God's gifts from reminders to return to gratitude
It's always when you think the habit is firmly grounded, and you give a little too much slack that the problems arise. I gave myself a little too much slack in maintaining an attitude of thankfulness. I began losing the habit. Abel's defiance combined with feeling poorly from allergies brought me to too many moments of frustration, too many gripes, grievances, complaints... and too few praises to the One who gives me each moment of this life with my kids and my husband.
Just in time, last weekend, God gave me a refreshing, a wake up reminder. We had a women's conference at church, and as always, I had to force myself to attend. For an introvert like me, sometimes a conference feels like an overwhelming social extravaganza. As I sat through the sessions, fighting a virus that probably should have kept me home (I hope I didn't cause anyone else's illness!), God reminded me again (how can I ever forget?!) of His goodness, kindness, grace. The time away from my chores, my children, my routine refreshed my spirit, renewed my soul.
In Priscilla Shirer's One in a Million lessons, she reminded us to keep our lists: "He Speaks to Me" and hmm... I forget if she labeled the second one. The second was the list of the ways He works in my life. I have tried to use my 1,000 gifts list as reminders of how He is working. And I use a prayer journal for my "He Speaks to Me" list. But her encouragement to keep these records reminded me of all the ways God has worked lately that I need to be sure to list here. I forget so quickly.
- His provision for our trip to California (where Abel gets to meet my grandparents for the first time!) -- through channels of blessing, four airline tickets for $20
- Sending Scott to Adrianna's appointment with our allergy doctor, because she had a filling at the same time. The next patient canceling his appointment when he heard Scott would need a longer time slot. And Scott discovering his food allergies, too.
- Adrianna having the sweetest attitude getting her teeth drilled and filled
... And the dentist's dog doing tricks to lighten the mood
... And Abel riding his bike with me around the nearby streets while Adrianna received treatment
- Adrianna practicing the piano
- Adrianna and Jenny's "beach play"
... And the beautiful springtime temperatures
- Cutting a pineapple for the first time
... And enjoying a delicious one (Abel's new favorite)
- Teaching Adrianna Mille Bornes
- Making buckwheat "graham" crackers... Yummy!
- Easter egg hunting (a little early!)
- Abel helping me make oat milk
- Some funny finds from our local resale event
- Finally taking the nearby trail
... And enjoying a beautiful morning out with the family
... And counting with Adrianna to get her all the way back to the car, with her tired legs
- Scott playing Mille Bornes again
- Abel taste-testing some allergy-free goodies
- Homemade "Larabars"... Delicious.
- Adrianna painting a pot that she made at a friend's house
- Getting stuck with the pasta not working... and praying for help ... and it working beautifully (...even pasta!)
- Enjoying delicious spaghetti again... a rare treat
- Abel: "Mommy, Abel made 11!"
- The weather allowing us to ride home from school again
- Keeping Abel occupied with a new "drum"
- Clearing out our cupboards of gluten
- Abel playing while I cleared out
- Abel helping me with, "Recipes, Mommy!"
- Having so much trouble with Abel not making good choices
... Like putting his entire container of hair oil on his head during room time
- Scott helping Abel focus and calm down with puzzle time
- Adrianna making a St. Patrick's day flag
- Manipulatives with Abel
- Turning the grouchy hour into song and dance time...What a relief!
- Playing the "Wake up Daddy"game
- Snow + fog = beautiful
- Abel with Adrianna's recorded verse card: "Iwanna see the book."
- Scott and Abel's pre-bed wrestles/giggles
... And Adrianna going with me to see if the family that had in in their driveway in all winter were ready to part with it
- Abel digging the pink Barbie Jeep (we just call it "Jeep" :)
- Adrianna's bank deposit
- More cat stains
- "Mommy, look! I'm in the box."
Just in time, last weekend, God gave me a refreshing, a wake up reminder. We had a women's conference at church, and as always, I had to force myself to attend. For an introvert like me, sometimes a conference feels like an overwhelming social extravaganza. As I sat through the sessions, fighting a virus that probably should have kept me home (I hope I didn't cause anyone else's illness!), God reminded me again (how can I ever forget?!) of His goodness, kindness, grace. The time away from my chores, my children, my routine refreshed my spirit, renewed my soul.
In Priscilla Shirer's One in a Million lessons, she reminded us to keep our lists: "He Speaks to Me" and hmm... I forget if she labeled the second one. The second was the list of the ways He works in my life. I have tried to use my 1,000 gifts list as reminders of how He is working. And I use a prayer journal for my "He Speaks to Me" list. But her encouragement to keep these records reminded me of all the ways God has worked lately that I need to be sure to list here. I forget so quickly.
- His provision for our trip to California (where Abel gets to meet my grandparents for the first time!) -- through channels of blessing, four airline tickets for $20
- Sending Scott to Adrianna's appointment with our allergy doctor, because she had a filling at the same time. The next patient canceling his appointment when he heard Scott would need a longer time slot. And Scott discovering his food allergies, too.
- Adrianna having the sweetest attitude getting her teeth drilled and filled... And the dentist's dog doing tricks to lighten the mood
... And Abel riding his bike with me around the nearby streets while Adrianna received treatment
-"Let me read to you..."
... And the beautiful springtime temperatures
... And enjoying a delicious one (Abel's new favorite)
... And enjoying a beautiful morning out with the family
- Scott playing Mille Bornes again
- Abel: "Mommy, Abel made 11!"
- Adrianna's birthday card to our local natural foods store
... Like putting his entire container of hair oil on his head during room time
- My allergies
... and getting treated again for them
- Abel enjoying the new climbing structure
- A gorgeous spring weather week... with no wind
- An afternoon outside
- Finally... an allergy-free play dough recipe that works!
... And Adrianna playing with it for an hour
- Abel's favorite question, "Maybe on later?"
- Abel: "What's for snack? Yogurt smoothies??"
- Abel: "I need cuddles, Momma."
- Finding Abel praying while he and Adrianna were playing together
Comments
Thank you for this.