I am reading a book. I’ll talk more about it (much more!) later.  For now, a new habit: Weekends here will just be a list of what I am thankful for from that past week.  A new discipline of gratitude–will you join me?
  • Coming home late from a date with my man. Tiptoeing in the front door, giddy, feeling so young.
  • Feeling through the darkness in Dutch’s room, sliding under his quilt by his side to smell his sweet breath and kiss his sleeping cheeks.
  • Walking through the house and seeing beauty, order.  Feels so good.
  • Crawling in fresh, white, soft sheets. Sinking into mattress, the weight of the comforter and quilt heavy, holding me down. Down I go into sleep.
  • Arm across the bed. He is there.
  • Waking up alive, searching my mind to put together puzzle pieces of reason and remember what day it is. Oh! Friday. My favorite day.  He is home today.
  • Crack of the door, soft pitter-patter footprints down the hall. I sit and wait with a smile for his little four-year-old  wonder to crack open my door and peak inside. The question is framed on his face full of light, “Is it time to get up yet?”
  • Pulling back my covers to make a spot in the warm nest of my bed.  I smile. “Come on in.” He does.
  • 1 Samuel words of Saul and David–who I currently am and who I long to be, respectively.
  • The beauty of Jonathan’s love for David.  A truest friend.
  • The outdoor sweaty smell of my man as he walks in, back from a run.  He is feeling strong, happy, confident.  I smile.
  • The book on my nightstand, One Thousand Gifts, which inspires this weekend giving of thanks.
  • The feeling of knowing this might be the book that changes my 2011.
  • The wondering and anticipation of how God will continue to Fill in my Blank.
  • Thoughts of Pete’s Mountain potential.
  • Epiphanies from The King’s Speech.  How often have I let childhood’s fears paralyze my life?
  • Resolutions.
  • Decorating with tree-branches.
  • Lingering long in the Word, rushing downstairs to start the breakfast. Stop. Smile. Jeff’s already made it.
  • A tea-date with my long-time discipler. The woman who changed my life.  Laughter. Tears. Losing track of time.
  • College friends who left it all to share His light in Uganda with their 4 children 5 and under.
  • Other college friends over for dinner–we all have kids now!  Life so different. My friend round and glowing and beautiful with their second child coming soon.
  • Long hot shower. A new hair-bandana that lets me go one more day without washing.  Beautiful. 🙂
  • Coming down the stairs, un-made-up and feeling lovely, to see Jeff and kids at the table praying morning prayers over steaming bowls of oatmeal.  The thanks tumbles over then.
  • Coming home to find every single room turned over–toys spilled, forts made, crumbs strewn–children happy.  Evidence of a morning with daddy.
  • Sunshine.
  • Toasted cheese sandwiches, oozing soft and crunching hard, eaten on the front porch–a chilly picnic in the winter sunshine.
  • Dutch’s soft “I love you, mommy” spoken through after-discipline tears.  Feeling the rebellion slowly slide out of his body as he lets go, rests in my arms.
  • Watching Heidi feed her babydoll a bottle of milk.
  • Getting rid of 3 pairs of shoes I never wear.
  • The Road to Santa Clara Candi over for the day. We talk of gardening, gratitude, and giving God our dreams. Isaiah 26:3 frames our talk.  “Mind” in Young’s Literal Translation is “imagination”. We give our imaginations to the God who made them.
  • An awesome new development through the Oregon Women’s Report.  Partnering with area churches to tell the inspiring stories of women around the state.  So. Cool.
  • Having to keep my laptop open all day because there are so many things to be thankful for.
  • Did I mention sunshine?
  • Little Dutch’s collision with tile countertop. Teeth through lip.  Horrific mouth full of blood and running down his chin–and him insisting that he was fine!  Weak smile as I tucked him into bed: “It’s all healed, mommy. It’s all ok.”  Sweet brave boy.
  • Long afternoon spent down at the creek. Throwing rocks. Running fingertips over soft, moist, incredibly 70s green moss.  Wishing my eyes were a camera.
  • The dishwasher.
  • Saturdays.
  • Grace.

3 thoughts on “Week's end with thanks”

  1. I think I know what book you’re reading ….because I read the same one AND am writing down my small, everyday graces. 🙂
    This was a beautiful list. It encouraged me to keep writing down mine.
    Be blessed~
    Kristi

  2. Wow, Kari – this is great! I loved reading it and am inspired!
    This morning I’m thankful for a chicken roasting in the oven by 8:30am and smelling up the house wonderfully!

    Bless you friend!

Comments are closed.

Share This