A little Catchup....

My nephew and my kids.

Yesterday, they were all just little tikes! Sure are good lookin', great kids

though!

Jess, diving for the ball in one of her games. She played varsity this year and did great!

Dancin' back to her position! State tournament!

Jess with Emerson at Emerson's first volleyball game. Isn't she precious? Her parents, Steve and Kelly are pretty special too. Steve is my "brother" that I work with. It started as a prank on some 6th graders and went from there....

Jamie, Jess and Skylar during a bedtime story.

Multitude Monday, multiplied after skipping..and a day early!

931. heat from the woodstove
932. smell of wood smoke
933. posole on a cold day
934. the gentle light of candles in my living room
935. lazy days of doing not so much
936. those times when God winks..some people call it coincidence.
937. For the times when there is balance and everyone is on the same page, emotionally.
938. For the funny things kids say and write.
939. For little Haley the second grader who is "quite sure" I'm 22!
940. ....and for the days I'm also quite sure I'm 22!
941. I'm thankful for opportunities
942. For small town tactics
943. For purple. My favorite color for many years, when I had favorite colors...deep, rich, mystic purple.
944. For peppermint tea in the perfect cup.
945. For memories of a year ago and for one particular little heart that I pray has healed lots since then and doesn't have reopened wounds. We drank many a cup of peppermint tea between tears, kleenex and words.
946. for little nudges that come unexpectantly..nudges to do something just a little differently.
947. for answered prayers this week. and peace that come in the recognition of them.
948. I'm thankful for my Mom and Dad who step in to take care of my teenagers..even though they don't need taken care of! Home cooked supper sure beats frozen pizza, though.
949. I'm thankful for dates with my kids. One on one, time to peek into their hearts and dreams.
950. For love, faith and peace.

What are you thankful for today?

Multitude Monday--Counting my first 1000 gifts

916. For silly, goofy, funny times.

917. For a new little 9 year old who brought out the kid in the teenagers!

918. For my kids' music choices.
919. For cats. I don't like cats. They make me sneeze and make my eyes swell. But they are so cute and lovable....even when they are dropped off on your doorstep by someone. I enjoy this kitty...and I will make 920 my thankfulness for the laughter I've had watching our cat hating dog snuggle with her!


921. birthdays. This year, this boy's birthday means more than ever. we are on borrowed time, no matter who we are. we had a scare this summer....and he's fine...and he's 16. Thank you, God. Thank you so much. (923)

924. for grandma's banana cake that everyone loves.

925. for my mom who made it without me asking, because she knew....

926. for memories of every turn of my children's childhood and how birthdays bring those back.

927. for foster children.

928. for the tears in church today because this new one made me hurt for every.single.one. out there. Lord, use me as a tool, because I know YOU are the solution.

929. for turkey cookin' bags. Thank you, inventor of those!

930. for a big cooked turkey in my fridge...lunchmeat and quesadilla meat for the week.

I hope you are feeling blessed today. thank you for stopping by.

Multitude Monday...the last 100 1

901. Wow. Hard to believe I've counted so many little gifts! They are endless, aren't they?

So today, I start with being thankful for quiet days of nothingness.

902. For the 50 years my parents celebrated, as a married couple, this past week!

903. Lunch with Vicki and the kids

904. Parent conferences that went so well! I love that my students are happy.

905. That I'm a teacher, even though I never meant to be! God has sense of humor and he wanted me to smile everyday!

906. for safe places for my children to hang out.

907: For family (again, I know..) that keeps growing. For the memories we make.

908. For WT Homecoming and the dreams my kids have of going there.

909. For rainbows that promise gold if you just go a little bit further down the road.
910. And for the gold. I just love when God drops the sunshine down and pours it on the trees.

911. For the curious nature of children and the excitement they find in the little things.

911. For my son. for my daughter. for getting to be here and share their day to day lives.

912. for cotton tee shirts and comfy sweatpants.

913. for tennis shoes

914. clean sheets and warm blankets

915. for going to bed in a peaceful place with my needs met.

Multitude Monday

It is Monday again! Time to count my gifts, officially, anyway. Everyday is full of many counted blessings.

891. I'm thankful for friends we choose as family. "add ons", so to say.

892. For crisp, fresh apples.

893. For hand me downs.

894. For hope.

895. For those who go to school to become people we need. Who have taken the time to learn so that they are professionals. For their wisdom.

896. For aspen yellow and greens and reds, orange and brown....the colors of fall as it stretches into its final days.

897. For people who stand firmly in what they believe..and search it out to make sure it is what they believe!

898. for the 'helmet of salvatioin'...the head knowledge of its surety, safely protected by the armor of God. For the peace that comes knowing He WILL finish what he started in my life.

899. For my children's laughter. Hard, tearful, contagious laughter.

900. For today. Yes, it is Monday and the weekend is over, but the outlook is pretty good and we are all still alive! This day will never come again, so let's make it matter most!

And now...the last 100....

Multitude Monday--counting my gifts

876. fall

877. 64 degrees. In the spring, it means "warm". In the fall, it means "Brrr!" Humans are so funny, aren't we?

878. Essential oils and yet one more miracle from them!

879. 2nd hand stores! FUN!

880. The comfort of prayer. (I may have counted this before..?? but it is new right now.)

881. Wyatt's goofiness and fun words. 2 year olds are the funnest people.

882. iced tea in glass jars. with lemon.

883. zuchinni! YES! I'm thankful! Grilled, grated, fried....it is my friend.

884. Red, yellow, orange, green...mixed with crisp mountain air.

885. My 5 senses. I love the overwhelming experience of life that they take in for me to digest in my heart and mind.

886. Wild cherry lifesavers. The memories they bring.

887. For open ended questions.

888. Barefoot wine.

889. Tight "Mean it" hugs.

890. flannel night shirts of the well worn kind!

Thank you for peeking in on me!

way behind but still counting my gifts! Up to 875 now

you know those times when you are sure you've been cursed and your world has been rocked?..and then you realize it is a big ol' blessing instead? Yeah, Lizzie and I are thankful for those times.

I'm thankful for my daughter who is so great at loving. And for her lapful of boys this weekend. They were only ours for a short time, but we fell in love. I love falling in love!
And I'm thankful for the times I heard "Mama" when my babies where hurt, hungry, scared etc. I'm thankful I was/am their Mama and Im get to see them grow up. I'm very thankful for that!
For ability and the beauty of athletes!

For the programs at our high school. My son is the voice of the rams and they broadcast on the internet for far away people to watch. He is good. It is a gift, and I'm thankful. I love when my children feel success.

I'm thankful we are a foster family. It hurts to think of the lives of the children, but I realize we are not the solution but just a tool in the process.

I'm thankful for cool evenings and warm fall days. For colors in the canyon. I'm not ready for winter but I love the distinct expression of the seasons.

I'm thankful for the way friends come together in crisis.

....for bugling elk, as they play out their annual love stories.

...and the song of the geese who sing words when others are taking a breath. And yet, it is a beautiful harmony.

....For rain. The sound on the roof, the lightning in the distance and rolling thunder.

...for hope

... for prayer..both given and asked for.

...for moments of peace when my soul can rest, even if it is just short moment.

What are you thankful for today?