Fridays are Special Blessings

354. Siblings. I LOVE watching my kiddos play together. Today they were building with the pillows, blocks, legos, and using their big cars and trucks. They really have a good time using their imagination.

353. A friend was available to chat today when I needed someone to remind of God's Word.

352. Our new healthy living is going well!

351. Though the weekend is just beginning, I think we'll be UNDER budget for groceries this week!

350. Raquel came today. We've got clean bathrooms and a clean kitchen floor! And I was able to run to the store for a hot minute.

349. This is my 100th post on this blog. I think I'll go and reread some of the entries to remind myself just how good God has been to me.

348. Daddy's home. No meeting tonight! Whew! What a week it has been!

347. Autumn Glory is FOUR MONTHS OLD already! Ooooo and she's so adorable! Thank You, Lord, for her precious smile that melts my heart even during those 3am feedings. I've said it many times before, this has been the easiest transition we've had with a baby. Whether it's her being "an easy" baby or me having a very different perspective, the Lord has certainly blessed us with her.

October Thanks

335. My hubby planned the best bday for my 35th! What a wonderful man God has graciously allowed me to marry! And every year actually gets BETTER! He planned these surprise meals with people to bless me. The title was something like, "Finding Joy in the midst of Dirty Diapers and Drug Deals." The first meal was with a couple we knew back in Chicago shortly after we got married. They were a couple we were greatly encouraged and spurred on by. It was incredible meeting up with them again! The 2nd meal was with our pastor and his family. What was so neat about that time was it was almost exactly 3 years since we first had a meal with them on the our first Sunday visiting the church before we moved from MD. Autumn was in the hospital on the morning of what was to be our 3rd meal so perhaps we'll have another opportunity to get with that couple and their kids. But, Lord, I don't need any more. My husband has gone all out by organizing these events. Thank You for him and all he does and is!

334. Papa mowed the garden and the pumpkin patch. It's all pretty much gone. But what a fun experience! We ended up with 14 pumpkins! Not bad for a $1.49 pack of seeds! We had one little marconi pepper, a good amount of tomatoes, lots of zucchini, and some lettuce. The carrots, onion, and corn were a bust. But it was a great treat to watch the kiddos as they observed changes in the garden. Thank You, Lord, for the harvest. And thank You for my husband's excitement in thinking about next year. Yes, he already got the kids to help him plant tulip bulbs for the spring!

333. Our kiddos have a Papa who loves them so much that he installed a swing in our schoolroom! Yes, it looks crazy, I'm sure. But the kiddos LOVE it as they swing from the schoolroom to the foyer! Thank You, Lord, for giving my kiddos a father who adores them so much that he is not concerned with what's "normal." And how wonderful it is hearing the kids giggle as they play with Daddy!

332. Thank You, Lord, for allowing me to give birth to Autumn naturally. Though the labor was more intense due to the amount of time it took, it was a "better" delivery in that my recovery has been so easy. Lord, You are so kind to me.

331. I went shopping this afternoon and Joshua decided to come along. I went to Alid and then the Super Walmart. It was so nice having him with me. I love so many of his qualities... his attention to detail, his love for God's beautiful creation, his giddiness and excitement over so many things I would normally overlook, his desire to be near me at all times, his constant questioning and desire to know and understand... and more. Thank You, Lord, for Joshua Caleb and for creating him as you have. I adore my biggest boy!

330. Raquel, a genuine mother's helper! If you're local and are reading this you know who this young lady is. Wow! I am amazed that she comes WEEKLY (thanks to her mom from driving her every week!) to clean our dirty bathrooms and kitchen and allows me time to go grocery shopping without the whole gang or late at night. Lord, I pray You would help Raquel see how much she blesses me. May she feel and be assured of Your great pleasure in how she serves our family.

329. Our church family providing meals for us has been SO nice. I love to cook and always think it's unnecessary for others to provide meals for us. But, I am so thankful to all the wives in our church have done extra work and spent extra money to bless us by providing a meal. What a tremendous help!

328. Papa-bear was able to work from home the week Autumn was born and then take the next week off. We had a great time together, just the seven of us. Tomorrow will be an adjustment for all of us. But we are so very thankful to the Gift-giver for granting us this unique time together.

327. Autumn Glory is home with us and is no longer jaundice.

More Gifts from the Giver

315. Another Paperbackswap credit

314. Lots of movement from Baby #5

313. Another day ended exhausted but thankful

312. Children dirty from good play

311. Three new windows

310. Good memories of childhood

309. News of babies being knit together in the womb

308. Children fed

307. A husband sharing temptations so that I can pray for more specifically

306. Tears shed over my transgression and His undeserved forgiveness

305. Swollen pregnant hands and feet

304. Prayers answered

303. Faith-building and sacrificial giving

302. Rolls made by scratch and a son excited to partake

301. Folded towels and sheets by a friend

Gifts My Eyes Have Seen Recently

Lord, it is easy to see misery when my focus is on self. But when I open my eyes to see as You see, my view changes drastically! Thank You, Father, for these visible gifts and the greatest gift that can never be taken away!

300. A friend struggling in her faith attending church and being cared for by God's people.

299. Children excitedly eating a treat of ice cream.

298. A mother shedding tears of joy over having all of her grown children worshipping God together in church. Lord, may I be that blessed!

297. Distant relatives enjoying the gift of family.

296. A grandfather sitting cross-legged on the carpet playing with his grandson Hamilton.

295. A husband, my Papa-son, diligently teaching our kiddos about God.

Pastoral Care

291. Our pastors are such gifts! In fact, Lord, You are awesome in how You provide Your people with shepherds to help us guard our souls and treasure the Gospel. Thank You, Lord, for Tab and Josh and how they ALWAYS make time for whoever is in need. I recently needed some pastoral help and ended up speaking with both of them at separate times and ended both conversations even more thankful for these men and their wives! Bless them and their families, O Great God! Oops! I left out our new pastor, Jamie. Lord, I have already been on the receiving end of our newest pastor's gifts as I can now listen to the message in the hallway thanks to the new speaker! Oh what a gift that is to so many moms and dads who walk the halls with sick or sleeping children. Thank You, Lord God.

Thinking Back on Our Week

284. May I not forget the blessing of having others lift me/our family up in prayer. Lord, that truly is a kindness, perhaps the greatest kindness someone can do for me/us. Bless those that have interceded on our behalf. Thank You for each one of them, known and unknown.

283. Thank You for allowing us the stre

ngth necessary to plant phase one of our veggies in our garden. And though they don't look well I am praising You for the opportunity to try. Indeed You can do all things, great God! May the rain we continue to receive help our garden to flourish and provide food for our family and others!

282. Though it's been a little tougher securing coupons since we had to cancel (again) our newspaper delivery service, You continue to show me that I don't need tons of coupons to save money. Thank You for the coupons I do have (and for those that are so generous to pass them along to me - wink, wink) and for reminding me that a budget is good. It is good to have boundaries. It is good to remind myself that I don't NEED everything on my list which helps me make calls to be a wise steward. Continue to help me grow in being like the Proverbs 31 woman who "looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness."

281. Though I've said it before, Lord, it so blesses my soul to hear my children pray. Oh my great God! You are so wonderful! Thank You for granting us three little ones that ASK us if they can pray!

280. Made it through another busy week of Papa-bear having back to back night meetings. Thank You for William's job and the provision that it provides our family.

279. My breast ultrasound went well. No cyst found in the location of my pain. Most likely the pain is a result of a bruised muscle or even broken rib from my cough.

278. Baby #5 is looking good in the womb! Ultrasound to measure the fibroids didn't find them much large than my previous pregnancy with Paloma. We hope to find out the sex of Baby #5 though we've opted to not find out with all the others. This round, though, I'd like to only have the clothes I need out! Also, the other biggie for me was to make sure we're only expecting ONE new arrival in October as we would have to get a straight-up full-size van if that were not the case. Don't get me wrong, I'd be thrilled with twins but am also thrilled to receive this news as well. Thank You, Lord God, for knowing exactly what we need and mercifully granting us way more than we deserve. We are so excited for this new Baby to enter the world and be used for Your Kingdom!

And here's a picture of Baby #5 with his/her hand in their mouth. The Baby is just shy of 15 weeks in this picture:

Random Praises from our Day

270. Hearing (for what seems like the millionth time) a stranger say, "Your kids are so well behaved?! They're all so good!" Lord, You alone receive the glory for that for I am fully aware of my sin in trying to train them. Thank You, Lord God, for being so incredibly merciful to me. They really are good kids.

269. Putting our sweetie pie Paloma Joy down for nite nite and watching her slip her little thumb in her mouth.

268. Watching seeds sprout and live emerge from dirt.

267. Being a part of the Body.

266. Experiencing moments of nausea but knowing it will only last for a season.

265. Eating in the sunshine, watching the kiddos feet dangle from the big picnic table, and hearing their sweet giggles at lunch.

264. Walking in the sunshine with the kiddos to the library.

A few to recount...

Here are a few blessings I'm recounting this evening...

258. Kadin, Saraina, & Joshua all ask to pray before we eat and are very concerned when someone doesn't.  Oh Lord, to see You at work in them is so amazing!  Joshua is now asking us if he can say the prayer before a meal or bedtime.

257. William.  Pops, I was struggling this morning, as you graciously pointed out this morning, and I felt your care.  Thank You, Lord, for my husband who "washes me with the Word" and cares so tenderly for me.  You, William, are so good to me.  I thank God for you!

256. My children love God's Word.  Thank You for allowing me to see their excitement over Scripture and to be spurred on by it!  Oh would you continue to grow that, O God!

255.  Learned my first memory verse in Spanish (thanks to BLee's encouragement and Spanish Bible).  It is so neat to say and read a verse in Spanish.  I actually think it is causing me to consider each word a bit more.  Lord, I know I cannot learn Spanish without Your intervention.  Help me!  I desire to communicate with our Spanish-speaking neighbors.

254. We had a great date on Saturday night, actually a double date!  What made it even sweeter was we were able to pay with gift cards William got over Christmas.  Oh Lord, it is good to fellowship with other couples sometimes.  Indeed I think I laughed harder and longer than I had in a really long time.

253. Joshua read for the first time this afternoon!  He sounded out CAT and his eyes lit up!  He gave me a high five and said, "Oooo.  I want another one, Mommy!"  I then went through the -AT family and he had  tough time but he read some of them.  Oh Lord!  You know I loved teaching those 5.5 years and adored those kids.  But, You know just how incredible it was hearing my first child read his first word.  Thank You, Father, for this bit of undeserved and unearned grace.  Thank You for this day of teaching my kiddos at home.  I'm in awe of Your kindness to me.

Books, Butter, and More Books

245. Whiter Than Snow: Meditations on Sin and Mercy by Paul David Tripp.  Received this book over Christmas and am reading one chapter/meditation per week to be reminded of my sinfulness and His amazing grace.  Thanks, Papa!

244. A Mom Just Like You by Vickie Farris & Jayme Farris Metzgar.  Received this book as a gift and just cried as I read the 2 brief parts before the Intro.  What a blessing that book will be and is already.  I plan to read a chapter once a week to be encouraged as I seek to home school our kiddos.  Thanks, B!

243. Almond butter in the fridge.  Thank You, Lord, for giving us the money to allow me to take advantage of that sale on almond butter last month!  Almond butter in the fridge is SUCH a blessing.

242. BLee letting me borrow her car and run to the library to pick up my books that were being held!

A Long List of Blessings

240. Knowing there are many praying for me

239. Money to register for a Marriage Retreat in MN and BLee all set to watch the bigger three!

238. An American Express gift card we didn't know we had that has $$ on it!

237. A scheduled date night this evening!!!!!  I love time alone with my hubby!

236. time to blog!

235. Saraina asking me for a hug a lunchtime.

234. Paloma not spitting up lots anymore and settling in to a nice schedule that works well with the other kiddos.

233. Joshua asking to "do school" constantly.

232. Impromptu conversations with other adults.

231. Fun Christmas gifts the kiddos got from random fam members.  They will make homeschooling and home managing a bit more manageable.

230. The minivan working.  William has had to take it to work every day this week since it has been so cold and the Jetta won't start.

229. Reading an article for care group on Judging Others.  Not done but already grateful for what I have already read.

228. The sound of child's creative play.  Kids really don't need much to have fun.

227. A home with heat and warm, clean clothes for each of us to wear.

226. Attending the homeschool meeting of my church.  Those women are such "powerhouses" of the faith and so encourage me as a mama.

225. Sleep in my own bed.

224. Kadin David's 2nd birthday.  For more on our little manimal, go HERE.

223. a new computer (we're MAC peeps now)

Intercession

221. Lord, You overflow my cup! I am wowed by how often I get an email, phone call, note, or how someone will post a comment on one of our blogs telling me they are or have been praying for me. Thank You, Lord, for those individuals who have been led by Your Spirit to pray for me. Would you pour out Your mercy and blessing on them this new day.

Care Group

The gift I'd like to record today...

169. being able to attend care group is a gift from God. Not only do we have free, reliable, and excellent childcare (thanks to another couple in our care group who drops off their 16 year old daughter EVERY care group night!), we are exhorted and learn SO much from listening to the other members. I'm amazed at how God can use such a wide range of ages and experiences to help us see and love Him more.