seeing the gifts in sickness

Joining Ann Voskamp's Gratitude Community has done wonders for my perspective on life!  This weekend did not go as I had originally planned, but each stop along the way, I found the positives to focus on instead of complaining.  The stomach flu stopped by our house... not exactly something to be thankful for,  but I will still give thanks in all things!!

172. my son not getting sick until the weekend, so he didn't miss any school
173. trash cans to use as buckets
174. TV to entertain sick kids
175. still being able to scrapbook for a few hours
176. experimenting with Creative Memories Storybook 3.0 digital software
177. cheeseballs with bacon
178. splitting duties with my husband so that I could go to church in the morning
179. seeing the love of the body of Christ in action in our church
180. seeing 2 of my kids in a preview of their Christmas program... so cute!
181. having my 2YO give me kisses in church
182. watching her fold her hands and close her eyes during prayer time and try so hard to keep them that way.
183. feeling only sympathy and love instead of frustration when my 2YO got sick!
184. snuggling close to her on a toddler bed mattress multiple times in the night to help her fall back asleep.
185. hearing her precious, "tank you, mommy" as I held her and covered her with new blankets and changed her yucky diapers.
186. My dear husband handling the 5YO when she succumbed in the wee hours of the morning
187. washing machines... lots of towels, blankets, clothes loads today
188. running water, indoor plumbing
189. soap and hot water
190. reading books to my kids (even when I don't feel like it)
191. finally getting a few hours of sleep
192. sunshine and mild temps, so the healthy kids could go outside and play this morning
193. a long naptime
194. week long Thanksgiving break with no plans, so we can rest and recover
195. no expectations for Turkey on Thanksgiving day... already adjusting my menu!
196. scented candles
197. Wonder  Chicken (that my husband is bringing home for dinner)
198. pulling out our fibre optic Christmas tree to cheer the home
199. the ability to give thanks even in the unpleasant
200. God's mercies are new every day and just what I need for that day!







Here's hoping that our house is up and feeling back to normal soon!!  But in everything GIVE THANKS!!

A walk to the mailbox

Our mailbox is over a half mile from our front door.  I typically get the mail while driving in or out to pick up the kids from school. but occasionally (just twice now) we have taken the walk out to the mailbox to get the mail... once which was Veteran's Day and there was no mail... O well, at least we got some fresh air and exercise! :)

So anyway, in honor of Sweet Shot Tuesday and Top Ten Tuesday, here are 10 pictures from our walk to the mailbox and back!! :)

1. Red berries: I love anything red, these are in the cow pasture.

 2. Oreo Cow number one... they just stare at you, their eyes follow you as you walk by

 3. Oreo Cow number two... do you know how SCARY these cows can be when you see them close up???  and then they start MOOOOing when you walk by and that can be a little nerve wracking too.  They fascinate me and make me nervous all at the same time.

 4. a little love note right on the pavement... it made me smile!  :)

 5. My sweet little Sunshine... she is a little afraid of the cows when they start mooing. "Da cows stare me, mommy" (the cows scare me, mommy)

 6. My little girls running around the field next to our driveway... love the exercise!!

7. The sunset through the trees... I love God's creation and the view!!

8. The moon... enough said!

 9. My girls running down our long driveway

10. the windmills you can see from my yard... way far away on the mountain across the valley.

Thanksgiving

This is the month of November, the month of giving thanks, the month to focus on all the good that has happened, the time to begin giving more....  but for some reason I am really struggling this month.  I don't know why. I have plenty to be thankful for, but for some reason I am looking for something "meaningful" to be thankful about.  I want to "wow" someone with my gratitude... How selfish am I???  So today, I am going to try to give thanks in the mundane of life over the last two weeks...




128.The right to vote and the ability to do so
129. Starting a "Thanksgiving Tree" with my kids
130. Frozen cookie dough to quickly make cookies for Awana Wednesday night
131. sunshine
132. things accomplished
133. coffee (can I say this one more than once?)
134. talks with friends
135.an attached car garage on cold and rainy days (this was from 2 weeks ago, gonna enjoy it again tomorrow)
136. candlelight
137. my husband's new position at work... so excited for how excited he is!!
138. apple cider
139. dinner out at Vincenzo's ... delicious pizza
140. surprising my friend at First Friday Scranton
141. Peppermint Latte from Starbucks ...
142. in a RED CUP!!!  :)
143. simple birthday parties
144. fellowship with friends
145. laundry... because it means we have clothes to wear
146. dishes... because it means we have food to eat
147. bathtime with little kids... because it means I have kids
148. a chance to make hand stamped note cards.
149. and donate them to the Mercy House Shop to benefit the Mercy House Kenya
150. attending a wedding shower ... love the excitement!  :)
151. listening to my 4YO sing a made up song all the way to church (25 minutes)  :)
152. yummy chicken cheddar soup
153. tea with a friend
154. having the money to pay the bills
155. finally adjusting the time change
156. Mom's Alive... fellowship, encouragement from God's Word, food, prayer
157. WARM fall days for my kids to enjoy the playground
158. seeing Christmas lights up already
159. lighting my Spruce tree candle
160. having fun with my kids... this is all too rare!
161. Veteran's Day... giving thanks for all those who serve and sacrifice for our freedoms
162. walking to my mailbox and back... a whole mile of exercise!!
163. FINALLY getting a babysitter, after searching and asking all week long!!
164. the excitement of where our ABF at church is headed in caring like the body of Christ should!!
165. having my babysitter do my dishes, too!!!
166. 60 degree weather in November
167. chicken on the grill!!
168. having the Ohio cousins visit
169. having the Buffalo Bills win a football game... hehe!
170. when TV shows reference Twitter... it just cracks me up
171. staying up too late, but blogging

And GOOD NIGHT!!

A new tradition???

Just Saturday we went to the "pumpkin farm." There are great advantages to going to buy pumpkins on the day before Halloween... we got them for $1.00 each!!  what a steal!  I want to just fill this post with a ton of pictures, but I am taking part in my3boybarians Sweet Shot Tuesday, so I will just post this one picture...

She was soo adorable, just trying to so hard to pick up pumpkins! :)


It has been a long time since I really played with my camera, the fall gives such great opportunity for camera fun, especially in the hills of Pennsylvania, but I haven't really done much.  And now it is supposed to snow this weekend....and I do NOT go out in the cold. But I might be inspired just so I can take part in Sweet Shot Tuesday again!!

Fighting Seasonal Affect Disorder with One Thousand Gifts

It's Monday, it's coooolllld, it's November, I saw snowflakes last night (not good news in my book), I am feeling crampy, my kids are being challenging,... but here I am being all negative when this post is supposed to be linked to Ann Voskamp's Multitude Monday.




So, it has been a few weeks since I added to my list of One Thousand Gifts, but I know I need to get back on track and it is Thanksgiving month after all...

102. that my home has heat on cold winter days
103. a washing machine (Monday is laundry day (one of many)
104. yummy cheesy potatoes for dinner
105. starting a Thanksgiving tree with my kids this evening
106. candles, scented candles
107. FLN.org and the listen on line option... Gentle Praise 
108.corn bags to heat in the microwave
109. driving down the mountain everyday to pick up my kids from school

110. Autumn in Pennsylvania (gorgeous leaves)

and to recap from some things over the last month...

111. a date with my hubby... watching,
112. Harris III and 321 Improv in Mayhem and Misdirection tour
113. painting my girls bedroom a nice soft yellow (with free paint)
114. a visit from my sister and her 2 kids

115. finding Libby's canned pumpkin on the shelves again... and stocking up!
116. getting a chance to lead my first ever cardmaking workshop... it was a blast!

117. selling some handmade notecards ... even if I can't seem to make a go of it in my Artfire shop
118. enjoying some great fellowship and food, and spiritual refreshment at our church's ladies retreat
119. Sundays
120. a Sunday with a baptism, new members added to the church, and celebrating the Lord's Table
121. Having a visit with my MOM!!!!
122. receiving a scholarship for my kids' Christian School education through Pennsylvania's EITC (education improvement tax credit) from Faith First Educational Assistance Corp.
123. making soup

124. grace, God's grace

125. making fall cutout cookies

126. carving pumpkins with the kids

127. bedtime... which is almost here!!

where do you go, what do you do when you get down in the doldrums???  Do you like fall???  ...WINTER???  How do you survive the dark at 6pm (and then 5 pm)???