Thankful Thursday

981.  God's protection over my youngest from an episode in which he could have been seriously injured but wasn't hurt at all!

982.  A brightly lit Christmas tree that holds so many memories in the form of ornaments collected over the years

983.  Festive decorations around the house

984.  Christmas letters stacked on the table ready to go out in the mail - so many accounts of God's goodness to our family from this past year!

985.  So many friends and family to mail them off to!

986.  Seeing Isaac's delight with all things Christmas this year

987.  Josiah's chubby little feet

988.  Isaac's affection for his doll and stuffed animals...melts my heart everytime

989.  A beautiful duet written by my father-in-law for Nathan and me to sing in church

990.  So many fun packages arriving in the mail this time of year :)

Thankful...

961.  A husband who lent his time and elbow grease toward the massive job of cleaning my oven before we cooked a Thanksgiving turkey! (My hero!)

962.  Josiah's hilarious sounding grunts

963.  Isaac's impromptu hugs to my leg while I'm preparing meals

964.  Our fun-loving friend, Lindsay, who was able to join us for Thanksgiving

965.  Laughter around the table

966.  Warm water in which to bathe my children

967.  Hot chocolate

968.  A refrigerator full of leftovers

969.  Glimmers of progress with Josiah in the sleep training department (at long last!)

970.  Black Friday deals

971.  A loving church family with whom to share life

972.  So many glorious sunsets this week!

973.  Recent snowfalls transforming our world into winter wonderlands

974.  Skype calls with family far away

975.  Isaac's problem-solving determination that makes me smile every time I see it

976.  Isaac's attempt to learn to close his eyes while praying - it's SO cute!

977.  Josiah's chunky little legs kicking away in the bathtub tonight, creating all sorts of splashes

978.  Library books to read to Isaac

979.  Music

980.  The ability and opportunity to be Wife and Mommy to these handsome fellas:

Thankful Thursday

951.  Milk in the fridge to pour into Isaac's eye and give him to drink when he smeared Tony C's spice mix all over his face tonight!  Poor baby...he was in such agony!

952.  For a fairly quick recovery and no apparent damage to his eyes

953.  Another beautiful sunset!

954.  A gorgeous snow-fall last weekend (the first of the year) that left our town looking like a winter wonderland!

955.  The joy of going sledding as a family

956.  Isaac's love for Josiah (even if it is demonstrated in a rather rough manner sometimes!)

957.  Josiah's adoration for his brother (when he's not being clobbered by him!)

958.  Cozy winter evenings spent together as a family

959.  Delicious, nutritious soup on a cold night

960.  Christmas music (yes, we are the kind of people who start playing it this early in the year!)

Thankful Thursday

Yikes!  It's been a whole month since I continued the list!  There's so much to be thankful for!

931.  Isaac playing with Josiah in his Bumper Jumper and making his baby brother giggle - melts my heart every time!

932.  The last days of fall before fading into winter

933.  A warm house filled with peace to enjoy on these chilly days and nights

934.  The thrill of getting to see Tara, on my of my dearest friends, and her three little ones last week!  Looking forward to more visits as we're able, now that we only live 4 hours apart!

935.  Compliments from my sweet man

936.  The joy of nursing my baby

937.  Stunning sunsets

938.  Crunchy leaves on the sidewalk

939.  Days of rest (i.e. Mondays)

940.  A loving church family

941.  New kids at AWANA

942.  Beautiful music at any time of day streamed through abidingradio.org

943.  Chocolate

944.  The gift of raw milk from a local dairy farmer

945.  My toddler's chirpy little voice learning to say words

946.  Homemade, nutrient-rich chicken broth - mmm!

947.  God's constant, faithful provisions for our family

948.  Impromptu hugs from Isaac at random moments all throughout the day

949.  Josiah's baby talk

950.  New books to read

Thankful Thursday

919.  Scrumptious, sugar-free, grain-free chocolate cream pie for dessert tonight.  It really hit the spot!

920.  A delightful, 2-hour nap today that was MUCH needed (it's been awhile...)

921.  Changing colors on the trees around town

922.  Isaac's love for his little brother

923.  Josiah's roly-polyness these days (as in, he likes to roll from his back to his belly...not that he's super chubby)

924.  A spacious van to take on the road for our upcoming trip to Texas

925.  Good news from a far country

926.  Extra bed sheets for those days when your old set gets an irreparable hole in it :)

927.  Quiet evenings to work on preparations for the girls' conference next week

928.  Pacifiers

929.  Snuggles with my big boy while reading books before bed

930.  My husband's integrity

Thankful Thursday

901.  The crisp, fall weather that has descended upon Taos!

902.  The smell of homemade broth wafting through our house right now, adding to the cozy effect of being snug in our warm home on a cool, fall evening

903.  Taking Isaac swimming for the first time this morning (at a heated, indoor pool, mind you!)

904.  Yellow patches of trees spotted on the mountain tops around us and the eager anticipation of golden colors soon to arrive here in our valley!

905.  New fall/winter clothes to wear in these chillier temps!

906.  The generosity of a church in Texas to come pour a new sidewalk outside our home and church as well as tend to other building projects

907.  Josiah's baby babble and adorable chuckles

908.  Isaac's toddler babble, especially when he is "reading" out loud to himself from a book!

909.  A delightful visit with dear friend Leah (Horvath) Ashworth and her new husband, Aaron, when they stopped in for a quick overnight yesterday

910.  More kisses from my favorite guy!

911.  New helpers for children's ministries at church

912.  The enjoyment of planning my talks and presentations for the upcoming girls' retreat/conference in Houston

913.  God's faithful provisions for our family in both the basic necessities and the little extras

914.  My salvation - full and free!

915.  The privilege of being home with my children and not having to miss a single milestone in their lives!

916.  My marriage and the gift of waking up next to such a great husband every morning

917.  A camera for capturing so many priceless moments in life

918.  God's work in our church family

Thankful Thursday

This post has been a challenge in the making on a particularly trying day.  Despite all the fussiness of children today, the difficulty juggling several balls at once, the fatigue I've felt, the irritations I have experienced (and sometimes given into), the pain and swollen lip from a head bonk from my toddler, I have tried throughout the day to whisper thanks to the Lord for little blessings.  Here goes...

891.  Running water.  After last week's experience without it for nearly 24 hours, I am grateful everyday for this precious commodity, especially on a day like today when I spent a lot of time cooking!

892.  My wonderful husband who recognized my frustrations today and stepped in at lunch and dinner to help with the kiddos, to compliment and kiss me, and who even scrubbed a VERY dirty stove top just to bless me!  His little actions of love meant a lot to me today.

893.  My Facebook friends who offered words of encouragement

894.  The grace of God and the reminder that He is long-suffering and forgiving...and I should be too!

895.  My little boys who bring me so much joy, even on days when they try my patience something fierce! :)

896.  Frozen zucchini to soothe my swollen, throbbing lip

897.  A bit of rest during the boys' nap times

898.  Josiah's smiles and giggles and sweet baby smell

899.  A lovely walk in the cool of the evening

900.  The end of a long day and the opportunity for a fresh start tomorrow!

Thankful Thursday

871.  Running water; not having had it for the past several hours due to a leak in town makes me so much more grateful for all those days and hours when we do!  At least I got the laundry done earlier before we ran out!

872.  The peace and quiet of evening when all the children are asleep in their beds (we now usually have three little ones due to a childcare job I've recently taken on for a single mom new to our church)

873.  A return to health for Isaac after struggling with a cold for a week (brought into our home by the little girl we now care for much of the week)

874.  A great start to our AWANA program for this school year!

875.  A fun trip to Albuquerque with Nathan during which time I was able to do a lot of much-needed shopping for a wardrobe update

876.  My friends, Joshua and Kelsie Steele, who are celebrating ten years of marriage today!

877.  The amazing offer of an all-expense paid trip to Israel next spring with my husband!

878.  Talking with my parents on Skype tonight

879.  Purple flowers adding a pop of color to the entrance of the park tonight

880.  Kisses with the husband in the kitchen :)

881.  The smell of my child's clean, wispy, toddler hair (wish I could bottle it up for the future!)

882.  Josiah's chuckles and giggles that bring a smile to my heart

883.  Isaac's ongoing hilarious antics that make me laugh

884.  The delight of children who are trained well from the beginning of life

885.  Trustworthy friends who care for my children in my absence when it's needed

886.  Energy and strength to juggle a lot of balls right now

887.  A six-hour stretch for Josiah between night-time feedings the other night!  That's a record!

888.  New pajamas that actually match!  (I know, it's the little things in life!)

889.  People who pray for us

890.  New recipes that turn out so tasty! (stay tuned for a post about some of them soon!)

Thankful Thursday

855.  Little boy hugs and love

856.  Baby coos

857.  Potty training successes

858.  A Moby wrap for the days when Josiah needs extra holding (like today!)

859.  My husband's hard work on a new van for our family

860.  A much-needed nap!

861.  The beauty of the mountains in the evening sunlight

862.  Cool breezes

863.  A family walk in the park

864.  Fresh-cut blooms from a friend's garden

865.  Access to the Truth of life in God's Word

866.  Faster internet

867.  A loving family both near and far away

868.  Unexpected monetary gifts in the mail

869.  Josiah's smiles

870.  The gift of patience that I pray for so often as a mommy!

Thankful Thursday

844.  The beautiful blues and greens of a Taos summer evening

845.  The refreshing evening air after a warm day

846.  Hearing Baby Boy's strong heartbeat today at our 38-week check-up

847.  Isaac's happy smiles and delighted glee at the littlest things all day long

848.  A great week of sports camps ministries

849.  A new tooth for Isaac for which the only indication has been extra drool instead of the usual fever and fussiness (so far!)

850.  Yummy summertime fruit

851.  Fans throughout the house to keep things cool

852.  The church's re-stucco project almost being done (before the baby's birth - yay!) and a new color that looks so much better!

853.  Daily naps that help supplement for the lack of sleep at night

854.  My strong and handsome husband! :)

Thankful Thursday

831.  The fifteen children who have signed up for VBS so far! (Halfway to the prayer goal of at least 30!)

832.  The many people at church who helped us at the VBS workshop last weekend to get ready for this big endeavor

833.  The group of college young people who are here this week from Louisiana to host Bible clubs in the park and pass out invitations to VBS

(can you tell I am living and breathing VBS-related stuff these days?)

834.  Getting to know new church attendees over lunch

835.  A yummy chocolate-cream-cheese croissant from a local bakery that really tasted good this week!

836.  Sweet, juicy cantaloupe on sale

837.  Isaac sleeping better at night lately, allowing me to get much needed rest

838.  God's provision for our family, allowing us to buy some out-of-the-ordinary items lately that are needed for both summer ministry and the birth of the baby

839.  Cool, refreshing evenings after warm spring days

840.  Much work being accomplished on our church/parsonage building as it is being re-stuccoed, thanks to laborers and volunteers alike

841.  My hard-working husband who is out from 8:30-5:00 every day with the work crew pounding nails and getting the job done, despite having many other tasks to juggle

842.  My little boy who makes me smile even on days when he is testing the boundaries at every opportunity

843.  The many jabs and kicks of Little Boy #2 which remind me of his active life inside the womb and make me look forward even more to his arrival! :)

Thankful Thursday

821.  Mercies which are new every morning

822.  Sweet-smelling roses

823.  My mom

824.  The privilege of being a mother

825.  Afternoon naps (again!)

826.  A borrowed overhead projector for making VBS decorations

827.  A box of free transparencies for said overhead projector

828.  Good times with a new-ish friend

829.  Homemade (healthy) cookies

830.  Another little get-away to Colorado this weekend with the school where Nathan coached all year

Thankful Thursday in Pictures

With so much to share here in my little blog world and so little time to share it all, I have decided to compile three posts into one!  It's a bit lengthy, but I figure I might as well take advantage of this rare opportunity for a quiet evening of posting and catch you up on everything all at once! Hope you don't mind! :)

The thankful list continues interspersed with pictures...

811.  This man:

(Picture taken in January during a ski trip but only just now discovered on my husband's iPhone!)

812.  This little fellow:

(I'm not sure if he's saying "thank you" or blowing kisses in this picture.  Both actions look the same!)

(Oh, how he makes me smile!)

813.  Our trip to Colorado Springs last week with this delightful outing to Garden of the Gods and the reminder of our great God's creativity:

(Do you see the "kissing camels"?)

"Balancing Rock"

814.  This majestic mountain - Pike's Peak:

815.  This incredibly lovely, romantic get-away, the Castle at Glen Eyrie:

816.  A fun hike with my husband on the castle property (right next to Garden of the Gods) with these views:

(Do you see the castle?)

817.  Two years with this guy!

818.  Black widow bites which used to look like this

now healing up so nicely!

819.  My special little "helper" as I get ready for a spy-theme VBS:

"I mustache you a question..."

"Am I cute, or what?"

820.  These people getting baptized this past Sunday:

Benji

Erica

Erica 

Esperansa

Esperansa

Celeste

Joseph

Sandi

Wayne and Natalie

Natalie

Wayne

Thankful Thursday

801.  A wonderful, two-day get-away with my husband in early celebration of our 2nd anniversary! (Pictures coming soon!)

802.  Kind friends who took exceptional care of Isaac while we were gone

803.  Isaac's ear infection clearing up in time for our trip so we didn't have to cancel

804.  Finally, some pain-free days for Nathan after suffering with great discomfort for several weeks due to multiple black widow bites

805.  30 weeks of a healthy pregnancy so far!

806.  Fresh, sweet pineapple

807.  Flowers in bloom

808.  VBS preparations starting to come together

809.  Middle of the night snuggles with my little boy

810.  Little children and new Christian adults excited about being baptized this Sunday!

Thankful Thursday

792.  Strawberries and blackberries on sale this week!

793.  Beautiful spring weather these past couple of days after several recent snow storms

794.  The hilarious things that children say during AWANA which make me chuckle

795.  Lots of leftover red raspberry tea from my last pregnancy to start drinking (because I'm finally just now getting around to remembering about its importance!)

796.  Isaac's cheerfulness despite being sick with a cold this week (he got what Nathan and I had last week, poor little fellow)

797.  God's plentiful provisions

798.  27 weeks of being pregnant with a new little life inside

799.  Nathan's wise leadership of our family

800.  The opportunity to be a stay-at-home wife and mommy!

Thankful Thursday

783.  A snug, cozy house on a cold, snowy day

784.  The hilarious boy-noise sound effects coming from the other room, compliments of Isaac :)

785.  The opportunity to rest this week as we have been fighting colds

786.  A Skype call with my sister

787.  Good books for free on my Kindle thanks to ereadergirl.com

788.  Answered prayer for a family our church has been ministering to for over a year now; they stopped going to the Mormon "church" and started coming here this past Sunday!

789.  Machines that make life easier

790.  Kleenex

791.  The love of God

Thankful Thursday

772.  The privilege of being a full-time homemaker, thanks to my husband's provision for our family

773.  The privilege of resting when my body needs it, thanks to being a full-time homemaker :)

774.  Hugs and snuggles from my baby boy

775.  A box of crayons that kept said baby boy occupied during Daddy's Bible study last night for a good 20 minutes!

776.  Hot baths

777.  Buds and blossoms starting to pop out around town

778.  Sweet fellowship and learning at our monthly ladies' Bible study

779.  Visitors at church taking us out for a meal

780.  Vegetables on sale that I don't usually buy which have tasted so good this week!

781.  Answered prayer for a specific request pertaining to our baby's upcoming birth

782.  Lots of movement from the Littlest Man, letting me know he is alive and well!

Thankful Thursday (on Friday...again)

765.  New overalls for Isaac that make him look so adorable!

766.  Significant improvement for Nathan's ankle meaning that he can sleep in bed again (instead of on the couch), walk with only a small limp, and experience much less pain than before!

767.  Isaac's incredibly cute baby babble and personal conversations with himself

768.  Yummy almond-flour brownies thanks to my mom's generosity in sending the almond flour!

769.  Fellowship over dinner with new friends

770.  A very active little one in the womb

771.  God's provision of an excellent curriculum for our VBS this summer

Thankful Thursday (on Friday!)

754.  Isaac's wrinkly-nose grins

755.  Running water

756.  Good times with friends from Houston

757.  Beautiful music playing throughout the house

758.  Energy to clean house

759.  A continuing healthy pregnancy

760.  Chocolate

761.  Spring on its way!

762.  Isaac's contagious giggles when playing a fun game

763.  My wise and caring husband

764.  Daily naps (I know I have mentioned them before, but they are gifts worth being thankful for on a regular basis!)

Thankful Thursday

743.  A child who seems to be slowly outgrowing his "clingy-mama's-boy" tendencies, making him a happier little guy

744.  Naps (sometimes taken morning and afternoon just like the little man!)

745.  Nathan's ability to walk without crutches

746.  Discounted lodging for our upcoming anniversary trip this spring

747.  Isaac's happy chirps

748.  Plants growing in the sunshine on my window ledge

749.  The beauty of snow on the mountains

750.  Isaac's excitement to play the piano multiple times a day

751.  Amazon gift cards

752.  Yummy new recipes

753.  Fellowship with friends