Week's end with thanks

• Long afternoon walk, by myself, to my spot by the creek. The perfect rock to perch. Struck again by this amazing green moss–I’m going to start taking people to see it. I wish I could have a velvet couch made its exact color.
• Kids devouring cod for dinner. Hot chocolate and whipped cream mustaches on two happy faces.
• Stainless steel stove.
• Vacuuming under beds and behind desks.  All the more gratifying the grosser it is back there.
• Finding 13 hair bands and barrettes under Heidi’s crib.
• Being a family of sea turtles and snuggling up in our shells.
• The washing machine.
• Jeff weekend project of distressing our already-distressed kitchen table. I like it!
• Evidence of coming spring–bare winter branches with tiniest white buds and green leaves, hesitantly poking out their heads in question: “Is it time to come out yet?”  I pick a hand-full and they fill my kitchen with joy.
• Green beans sauteed in olive oil.
• Waking up to find my little 4-year-old monkey-boy asleep next to me.
• Lots of last minute house-showings give me some great workouts cleaning the house top to bottom in 90 minutes. Who needs P90X?
• Dare I say it? McDonald’s playland. I know. The food is poison. But the kids thought they were at Disneyland and we had a fun place to play during house showings.
• A tall glass of cold water.
• A friend who says, “Come on over during your house showing! I have just-baked healthy muffins and fresh strawberries.”  An angel.
• Smell of coffee beans.
• Bubble bath.
• Hearing, “Mommy will you carry me down the stairs?”  Knowing he’s big enough to walk himself, which is the all the more reason to say yes.  How many more times will I get?
• Seeing how many kisses I can give that boy as we down the stairs.
• That he still lets me kiss him.
• Seagulls flying slowly overhead, almost still, wings teetering like arms of a tightrope walker.  Heidi’s excited announcement, “Bird bird!”
• Watching the crazy hailstorm out Dutch’s window. Eyes wide.
• “Yes, you may watch Nemo.”
• Texts from friends.
• Revelations of grace.
• Prayer cards.
• David’s faithful grace to Mephibosheth.
• My rare and beloved hair appointment.
• Long evening curled up under quilt on couch with my man. Reading One Thousand Gifts and Uprising.  Taking turns saying, “You have to hear this!” and reading aloud.  Growing together.
• Sale of our beautiful bedroom set that we no longer need. A generous buyer and we are freed to downsize! Love this feeling. Hidden treasure in a field.
• Watching Heidi eat her breakfast.  Awestruck. How did God create something so beautiful?
• Watching Dutch sleep.  Can I pause, Lord? Make this moment last forever.
• Ann’s words–we slow time by entering in, we weigh moments down with our presence.
• Aquinas’ definition of beauty: That which being seen, pleases. God’s fingerprints all over this world. Beauty.
• Being prayed for by dear sisters in Christ.
• Oatmeal hot.
• Daddy’s surprise for us: Girl Scout thin mint ice cream.  Milky brown mustaches on little smiling faces.
• Dutch choosing Heidi above himself.  My heart soars.
• A horrible night of painful discipline for Dutch turn into the “peaceful fruit of righteousness” right before my eyes (Heb 12:11).
• Veggie Tales.
• Children sleeping in past eight.
• Oops. 8:03 they woke.  The joy of waking children.
• A beautiful peak of sunshine in an otherwise rainy day, perfectly timed for a late-afternoon “exploring” trip to the creek.
• Watching Dutch fall in to the water, up to his shoulders, eyes saucers.  Helping him out and then helping him laugh.
• Watching Heidi trek through the woods, maneuvering hills and branches, rocks and stickers–with her baby in arms. She’s a good mommy already.
• Dutch hiking the long road home, soaked to the skin–his too-big basketball shorts sagging below his little boy bottom. A cheerful elderly gentleman spotting the show of skin and saying, “I thought this was a respectable neighborhood!” 🙂  Laughing out loud.
• Fresh homemade bread.
• Bacon.
• Muddy fingerprints on the sliding glass door–evidence of fun.
• Watching Jeff read Elmo books to baby Eve. Her hair like spun gold.
• Generous generous generous saints.
• Reading under the hair-dryer at the salon.  God gripping my heart with a sure word of conviction.  The world standing still–how amazing is it to have a God moment in the midst of two dozen people spinning around you?  So glad He’s everywhere.
• Jeff & Dutch playing Legos on the floor.
• Decorating with old books.
• Seeing that Pete’s Mountain house sold. Still trusting God with our house situation and excited for whatever He has in store.
• Lillian Mabel.
• Finishing One Thousand Gifts. Wanting to open it back up and start right over again.
• Brilliantly blue skies on a Saturday, warm sun, not a cloud in the sky.
• Beds neatly made.
• God’s Providence.
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Happy Weekend!

By grace, with joy,

Kari