All I need

Still writing it down.  All the gifts.  Taking notice.  Awakening to God's love, and seeing, really seeing that I've been given all that I need.

 White roses opening, opening.  Sweet smell fills the air.  Given in love from my husband.  Ever giving to me in so many ways.

 Owl's little hands scooping seeds for the birds.

Walks with my boys.

Arms to hold them.  Hands to wipe noses and dry tears.

The purple teapot.

New bird feeders.

Sleep.  Cozy bed.  J's warmth.

Clean water.  Bath tub to hold them all.  Splashes, laughter, brothers.

A Bit of Christmas

 Early Christmas morn.  I loved it that he was more amazed by the light of the tree in the dark, than the presents underneath.  Or at least it's what he noticed first!

 Little Hen was not sure why all the boys woke him up so very early.

 Brothers.

 Papa home.

Papa home with us, was probably the best part of the holiday!

We did travel to my folks' house for the weekend and had such a nice time there.  My brother was home for the holiday and we were all so glad to see him.  There was much celebrating because he is engaged!  Hurray!  We are so glad to add Ms. S to our family.

The boys were lavished in gifts by the grandparents and have spent the last few days building with new Legos.  I am glad they are so busy as I am taking the week to exercise and plan for the New Year.  What a blessed time this past year has been.  So much to be thankful for.....the List continues....

#25....for the man who spent his time away from work to be with us.  how he plays with them.  reads to them.  snuggles them.  how he listens to me and loves me until I am filled up.

#26....for my mom and dad and how they love the boys.  for days spent in their comfortable house.  for feeling provided for.

#27...for good conversations with my soon to be sister in law!

#28...for this process of learning to be gentle with myself and for being gifted with determination as I work on losing weight.

#29...for the ability to eat so well.  for fresh greens in the winter, oranges so sweet, and fresh eggs that keep coming.

#30...for words.  for being able to read.  for a mind that is being renewed daily.  for people that are brave enough to write about truth.

#31...for going to the movies with my boys, J, and my brother!  So much fun!

Quiet Thankfulness

We are busier these days than I'd like.  And our busy is probably not even close to your busy.  We are not very busy people.  On purpose.  But still, busier than usual...and mostly because our society is organized in such a weird way with business around holidays.  I know I am just me, so therefore I have no say whatsoever in how society runs....but I'm just sayin'....if it were up to me....I think around holidays I'd make big chunks of time where things were not scheduled.  Holiday shopping, holiday sending out of cards and even holiday programs would not exist.  No really.  We'd have programs at other times of the year when we had time for them.  But holidays would be set aside for having time to just be.  Anyway...as I am just me....and we have to live in this world for now....we are making do with being a little extra busy.  The kids are handling it better than me.  Because well....the busy of holidays is much easier when you are a kid and only have to tend to the having fun part of it all.  :)

Anyway...I'm still making time to pay attention to the things for which I am thankful.  It seems especially important just now, when there is "busy" pulling at me.

#18....the boy who patiently helps his littler brother get on the sled for the twentieth time...holding it just so....talking to him so he isn't afraid....

#19....showers.  I'm so thankful for being able to shower.  If you think about it, it is such a luxury.  We seem so rich.  We are so rich.

#20....Twinkly Christmas lights.  Ornaments on the tree from when I was a wee girl.  They tell the story of where I have been.....

#21....The boy singing Jingle Bells over and over again while he rocks on the wooden horse...."Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle, Jingle Bells"...

#22...Having a voice to sing with.  Having ears to hear.  Having a heart that is able to be touched.

#23...Grace.  His unending Grace.  Even when I screw up...again.  How He fills me up with His grace and gives me a fresh start.

#24...For the friend who asked me how I was today.  Her eyes speak love.  Her softness, His grace.


I'm going to try to keep going with The List until I reach 1,000 gifts!  If you'd like to know more about how I got started with the List read here.  If you'd like to share something you are thankful for leave a comment!  Thankfulness is contagious.  Spread the Joy!

More Thanksgiving...

The List continues....

#12... late night movies with J, xmas lights, and warm blankets...

#13...babies and bathtubs

#14....the husband, who is so patient with me when I don't understand or lose my temper....he listens so well....lets me feel things....and loves me all the while...

#15...new minivans. yeah.  i can't talk about this just yet.  it is so stinkin' amazing.

#16...the drawings of the little boy, his dragons and knights, his love for color, his passion for what he loves....

#17...the boy who sees me basting the turkey and says, "why are you painting the turkey, mama?"

The List

I keep bumping into ideas about Thankfulness everywhere. Which is a nice thing to bump into. My favorite so far is from this blog, written by a farmer's wife of 6 children. Her writing is amazing. I love her idea of keeping a list of things we are thankful for. And as I started mine, I realized that it gives an interesting perspective into our life here at Tree Shadow Farm. So I'm going to be sharing what's on the list periodically, starting today at the beginning.

What I'm thankful for....

#1....Orange November sunrises peeking through the tall maples as I first awake....

#2....Fluffy black dog whose furry coat is always a welcome touch...

#3....The way the man makes coffee for me every morning.....

#4....Cricket's prayer at the dinner table last night....."Dear Father...please would you somehow make it so we have enough money to by a new van....and I just thank you that you have given us a mama and papa to take care of us. Amen."

I hope you enjoy following along with me on this adventure.