Gratitude 875 -900

Today was one of those days that I just want to hold onto. Nothing spectacular, extraordinary or unusual. Just a day.

The kids had their martial arts class this afternoon and while they were there I ran to a toy store downtown to pick a birthday gift for my oldest...he will be 12 on Monday. ( I got him a lego game and a "boba fett" alarm clock...and a fake mustache a beard as he told his mom he wanted wiskers for his birthday.)

We sat down to dinner and I started a conversation on gratitude. Each of us mentioned things we were grateful for and the "usual" stuff was mentioned...family, a home, meals etc. But I relayed to them the story of Corrie Ten Boom and how she became grateful for fleas of all things.

So I challenged each of them: I had the oldest figure out reasons to be grateful for dinner dishes...a chore he loathes...he came up with evidence that we had food to eat, being a blessing to me as he is doing a job that for all his life had been mine, the fact that we even have dishes...

The princess goes through times when she hates brushing her hair which is now down past her waist. She came up with the fact at in the cold weather it offers warmth, it is evident that she is healthy (she watched our friend lose all her hair due to chemo), it is a gift God has given her.

The youngest struggles with the fact that he is the youngest. He does not get to stay up quite as late as his siblings, the oldest "always" gets to do things first....the usual struggles of being the youngest. So I challenged him to come up with ways he is grateful to be the youngest. He came up with when the other two are adults he will be here by himself with us and that he learns from them.

After dinner, hubby played cribbage with the youngest, I don't know who won the game, but this little 8 year old is quite good at playing. Afterwards, the little man had to go to bed so my beloved broke open the chess set to play with the oldest.
They sat at the table deep in thought and quiet conversation as they played.

Today I taught my princess how to spool knit, as the "menfolk" were playing chess she sat quietly working on her project, occassionally asking me a question to make sure she was doing it right.

I sat in my chair trying to read a book, my old dog at my feet chewing on a bone as content as could be and I became distracted by this scene. Wanting to hold it in my heart and mind forever.

875. for moments in our home that are treasures in themselves
876. sharing moments of gratitude with the littles and hearing their responses.
877. dinner together...how many families miss this by sitting in front of the TV
878. martial arts classes that reinforce self-control and discipline
879. presents in the house for a soon to be 12 year old
880. the princess and little man in a panic as they talk papa into taking them to the store so that they may buy a small gift for their brother.
881. my daughter calling and excitement she feels to come here tomorrow to celebrate a birthday.
882. my dau putting together the birthday cake (I am so excited to see this as she is putting together a "mario" cake)
883. hearing my 30 year old dau so filled with anticipation as we work together to schedule a vacation for all of us.
884. moments where the love for my family fills my heart to overflowing
885. Corrie Ten Boom ... who shared her trials during WW2 in such a way that she impacted my life forever.
886. This list...altho I have not been faithful in doing this each Monday, it does warm my heart.
887. workouts, aching muscles and energy that go with it
888. the kindle which I didn't understand how I find it so easy to read, when I have always loved books...and I didn't think I really wanted.
889. Realizing why I love the kindle...I can increase the print size to make it easier to read!!!
890. for living in Montana where Tuesday we hit -20 and today it got up to about 48, Ya just never know what your gonna get.
891. my hubby who is out in the garage working on a 4 wheel drive truck for me.
892. who took the two out today to buy a birthday present.
893. oatmeal for breakfast...(my daughter made me 4 jars of instant oatmeal as a christmas present... It is sooooo good, gonna have to find out what exactly she put in it)
894. the luxery of having stuff at home to work out, so I don't have to drive for 40 minutes to get to a gym.
895. the encouragement of the littles and my husband as I take over the livingroom with my dvd, workout mat and weights (or whatever tool I am using that day)
896. the "quick fix" meals my daughter also gave me...soup mixes in a jar...I just add meat and water and we have dinner in no time. (I am going to have to get the recipes for these tooo!!) Fast food minus the chemicals...
897. Free books on the kindle. I have 26 loaded now (including the bible)
898. Such a beautiful day...starting with a hawk flying around our front yard, and ending with the beautifl scene at the end of the day.
899. The quiet of the evening ... the little ones in bed, hubby in the garage and me just enjoying the darkness of night outside my livingroom window.
900. My Lord, who has granted me all of these blessings and so many more ...