Full : 1000 Gifts

Continuing the list of His gifts...

0853
Boots lined up by the door.

0854
His hands full of flowers when he walks in from a day's work.


0855
Remembering the day he asked me to be his wife.

0856
My girl wandering the house with her nose in Anne of Green Gables.

0857
The simple joy of getting his own library card.

0858
A kid-made "Go Steelers" sign taped to our front door.

0859
Their constant humming.

0860
With my husband away for a night, dinner in and catch-up time with the girls.

0861
Getting to wear your pajamas to preschool.

0862
My three dancing to street music, eager to put a dollar in the cup.

0863
Laughter during lessons.

0864
Mixed-up schedules that mean math lessons at Starbucks.

0865
Quiet Sunday afternoons as my pastor-husband prepares for evening worship.


0866
Morning hymn "O Church, Arise"... the last verse...

So Spirit, come, put strength in ev'ry stride,
Give grace for ev'ry hurdle,
That we may run with faith to win the prize
Of a servant good and faithful.
As saints of old still line the way,
Retelling triumphs of His grace,
We hear their calls and hunger for the day
When, with Christ, we stand in glory.

Just For Fun...

Warmth : 1000 Gifts

We had a few cold and power-less days in our home this past week, which left me so thankful for many simple things... some lovely, some not... all a gift...

0826
My hairdryer.

0827
Guest rooms.

0828
Just baked chocolate chip cookies, coffee, and conversation in a friend's warm living room.

0829
Our tough fish, Gershwin, who survived the cold... just barely.


0830
Sleeping bags.

0831
Thai take-out.

0832
A thermos of hot water carried down the sidewalk.

0833
Hot tea.

0834
Neighborly care.

0835
A warm breakfast.

0836
The oranges and pinks of sunset reflecting on the snow.

0837
Refreshing computer-free days.

0838
Travel book lights.

0839
Big limbs falling in safe places.

0840
Snowballs in my freezer.

0841
An opportunity to clean the inside of the fridge.

0842
Our grimy van.

0843
Piles of wet snow gear.

0844
Warm coats.

0845
Our clothes dryer.

0846
Saucer sleds.

0847
These brilliant hand-warmers. (thanks, Mom)

0848
When friends say the hard things.

0849
Being honest.

0850
True friendship.

0851
True hospitality.

0852
Warm fellowship.

Snow Days

Moments after I posted our Wednesday art project we lost power. Snow is so much more fun when your house is warm and cozy. The first few hours were exciting... reading by candlelight, keeping warm by the fire. Waking the next morning to a chilled house and no coffee changed my attitude a bit, but we bundled up and according to Hannah had a "great family adventure."

After shoveling, the first thing on the list was to get to the neighborhood sledding hill.

Hannah and friends

Peter is quick to come down...

... and run right back up to the top.

We enjoyed the warm hospitality of friends for two days moving from home to home in search of heat (and coffee).
All while these trucks teased us constantly.

Late yesterday afternoon, I packed us up for our second slumber party in two days. And as I locked the front door to our 47 degree house the front lights came on! I cheered the Pepco truck as it drove down the street. I love electricity. But not wanting the "adventure" to end, we still headed over to friends and almost spent the night... just for fun.

Cold Hands, Warm Heart

This was a perfect project for a snowy afternoon with a creative treatment
of warm and cool colors. I found the idea at Art Projects for Kids.
We used colored pencils instead of crayons.

Coloring by the fire...

Peter asked if he could color it a different way : )...

I didn't have a compass, so I made my own with a piece of cardboard...
(this one is mine... I can't resist coloring by the fire)

The finished project... and Kit and Hannah in their matching nightgowns. So sweet.

Tuesday Thanks : 1000 Gifts

Weekly I sit here and gather together the beautiful gifts, all those moments I remember with gratitude. They are scribbled on scrap paper, in the margins of my journal, alongside my sermon notes...

and I add them to the list (a day late this week)...

0802
Sick days.

0803
Finding him napping like this (and with sword in hand, just in case).


0804
That he still wants to sit on my lap when I read to all three. (I can barely see over his shoulder.)

0805
Moments of peaceful play.

0806
Generous restaurant gift cards. Dinner out with my husband.

0807
Our babysitter.

0808
Spontaneous running races.

0809
Marshmallows.

0810
Our Nature Center.

0811
A full moon. Trying to find it again through the trees as we drive home.

0812
Sunday afternoon reading.

0813
Early evening sun streaming through windows.

0814
Windshield wiper fluid.

0815
Really tall towers. Mom, get your camera!-type towers.


0816
The remedy of Grace.

0817
A godly husband.

0818
Being able to fill a grocery cart.

0819
Our home filled with friends.

0820
Finding Ann's book at the front door.

0821
Reports of good health.

0822
Adequacy in Christ.

0823
When the I'm sorry's happen without prompting.

0824
The promise of eternal fruit.

0825
That I have a God who understands my weaknesses,
redeems my failures, and can make a garden out of my mess.

The Astronaut Party

For his 5th birthday party, Peter went with an Astronaut theme. Hannah and Will painted and assembled the solar system for the table. Isn't it nice how you can tailor homeschooling to fit with your party planning? : )

We had over a bunch of great friends (and their great parents).

(Poor Hannah felt terrible and spent most of the evening upstairs. Thankfully, she was better this morning.)


There was a lot of silliness...


... and some intense pinata beating. I love Caden's determination in this picture.


All the candles lit as we fired-up the space shuttle made it very exciting. Not recommended.


Peter is more excited about me letting him have root beer than about cake.