Did I write a blog post about Brynn Gracie's birth? Nope. But here I am for my thankful list.
I have been thinking recently about the difference between being thankful and feeling thankful. In a perfect world, I would feel thankful for the things that I am thankful for. But my heart is fickle and often I have to preach a little perspective to myself. I have also given myself the freedom to feel two seemingly opposite things at the same time and just be okay with it. So I am thankful for the times that I can wash the dishes uninterrupted but I am also thankful that I am interrupted while washing the dishes. Being interrupted while washing the dishes typically means I have a family and I am indescribably thankful for them. Last disclaimer - I just get sappier and sappier the longer I am a mom.
Here we go - thankfuls 2021:
1. God
2. God's ongoing forgiveness of me. I used to think I had my life together, then I became a mom. Now I get to ask for forgiveness every day. Some times multiple times a day. Some times multiple times an hour. But He doesn't condemn me. He doesn't accuse me. He forgives and extends grace to me.
3. His continual, loving pursuit of me
4. Ian - my best friend, my listener, my encourager
5. Samuel, Henry, and Brynn - how did we get the privilege of getting the three cutest, best kids in the world?
6. getting to be home with the kids every single day
5. Samuel, Henry, and Brynn - how did we get the privilege of getting the three cutest, best kids in the world?
6. getting to be home with the kids every single day
7. the Holy Spirit - God in us
8. Jesus - his humbleness, gentleness, and anger. God with us.
8. Jesus - his humbleness, gentleness, and anger. God with us.
9. God's Word
10. when God extends his Grace so that you can listen to the most ridiculous kid's song just one more time.
11. couches made to withstand small children
anything that withstands our children for that matter
12. Modern Appliances
Furnace
Air Conditioning
Dishwasher
Microwave
Washing Machine
Dryer
Oven
Refrigerator and freezer
vacuum
13. Snowplows
14. Snowplow Drivers
15. Salt
16. 4 wheel drive
17. chubby toddler arms that wrap around your leg in a hug
18. a wobbly baby who likes to climb you while you load the dishwasher
19. our outdoor space
20. toys without sound or lights or batteries
21. my BSF group
22. board games
23. foot massagers
24. Paulding Progress - our local paper
25. when all three kids look and smile for a picture
26. text messaging
27. the Internet
28. Samuel learning to spell and write his name
29. God's promise to make all things new
30. Christmas coffee cups
31. when you think the kids are fighting so you stop folding laundry to go see and they are all actually laughing
32. that my worth and identity is not found in how much I get done but in what He did for me
33. laughing so hard you cry
34. the imagination of kids
35. when Ian comes home and plays with everyone
36. toy rotations
37. donation centers
38. that God can work His perfect will through imperfect people
39. that God asks questions - I think about that often. He already knows the answers, yet He still interacts with his Creation by asking questions some times
40. long hot uninterrupted showers
made possible by the boys watching tv
41. when all three kids nap at the same time
so I can nap too
or be productive
42. one on one time with any of the kiddos
43. date nights
44. walking around the block 15 times after the kids go to bed and listening to Ian work his sermon out
45. when the kids ask, "what was your favorite part of the day?" without being prompted
46. a field of pristine snow
47. organizational systems that work
48. when it is finally your turn for the book that you have had on hold for weeks from the library
49. Christmas cards
50. the Fort Wayne Zoo
51. Chick fil A
52. baby video monitors
53. good phone conversation with college friends
54. that I have the capacity to grow and change
55. cheesy Christmas movies
56. breaks from social media
57. my 5 ingredients or less crockpot cook book
58. that a bad hour, day, or week doesn't have to be continued. God can redeem. God can change the trajectory
59. the days or weeks that no one has a (potty) accident
60. the days all the laundry gets done
61. the nights that supper tastes good
62. Brynn's dancing
63. Henry's humor
64. Samuel's steadfastness
65. the life, love, and legacy of my grandparents
66. resources that align with what my heart believes
67. the slumberpod
black out curtains
white noise makers
68. math
69. Costco
70. google search
71. GPS (we named ours Gemma)
72. missionaries
73. a day (and month) to focus on gratitude
74. finding a reasonably priced used Gator for the boys
75. flights of beer (and a person to share the flight with)
76. slippers
77. Ryan - our minivan
78. the third verse of This is My Father's World
79. the way children delight in falling leaves, string cheese, or a box of new crayons
80. BSF Notes
81. BSF Lecture
82. Brynn's toothless grins
83. Henry's passion
84. Samuel's imagination
85. the third verse of The Love of God
86. Proverbs 14:4
87. the nights we have good conversation around the supper table
88. when Brynn takes a long nap but also wakes up on her own
89. Sally Clarkson
90. Shaunti Feldhaun
91. Proverbs 15:1
92. Invisalign
93. interest-free financing for Invisalign
94. Kevin Leman
95. friends who stay in touch even though you moved across the country / world
96. indoor plumbing
97. decaf coffee
98. when it gets quiet and you know the kids are making a mess but find them all sitting on the couch reading together
99. kid art supplies
100. when there is an activity that all three kids can enjoy together
