30 Days of Thankfulness, Part 5

And, the conclusion...

1. At this moment, I am thankful that this is a Harry Potter weekend on ABC Family, so that I have something to watch when football is on.

2. I'm thankful for clean, running water.

3. I'm thankful that there are people in the world who are thoughtful and considerate.

4. I'm thankful that I get to celebrate all the wonderful events that will take place over the next couple of months - birthdays, Christmas, new baby - with this family that God has knitted together with his own hands.

Peace and Blessings to you.

30 Days of Thankfulness, Part 4

7 is the magic number for today.

1. I'm thankful that I had a good, brief checkup with Dr. T today. One pound gained. Blood pressure lower than I thought it would be, all things considered. Heartbeat good. See you in two weeks.

2. I'm thankful for the life of my great-grandmother's baby sister, Aunt Inez, whose physical presence will most likely be leaving us very soon. She made fantastic chicken spaghetti and is the only family member, including myself, who ever remembered that I am allergic to feather pillows.

3. I'm thankful that I get to watch my favorite Thanksgiving cartoons from my childhood with my babies.

4. I'm thankful for a warm, dry home when it's so cold and rainy outside.

5. I'm thankful that my almost-four-year-old can list several things for which she is thankful, then tell me that she loves and thanks God with her, "whole heart. All of it."

6. I'm thankful for a husband who respects me as his equal. You'd be amazed how many women not only don't have that, but think it's OK.

7. I'm thankful for a pastor who admonished us to want what we have and be grateful for it. Sometimes we needs reminders that if we are fed, clothed, sheltered, and loved, we are among the richest people in the world.

30 Days of Thankfulness, Part 3

Has it really been 10 days since my last post? When did I become such a slacker?

1. I'm thankful that DWH has the opportunity to look for a job that he finds fulfilling.

2. I'm thankful for good friends who understand my idiosyncrasies and not only endure them, but embrace them and love me because of them.

3. I'm thankful for Sweet Pea's sass, because she wouldn't have such a smart mouth if she weren't such a smart girl.

4. I'm thankful for Little Buddy's adventures in leaping and climbing and scaring me out of my wits, because that means he has a healthy little body to scare me with.

5. I'm thankful that Baby N has taken up residence in my rib cage and enjoys kicking my lungs, because that means he's healthy enough in there to remind me that I can breathe.

6. I'm thankful that we have reliable transportation. I know I do this one every year, but if you've ever owned a car that you had to anoint with holy water every morning just to get it to start because you couldn't afford anything else, you know why this one is such a big deal to me.

7. I'm thankful that God loves us enough to gradually usher in the seasons and to give us the chance to enjoy the beauty of the transition.

8. I'm thankful for a church home that focuses on mission and service, and encourages its members to do the same.

9. I'm thankful for books.

10. I'm thankful for my education. Not something to be taken for granted, folks. Not everyone is privileged enough to have one.

This picture is three years old, but I still love it.

30 Days of Thankfulness, Part 2

It's been 6 days since my last post, so, here we go:

1. I'm thankful that I have the best husband in the entire world. I could make a list of all the reasons he's the most incredible husband ever, but you would never finish reading this. All I know is that I could never be married to anyone else, and if I never believed that God sometimes handpicks people to love each other and live together for the rest of their lives, I do now.

2. I'm thankful for my friend, Sara V, for not only sharing her gratefulness during the month of November, but every day this year. That's right. Starting on January 1, Sara expressed love and appreciation for her blessings each day of the year. She has offered important (and usually comical, in true Sara "Betty Sue" V fashion) reminders of how much there is to thank God for, no matter how small.

3. I'm thankful that I'm not in my third trimester during the hottest months of the year, again.

4. I'm thankful for silence. Sometimes, I just need to be quiet by myself or I will lose my mind. And for that reason...

5. I'm thankful that both my children are good sleepers and receptive to schedules and routines. Because, well, Mommy can't function without schedules and routines and, more importantly, a brief period of quiet time every day. And, if Baby N is not as receptive to the whole schedule/routine/quiet time thing as his brother and sister, Mommy will be thankful for her new job at Barnes and Noble until the new school year begins. (Because, what else can you do with two degrees in English/Reading education?)

6. I'm thankful for coffee. This one needs no further explanation.

30 Days of Thankfulness, Part 1

I didn't start these thankfulness posts on the first day of the month, and it's doubtful that I will post every day. Instead, I will try to post weekly, as is usually my habit, and express my gratitude for each day since my last post.

As today is the third day of the month, I would like to say how grateful I am to God for three of the four great loves of my life.

One will celebrate her fourth birthday one month from tomorrow.

One recently turned two.

One will show us his sweet face in about eleven weeks.

There are not enough words for how much love my three beautiful gifts from God, and I can only hope to be half the mom they deserve.

I love you, Sweet Pea, Buddy, and Baby N (Sorry. You don't have a nickname, yet. You don't even have a middle name, yet, for that matter.). All of you light up my life in ways that I never believed possible until God sent you to us.

P.S. I'm thankful for the other great love of my life, as well, but that's another post.