Day 30: 30 Days of Thankful

Well, it's the end of the month! Time to wrap up the 30 Days of Thankful Posts. Not sure if I'm up for the photo-a-day in December. We'll see.

Day 29: I'm thankful for the sunshine that was peeking around yesterday (looks like we'll have some today too). I fee more productive on sunny days!

Day 30: I'm thankful for this life here on earth that gives us a taste of the joys of the Lord's new earth. I pray every day that God will use me to be some encouragement to someone. I love old and new friends, and I hope to be able to come alongside those who need something - whether it's prayer or cookies or something!

Thanks for reading along this month. Merry Christmas to you, and may your month of December be filled with the glory of life in Christ.

Day 28: 30 Days of Thankful

Brr! 30 degrees this chilly Wednesday morning! Here's a two 'fer!

Day 27: I'm thankful for my third child, my second daughter. I don't have a picture, and she is sleeping right now. Reason why I don't have a picture? The girl is on fire (!) all the time; she is the busiest person I know. Her 2nd birthday is in a few short weeks, and every day she is learning new words. Her favorite activities include scolding her brother and the dog, scribbling with crayon on paper, looking at books, having a little snack that she can carry around in a little bowl, singing little songs (my current favorite is "Dingle Bells"!), and looking cute. She still takes a nap and still uses a cloth diaper as a blankie. Her thumb pops in her mouth when she picks up her blankie. Lydia has this deep belly laugh that we love to activate. I am thankful that she gives me a kiss whenever I ask for one.

Day 28: I am thankful for my knitting and spinning. I just have an urge to work with my hands, and I've been reading articles discussing the therapeutic benefits of something like knitting. I can attest! When I feel like my head is spinning, the thought of knitting just pops in my head. Even a few minutes of knitting can settle me and give a few minutes that I can work out my mental to-do list and still be making something. My friend and I joked before that we are yarn snobs. I do love working with natural fibers - mainly wool and silk (the pricey stuff). My husband still can't understand that I want to use my Christmas cash for yarn!

Well, enough rambling today! Hope you all have a nice Wednesday. Cheers until next time!

Day 26: 30 Days of Thankful

It seems that I do better with every-other-day posts!

Day 25: Thankful for the beautiful snow we had and a safe car that carried us to church. It was such a nice drive to see everything with its first light blanket of snow.

Day 26: I am thankful to have found a great (and easy) recipe for muffins. The secret? Soak the oats in milk and a tad of white vinegar for an hour before. Oh the muffins turn out so light! I made blueberry chocolate chip muffins today, and it was fun to share them with a friend taking a quick stop on her way to Canada!

Off to bed - goodnight!

Day 24: 30 Days of Thankful

Playing catch-up again!

Day 23: I am thankful for my little business. I get to make yummy things and people actually buy them! My husband encouraged me to open a bank account this week to be able to keep track of my incoming and outgoing (for supplies) money. It's a lot of fun to be able to work with wonderful and natural ingredients and make something that I and my family and other people (!) can use and enjoy.

Day 24: I am thankful for snow today. We woke up to giant flakes falling and are excited to see that the accumulation is lasting through the day. It just makes everything feel so crisp and Christmas-y!

Warm thoughts and happy weekend to you. Don't forget to support a small business today! I'd be particularly excited if it were mine!

Day 22: 30 Days of Thanksgiving

I know I originally said that my posts were not in any order of importance, but I did save the most important one for today.

I am thankful for God and His sending of His Son to save His children for Himself! What a blessing it is to be able to take hold of His promises and look forward to eternal life glorifying Him.

Thank you, Lord, for your forgiveness of my sins and for giving me a hope that surpasses all earthly trials and cares.

Happy Thanksgiving, readers!

Day 21: 30 Days of Thankful

A quick weight loss post, so for those of you that aren't interested, nothing to read here...move along :)

Stepped on the scale today and was thankful and excited to see that I had made my first weight loss goal! I'm 149.8 pounds, and my goal was 150. Woohoo! To put this in perspective, I tipped the scales at 216 right before the baby was born back in April.

This has been a journey - not an easy one at that, but I a also thankful that my mind and body are now adjusted to a morning exercise routine (except for Sundays) and that I am more mindful of what I eat!

Just in time for Thanksgiving!

Day 20: 30 Days of Thankful

I am thankful for my sewing machine today. It's just a trusty little Singer machine - it's not vintage or anything. It's just a hardworking, simple tool. I love to use it, for it means I get to make something with beautiful fabric. Maybe that's why I like the machine so much; it gives me a reason to work with wonderful fabric prints.

Today was a partial sewing day, and so is tomorrow! I'm hoping to make a dent in my Christmas orders and stock-to-be-sold.

Happy Night!

Day 19: 30 Days of Thankful

So, I'm a little behind; but it is certainly not because I do not have many things for which to be thankful!

Day 17: I am thankful for our chickens and honeybees. They provide us with the eggs and honey that I use almost every day in the kitchen. My kids love "honey toast", and the eggs are just great for baking and eating. We even had breakfast-for-lunch after church yesterday.

Day 18: I am thankful for the Sunday School teachers at our church. My children are still young, and the sermon can be a challenge for them to glean lots of teaching and application. But in Sunday School, the children have a wonderful opportunity to learn more about our God. Our teachers are patient and loving, and I appreciate the time and effort they put into preparing and teaching the lessons. My children fall into 3 different age groups, so we are taking full benefit from the teachers at our church.

Day 19: I am thankful today for a day at home and knowing that dinner is cheeseburgers on the grill. Simple days mean catching up on laundry and spending time on schoolwork. I have a few more gifts to make for Thursday. Thanksgiving is at our house!! Woohoo. Some relatives are only seen at Thanksgiving, so I want to have a wee baggie of Christmas goodies for them.

Happy Monday!

Day 16: 30 Days of Thankful

Today? Today is the day that this little one is 7 months old!

I am thankful for my little Susanna Rebekah. She is the sweetest baby and just loves to watch her brother and sisters run around and be crazy. She also loves to eat! Her smile just takes over her entire face - a huge, wide-open, toothless mouth kind of smile.

Thank you, Lord for our littlest!

Day 15: 30 Days of Thankful

True confession: I am a recipe follower. There, I said it! I'm not one to be crazy creative especially when it comes to baking. If I'm cooking a savory dish, yes, I can do a pinch of this and a dash of that. But baking is very precise, and I like to have the backing of a tried and true recipe.

I am thankful for the genius of so many people who write cookbooks and share recipes with those of us who can use them. I just now flipped through a "Taste of Home" fall baking publication and became really hungry! I have some cranberries in the freezer, and we have a church dinner tomorrow night. I'm thinking cranberry curd bars! I'll have to let you know if they turn out as pretty as the picture.

Happy Fall Baking!

Day 14, 30 Days of Thankful

I don't know what's happening here; somehow yesterday just flew by! I told myself I had already written my blog post; I must be going crazy. Ha, I saw a funny on facebook that said something along the lines of: one in four people is mentally unstable. If you think three of your closest friends are ok, then you must be the crazy one. That would be me!

I am thankful for the elliptical machine we have downstairs. I can exercise inside even when the temperatures are cold! I can even watch TV. It's a hard life :)

Today I am thankful to have my kids at home with me. They are working on their school right now (the two oldest) while the two youngest take a nap. We had blueberry pancakes for lunch and are just having a peaceful day at home. My husband will be home soon, and maybe we'll have a fire in the fireplace! Like I said, hard life....

Cozy day to you!

Day 12: 30 Days of Thankful

Oops! Missed a day yesterday, so here is a two'fer:

I am thankful for the sunshine we had yesterday and the mild weather today. Now that we are well into November we probably will not have any more days of this. It was so nice yesterday to dress the kids for church and not have all the extra layers that winter involves! Sunshine is a blessing.

Today I am thankful for the service men and women who protect us. It seems like most of my male relatives both my parents and grandparents age have served in some capacity, and I have a brother currently serving in the Army. I am so thankful for the sacrifices they have made. God bless America!

Day 10: 30 Days of Thankful

The second Saturday of the month I host a craft/social time for anyone that wants to come. I am thankful today for the ladies (and their babies!) that came. I am thankful for their friendship and the opportunity we have to chat for a few hours.

In these days of busy-ness, I have been praying about slowing down and enjoying community. Whether it's neighbors, church friends, or long distance relationships, I want to spend more time on them!

Today was just a refreshing time, and I am thankful for a new muffin recipe, the knitting I did, and the time of visiting.

Day 9: 30 Days of Thankful

I am thankful today for this funny face:

Jacob is all about being a farmer when he grows up. From morning until bedtime this kid has constant dialogue about what he wants to raise, supply, and grow on his farm. Today he asked if I were glad that I will have turkey meat from him on his farm and not have to buy it at the store. Of course yesterday he asked if he could grow coconut trees on his place. My husband told him he'll probably have to have a greenhouse to grow the more tropical items!

This little boy is at such a wonderful age; I can ask him for a hug, and he'll still throw himself at me without hesitation. He just runs around all day thinking of new things to get into. I am thankful for his enthusiasm for life and his excitement for the future!

Day 8: 30 Days of Thankful

I am thankful for the internet. I love to read and use recipes, and the internet just makes it so convenient. This week I easily found a recipe to make homemade beef broth by first roasting the soup bones.

I also found a tutorial for making a Christmas present (can't tell you yet). I've also looked up phone numbers for some local businesses, checked a facebook page for a semi-local store that asked about my soap, looked at some maps to figure out how a distant (mileage-wise) friend and I can somehow meet in the middle to knit, etc.

It's amazing to have so much - right at my computer! Sometimes I actually feel like my brain can explode with how many new ideas I drool over ever day!!

Have fun learning something new today!!

Day 7: 30 Days of Thankful

Short post today:

I am thankful for the headache I have right now. It is reminding me to slow down, take some deep breaths, drink some water, and stretch my shoulders. I can get so carried away with this and that project, parenting the kids, trying to keep the floor un-cluttered, etc.

I need to take a few moments to quiet and re-center, a few minutes to pray and breath. Hope you have at least a few minutes of quiet today too!

Day 6: 30 Days of Thankful

I am thankful for the United States of America. I am thankful that I can go today and cast my vote and be a part of preparing for the future.

One of the freedoms that I most hold dear is religious freedom. I can read my Bible, our family can read and discuss God's word, and we can worship together with our church family without fear.

I hope you take advantage of the opportunity you have today; happy voting!

Day 5: 30 Days of Thankful

If you are just joining this blog today, welcome! This is a great month to reflect on all for which we are thankful. I'm working on my list one day at a time and writing about the items in no particular order of importance.

Today I'm thankful for my oldest daughter! Abigail is such a lovely young lady with a wonderful mind and heart. She loves to draw and work on crafty projects; most recently I am teaching her a little embroidery. Her first project is a rainbow.

Her sweetness is so evident particularly as she cares for the baby. She jumps when she hears the baby cry and runs over to give her toys or talk to her. The baby loves to watch her big sister.

I'm so thankful for the help Abigail is to me around the house - through chores of helping fold laundry or set the table or things like that. I'm thankful for her affection and that she wants to do what is right through God's help.

Day 4: 30 Days of Thankful

Today I am thankful for a day of rest and worship. Today was a good sermon on the word "inheritance" in the Bible. We are in Exodus 6 and the promise land as the inheritance of the people. BUT, and this is a great but(!), it doesn't stop there. The people of God are Jesus' inheritance, and God is our inheritance. What a lovely word to think about and learn more of today.

Happy-rest-of-the-rest-day to you!

Day 3: Thirty Days of Thankkful

I was saving this one for today. I am thankful for my husband! Today is Saturday, and one thing that he regularly does is take the two older kids out to breakfast. Now the third kid is almost two, so it looks like she is going to be able to join in on these outings. I am thankful that my husband loves us his family! He takes care of us on so many levels.

He leads us in family devotions after dinner, and patiently helps the kids with their memory work. He encourages us and extended family members with godly living and working hard with the blessings and talents God gives.

Last night he had a sleepover with Brookie and Small Fry. They watched movies downstairs, and then he had each of the kids make themselves a little bed on their bean bags while he slept on the couch. He even set up space heaters special just so the kids wouldn't be cold.

He is such a hard worker. Not only does he go to work every day to provide for us, he comes home and does things around the house. This past summer he did the bulk of the gardening and preserving. He canned over 200 quarts of vegetables and applesauce. I know! He is amazing. Now he is in the midst of deer hunting season to put some venison in the freezer. He also works hard at losing weight! He even WON a weight-loss competition at work.

Big Fish has a fun sense of humor and a calmness that both help us work through hard things and help our communication. He can definitely give me a pull back to reality when I fly off the handle!

One other paragraph of what he is doing today: after he does a little hunting and then breakfasting with the kids he is then going to watch ALL FOUR kids for 3-4 hours, so that I can visit with a friend. Then we are to have some time together this evening; of course he asked if I wanted to go hunting with him. I'm still thinking about that.....

Thank you Lord for the man of my dreams!

30 Days of Thankful Day 2

This morning as I write, I notice the thermometer registers 37 degrees F. At this moment I am thankful for our home. The actual structure keeps us warm on the chilly days, and we love the log facing and the stone fireplace.

More than that our home is a place of peace and joy (most days!). Our family can be here together and enjoy our time spent with family and friends who come to visit. God has given us a place that we can work and play, talk and have quiet times, make a mess and clean up again.

Most recently we installed a mantle above our fireplace. It definitely ties in to the aesthetic of the place, as it's just a rough-cut log. I told my husband that we kind of have a "hunting lodge" theme going here. Yes, we have antlers on the wall and a carved wooden fish over the back door. There are old duck decoys and turkey feathers around for accents! I am thankful that my husband is able to enjoy the place just as much as me, and we are able to hear the thump thump of our children's feet running about doing their all-important-for-the-minute activities.

We would sure like to have you over for a visit; we love company!

Thirty Days of Thankful: Day 1

Happy November to you! I've been tossing around some ideas for the blog, and I love the idea of a post every day for the month. Let's see how it all works out, but I hope to have a few things written by the end of November. I'm not going to work through by order of importance; I just want to talk and share a bit of the life God has gifted me.

Today I am thankful for my mom and dad. Just two days ago was the 2 year (!) anniversary of my dad's stroke. This week October 30 happened to fall on a Tuesday. Tuesday also happens to be the day my parents come to our house to visit and help with the kids. We were able to sit down to a nice steak dinner (thanks mom!) with garden corn and eggplant, some sweet potatoes, and some cookies and rhubarb sticky buns for dessert. Nice meal - huh!

We reminisced a bit about the fact that my dad does not remember his helicopter ride, as he was life-flighted to the hospital. My mom remembers every detail of that night. He does remember being carried downstairs on the stretcher (it was "very cold"). I remember calling my two brothers and sister spread around the world to share what had happened to dad. I remember the fears of thinking what-if during the next few days.

We all remember the "jail-break" of bringing my dad to our house for Thanksgiving; we had to check him out of the in-patient unit for the day. I remember my husband building a ramp to our front door, so that we could get the wheelchair inside.

By God's grace and mercy my dad has worked through lots of physical, occupational, and speech therapy. He is able to walk using his cane, and he is able to preach from the pulpit!

What a blessing it is to have a man of God as a father and friend and a woman of God as a mother and confidant. Some of the most precious scenes from my life right now are to see my children clambering all over my dad and to see my mom gently rocking my littlest one.

Dad really knows how to get the kids going! On Tuesday they were playing that my dad was the big bad wolf, and my kids were running and shrieking through the house as the scared little piglets.

I could go on. I will in the days to come, hopefully. I have lots to be thankful for; my cup runneth over.