Day 30

Because one Thanksgiving dinner isn't enough, we celebrated again today with my side of the family.  Happy anniversary, Mom and Dad!

S: Stress free day with family
M:  Getting to see my grandpa (his 96th Thanksgiving dinner!)
D:  Got to play with cousins!
P:  Got to play with cousins!

Day 29

S: Getting all the carpets tore up at the new house.
M: Fun time with the Colburns.
D: Getting to see our aunt and uncle.
P: Getting to play War with sister.

Day 28

S: Watching lots of football
M: Having our first meal at Aunt Lolo's house
D: Seeing Frozen (the movie)
P: Playing with cousins in their basement

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Day 27

S: Seeing my mentee and knowing he is doing so well.
M: Thankful for how beautiful our house is.  The new paint is gorgeous!
D: Going to Orange Leaf (frozen yogurt).
P: Getting to have pizza for lunch and getting to watch Charlie Brown.

(Healthy eating took a bit of a break today!)

Day 26

S: Remodeling has begun!
M: Having time to write today and enjoying a good meal.
D: Having five days off of activities.
P: It's a five day weekend!

Day 25

S: Work is busy, but good!
M: The end of the day.
D: More dress down days!
P: The beginning and the end of the week.

Day 24

S: Time to work on new house.
M: Great message at church and worship time.
D: Picking new color of paint for my new room.
P: Great time spent at church.

Day 23

S: Fixing all the fire alarms in the new house.
M: Getting to pick new paint for the new house.  Deciding to paint the whole house, yay!
D: Clean sheets.
P: Great basketball game.

Day 22

S: Back early from business trip and a good dinner with family
P: Doing clay owls in art class.
D: No homework!

Day 21

M: My last day of school.  Thanksgiving break has started!
D: Just a few problems of homework.
P: First big snow.

Day 20

S:  Got all of my calls done early.
M: Provision to fix broken things (both a car and our dishwasher broke!)
D:  No homework!  Getting a whole night off. 
P: Having a night off from activities.

Day 19

S: Car is fixed and I can go see my mentee.
M: An evening with just Delanie and I.
D: Finished up my homework quickly.
P: My sandwich at lunch was really good (oh, a good sandwich always speaks love, doesn't it?)

Day 18

S: A flexible work schedule.
M: Marriage (mine specifically ;-) )
D: House
P: House

Day 17

S: Restful day.
M: An easy going baby at my photo shoot.
D: A yummy dinner!
P: A fun day doing fun stuff like playing outside, video games, TV, etc.

Meanwhile, In Their Professional Careers...

Both kids have been getting pretty involved in extra curricular activities this year.  I know I've mentioned a few times the time demands that these activities have cost us.  For me, it's easy to become frustrated when my "idea" of what a good time looks like, becomes disrupted.   I've made it no secret that I'm a big fan of lounging around the house, with my people close by, enjoying good food in comfortable clothing.  While my kids also enjoy these activities, they also like to do other things too.  Darn.  Actually, I'm thrilled that they are forming new interests.  I just wish there was adequate time in the day to do both really well. 

At first, it was hard for me to adjust to this new life of busy activity schedules.  I may have grumbled a few times *ahem*.  But when you get to see the end product, it makes it all worth it.  I've really been learning that we aren't made to be idle (unless in a season of rest, of course), but to do good works.  My kids have been doing just that in their activities.  God has given them a small section of the world to be salt and light in, and staying at home each night being comfortable, is like keeping the salt in the salt shaker, and the light under a bowl. 

I'm working on this. I'm learning...maybe slowly? I'm growing, thankfully.  I'm thankful to see Him work through my kids.

First, The Girl.  She was recently Gaston in a shortened version of Beauty and the Beast.  At first, she was very reluctant to be a boy, when clearly, she would have been a perfect fit for Beauty (HA!).  However, after a short chat about developing your craft, growing and learning, and stepping outside of your comfort zone (maybe I was just talking to myself), she came around, and really gave it all she had.  The result, was the best performance I have seen from her yet! 

 

That last picture?  It's my favorite.  My girl is getting a "Tommy Award".  Not for her performance, but for the way she helped others, was committed to learning, helped out when needed, and was an example of responsibility and respect.  

I think my heart expanded out of my chest in that moment.  My girl.  Salt and light in her small corner of the world.

Next, The Little Man.  As you can tell from his "Thankfuls" he's got a one-track mind for basketball these days.  He was asked by some friends at school to join a basketball team at the rec center in our community.  Usually, we only play basketball for one season through Upward sports.  We have thoroughly enjoyed this organization not just because of friends we get to play with, but also for the Christ-like characteristics that they instill and acknowledge even before the child's basketball skills (or lack thereof).  So, the rec team with school friends was new to us, but exciting.  It was also one. more. thing. to add to the list of things to get done during the week and weekend, but we thought the importance of continuing to build friendships outside of the classroom with his classmates was important.  

When he came home from the first practice a bit miffed, I was a little concerned.  He was upset that there seemed to be a bunch of "ball hogs" and no one played together well.  Knowing the first day of practice with a new team can be a bit challenging, I encouraged him to keep with it, and try to do what he knows how to do, and maybe the others will catch on in time.  Now, my boy is NOT the best player on the team, but I have loved watching him play.  I have seen him a few times pass the ball off to someone else when the shot was clearly his.  Instead of taking an easy shot and running up his points, he passes the ball off.  Soon after, others started doing the same.  It may have been a coincidence in timing with what the coach was teaching as well, but I love watching him think of others before himself.  He may not be the most aggressive player on the team (someone said, "Once that boy gets a bit more aggressive, he'll be an awesome player."), but he values others feelings above the things that the world values.  I like him like that.  Salt and light.  In his small corner of the world.

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."--Jesus, Matthew 5:13-16

Day 16

S: Making a lot of progress on new house.
M: Good photo shoot and a special lunch with The Girl.
D: Having a restful day (UH! She didn't appreciate the lunch as much as I did, I guess ;-) )
P: Getting to practice Christmas songs on the piano (He loves playing the piano!)

Day 15

S: Making it through a long day
M: Closing on the new house and looking towards a new beginning.
D: I got to look through microscopes today in science (My little nerd!  I love her!)
P: Getting to start the weekend

Day 14

M: Getting to spend time with the Colburns
S: Friendships with family
D: My friend played with me to day at recess (this is a particular friendship that has been on and off)
P: Getting to spend time at the new house.

Around Here...

Taking a break from all the riveting reading that has been posted here in the last few weeks *cough* to show some of what we've been up  to.

Going Old School and playing with Lincoln Logs.  You gotta love grandma!  She has all the cool old toys!

 Eating lots of carrots from our garden.

 Wrapping up a great cross country season:

 Taking some time to make our favorite fall treat.

Writing God's word on the floor of the new church wing before it was carpeted over.  (He wrote John 3:16 when we asked him what he wanted the people who might one day be standing in that very place to know.  My heart melted.)

 Basketball, basketball, and some more basketball.  Good thing it's a sport I like to watch!  Bonus points for it being indoors so I don't have to freeze my booty off.

 Earning their 4th stripe in Jiu Jitsu.  Next up: Yellow white belts!

 Someone KILLED it as Gaston in Beauty and the Beast.

Yes, that's my beautiful baby girl dressed as a man.

 The tree in front of our house looks Ah-Mazing.  I've been feeling a bit nostalgic at the the thought of this being our last fall in our home of 10 years. 

I know it's not much, but I'm hoping that the saying "Less is more" is true.  Because it's all I have right now! 

Day 13

Can I just say something?  It's killing me, totally KILLING me that I cannot write more about each of these thankfuls like I have in years past.  To simply list things makes it seem so impersonal, boring, and, well, unthankful.  However, it's the season of life we are in right now.  I must let go of doing things exactly the same each year (I have major issues with keeping routines), and embrace that this year just looks different on many, many different levels.  Not worse.  Not better.  Just different.  

Now that I've gotten that off my chest, it's back to list making I go...

S: Getting to see a chiro for a hurt neck
M: Bible Study Fellowship. I love learning from others and the Holy Spirit.
D: Getting a solo in the Christmas program at school
P: Friends

Day 12

Me: Reading a challenging Jesus Calling devotion.  Having time to work out what God is showing me in my life that needed attention, and the peace that comes from being close to Him.
S: I was able to to get all my work done even though I was hurting really bad from my bike accident.
D: I had a test today in math, which means I also had NO HOMEWORK!
P: Fun at basketball practice.

Day 11

S: I'm thankful for bike helmets (Someone had a bad bike accident)
Me: Getting to go on a walk with The Hubs and Gracie in such beautiful weather.
D: I had fun at recess today.
P: Fun times at Jiu Jitsu.

Day 10

S: Getting to play basketball with The Little Man today.  Having daddy and son time.
Me: God's faithfulness in being my helper.
D:  For a warm day to play outside.
P: An enjoyable day playing outside, playing video games, staying in my jammies, and watching TV.

Day 9

S: Got to see The Little Man almost get a triple double in basketball today.
Me: My sister is safe and being taken care of in a hospital with doctors who can watch over her.
D: I got to FaceTime my cousin today.
P:  Getting to eat out at The Rock tonight.

Day 8

S: Loved watching The Little Man play basketball (Again, seeing your kid do what they love is awesome.)
Me: Finally, making a decision on our carpet for the new house.
D: For Fridays.  (Enough said!)
P:  Having fun playing basketball and for winning.

Day 7

Me: The time and opportunity to go and see a chiropractor and a massage therapist for the crick in my neck.
S:  A good day at work.
D:  I got to see my friend today for a little bit.
P:  Having fun at school.  (We'll be working on not repeating things from here on out.)

Day 6

Me: A great time in God's Word at BSF
S:  Getting to spend some time with my wife, and then celebrating my niece's 16th birthday with family.
D: I was allowed to use my calculator at Mathnasium today. (Oh, it's the small things that make big things, right?)
P: I had enough time to get all of my spelling homework done.

Day 5

Me: Watching my girl thoroughly enjoy herself as she performed as Gaston in Beauty and the Beast.  There is nothing better than watching your child do what they love and also be quite good at it too.
S: Being able to go to watch Beauty and the Beast and also getting to see The Girl get awarded the Tommy Award by her peers.
D: Feeling relieved after a great performance at my play.
P: Having a good day at school.

P.S.  I hope to have some pics up from this play in the future.  You know, when I can catch my breath.

Day 4

Remember when I said I would probably have a bunch of lists for our Month of Thanks this year? Well, hold on tight. The riveting reading continues. 

Me: Not having a day where I felt rushed all day.  I felt like I could catch my breath.
S: I was able to get my job done even though I didn't feel well today.
D: Going to the Doctor and getting medicine for my cough.
P: Earning a 4th stripe at Jiu Jitsu.

Day Three

Me:  A great time of worship at church with a great message as well.  Also, for feeling more and more at home at our new church.
S: Got to spend a lot of time outside and I was able to get many chores done.
D: My cold is feeling a little bit better.
P: I got to play outside today and enjoy nice weather.

Day Two:

Me: Beautiful sky during an outdoor photo shoot.  Great weather for the entire "busy season" for my business.
P: A good basketball game.
D:  Having fun at our cousin's birthday party.
S: Getting to spend time with our extended family at the birthday party.

Thankfulness: Year Three

For the last two years, I have made November a Month of Thankfulness on the ol' blog here.  I love this little tradition!  It keeps my focus where it should be.  Since this year we are a bit more stressed out, with the move and all, I think it is even more needed.  In fact, I even got the kids and The Hubs involved.   I will not only keep track of our daily thankfulness here, but we are spending time as a family, during our devotion time, to talk about what we are most thankful for as well.   With all the busyness around these parts, don't be surprised if/when you see just a list.   In fact, that's most likely what you'll see.   Again, my prayer is that we might reflect back on these at a later date, and as a family, reflect on God's faithfulness, goodness, and love.

So without further ado, Day 1:

Me: Running into a friend unexpectedly at basketball tryouts.  Thank you, Lord, for friendships that last through time, rough spots, and good times.
S: Provision for the new house.
P: Doing well at Basketball tryouts.
D: Getting to see my counselor to work out friendship stuff.