Counting to 1,000

 

50. the magic of summer- heating lifting after dinner making way for beautiful evening at park51.  all three kids playing sweetly together52. soreness the day after exercise53. strawberries dipped in chocolate54. the privilege of praying for a friend55. frilly dress up clothes on a girl who thinks she's a princess56. sweet little ballerina girl in pink 57. precious boy waiting up for a goodnight kiss58. water59. feeling thinner and healthier60. waking up next to a smiling, snugly baby61. börek with potatoes and cheese for breakfast62. sunshiny days63. laughter echoing through the house64. a clean kitchen counter!65. dreams for the future66. strength to get out of bed in the morning67. Hubby playing with my hair68. kids with tousled bed-head (waking bright and early!)69. the weekend!70. lifting prayers together with brothers and sisters71. jokes between friends72. hearing "Mama"73. being adopted into God's family74. watching my parents talk to their grandchildren on Skype75. hungering for the Lord76. sweet texts from Hubby during the day77. thunder in the distance78. summer sandals79. legs to walk wherever I need to go80. a home full of beautiful things- comfy and cozy81. green grass squishing between little toes82. ice cream with sprinkles on top83. the coolness of the air right before a summer rainstorm

⁵ Let the peoples praise You, O God;
Let all the peoples praise You.
⁶ The earth has yielded its produce;
God, our God, blesses us.
⁷ God blesses us,
That all the ends of the earth may fear Him.(Psalm 67)

Random Schmattering

• I think my iPod nano might be dead. This is a tragedy. (You know, if you're first world and have way more than you ever need and consider luxuries to be necessities, and never worry about things like where your next meal is coming from or if your water source is clean...) But I do like to listen to my tunes in the kitchen...
• Father's Day is coming. Can I get a whoop whoop for all the baby daddies out there who help their baby mamas out? Hubby is super dad, and I could not do what I do (raise the kids, keep the house, cook the food) without his help. (I would tell you I'll blog more about him being a great dad this weekend, but I probably won't, so I won't. Just know he's super.)
• I just went into the kitchen after laying all the Bugs down for nap and LADYBUG AND STINKBUG CLEARED THEIR PLATES FROM THE TABLE WITHOUT BEING ASKED. Oh my word. What a good feeling- they are getting it! (If you're not a mom, you're probably all who cares, and I care! Because small victories like the kids cleaning up their own mess is huge in a mommy's day!)
• We went to the park this morning. There were all sorts of things I could complain about (it was H-O-T even at 10am, the grass was wet and it was hard to find shade to sit in, the kids didn't want to play on the playground, the kids were afraid of bugs and dogs and kept complaining) but I'm still reading one thousand gifts and  instead I'll just say I love city-living where I can walk all three kiddies to a fabulous park and lay out a blanket and relax? This park trip (as well as any outing with three kids by myself) is brought to you by the Ergo Baby Carrier. Thank you Ergo.  
• And here are some more of my one thousand gifts...

45. grass squishing between toes

46. loving my little Bugs

47. shade to sit in

48. awesome playground close to our house

49. a baby so cute Mommy can hardly stand it

{1000 gifts}

31. Daddy taking the big kids out for "special daddy time"

32. being alone with the baby (who hardly ever gets "alone time")

33. iced coffee in the middle of the morning

34. hot showers

35. the feeling of Q-tips cleaning my ears

36. anticipating a visit from dear friends

37. lifting voices in songs of praise as one body

38. sharing a meal with brothers and sisters

39. milk chocolate

40. getting mail/messages just because

41. picking out the perfect gift, and wrapping it up

42. sitting on the balcony drinking tea with my love talking about nothing and everything

43. being adopted into the biggest, most wonderful family by the Biggest, Most Wonderful Dad

44. "water from the wells of salvation"

³ With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. ⁴ And you will say in that day:

    "Give thanks to the LORD,
   call upon his name,
make known his deeds among the peoples,
   proclaim that his name is exalted. ⁵ "Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously;
   let this be made known in all the earth. {Isaiah 12}

{1000 gifts}

15. starting the day hearing Hubby singing praises in the kitchen

16. ceiling fans!

17. baby sleeping through the night

18. holding the Word in my hands

19. blond boy playing contentedly with trucks and trains all morning

20. goodbye kisses each morning that hold the promise of return by evening

21. fresh fruit

22. curls of red cascading around a sweet girl's face

23. meeting a new friend at the park

24. brisk morning walk with lungs filling and releasing, body stretching and shaping

25. sugar in my tea

26.pants that don't need ironing

27. Hubby's handsome smile

28. the bread and the cup taken with brothers and sisters

29. sweet baby "crawling" on tummy determined to get where he wants

30. turkey pesto and cheese sandwich grilled to perfection

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.

{Philippians 4:4}

{1000 gifts}

I am reading one thousand gifts by ann voskamp, and it's getting to me. Good getting to me. Cracking hard layers of ungratefulness and burrowing deep into my soul.

I'm feeling broken down by things I've believed about things I've believed about God. And about me. I know God will put all these pieces back together, and when He does I hope I'm a more grateful me. Me who breathes every breath with a fierceness for living and an appreciation for full lungs.

I'm seeking to be grateful and I want to share my thanksgiving, in hopes that it will inspire you to look to Christ. To see how much you too, have to be thankful for....

1. Grace, the amazing gift of God

2. the great love with which God loves me

3. the Word- alive, unchanging, true

4. Hubby's willingness to constantly serve me and our children

5. shrieks of laughter of children at play

6. baby soft hair

7. tea

8. the fresh spring breeze making my curtains flutter and dance

9. a majestic blue sky littered with wisps of white- simply glorious!

10. naptime rest for the children and their mom

11. meeting a new mom friend at the park while children run and play

12. strawberries, not the first of the season, but the plump delicious ones that come later and are so sweet on the tongue

13. barefeet

14. being made alive (Ephesians 2:5)