Every year on Thanksgiving, I make a go of recording 100 things I am thankful for. It is a fun tradition started by my Mom during a long car ride to visit relatives when I was kid. The past few months have held a tension of my exhaling, "Thank you Lord for Your kindness to me in xyz way" but also hearing the whispers of, "Why Lord? Why aren't you kind to me in the way you are kind to her/ him/ them?" So let's drown out those whispers with some gratitude. (and if you don't have time to list 100 things the best way I have found to drown out the whisper to say, "Even if the only thing God ever does for me is save me, I will be thankful to Him forever.")
100 Things I am thankful for (aka God's Kindness to Me)
1. God - is there anywhere else to start? Creator, Sustainer, Emmanuel
2. Salvation - where would we be left on our own?
3. Ian - his patience and kindness towards me can be humbling
4. Samuel Cary - I had no idea how much I had to learn from a two year old or how much fun a two year old can be
4.5 Samuel's laughter and joy
5. Henry Joseph - you are here!
5.5 Henry Joseph's Smile
6. my family's health
7. God does not give up on me
8. God's continual patience with me
9. our church family - they are so generous to us and take good care of us, if something comes up, someone in our church family is our first call (and by call, I really mean, text)
10. God has taken such good care of us and provided for us in miraculous ways - all I have needed, Thy hand hath provided
11. those who have journeyed ahead of me in mothering and pass along rich insight
12. those who have journeyed ahead of me in mothering and pass along timely encouragement
13. Instagram
14. snow plows
15. snow plow drivers
16. our extended families - they come see us and that is the best
17. when the boys nap at the same time
18. when both boys sleep all night
19. BSF and specifically my BSF leader and group
20. board games
21. winning board games (should I write that and put it on the internet?)
22. our cozy little Cottage - so, so, SO much better than our 1 bed room apartment that we brought Samuel home to OR that "cozy" little apartment next to the Korean Air Force Base that we lived in our first year of marriage
22.5 our basement and attic
23. Hadley Rose and The Donkey (our cars)
24. God's continual work to sanctify me and transform / recreate me into being more Christ-like
25. Samuel is talking more and more
26. restaurants / take out for when you don't feel like cooking
26.5 frozen pizza
26.75 frozen salmon from Costco
27. crock pot / instant pot
28. video monitors
29. when the weather is nice enough to play outside with the kids
30. Seeds Family Worship songs
30.5 watching Samuel sing and do the hand motions for More than Conquerors or Colossians 1:16-17
31. HOT DECAF COFFEE
31. cream
32. stevia
33. other EPC pastors' wives
34. our coffee mug collection and all the sweet, sweet memories they represent
35. digital pictures and digital videos
36. the Bible
37. La Croix
38. ginger + honey + lemon in hot water
39. kombucha
40. RUNNING
40.5 the hope of running like I used to
41. hand me down clothes and toys for the boys
42. fall leaves and spring flowers
43. spellcheck
44. prayer
44.5 prayers answered the way I want them answered (should I write that and put it on the internet?!?)
44.75 prayers answered not the way I want them answered to remind me that God is sovereign
45. Bunny (Samuel's stuffed animal / lovey)
46. videos of my kids
47. pictures of my kids (and family)
48. how ridiculously excited Samuel gets about anything to do with Papa and Gaga
49. Samuel's church friends (he calls them Ba, Ga, Gee)
50. parks
51. splashpads
52. bath time
53. online banking
54. Amazon Prime
55. meijer
56. Samuel's imagination
57. Theresa A. Lindell
58. the dishwasher
59. the washer and dryer
60. the vacuum
61. furnace
62. central air
63. garage
64. space heaters
65. pay at the pump
66. drive through pharmacies
66.5 drive through anything
66. Costco
67. when Samuel is snuggly during story time
68. Bible time with Samuel
69. Henry's growls
70. when Samuel pretends to be a bear under the table after supper
71. when the boys wrestle
72. uninterrupted hot showers
73. rebel "ice cream"
74. the yard covered in pristine snow
75. a field of wheat before winter
76. disposable diapers
77. our Wednesday night Mom's group
78. Alexa will play, "Lord, I need you" at volume 8 whenever I ask her to
78.5 Alexa also plays Christmas music anytime of the year
79. when both boys are quiet in the jogging stroller or the backseat
80. coats that are made to be safe for the carseat
81. Susie
81.5 Susie's Bakery
82. Sara (and her sweet fam!)
82.5 Sara's Sweets
83. pumpkin bread
83.5 pumpkin banana bread
83.75 chocolate chip pumpkin banana bread
84. Redneck Disneyland
85. Christmas cards
86. datenight questions
87. dual control electric blankets
88. when I try a new recipe for supper and it tastes good
89. electricity
90. that I get to stay home with the boys
91. chickfila
92. when google has an answer to my parenting question (or any question)
93. how kind God is to remind me at pivotal moments that it is not about me
93.5 and that's it is for His glory
94. sweet little Brody
95. Spotify
96. bluetooth speakers
97. how much Samuel loves his Unc Tttt
98. how easy it is to bring joy to the boys in this stage of mothering
98.25 bubbles
98.5 sidewalk chalk
98.75 big boxes
99. God's faithfulness
100. fun traditions
101. Grandpa / Great Grandpa
