credit

20. Taking a friend out to lunch for her birthday and finding a place that she had never been to before

21, Feeling close to God when I see the sun's rays shoot brilliantly across the sky- a long-forgotten image from a children's Bible coming to mind



22. Dinner with old friends (former neighbors "Duke Harvard")

MJ invited to a game with a friend

23. Walking the fairgrounds with Mom- seeing the fair from a  different perspective (jams, jellies, arts, and quilts)

24. A beautifully decorated tablescape for a wedding or a ladies event

25. Working with a team to fill in choreography gaps

26. Watching a flurry of red leaves flutter down from a maple in autumn

27. Caramel on apples

28. Candy corn with salty peanuts

29. Feeling a burst of inspirations when trying to come up with more SCT choreography

30. Cutting inspirational pictures out of Victoria magazine with scissors (in a digital Pinterest age); love of beauty and appreciation for craftsmanship

31. Attending a party with family friends and finding inexpensive costume solutions/pj onesies for the entire family at Walmart

September 2016 Gratitude

1. Watching Della run to us across the yard, tongue lolling, ears flopped over in exuberant greeting- wondering if I ever feel that excited about anything

2. Della gaining enough self-control to lay beside us on her blanket while we do other things- like type gratitude entries in this blog

3. Having a gift for party planning and seeing the details come together (even if the cake wasn't exactly what I had envisioned); Having people enjoy fellowship in our home and around our table (even if I'm not the greatest cook); Taking walks down memory lane together via 50th Wedding Anniversary slideshows

4.  Watching a sky full of stars over the lake from a pontoon boat- not setting the houses on fire with our wishing lanterns

5. Hearing the morning frogs and crickets chirp choruses of Your praise

6. The cool fall air in the beginning of autumn- sensing change in the air

7. Both sides of our family being able to gather together for holidays and celebrations; Hoping our kids will want to celebrate  sometimes with us when they are grown

8. Seeing a window of opportunity to rest on the schedule when I feel so depleted

9. Hearing You call to me when I am worried and upset about many things. Choosing to sit with You instead of fly around and "get things done".

10. Recognizing Your provision in opening up a date night for us- knowing whom to thank when serendipitous moments occur

11. Going on a drive with  my family- Tom and Jerry soundtrack in the front seats and the kids watch a DVD in the back; everyone together: plugged into their various devices, but present and fairly amiable; driving through a tunnel of oaks in the low country on the way to Edisto; ; Watching the live oak boughs frame wedding vows of my young friend and former college student; happy to see their sweet faces again all grown up

12. Sitting on the back porch with Della in the cooler temperatures watching the wind ripple on the pond and through the willows; freedom from harm

13. Laughter around the table as we celebrate Betsy and Tina's September birthdays

14.  A kind doctor to examine B's bruise (and it not being a fracture)

15. A salon treatment to help my hair stay soft and not turn into a dry brillo pad

16. Walking alone in our house barefoot in a few hours of silence; doing chores and accomplishing tasks in the quiet

17. Bible study with like-minded women that I can learn from

18. Going to see My Fair Lady at the theatre and being so proud of my friend's "loverly" job; tri-generational girls night out

19. Friends who will pray over me and cry with me when I am overwhelmed with the pace of this season of life

20. Youth leaders who give of their time to meet my girls at Cookout on a Sunday night

21. Teachers who have kids do most of the presentation work in class

22. Watching an episode of a new show on our laptop- a treat, not a daily indulgence

23. Savoring additional moments with you, God, through a devotional

24. Laying down on the driveway star-gazing with Della; enjoying both my smallness and connectivity to the Greatest One

25.  Being able to encourage a new mom, a young worship leader, and a woman struggling in her marriage- realizing that middle age does have some benefits

26. Waking up ready to dance- sensing You shift my mood towards joy

27. Reading "I will love you forever" in our shared journal

28. Della's excitement when I say the word "inside?"- romping and leaping in the grass, running ahead to the back door

29. Teenaged B asking for a hug when I woke him up from school- surprising my socks off

30. A make-up hug after a disagreement

August 2016 Gratitude

1. Cinnamon dulce latte Starbucks for the road trip home (and warm slice of pumpkin bread -shhh)

2. A husband who will sell the old van on Craigslist for me

3. Being able to sub sometimes when someone is ill/ lend a helping hand; having enough margin to help without feeling guilty that I should be doing something else

4. Others' kind appreciation when we are able to host Bible Study here: "You make it seem effortless."

5. New school supplies at back-to-school sale prices

6. Feeling like my time with Brave Girls was a valuable endeavor- seeds of thought planted for the girls to mull over later as they make their life decisions- creating a safe place to be heard

7. Going to Terra on a date for steak frites and lemon vinaigrette salad, then to a tango lesson too- oh the freedom of summer!

8. Driving to Greenville to find Evangeline at the Bernhardt House of Violins, then celebrating with lunch at PF Changs

9. Another monthly gathering of soul sisters- sharing life with funny girlfriends

10.  Wrestling with my goofy man- occasionally finding it within myself to act loud and extroverted for him

11. Watching a good movie together on our laptop snuggled in our covers

12. Watching the Olympics on the couch with our family and allowing Della to stay with us on a blanket

13. Glimmers of a son's happy personality returning after a forced technology Sabbatical

14. A working the crowd to express appreciation to Biltrite employees at a company picnic

15. I have a shepherd who will carry me when I am down and lonely (Psalm 28:9)

16. A goodbye kiss in the morning

17. Knowing our pediatrician and being able to express health concerns and search again for solutions

18. A pilates member asking for my prayers in a cancer scare

19. Seeing L write again, even if only for school assignments; returning glimmers of confidence

20. The ability to buy school supplies and clothes without financial hardship; deep gratitude for a good job

21. Watching The Little Prince on Netflix with my kids and enjoying flashbacks of my francophilia

22. Taking a jet ski ride with Andy the way we used to when we were dating seventeen years ago; flying across the water, rhythmically soaring up and over the waves like riding on a galloping horse

23. Sleeping next to my husband the night before he leaves for a long work trip

24. Having air conditioning and the ability to plug in my phone and listen to my music on days when I need to drive 185 ridiculous miles around Columbia

25. Safety for my husband in a new business venture- no trips to the hospital as they learn how to use new machinery

26. The ability to lie on the couch and read on a day when I wasn't feeling well

27. A night to stay up reading until 1:00 am and a little afternoon nap the next day to recover from my foolishness

28.  Rays of sunlight filtering through a copse of trees (and how my vocabulary improves when I read more)

29. Kids happy to see friends at a high school football game

30. Girls who enjoy baking

31. Having our parents worship alongside us at L's church orchestra concert evening

July 2016 Gratitude

1. Finding a llama rug from Peru at a consignment store and llama wrapping paper for L's birthday

2. Being able to shop for a new car when the old car died

3. Watching 90 Minutes in Heaven together as a family; snuggled up on the couch with fuzzy blanket (in July) and popcorn

4. Singing along while L plays the piano; impressed with her growing ability to sight read (which I never learned)

5. Curling up with A for few moments in early morning

6. Seeing common ground in our dreams and insecurities as women of all ages in our first summer SS Bible Study hosted here

7. Being able to finish a long book with minimal interruptions- happy introverting

8. Grandmama taking L shopping to find black orchestra garb

9. Learning to dance the tango with my man every few years- appreciative of each lesson, even if few and far between

10. Lake day with friends, gathering around a big table; grilling smoky steaks on the big green egg

11.Waffles and pancakes birthday brunch at Mama's with our family; having my mom still want to celebrate my birthday when I am 45

12. Warm cobblers with vanilla ice cream melting on top

13. Opening our home to more twenty-something women in our SS Bible Study- offering a mentoring layer

14.  Hitting snooze and sleeping a few more minutes in our old, soft sheets

15. Hearing MJ sing her heart out in the church musical

16. Crunchy blueberry breakfast flat biscuits (cookies) and  decaf coffee with my early quiet time

17. Seeing Christina moved to tears listening to L play the piano- people who are sensitive to beauty; happy to be with family

18. Being able to love on college counselor girls as they stay with us this week of Pinecove Camp in the City

19. Seeing a rainbow with Brennan while listening to a ukelele rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow on the drive back from cello lessons

20. The neighbors offering to watch after Della while we are away on vacation

21. Taking meal to other neighbors who just had twins

22. Being able to talk with smart high school girls about life issues

23. Mimi's hot fudge cakes at the beach condos- bringing back childhood memories of family gatherings

24. Spending mornings in pi's at sleepovers with Mimi at the beach; waking up and lounging throughout the day, not seeing each other for four hours

25. Watching the sun come up at the beach as part of my morning worship

26. Having traditions such as going to Aunt Catfish's each year in Daytona

27. Family devotions somewhat tolerated

28. Swimming with a dolphin, sting rays, and schools of fish in the Discovery Bay coral reef- amazed by God's beautiful creations

29. Thankful that A and I are on the same page when it comes to investing in our family vacations

30. The tortoise-shell pattern of light on the bottom of the Oceans 1 condo pool; Seeing the shadow of my hands as I swim underwater; loving the calm of gliding beneath the surface

31. Walking on the beach at night after a rain; fine white sane cool under my toes; feeling the ripply lines from the waves massage my feet

June 2016 Gratitude

1. A gift of appreciation for a job well done; good teachers

2. B's first cello ensemble: Pachelbel's Canon in D

3. Summer finally here: girls squealing in the neighborhood pool

4. A neighbor inviting L over to swim- having a friend as a neighbor

5. Lunch at Mom's- being able to get-together without schedule conflicts

6. L's acceptance into Current; anxious moments of waiting over

7. Boys playing a Life board game together in their room- doing something non-electronic

8. Having high school friends over for Bible Study

9. Watching Finding Jane with L & N; enjoying Jane Austen's passion for writing and love- getting my period film fix

10. Rallying the girls in the family for a GNO- night of laughter seeing a female comedian

11. Pig Pickin' Pool Party for SS- A's first pig roasting endeavor

12. Hearing from an old friend out of the blue

13. Trusting that my kids will be okay because God loves them and will watch out for them- resting on His parenting skills when mine fall short

14. VBS- dressing up like a pirate; aargh!

15. The boys being brave enough to invite the new kid over to play

16. Real, thought-provoking conversation with my husband (not just logistics of who is going to drive the carpool)

17. First phones and teen excitement

18. Honest conversation with other mamas about parenting; trying to be the best mamas we can be

19. Honest conversations with a professional musician about overcoming performance anxiety; having  crab crack with Charleston friends

20. A apologizing for sarcasm when his intent was not to be unwilling or unhelpful; clear communication

21. A curling around me before leaving for San Francisco for a weeklong adventure with B

22. Chocolate fondue, hot syrupy strawberries over waffles, beautifully decorated cookies from Tiffany's to celebrate a daughter's birthday

23. Della's wagging her whole body in happiness when we return in the car- watching at the edge of the driveway for us to return

24. Jubilant that the pick crepe myrtles decided to bloom again after a little coaxing with fertilizer and miracle grow

25. Afternoon tea at the Ballantyne in Charlotte- posh road trip with teen girls and moms

26. Gathering together as Soul Sisters when one of us is hurting in grief

27. An evening spent reconnecting with my husband- choosing to invest in our long marriage

28. A quiet afternoon reading next to B and L- book people

29. Supper club with Sunday School friends- investing in getting to know the people in our class- enjoying a nice restaurant as couples

30. Going out to eat as a family

May 2016 Gratitude

1. Seeing Mom and Aunt Christina hug, grateful to be together; family reunions

2. Walking Della with A on a neighborhood stroll and hearing his heart; finding a way and place to unwind

3. A chance for A to start a business of his own

4. The boys finally winning a football game

5. Trying out a new sandwich shoppe with Mom for Mother's Day; swinging on my back porch swing; eating homemade pound cake with caramel icing

6. L's joy in receiving a superior rating on her violin solo when she was convinced that she would only get a "poor"

7. Will's speedy race and bonding day with A at Carowinds

8. Beautiful flowers from my man; a poem from N, crafted at school; take out Cracker Barrel brunch enjoyed on our back porch in the spring weather- dining al fresco and actually making use of our porch

9.The body's ability to heal

10. Shoving peanut butter toast and orange juice into my kids' hands before they drive off to school

11. Watering flowers in the cool of the morning; happy to see orange, red, and yellow lantana resurfacing from last year

12. The cool mint-infused washcloth at the end of a hot yoga class

13. Meeting friends for lunch on a semi-regular basis

14.Watching my kids perform: sing, play the piano, play the violin, play the cello, play the guitar- thankful for the ability to take lessons and to learn beautiful skills

15. Will making it to regionals and having the opportunity to race again

16. Listening to my kids practice at home

17. Brushing L's hair; listening to piano-cello duos on Pandora; calming anxiety

18. The scent of fresh lilies in a room

19. The assurance that God can make a bad start better; hope; grace appearing in the form  of a school wide internet failure for a kid who was behind on an assignment

20. The sound of rain falling, heard through the chimney

21. Saying no to yet another emergency sub request at the gym- choosing what I need: to stay home and linger and listen and not rush off to another event

22. The sound of our grandfather clock ticking in the early morning

23. MJ singing happily in the shower

24. Watching N make strides as a runner and having a burst of inspiration to organize her room

25. Making peace after a heated argument

26.  Sweet farewells

27. Seeing a kid pull it together for a presentation (albeit last minute)

28. Kids gathered lazily around on a Friday night

29. Boys off to NASCAR, girls to a chick flick; cookies and ice cream for dinner

30. Lake day with extended family

31. A fine tip pen good for making notes in the margins of my Bible

April 2016 Gratitude

April 2016 Gratitude:

1. Well-stocked libraries for both schools and the community

2. Comfortable mattresses

3. Clothes dryers

4. Living in a beautiful neighborhood with no smokey trash piles

5. The opportunity to ride horseback to the top of a volcano

6. Seeing the azaleas and dogwoods in bloom around our city

7. Galaxy chocolate-honey brickle bar

8. An Easter basket reciprocated from a neighbor

9. Mom coming to MJ's chorus performance and going to the kids' favorite (Chick-Fil-A)

10. Grandparents who live close enough to attend concerts and performances in person and not have to view via FaceTime

11. Sunday dinner at Mimi's house

12.  Time along at HOME; loving to adventure, and loving to be a homebody too

13. A's head resting across my lap when he doesn't feel well

14. Passion fruit granola sprinkled on top of creamy mango yogurt from Trader Joe's

15. Andy and Carter handling the taxes- not having to puzzle over complicated forms

16. Delighting in MJ's love of acting and singing

17. A's ability to work hard and focus on a goal

18. Taking Della on a spring walk; talking heart to heart (not face to face)

19. Doing yoga poses in the crisp morning air while taking Della out- balancing under stars and willows

20. Taking a ballet barre class and feeling good afterwards

21. Being able to take Laurel to see Celtic Woman and the dancing violinist

22. Being able to take the girls to Starbucks after a show; Helping a child be brave when she wants to panic

23. A brigade of girlfriends to share advice and experiences in this motherhood journey

24. Della curled up in companiable silence in the opposing chair while I enjoy quiet time on the porch

25. Panera triple berry scone and coffee on a Monday morning before teaching two exercise classes- carbloading

26. Speaking in to one another's lives on a friend's back porch

27. Sneaking Della in while the kids watch t.v.- training her to sit still long enough to get to enjoy some inside time

28. Watching MJ and Della run through the first sprinklers of the season

29. B asking for prayer that he could be kind

30. Anticipating fizzy fizzy and key lime pie under the twinkle lights. Arranging praises and prayer time as a family (and still pulling my idealistic expectations way down to earth). At least we're using the twinkle lights on occasion

March 2016 Gratitude

March 2016 Gratitude:

1. Having girlfriends send funny and commiserating texts when I am overwhelmed with Vegan health cookbooks and information

2. Sitting with my sick kid on the couch- Having just one home from school

3. Sitting in the sunshine with Della in early spring

4. Calling our pediatrician friend with all of our health concerns

5. Enjoying the dynamics of our Friday Bible study group with girls I don't normally interact with as much

6.  Gathering to celebrate Granddaddy's 71 birthday with bowling and  a pizza  party

7. Sunshine after a string of cold, rainy days

8. Gratitude that we have easy access to food after listening to the series

9. Offering chocolate croissants to kids with clean rooms (whatever it takes)

10. Binge-watching Downton Abbey on a day off- beautiful period drama, scenery, costumes, sigh

11. Having coffee with God on the back porch, rubbing Della, listening to the frogs and birds chirp, watching geese pairs and the does race across the lawn

12. Having my husband pray over me

13. Watching Once Upon a Time with our kids and exercising during all the commercials; wearing fuzzy socks so that I can do barre exercises on the hardwoods

14. Trying a new restaurant and enjoying the beans and rice- simplicity 

15. Our kids enjoying The Voice together; amazed by incredible talent

16. A junior chef whipping up a batch of chocolate peanut butter protein shakes

17. Completing a small craft project- humble, but feeds my need for a creative outlet

18. Connecting well in the relationships that matter most to me

19. Observing young love with a smile

20. Thankful for friends who check up on me when I fall off the map

21. Showing the girls the things that Aunt Debbie set aside for us

22. A salted caramel biscotti coffee break- love the sweet, salty, and crunchy treat

23. Antique photo albums and the eras of life that they represent- people I do know not, but are related to me

24.  Listening to B practice the cello of his own volition

25. N curling my hair in a trendy style

26. Making dinner together with Mom, side by side 

27. Easter Sunday: projected stained glass windows for a contemporary worship building- connecting with history and tradition

28. Safe travels to and from Guatemala

29. Toilets that can manage flushing toilet paper

30. Trash and recoiling pick up on a regular basis

31. Supermarkets

February 2016 Gratitude

1. Our family gathering together for one of the kids' events and getting ice cream together afterwards.

2. Waking up early enough to make the family French Toast before school/work. (Normally the response to "What's for breakfast?" is "Look around.")

3. Girls Night Out with Mom at the Koger going to see Dance Theatre of Harlam- poetry in motion

4. Singing "Ode to Joy" with Mary Jayne as she learns to play the hymn on her Christmas guitar

5. Going to a good core class at the Y while Della was getting fancy at the groomers

6. Directed to fight "for" a loved one and not against him

7. The sweetness of having a worship leader/conference speaker streamed into my living room

8. Scentsational jungle gardenia candle lit for my quiet time (and no one home to tell me that they don't like the scent, or that smoke stings when it gets in their eyes)

9. Trying to die to self and love Jesus and my family by washing the sticky pots instead of pointing out that I was trying to have a quiet time; working on a heart attitude/personality trait that doesn't like to be bothered when I'm in the midst of something.

10. The gratitude of a sweet moment when love is expressed.

11. Having someone look after you when you are sick- keeping the family going when we are one man down

12. Making Valentines; remembering a neighbor

13. A wild display of exotic orchids

14.Enjoying a nice dinner out with Andy; seeing him "unzip" from work and life responsibilities for an hour or two

15. Take out Sunday dinner: Lizard's thicket chicken tenders and green beans

16. A 10:00pm pillow talk date with my man

17. Natalia being able to shadow Michelle and getting excited about veterinary job possibilities

18. Sincere conversation about God with girlfriends, and our desire to ramp up our prayer lives

19. Choosing a table for two instead of a table for ten- choosing us over ministry sometimes

20. A family picnic in the park and a walk in the woods (with Della too)

21. Gathering together in Amy's media room to share and pray

22. Apologizing after doing the wrong thing; confession after sin; restoration of relationships

23. Peanut butter melting on hot toast

24. A freshly washed puppy  freshly rid of dog-smell

25. Kids playing music on their instruments- starting to sound good!

26. Going to lunch with the conference speaker and getting to see the real person, not the stage persona

27.  Inviting mom and daughter friends to the women's conference and sitting together around a round table

28. A beautiful display of lemon bars and cookies, m&m and granola canisters; women who make events both well-planned out and lovely

29. Time to spend with my girlfriends

January 2106 Gratitude

January 2016 Gratitude:

1. An evening to read on the little used FROG couches

2. Mom coming over with a Carmel pound cake and a tray of sliced ham for a's birthday and a beautiful clearance jacket for me

3. A two-hour coffee with an old soul friend

4. Finishing a sad but good book (going in the "hole" after saying goodbye to fictional characters

5. Black bean soup at Tiffany's (not same ole same ole) with my "Ladies who lunch"

6. Watching Della race after Will at full speed, like a crazy dog with the twirly whirlies

7. A moment where N helped L prepare for exams; sisterly cooperation

8. A roomful of women gathering to pray for an upcoming conference

9. Holding Mom's hand tightly at a funeral

10. You steadying L through exam week

11. Crowded January fitness classes- hoping to bring a little inspiration for the new ones

12. A morning to stay in and blog with Della learning to sit on her blanket sleeping to Pandora music

13. A sense of order and accomplishment after the glitz and hurry of December

14. My girls wanting to sleep with me when A travels- traditions of talking late at night, asking "would you rather" questions; Seeing their desire for one-on-one time in our come-and-go life

15. Getting the attic back to functioning order after moving things out of sight in December

16. Coloring and contemplation with my children to serene music

17. Watching MJ's interest in cooking develop; thinking I probably only made chocolate chip cookies when I was ten

18. Attempting to make gingerbread houses with Mom and the kids; letting go of expectations that they would be lovely; the boys just liked squooshing the icing and making blobs of candy; being ok with not controlling the project

19. Playing "bored" games with my computer-addicted kids, enjoying. Resurgence of low-tech togetherness

20. A string of emojis- expressing love when A is away

21. Smiling at how A greets Della with an excited high-pitched voice; her out-of-control tail/body wagging in happiness

22. Saying "I love you, too"; greeting God first thing in the morning, knowing that He loved me first

23. Kids learning to snowboard on a Dad and kids vacation; content to stay back with the kids who was not interested

24. Seeing a movie with Laurel and Lucy after having read and loved a book; thankful that my kids have friendships that span a lifetime

25. The desire sparking to create something; liking my round objects collection, even if my family didn't show much enthusiasm

26. Our youngest children feeling proud of their school wax museum accomplishment

27. Watching War Room with A and being reminded of the need to pray fervently; happy tears in seeing the movie family teach their daughter to pray, and thankful that we are a family that knows You

28. Our kids quietly listening to Laura Ingells Wilder books in the car on the way home from church (taking a break from same-old same-old top forty...laughing when my kids have no idea what top forty is (was)

29. Being able to learn Gyrokinesis on YouTube and Pinterest- access to learning new things

30. Will choosing to pray for a bully at  school 

31. Meeting up with Stephanie for a Barre class and having lunch at Drip afterwards. Realizing how very suburban and middle-aged we are compared to the artsy, tattooed generation that follows us. 

Thankful in December 2015

December 2015 Gratitude:

1. The moment when I go up to doublecheck that B is truly awake and find that he is dressed and reading his Bible

2. The family's growing excitement about getting our puppy this week

3. Advent devotions to prepare my mind and soul for Christmas; the sweetness of God that our favorite ornaments didn't get broken when the tree toppled over

4. The joy of seeing the kids meet Della

5. Kids camping out in sleeping bags to keep Della company

6. Pandora quiet Christmas stations for quiet times and photobook making

7. Pilates members who bring me their personal sound systems as back up when the machinery is unreliable

8. Hosting a Christmas tea for Biblestudy ladies

9. Wagging tail of happiness: our dog who wags her whole body when she greets us

10. Seeing the costumes, flags, orchestra, lights, choreography, and fog all come together in this year's SCT

11. People telling me that the dances are beautiful; kind affirmation of The Promise

12. Friend's tears, moved by beauty of worship expressed in dance

13. Andy spending intentional time with the boys

14. Flashbacks of sweet performing memories: listening to snatches of Christmas carols, Mary Did You Know? Nutcracker waiting in the wings, hanging tights out to dry each night, smelling the fog and playing with the light - magical

15. A gift of thank you flowers from my girls

16. Soul Sister matching bracelets

17. Having family over to our house during the holidays

18. Getting the teacher re-stockings assembled as the kids rush out the door

19. SS friends gathered around our tables, enjoying Christmas fellowship

20. A sleepy house on a Saturday, kids slowly waking up and wandering down for breakfast one by one

21. Extended family getting together mostly peacefully

22. Lunch at a deli and a gift exchange between friends and moms- sensing the beginning of a tradition with these girls

23. Kids learning how to apologize and forgive

24. The moment when the candles are lifted high and fill our church on Chtistmas Eve

25. Being able to celebrate with our families each year and not have to drive across the country

26. Laughing out loud at a comedy

27. Going on a family walk where the leaves rustle on the ground but the temperatures are comfortable

28. Going to the Japanese steakhouse once a year to celebrate three family birthdays at a time

29. Having friends to give the leftover frozen turkeys to

30. A meeting young guys for breakfast

31. Feeling A relax just a little in my arms after long work battles

Thankful in November 2015

November 2015 Gratitude:

1. Old sheets that have become silky soft after sixteen years of use

2. Youth retreats

3. Having tea at my house for our family

4. Will starting to read chapter books well

5. Honest conversation with our kids about dating, marriage, and friendships

6. Lunch with Stephanie

7. Responding well to a child who broke my iPad

8. Seeing my SCT dancers start to come together

9. Crashing on the couch after a long week

10. Winning a family membership to the YMCA for $50 for the year!

11. Taking a barre class to learn something new and add variety

12. More A's, more doughnuts

13. Hearing Bob Goff's Love Does testimony (sitting back to back with him and being the only ones singing the words to pop songs)

14. Blueberry pancakes at Cracker Barrel

15. Sunrise samplers

16. Watching A throw the football with the boys in the front yard

17. Friends to call on to pray over anxious moments- L's ingrown toenail surgery going well

18. Feeling creative: wanting to make a wreath for Christmas

19. Mom's good report from MDA- 6 more months before the next checkup!

20. Someone to share driving responsibilities with

21. So proud of the Region kids and L's hard work for a beautiful orchestra concert

22. So proud of my angels hard work and thankful to feel ahead of schedule this year

23. Happy to create 3-D wall art

24. Glad to be able to make a journal for a teen girl from the journey Christ has walked with me

25. Sweet morning with my husband before work

26. Sitting down to Mom's beautiful Thanksgiving table- amazed that she's found the energy to make such a meal

27. A thorough gratitude list from my daughter

28. M and N learning to sew aprons with mom (since I don't sew a lick); making gingerbread cookies

29. Getting a real tree and beginning to decorate

30. Being able to affirm and support young, talented missionaries- happy to hear how God is moving in people's lives

Thankful in October 2015

October 2015 Gratitude:

1. B noticing a TLC friend at church

2. Friends who pray through crises and emergencies

3. A rainy day when the schedule has been cleared

4. Trader Joe's mango yogurt, mango-passion fruit granola for breakfast, comfy bathrobe candlelit quiet time

5. Mercifully being spared from natural disaster that devastated others in our city

6. Watching the Ben Carson story as a family- inspired by a life dedicated to You

7. Watching The Age of Adeline and trying to reframe grey hair as a positive thing (coming to terms with aging)

8. Family bonding while our city has come to a standstill

9. Happy that L, N, and B could volunteer for disaster relief at school

10. Singing with MJ as L accompanies us on the piano- delighting in her growing skills (which far surpassed mine)

11. B becoming a whiz at the Rubix cube; A and I marveling at toys that hVe come back around

12. Gatling together for another family feast at Mimi's

13. Two good SCT rehearsals, getting us off to a good start, despite confusion and tempers

14. Hearing B's guffaw-cackle after the seriousness of his academic load

15. Indepth Bible Study discussion

16. An amazing helpmate

17. Invitations for our kids to sleepovers with good friends

18. Safe Haven of Soul Sisters for sadness, anger, and disappointment

19. Going to bed ridiculously early and being excited about it

20. Sleeping in an extra hour

21. Homemade cookies

22. Feeling close to A

23. Desiring even greater closeness with God

24. Time and inspiration to blog- even just for our family, not a readership

25. Volunteering with Samaritan's Purse to clear flood devastation

26. More good SCT rehearsals- God promising choreography inspiration

27. Listening to B practicing his cello at home- my favorite concerts

28. Lunch with Rachel for her birthday

29. Spiritual reflection with my Wednesday night Sunday School girls- feeling as if I have something to pass on that I have learned, even if it's not formal mentoring

30. Seeing a picture of our new puppy and deciding on a name for her

31. Traditions of sharing Halloween with friends and their families