Counting my blessings

In an effort to continue my 1000 things list...

I am thankful

-- for modern medicine that though may tell me things I don't want to hear is available to save my baby's life

-- for a friend who opens home and heart to my children when crisis arrives (even if that crisis is a post-partum hormone attack on mommy).

-- for friends who open pantry and pocketbook to provide for our family so we can focus on "family"

-- for family, both near and far, who lend hands and hearts and tears time and again

-- for a friend who stepped out of her comfort zone to offer assistance. Although we never needed to call on her, it was humbling to know the extent to which she was willing to go to help us.

-- for little baby cries in wee hours of night. Thank you Lord for bringing her home to us.

-- for little boy hands, wringing in desperation, longing to hug and hold and love new life

-- for husband, walking this road of life with me.

Gratitude through anger

I just composed a lengthy post outlining and expounding upon some issues that have sparked a fire of anger within me. I deleted the post. As much as I want to vent, want to rave, want to lash out, I won't. It does no good. Yes I felt immensely better after composition but I have to consider how much damage might be done in my wake. There is no room on my shoulders for that kind of burden. So instead of anger I decided to focus on gratitude, those things in my life for which I am grateful. Hoping the change of focus will push out those "other" thoughts, the ones that would consume this hot-head faster than I care to admit.

For piles and piles of laundry, evidence of lives lived in full and fun

For living-room studded like a mine-field with toys, temporal memories of laughter and learning and love

For new, precious pictures of unborn babe and for attitude that isn't quite captured in the still of photography (this one seems as wild as the first two!)

For happy days of respite from morning/noon/night sickness. Ahhhh...to eat without punishment!

For loving partner, husband, friend -- ready on one day to fight for honor, the next to gently care through sick and the following to empathize with emotions too large for one person.

For tall grass, desperate for a trim -- evidence of healthy rainfall, God's plenty poured out for us

For a voice -- not so tiny any longer -- loudly teaching, instructing on Jesus's Disciples despite mother's prodding that time would simply not allow such a lesson.

For a God, awesome and powerful, listening close enough to touch mother's heart, to whisper in mother's ear that time is always available for disciple lessons, to remind mother her primary job is to train up the child in the way he should go

Gratitude

Because I often lose sight of my reasons for thanksgiving...a visual list.

For baby roars flying around corners from a little who has found another piece of his voice, found another clue to his place

For small hands wrapped around weed flowers, presenting them with such pride to mama

For off key voices shouting loud in song to God for right teaching

For leader husband willing to go down on knees to comfort babies, scrub floors and teach classes full of waiting eyes that God is power and powerful.

For full and new and enough mercy each morning -- to conquer the battles that lay waiting in shadows. New each day so none has to be stored, none saved for "what-ifs" and "in-case".

Because a thankful heart is a happy heart

Have wanted to begin my gratitude list like the one I found here. To begin what might be, perhaps ought to be, a less than stellar day -- a list of a few things for which I am grateful

The tiny flap, flap, flap of baby feet on cool tile floor, carrying babe with new-found treasure

The whisper of crisp breeze as it tickles freshly laundered clothes and freshly laundered soul

Big belly guffaws of friends, old and new, as we "do life together"

Small, quiet voice calling "Mommy?" in early morning light -- complete with tousled hair

Warm nuzzle in strong neck before dreams take over -- safe, comfortable, familiar