thankful thursday, a bit early

Today is the hardest day of vacation - the day after, made even more complicated by some lost luggage (and thus lost clothing, glasses, moisturizer, and phone charger) but I thought my attitude needed a little pick me up. Let's hear yours too!

- I'm thankful that all the kids stuff did make it here. Bottles, clothes, & babies in general. It was a close call on our last flight, Gloriana almost asked to go home with someone else.
- For our bed. I loved staying at my mom's house, but Nick & I have an intense fondness for our king size city with the bamboo sheets. Also - our tv to fall asleep to & our open window to the NW air.
- For Lost on tonight.
- That Elias has been asking for his "Mommy" all day today. Not me - no, no, no. That's what he calls his Nonny because he can't pronounce n's. It's bittersweet, but I love that this trip really solidified extended family in his mind.
- My babes. They're just great. Elias & Glory could possibly be the coolest people I've ever met. Raising them in the love and knowledge of Jesus Christ is an honor & a blessing.
- To have Elias' SECOND BIRTHDAY PARTY this weekend! It has snuck up on me & we have some serious planning to do in the next few days, but it's going to be a blast.
- For this segment on our pastor. I thought it was entertaining. I think they managed to catch every clip of him screaming or talking about sex in seven minutes. I also appreciate Grace playing with the kids in the yard wearing skinny jeans & heels.
- That tomorrow I WILL reply to about six thousand emails I've been slacking on.
- For our assistant & friend Larlar, who held down the fort while we were gone.
- For our new assistant, Carissa, who we've just met but who seems really sweet & efficient.
- To be back at home, where we belong for now. That feels nice.

thankful... you know.

... that my husband is driving me & the kids to small group today since he has a meeting in the area. Chauffeur, nice. 

... for my old small group who gave me a gift certificate to a local spa a few months ago.

... that today I booked a mani, pedi, and haircut to use that gift certificate for TOMORROW! 

... that I figured out what I'm getting my husband for Christmas and I'm SO excited. It's all I can think about! I will NOT tell him, though. 

... that next Wednesday Lauren, Debi, & I are having a planning meeting to talk about Thanksgiving dinner. I'm gonna make some name cards that would make Martha quit her job and make my Mama proud. And I'll set one for Jesus, too, Mom - just to be like you.  

... did I mention I'm getting my hair cut? Oh, did I mention it hasn't seen a pair of scissors since March. I cannot wait. I'm going to have them use the thinning shears for like 45 minutes straight.

... that we're about 2 hours into our first night passy-less. Small victories. 

(I will mention for honesty sake that I caved and gave Elias his passy for 30 minutes today. Can you believe me? I made a big deal about making him throw them all away, but when he woke up early from his nap and his crying threatened to wake up #2, I stuck my spare one right in is mouth. I should be ashamed, but I'm not - it worked.) 

... for salvation. It sounds trite, but man - what would we do without it? What would we do without Jesus? I would be an ax-murderer for sure if it weren't for grace and sanctification.  He just makes everything worth it. 

Thankful Thursday

• the last hug at night. when I go in & wake up my kids and give them one more squeeze.
• Starbucks' Vivanno protein smoothie things. Ugh - my new fave.
  
• our sweet Glory-girl getting dedicated this Sunday! Sad that family can't be here, but so thankful we have such great friends to share it with.
  
• fall colors, on fire here.
  
• my husband surprising me and doing all of the kids laundry today! Is he for real?
  
• our bed. If you've never seen it, it's the greatest thing ever. Our whole marriage we've had dopey little mattresses and when we moved here, Nick decided to do it right. So we have a king size bed with mattresses made in heaven and every time I sit or lay on it, I feel at peace. Thanks Nick & Jesus.
  

thankful thursday

No sappy list today. You know when you have a rough day and you're glad the day is over? That was me yesterday. You know when you wake up and you have a feeling it's going to be your second rough day in a row? That was me today.

Not many particular reasons - just life. I just wanted to sleep or be with my husband or sit and read the Word all day to get some sense in my crazy brain, but alas - babies had to be fed and played with, hair had to be dyed, laundry had to be done, preggos had to be entertained, and life had to go on.

So I'm just crazy thankful for grace, today. The kind of grace that saves my soul and gives me hope when I have two less than stellar days in a row and the kind of grace that allows me to feel like God isn't totally fed up with me for still being human. The kind of grace that makes my husband see I need him to quit studying for the afternoon and help me take the kids to target. The kind of grace where Jesus supernaturally drugs my kids and they take a two hour nap at the same time so I can just sit and stare into space.

I'm not even slightly saying I don't have a lot to be thankful for because that list would go on forever - but I'm most thankful for grace today.

And oh - tomorrow - couldn't be better!
Morning with kiddos
Afternoon off/girl time with Marilee
Dinner and bedtime with kiddos
DATE.NIGHT.

thankful thursdays

Disclaimer: a TON of other mommy blogs that I read do this each week. I've always wanted to follow suit but I haven't because I have a small issue with feeling like a follower. Tonight, I'm swallowing my pride in an effort to bring a little gratefulness to the end of my day & hopefully to yours.

- Coffee. Coffee. Coffee.
- Getting a call from my sister at 2:30am by accident. Anytime is a good time, Ruby. Maybe there's a little bit of sarcasm there.
- An extremely easy trip to the grocery store with both kids. Elias even said 'tais you' to the checkout lady.
- What happens in my head and heart when I rub my face up beside Glory's cheek.
- For having about an hour and half alone to clean our upstairs & work on our Engedi.
- For the banana chocolate bread that Lauren slipped up to me after said hour of cleaning.
- When Elias remember that half of the banana bread was still sitting beside my bed. He was approaching his crib for naptime, stopped dead in his tracks, ran back to my room & grabbed a bite, and then commenced naptime. I couldn't even correct him or stop him.
- That after about sixteen hours in the kitchen this afternoon cooking, Nick saw I was tired and gave me a spontaneous neckrub.
- For our hilarious interview today with a funny little Kenyan girl who tried to convince all of us to stop drinking Diet Coke before we get MS. not kidding.
- For a husband who is more of a time-management freak than even myself, but who will still drop almost anything to hear my heart on an issue or to worry about me.
- For pretty things like quilts & baby tutus.