Thankfuls 2021

 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

7. the Holy Spirit - God in 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