A Thanksgiving Psalm

Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.

Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us, and we are his.
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the Lord is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
and his faithfulness continues to each generation

#9 My Children

They interrupt my plans daily, make giant messes as they explore their creative ideas, argue and fight with each other, complain when they don't like what I've cooked for dinner and generally turn my Type A control tendencies on their head. Which is exactly what I need!

Having 3-going-on-4 kids has taught me the most valuable lessons of my life...

That I'm NOT in control of anything except my attitude.

How wonderful it is to look over my children's heads as they wrestle around and catch Nick's eyes, sharing feelings in a moment that no one else can ever experience with us.

Understanding that the unconditional love that my father God has for me feels a lot like the fierce love I have for my children...only His love is stronger. This amazes me!

That although I'm making many mistakes while raising my kids, they are turning out ok. I'm so proud of the young men that are growing up in our house. I'll get back to you on how a certain young lady turns out... ; )

That the sweetest time of the day is when I tiptoe into their room at night and look down at their peaceful sleeping faces. They are beautiful and my heart fills with such love that it hurts.

I am so thankful for these lessons and the many other blessings that my three children have brought to my life. How rich these years have been!

#8 My Church

I smiled as I sat in church today.

Hundreds of people sang as one; age, race and status forgotten as we stood together to thank our God. I noticed a friend's beautiful 12 month old daughter dancing in delight to the music, a middle-aged couple smiling fondly at each other as they sang, and Colin listening to the worshipping people with his arms wrapped tightly around Nick's neck.

A good church feels like home. The people care for each other like family should, and truth and love are doled out together. It's a place to serve and to be served. A place to be challenged and a place to be healed.

I'm thankful that my family has found such a church...so thankful.

# 7 Beautiful Fall Days

I am so thankful for this weather!

It's been like one last taste of summer before winter comes blowing in and confines us indoors, and we are loving it. Nick was able to take the boys on a three hour biking adventure to several parks on Sunday, and yesterday afternoon we drove out to the Apple Blossom Farm playground...had the entire place to ourselves. It was nicer than the day we'd visited in September!

Balmy days, crunchy leaves and beautiful fall colors make me happy.
Thankful to have a few more beautiful days to make some more family memories!

#6 Nick

The most meaningful person in my life is my husband Nick.

We met when we were 20 and started hanging out together about a year later. We'd spend hours mountain biking, hiking or just talking...and then a wonderful friendship turned into something more. He was my first kiss, we shared dreams of travel and adventure, and we made each other laugh.

Married when we were 24 (while Nick was a full-time college student), moved 3 times, enjoyed vacations in the snow and in the sun, went through several job changes and will have had 4 children in about 5 years...whew! It is unbelievable to think about the many major life changes, joys and hardships that have been crammed into our 6 years of married life.

What is even more unbelievable to me is the fact that we are better friends and more in love than we were at the beginning. He is the dreamer to my practicality. The free spirit to my planning...the optimist to my reality. He challenges me to see the adventure in change, to enjoy the journey instead of just waiting to arrive at our destination. He helps me look for something good in everyone. He reminds me that everything will work out...and it does.

This final note is not a typical story of romance, but this weekend, I was extremely sick. As in, vomiting all over the bed. And the floor. And my hair. Sick. It was a blur, but through my groggy eyes, all I could see was Nick as he leaped out of bed (several times), cleaned up the floor, tossed the bedding in the washing machine, wiped my face and made me comfortable.

"In sickness and in health..."
That's love.

#5 This Morning

Things I'm thankful for this morning...

Three children happily playing together around the dining room table. (Actually, two big brothers being very patient as their little sister repeatedly destroys the game they are trying to play...)

My once-a-week phone visit with my sis...just the distraction I need to help me get through the laundry!

A date with my handsome husband to the Trans Siberian Orchestra this afternoon...with FREE tickets! Doesn't get any better than that!

Nick is only working half the day today. It will be so wonderful to be able to share most of the weekend together.

Crunchy banana nut granola, sweatpants and a lazy weekend ahead...

#4 My Bed

I have been just LOVING my bed!

Don't know whether to blame it on these cold, dark days or my extreme fatigue this week, but there is no sweeter feeling than laying my head down on my pillow and snuggling in for the night. Mmmmmmm....

And, when my alarm goes off in the morning and it's STILL dark outside, forget about it! I burrow in for just a few more stolen minutes.

It's weird, I know, but I'm thankful for my cozy bed!

#3 Friends

I said a sad goodbye to a friend today. She and her family are moving 3 hours away, which is *just* too far for an easy day visit...hopefully we will get to enjoy a weekend together this summer!

This afternoon reminded me that I have some wonderful friends, a fact that really hit me when I turned 30 this year and realized just how rich these friendships have made my life.

I love how very different each of these friends are...for example, a domesticated musician with a dark wit and generous soul; a sweet and intuitive social worker who loves mysteries and vintage fashion; a strong and lovely mama with a penchant for gourmet cooking and deep writing; a joyful and loving woman who excels in embracing others with her kindness and compassion...different, and yet, these women (and others I am blessed to know) are the same.

They are honest. Real.

Trustworthy of my deepest, darkest secrets.

They are fiercely loyal to their husbands, families and loved ones. They love my family.

They know how to laugh at life and themselves. They have cried with me.

They realize intuitively that a good conversation involves equal amounts of talking and listening.

They are the kind of women you meet and wish you could share your life with...even if only for a little while.

And I am just lucky enough to have had that wish come true.

#2 My sister

Today I am thankful for my sister Liz.

She and her husband Rey are missionaries in the mountains of central Mexico, which is a lonely place for a vivacious American girl! I am thankful for her eternal optimism, her tenacious spirit and her willingness to serve in a place that makes nearly every aspect of her life difficult.

I am thankful for our Saturday phone conversations.

I am thankful for our inside jokes.

I am thankful for her honesty and for her willingness to listen to my *humble* opinions.

I am thankful for the childhood memories we share.

I am thankful for her wisdom.

So thankful for my little sister, Liz!

Thankful

My goal is to blog every day until Thanksgiving about one thing I am thankful for.
My sparse blogging recently seems to indicate my reaching that goal is doubtful, but let's see how I do!

#1 I am thankful for my life. I can honestly say it is richer and more satisfying than any of my girlhood daydreams...you'll see what I mean over the next 20-something days!