Multiitude Monday --counting my 1000 gifts #215-226

Last night we had a little potluck and caroling party. It is an annual event in our household, with the exception of last year, which was crazy nuts!( Last year, the holidays were not normal holidays...)

I'm thankful for neighbors and friends who enjoy the simple pleasures...

...for "old" friends who used to be new friends. And for Meg who makes me laugh soooo hard!

For my dancing children who dance fast to slow songs and find great pleasure in being dorks.

For pictures like this that I'll look back on someday and have sweet memories.

...for our most captivev audience during our caroling last night! He had the respect to not howl but had his eyes on the pumpkin bread loaves.

I'm very thankful for the simple pleasures that come from enjoying friends and family during the holiday. I love our tradition of caroling, as we ride around on hay bales with Christmas lights on them. I am very thankful that my children instigate what used to be my idea. I am thankful for memories of those who we used to visit on our annual trek, who are now dead and gone. I'm thankful for the holes in heaven that reminds me of them as we travel the village streets.

I'm thankful for new friends in a new place who become old friends in a familiar place. We don't "own" land...we just claim it while we walk our short walk on this earth. We are just passing through.

I'm thankful...today I'm just thankful for my family being close to me today and for hope. Hope for my hurting foster child. Hope that this is one Christmas in her life that will be a turning point in her family. I'm thankful for someone's pain that brings out more reasons to be thankful.

Catch-up...something we use lots in our home!

It is Heinz, the BIG bottle, usually! Today, it is generic "catch up", not ketchup!

This past week, the 15th, was my grandmother's birthday. She's been gone 15 years. I miss her. I think I'll miss her forever. I miss her humor, talking with her, her love of sweets, her hands, her eyes, her smile..her love of me! Happy Birthday, Grandmother!

One of my students was scheduled to get a cornea transplant last week. He didn't get the transplant and is, instead, completely blind in that eye now. He has very limited vision in the other. I was sad for him. I've talked to him a few times and he is in good spirits. The whole experience made me think NOT worrying about the small stuff. I could better spend my time praying for people who have BIG stuff going on.

It is difficult watching my foster daughter hurt. I want the tears to come, the anger, all of it. It has to come out. But is is hard to watch and just listen and hug. I wish I could fix pain and brokenness. I was told of a book that I plan to order soon. It is "The Middle Mom"and is about foster parenting. I love the rest of the title.."how to grow your heart by giving it away". So, maybe that is the plan here. Maybe God is growing my heart.

Today, we are going to church in another town. One of my students is getting baptized and asked me to please attend. I felt honored she would ask. I am also glad she knows I am a Believer. I love when my students talk about prayer, God, church, etc. I'm limited, by teaching public school, but I can sure share and encourage their conversations. If each of us takes Jesus in our hearts, school/work can be a wonderful, powerful, ministry. We can forget our lunch, our jacket, our lesson plans...but NEVER Jesus. It is all about Him no matter where we are.

We are happy to be out for Christmas break and are anticipating our family's arrival with great excitement! I love when we are all together though it goes by to quickly every time! Our family grows and things change. I'm glad the love is constant. Unconditional. I feel blessed today by so many things. I also feel the need to stop and be purposefully thankful for loving parents( Loving entails ALOT), for my children, my husband, my sisters, their families, family we have chosen thru our lives, happiness, and so much more.

Today, I'm going to live on purpose, with purpose.

Don't forget to remember them

It is said this poem was written by a soldier in Okinawa, Japan. It touched my heart when it was read on our school announcements this morning.

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF
PLASTER AND STONE.

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY
WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO
IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,
A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,
NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES
OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT
CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,
IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,
ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,
SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR
IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED
A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO
OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,
THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES
THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS
WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.

SOON ROUND THE WORLD,
THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM
EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,
LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER
HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE
IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT
BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES
AND STARTED TO CRY.

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED
AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
"SANTA DON'T CRY,
THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,
I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD,
MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS."

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER
AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,
I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,
SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED
FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.

I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE
ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR
SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA,
IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,
AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT."

This poem was written by a Marine stationed in Okinawa Japan. The
following is his request. I think it is reasonable.....

PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our U.S. service men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities.

Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us. Please, do your small part to plant this small seed.

Still Counting...Multitude Monday

201. Today we studied Mark 2. Would I care so much about someone's spiritual healing that I'd allow a hole to be cut in the roof to allow them to know Jesus? Hmm...it made me wonder how much I'm willing to sacrifice so someone can be touched by Jesus. It makes me thankful for the people who have sacrificed for me and been by my side in my relationship with God.

202. I'm thankful for being trusted by my foster daughter. For being one whom she can "throw up" from her heart, and trust with the gunk.

203. I'm thankful for the pain I feel when my kids hurt. Why? because I know the privelege of being a Mom with all the risks and benefits.

204. I'm thankful for quiet times in our house that stimulate conversations, laughter, closeness.

205. I'm thankful for this Christmas season. Yes, it is commercialized, it is stressful for many, but it is also a time when people open their hearts to the less fortunate. I like when I see small kindnesses.

206. I'm thankful for Daelena..my friend..who took the girls today and made candy with them. I'm thankful for good, God loving friends who are willing to help me mentor my children. It takes a village...

207. What would life be without a few growing pains in our family? We've never been a foster family and we feel some growing pains. I'm thankful though. Even the painful times, the tears, the adjustments...they help us grow. Growing hurts sometimes.

208. I'm thankful for the fullness and the feeling that comes from GIVING!

209. I'm thankful for Christmas cards from friends and family. I love the photos, the updates, the wishes. I love my mail at this time of year!

210. I am thankful for Christmas cards that say "Merry Christmas". (read my soapbox on that in last December's pile of posts!) Don't get me wrong, I love ALL cards.

211-213. We will host a potluck, a hayride and Christmas caroling next weekend. I am thankful for this tradition! I'm thankful for the simplicity of it and the big memories that are made. I'm thankful for good friends who love it too!

214. I'm thankful for little things like my foster daughter adding a Bible to her Christmas wish list. Oh..those are the BIG things in my week! I truly thank God for those little BIG things! His work is so subtle and surprising. I just cant wait to see what he does in my world tomorrow!

I hope your Christmas season is going well. I hope you are enjoying the lights, the songs, the smells of the season. Most of all, I hope you feel the touch of kindness in your life so strongly that you pass it on!

Confession

I haven't given you reason to laugh at me for a while, so laugh WITH me...

Today, I had a 3rd grade boy in my class who felt badly. My diagnosis is a sinus infection judging by the boogers and headache. I sent him to the nurse for tylenol for is headache about 10:45. At 11:15, when it was time for recess, I told him he needed to stay in from recess and just relax.He laid down on my couch and watched the other kids play. I had three others in, due to sickness, but they were playing with my Marbleworks on the floor right by the couch where Trenton was laying. They weren't playing quietly either!

11:45...I said, "okay, go to lunch!" and kept grading my papers in a quiet room for five more minutes.

12:20...I came back from lunch in the teacher's lounge and jumped at what I had previously thought was a pile of blankets on the couch that suddenly had a head and was snoring!!

Yes, I'd left this poor boy sleeping all through lunch time and part of recess. I thought he was a pile of blankets! I did get him a "to go" tray and it is here in the room. He is still snoring softly on the couch and his dad said that is fine, when I called him! Whew!!!

If you filled out a form suggesting we get approval as foster care parents, you might want to send in a rebuttal form!

Multiitude Monday --counting my 1000 gifts

Thanksgiving break is over and it is off to school again, tomorrow.

191. I'm thankful for family who fill my days and holidays with purpose and joy.

192. I'm thankful that my Bible has a heartbeat. It is living and new. It never ceases to amaze me how it can be such an old book and be so new!

193. I'm thankful for young wisdom. Oh sure, there is lots of talk about youth and their mistakes but sometimes, their profound wisdom is astounding!

194. I'm thankful for a safe, warm, loving home. Not only for us, for those who take shelter here. I pray God blesses us with giving hearts, overflowing kindness, and all things that give us the power to glorify him.

195. Leftover turkey...yes, I'm thankful! Turkey quesadillas and a Hallmark hall of fame movie. Sitting in a Christmas lit living room, in front of a fire. Ahhh...memories.

196. I love my love of decorating. Creativity makes me happy and makes our house a home!

197. For a phone call from Riley. He tugs at my heart strings and hearing his voice renewed my strong thoughts of him and his Army-mates.

198. I'm thankful for mistletoe and the silly, crazy, fun tradition this little ritual brings us. Kisses for doing the dishes!

199. I'm thankful for the cross. I don't prefer crucifixes because my Jesus is risen. But I'm thankful for the symbol of the cross....how far is the east from the west? (Refer to the Casting Crowns song....)

200. Tomorrow will be an emotional day in our household. I'm thankful that God isn' t a magic genie, but He knows us!! Each heart of every person in this home. I pray for the understanding, by every member, that God answers prayers, sometimes, by apparently NOT answering.

Have a good Monday. Don't let Thanksgiving be the end of blessing counting. Let it be the beginning of having a heart of giving...and full of thanks!

Our happy Thanksgiving day

Barry....we miss you! Barry takes our family pictures every year and we had to improvise this year to get some Christmas card possibilities....

I just love these kids!

Cody

Selina

Jessie

Goofy, fun loving, laugh attack sisters!

The kids table...outdoors in the GORGEOUS November weather! Cousin Tristan, Selina, Cody, Jess, Friend Nathan.

The grown ups...

What would ANY holiday be without a mean game or ten of PIT??

Terry thought pie sounded more fun than PIT.

Yellin' and a screamin'! We had a nice day. Riley called after lunch and we were able to talk with him. They had a Thanksgiving meal in Afganistan complete with ice sculptures. We are thankful for our men and women who are dedicated to the armed forces.

Family times are so meaningful! I love our family! Every last one whether blood related or chosen. Precious memories are made and that good ol' warm fuzzy feeling is felt time and time again!