December 2016 Gratitude

1. Seeing the twinkly white lights in the windows when we drive home at night or around town

Trying new venues for the perfect cup of cocoa on date night

Trying to squeeze in date nights in the midst of everything else going on.






2. Watching L rehearse her multitude of pieces in the shower for the good acoustics- beautiful current concerts, school winter concerts, SCT orchestra and recital all in one season

"Evangeline likes to sing in the shower"

3. Fresh haircuts for the boys and finding clothes that my girl likes on sale with Kohl's cash, and rewards, and coupons- feeling a thrifty counterbalance as I blow up my Amazon account ordering most gifts online

4. Pulling clothes that are still warm out of the dryer- kids that like to flop on top of the pile before folding; having a washer that works

5. Realizing just how funny your quiet kid is when he's away on a field trip and your only communication is texts and pictures of stone walls from Epcot

6. Knowing that God has done something just for you- making a way where there was no way after standing in line for an hour

7. "The glories of His righteousness and wonders of His love" - actually thinking about the lyrics to classic carols and a heart that is directed towards worship; reading the Advent devotional with kids; the girls piano recital held in a retirement center instead of a concert hall

8. Being able to shop online instead of waiting in line- being able to create online when I am out of thoughtful gift ideas; free shipping and packages arriving at my door; little traditions like getting a Starbucks in a holiday cup, putting together Advent legos, and finding a treat in a slipper or under your pillow

peppermint and tea when you are living the gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free life

Yum Yum Blue Flour Bakery for the gluten-eaters

Sunday School classes shopping for others and enjoying holiday parties

shopping for weird (allergen-friendly) ingredients and making thin mints from beans and flax seeds

St. Nick and the Tooth Fairy are going through some golden chocolate coins

9. Tears of gratitude that spring to my eyes when the Singing Christmas Tree all comes together (after some hairy rehearsals with lighting, hundreds of carolers, orchestra, costuming, sound equipment, and props); gratitude for someone who snaps a gorgeous photograph of my angels and shares in online for me to see; looking through another's viewpoint and seeing shadow dancers I'd never noticed on the wall; people who respond on social media with kind affirmation; friends who come to the performances year after year

Being able to dance for His glory and lead others to do the same

10. God regularly sending just the right devotional or song on the radio or leading me to just the right Scripture when I want to encourage another in her faith journey- seeing how much He cares for her and honored that He allows me to be a part of the family of Christ

When the movie you've been waiting to see gets moved up to open on your birthday

Preteen sleepover madness (hand me those electronics and get to sleep!!!)

11. Kids celebrating each other's birthdays year after year

Class parties and homeroom moms who like to organize these things

Having a SQUAD

12. Silly dog groomers

Della's nails look better than mine right now

13. The look on her face when Della gets a snack (I probably look like this too)

14.Wrapping presents to vintage Christmas music; festive playlists for pilates; pilates members who support one another through the years and life's curveballs

Faithful friends who are near to us, gather near to us

15. A black satin bow-tie worn my my cellist for his winter orchestra concert

16. Giant poinsettias, my husband's generosity, and visiting a neighbor

17. Lost culinary uniform found; prayers for a lost bow; "mid-year sharing shows"

18. "Cackling" laughter at our Sunday School party; our kids listening upstairs to the fun below; a pot-luck that turns out to be delicious

19. Wild animated gestures of surprise and delight when opening gifts (or eating popcorn)

20. Going out to eat as a family (and having gift cards); finding a server who is knowledgable about allergies and sensitivities

21. Christmas tea with friends and daughters

22. Having taken so many pictures that I need to delete some to free up room on the camera, phone, or laptop

23. Enjoying Christmas tea with the girls of our family

24. Attending the candlelight Christmas Eve service as a family

25. Celebrating Christ's birthday with family

Practical gifts- replacing all the spoons that have disappeared over the last 17 years #mysteriesoftheuniverse

26. The Holy Spirit helping us love one another through difficult relationships - forgiveness

27. Comfort for those who are hurting, support for those who need assistance; being able to financially help another person or mission agency

28. Driving training schools

29. Sleepovers with good friends and days off of school to enjoy friend time, lunches, movies, and time trying out new toys

30. A big warm old comforter to wrap up with Della when she is banned to the back porch for being too hairy

31. Sharing New Year's with family friends (at someone else's house this year)

November 2016 Gratitude

"Mom, gratitude that is forced is not gratitude" says my logically-minded son.

He is correct. But, I can only hope and pray that just as I have forced him to brush his teeth to ward off tooth-decay, he will at least consider all that he has to be thankful for when he is older. Maybe one day he'll thank me?

1. Rejoicing that good friends will not have to move away after all

2. Jesus' love, attention, and the sustaining power of the Holy Spirit when I am overwhelmed

3. Putting my toes in the squishy sand of a barrier island on a school field trip

4. My non-outdoorsy husband taking his dad, brother, and our boys on a river treehouse adventure

5. Watching, impressed, as my husband shopped and packed all the food for the trip, down to making sandwiches

6. An extra hour of sleep, blessed sleep

7. Listening to Jesus Calling devotional on CD as I drive around town; letting Scripture wash over me and refocus my scattered thoughts

8. Watching my girl learn to act at Town Theatre; embracing smaller parts with gusto; amazed at her ability to memorize everybody else's parts too.

9. God's peace during the heated election process; thankful for our country, as broken and damaged as it is

10. The ability to communicate and love Holy God and not have to do life on my own

11. Watching an orchid develop day by day from a tiny bud, unraveling and unveiling the beauty on the inside

12. My daughter offering me a tissue for my tears

13. How velvety soft Della's ears are

14. MJ getting a throw-up virus over the weekend, when I can more easily attend to her without rearranging all the driving; fortuitous timing

15. A rainy fall morning in my pajamas transferring my gratitude; coming to terms with the fact that this may only mean something to me, and that shared history with God and family and friends is enough; I may never need to write words for an audience outside my own doors

16. Hearing that a college girl said that she was most impacted by our mentoring time together at Shandon; content to know that fruit is being born

17. Finishing the SCT choreography with a profound sense of wonder and relief that it had come together so beautifully under the Holy Spirit's creative hand of inspiration; Being keenly aware of my need of His help- these ideas were given to me

18. Practicing His presence in the carpool line; hearing my breakfast biscuits crunch between my teeth and the sound of the laundry bumping around in the dryer; stillness, observation, awareness, not wanting to miss a thing for the clamor and noise of random media



19. Doing the impractical thing: choosing to join my daughter and her friends for a Harry Potter movie premier at the 10:00pm showing on a school night; Their happy smiles (my tired body)

A and B running a race

20. Viewing brilliant autumn colors through the filter of my sunglasses as I drive

21. Being woken up in the middle of the night to send an encouraging letter to someone who is struggling (reminding myself to lay off the hot tea now that I'm aging)

22. Having Scripture cards ready when a young friend texts confiding a deep-rooted area of struggle



23. The church gathering together to give thanks, receive communion; L playing in the worship orchestra and region orchestra and madrigal orchestra

24. Mom's many labors of love to create a lovely Thanksgiving feast

25. Being overwhelmed by L's allergen report, but being thankful to know how to take steps in the right direction

26. Putting up the Christmas decorations in stages; No sense of rush; Being able to trim some things that are no longer necessary; getting ready for Advent and finding a free resource on Hoopla to focus on the names of God during this busy, rushed season

27. N happy with her ombré- teen hair fascination

28. Della resting beside me on her new mat while I talk with You- Happy one year of family togetherness

29.  The calm beautiful twinkle lights give

30. Taking our family to see A Christmas Carol for a holiday night out and cheering on a young friend