Ten Things

I woke up this morning feeling rather un-rested and more than a little whiney. I have so much to do in such a short time (doesn’t that sound familiar to every mama on earth!!!) The very busyness of my life has me spinning right now! I keep saying that as soon as I finish with ______ (fill in the blank with whatever thing is urgently waiting to be attended to right this very second) then I am going to slow down and simplify my life. I am going to spend days where I don’t go any farther from my house that the back garden and hen house! But somehow as soon as I finish with that project there seems to be another even larger, more urgent one waiting for me to finish it! Then I saw this post this morning over on Soule Mama, and it started me thinking about just how many wonderful blessings I really do have throughout my days! So with an attitude of gratitude I decided to slow down for a minute share ten things that are making me very thankful today.
1. The cutest tiny little catcher in the whole wide world! (The flames on his shoes help him run faster!!!)

2. Playing hop-scotch on the longest hop-scotch grid ever, drawn by his brother all the way to 100!

 

3. Matthew, my little love, taking his newest passion so seriously! They are in the championships now and will be playing for first place next Tuesday!

4. Opening a jar of last summer's homemade hot pepper jelly to have with toast and cream cheese!

5. Learning to be more independant every day

6. These perennial sunflowers growing right outside of my dining room window. Every day they attract tiny little goldfinches to share in the harvest of their seeds. I don't have a picture of our goldfinches on the sunflowers... I didn't like any I took from inside through the windows and I don't have any yet that where taken outside...

7. This book I picked up from the library today! Looks like a very "me" kind of book! I plan on reading it on my upcoming trip to Guatemala. It's called Mini Farming: Self-Sufficiency on 1/4 Acre.

8. Lots of hot sunshine, in which to dry my sheets and clothes!

9. This boy, who I watch with awe, turning more and more into a thoughtful young man every day. The metamorphosis is amazing (scary, thrilling, exciting, happy, and quite sad for the sweet baby he was) to witness.

10. My precious loves... nothing more needs to be said.

Oh my goodness, when I started this post out, I was really trying to find some gratefulness to show. I was having a bit of a pity party thinking about how everything seems to be going around here lately. But honestly, in taking these little snapshots and sharing them here with you, I am so happy to realize how blessed I am every minute of every single day! I have nothing to complain about! I have a beautiful, happy, healthy family that loves one another, we have clothes to wear, good food to eat together, a happy home to live in surrounded by beautiful flowers and things that we have planted together, a safe place for our kids to grow and play. We are good! Life is so good! And our God is so wonderful for blessing us with all of these things, not because we did something to deserve it, but because He loves us and wants us to be happy! Such a heavenly father we have!

Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

James 1:17 New Living Translation

Like Soule Mama, I'd encourage you to try this as well! "What are ten things bringing you joy right in this moment? Write it down, say it out loud, photograph it, or share it with those you love..."