- Writing this while looking out over the breathtaking view of the Oregon Coast, enjoying my sweet WCC sisters at the Oregon Beach Retreat! Just got here and so excited to see what God will do.
- At-home date, watching movie with my man.
- Outside family work-day: Spreading barkdust, planting flowers, pulling weeds, vacuuming out the car. Filthy dirty fun.
- Dutch unloading away the silverware.
- Organizing “the drawer” in the kitchen. We all have one, right?
- Organizing the homeschool/craft/kids’ project cabinet. Oh how I love order!
- Hand-written notes. Almost a lost art but not quite.
- Feeling full.
- Repentance.
- Forgiveness.
- Grace.
- A brand-new friend jumping in with both feet, coming over and helping clean house before a showing–seven days into friendship and she’s scrubbing my toilets. A saint.
- A house-showing that didn’t interfere with naptimes–hooray!
- Seashells in my bathroom.
- Quilt squares on the wall.
- Antique chair with ornate curves and teal velvet seat.
- Being part of the greatest movement the world has ever seen.
- Watching Dutch play with baby Hannah: “Look mommy she’s smiling! I made her smile. She likes me! Oh mommy, I love her. She’s so cute. I love you, baby Hannah. Mommy, when she’s two-years-old will Hannah will still love me?”
- Explaining to Dutch about adoption. He replies, “Mommy, we should adopt ALL the boys and girls who don’t have mommies and daddies. And then we would have so many children!” Yes, Dutch, we would, that’s why we’re not going to do that. 🙂
- Dutch’s budding vocab: “Mommy, I have a brilliant idea!”
- Heidi’s budding will: “I do by self!”
- Tucking tiny feet into tiny shoes.
- Tucking myself into my man’s arms. Home.
- Baby Eve being so tired she crawled up into the dishwasher with her blanket and rested her head on the dish rack. Sometimes I feel like that too, baby Eve.
- Jeff leaving for four days, saying goodbye and feeling really sad, lingering in his arms–this too is a gift, that we like each other enough that we hate to say goodbye!
- Awaking to a 6:30am text message from a dear long-time friend I never get to see (who has 5 young kids!): “On a walk alone, call if you can chat!” Sneaking into the laundry room for a hushed conversation before the kids awoke. A huge gift!
- Driving to Riversong.
- Dad’s birthday dinner, meatloaf and chocolate cake.
- Singing happy birthday to Dad while Dutch hid under the table. For some reason birthdays are enormously embarrassing for him, even when they’re not his.
- Eating a piece of chocolate cake. All the more spectacular after not having sweets for a month!
- Two little monkeys in the hot tub. Forgot their bathing suits so undies work just fine!
- Skyping with Daddy, both kids leaning toward laptop, standing on my lap, squawking and laughing and poking the screen. A riot, those two.
- Dutch & Heidi sharing a room. Laughter delays the sleep but doubles the fun!
- Wondering.
- Dreaming.
- Resting.
- Submitting.
- Waking early, quiet house, rushing river still outside. Prayer and Bible study surrounded by the trees.
- Ideas for raising grateful kids.
- Finding my mom’s own gratitude journal open on the table. It is a gift.
- Seeing how she described each of her grandkids… “Dutch: Verbal whiz, Heidi: Joy-saturated …” and her gift that caught my eye, “I’m alive!” Yes!
- Finding the house strangely quiet and creeping upstairs to find Dutch & Heidi playing kitchen, together. Plates lined with neat stacks of food, pots simmering on plastic stove, spoons stirring, lost together in their shared imaginary world. Priceless.
- Pellet stove.
- Snuggled up with Dutch, just the two of us, for over an hour reading Sharp Ears. Even without pictures he is captivated by that book. I learn my face close to his while we read sneaking a kiss between each page.
- An amazing week of God’s faithfulness. Wow. Thank you, Lord.
- A shorter list this week because I am drowning in the blessings of God, too much to even write all the things down.
- Sisters in Christ.
- 3-hour car ride for awesome conversation.
- Breathtaking views.
- Oregon.
- Ocean.
- Smell of dinner wafting up to me as I type.
- Someone else cooking dinner.
- A wonderful husband who stays home with kids.
- Two amazing friends who are editors.
- Inspiration.
- Intercession.
- Awe.
2 thoughts on “Week's end with thanks”
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Grateful how I get to live in this list, with you.
Ditto to Jeff Patterson’ comment. A short list here (not to take on a blog page of my own…well maybe soon) A long walk in sunshine. Spirit filled worship at WCC this AM. Friends that attended with me. Great message by Jon Furman (glad he ended up not playing pro basketball:). Living in courage. An epiphany. Listening, believing. The Barefoot Contessa’s recipe for Chicken Tortilla Soup, a job possibility that did not pan out, women in Stepping Up. A new friend that calls me friend. The future, holy Mystery, HOPE.