Thankful Thursday

We've spent most of the day outside.

Without jackets.

Could it be possible that spring is really here now? I don't care if this is just another taste. It's a glorious day!

I'm thankful for the way my boys' hair looks glowing in the sunshine.

And my lovely clean kitchen.

And that I'm doing something super easy for dinner.

And that my best friend was born on this day 26 years ago.

It's a wonderful Thursday.

What are you thankful for today????

"To forgive is divine."

Turns out, I fail when it comes to forgiveness.

I've known it's not one of my strong points. But I realized this weekend that it's not just a weakness, I really am awful at forgiving. I can handle forgiving most trivial things, but if it gets any bigger or repetitive or attacks something close to my heart...

Ever so thankfully, I've never really been tragically hurt or offended or anything requiring deep-down forgiveness. I hope I never am, but I don't think I'll be able to escape that part of this life.

And how can I expect people to forgive me if I'm not trying to grant it myself to those who need it from me?

If I ever have hope of learning to forgive the big stuff, I've got to figure out how to take care of the little things.

Forgiving people who were/are cruel to people I love.

Forgiving people who say unkind things to me.

Forgiving people who lie to me.

Forgiving people who misjudge me.

Forgiving people who justify bad things.

I do, however, seem to have a knack of forgetting most infractions. Comes in handy for my day to day living, but not so great for my eternal hopes. Plus it's annoying to be going about life and suddenly remember something and realize, "Ouch. That still stings."

And yet, I don't hold grudges. I think the only reason I don't hold grudges is because I honestly forget these things, remember them every so often, and promptly forget them again.

Maybe that's my problem. Maybe if I had a more solid memory, I'd be more adept at forgiving because something would be on my mind until I actually forgave. Or maybe the poor memory is a blessing and part of forgiveness that I don't realize I'm doing...I'd like to think that, but that won't lead to much progression now will it? 'Course not:)

Thoughts?

P.S. Lately all three of my boys have started regularly telling me they love me. From Jonz it's a very clear and exuberant, "I love you, Mom!" Sometimes followed by a comment like, "You're beautiful," or "Your hair is fine!":) From Al it's more often a softly spoken, "I luhz you, Mom." And from Goose it's a smiley, "I luhloo, Mom!" I love this new phase they're all in:):):)
There was a moment yesterday when the Gooseman (looking super cute with his floppy hair hanging over the gauze wrapped around his head to protect his recently surgically invaded ear from curious fingers) grabbed me around the neck, hugged me tight, and said, "I luhloo, Mom," in my ear. It was pretty much heaven:)

Have you had any moments lately?

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for distractions. It's been a long day. It will be a longer night. And it's going to be one heckuva morning tomorrow.

Distractions like good books, black and white movies, frozen yogurt, and black cherry soda are coming in handy today.

And I'm hoping their strength will still hold tomorrow.

What are you thankful for?

There was a thankful moment Thursday

What a combination, eh?

I am thankful for my van. It did it's job well in getting me and mine from place to place today.

I'm thankful for my dad who will let me come to his house with little to no warning, drop everything, and put air in my tires because I have no confidence in doing it right by myself at the gas station.

I'm thankful for holidays like St. Patrick's Day that make me so awesome in my boys' eyes merely because I made green rice krispie treats with them.

I'm thankful for our homeschool co-op and that because of it I've had "O Sole Mio" and "Nessun Dorma" stuck in my head all day.

I'm thankful for There was a moment...s and the one I'm highlighting tonight:

Goose and I were sitting on the couch together waiting for the rest of the fellas to join us for family scriptures. He was babbling about the stick horse he had and I tuned him out while I looked up the chapter we were going to read from. I started to tune back in when I heard him saying strange things like, "Shropshire, Mom?" and "Skipshires, Mom?" I fully tuned in and looked at him in time to hear, "Scwip-churs, Mom?" with a huge smile. I said, "Yes, bud. We're going to read the scriptures right now," and his smile got even bigger. What a sweetheart! Cherished mispronunciations and all:)

What are you thankful for today? And do you have any special moments you'd like to share?

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

It's gorgeous outside.

About 60 degrees.

Sunny.

Devoid of the wind that ruined the outdoor experiences yesterday.

Birds are chirping.

We spent two hours at the park and the boys have spent most of the rest of the day in the backyard.

I ran errands.

I've come across two fun ideas for figuring out chores for the boys in the last week and I'm going to create a mash up of them. Crossing my fingers it will work.

It's almost the weekend and it's looking to be a good weekend.

I'm having a terrible hair day.

Apart from that last one, it's such an "ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" day.

Hope you're having one, too:)

Thankful Thursday

Ah, Thursday. Only obligation could get me to sit in front of the computer right now. Obligation and hope that focusing intently on some gratitude might improve things.

But my entire brain feels engulfed by a headache. Very strange sensation; very unwelcome too. Really, it feels like my brain is surrounded and fogged up by a headache. Ugh.

The rest of my body feels like a war-zone (the metaphorical kind). I feel simultaneously empty and full; nothing to do with hunger, it's an overall feeling. Exhausted, but wanting to jump into spring cleaning. Devoid of emotion. Sore all over. Spent.

I think I'm sick. Weirdest sickness I've had in a while. Goose is sick, too, but he's exhibiting common cold symptoms. Weird.

I hope this doesn't come off as a downer post (I mean, c'mon! It's Thankful Thursday:)). I don't feel down. I just feel so weird! And my head hurts. While I'm used to the kind of headaches that have plagued me for as long as I can remember and even the occasional migraine, this one is wacky. Just don't know what to make of this strange, ugh, blah, weird day.

I do know what I'm thankful for though! Among countless other things I am looking forward to a long shower and my soft bed tonight. And boneless buffalo wings. Except my mouth wants to eat and my stomach tightens up at the thought of food. War-zone!

I am so thankful to live in a situation that affords me a big soft bed and an ample supply of hot water piped right to my shower head. Sometimes the little things aren't really so little.

What are you thankful for today?

Weekend edition

There was a moment...

...Lots of them actually.

Like on Friday afternoon, when Jonz came running into my bathroom while I was showering (Don't worry. Bret was home and the kids were not alone:)) and shouted that he pumped on the swing, "all by myself!!!" I did it!" Proud parent moment after lots of coaxing and coaching last year.

Or on Saturday, when Al smiled that fantastic full-face smile and the feeling of satisfaction as I cleared the garden beds and it was obvious that the soil is so much better than last year (giving me hope that we'll have more success).

Or on Sunday as I chopped veggies for a salad and felt so happily domestic because I'd already put scalloped potatoes in the oven and I was about to go curl my hair.

Or today, when I hung up the phone after talking to Bret and once again felt so lucky for getting to be married to him.

Or when the boys and I got home at lunch today and I led them through a "rain is so awesome" ritual. We stood at the edge of the garage and leaned our heads back and took deep breaths of that sweet smelling air before running out onto the driveway and spinning in the rain for a few minutes.

Lots of lovely moments this weekend and today.

Have you had any lately that you want to share?

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for flexibility today.

In the name of caution, we stayed home from co-op today because Goose threw up last night. Al kept saying his stomach hurt this morning. Other than that and the few times my stomach has knotted today, everyone seems to be fine. I'm hoping that's the extent of it because I despise stomach bugs.

I'm so glad that the lessons I was responsible for today had been planned very closely with another mom. She took over with ease. Fleeeeexibility.

My head's been pounding today and that translates to laid-back schooling here at home. Still getting in some good learnin' despite the distractions.

I love flexibility. It's a good thing I don't have as much as I want though. I think I'd be a very lazy person if given the option.

But today flexibility is just what we needed here.

What are you thankful for today?

There was a moment...

...this morning, at about 4:30 am. Goose had recently thrown up and cried for water. Bret brought him a drink and cleaned up the mess in the bedroom (my husband is awesome!) and I cleaned up the mess on the boy.

After washing him off and changing his pajamas, I rocked with my son and let him take a few sips of water to rinse out his mouth. He was fine with the sips until I tried to put him back in his bed without his cup. He cried and argued for it. I said he couldn't have it in his bed because he would drink the whole thing and that would hurt his tummy.

"But I want my drink in my bed!" "You can't have your drink in your bed." "Whyyyyy?" "Because you'll drink the whole thing and hurt your tummy more." "Whyyyyyy?" "Because you just threw up and your stomach is sick." "WHYYY?!!!!" "I don't know why, I just know you can't drink." "But I want my drink in my bed!" "You can't have your drink in your bed."

And around and around we went. I was getting pretty frustrated as Goose got louder and I now added "please don't wake up your brothers" to my pleas. Suddenly he just laid down and stopped arguing. I laid down with him and rubbed his back for a few minutes.

Just as I was thinking he was asleep and I could slip back into my bed, he popped up and in a very awake voice said, "It's okay, Mom. I don't need my drink in my bed. It should stay in the laundry room."

What a moment:) I felt like laughing at 4:30 in the morning even after having cleaned up vomit and trying to persuade a three year old to trust me and be quiet. I loved his sweet voice saying, "It's okay, Mom." And why he said laundry room is beyond me and fairly funny. Perhaps he wasn't as awake as he sounded. Or maybe I wasn't...;)

I love my boys. And while I'm not a fan of being awake at 4:30 or anytime in the middle of the night, I do love the fleeting moments of one on one quiet time with whoever happened to wake up.

Have you had any moments lately that you'd like to share?

"There was a moment"

I've been having a rough couple weeks.

Not that life has gotten particularly harder, but my ability to handle life is not up to scratch lately. Hence, a rough couple weeks.

Last night between our couple's prayer together and my personal prayer, I was hit with a new idea. Oddly enough, a blogging idea. I had been reviewing the day and was trying to remember the special moments I'd had. Like when Al stared into my eyes for a second and smiled before running off again. Or when Bret and I were talking and how much better I automatically felt just admitting to my husband that I wasn't doing so great. Fleeting moments, yes, but sustaining and joyful moments. It occurred to me that I need to write these kind of moments down, that it would be helpful to my attitude, and that it might be helpful for other people's attitudes, too.

And so, please pass out the metaphorical cigars as we welcome the birth of, "There was a moment..."

There was a moment...is simply an opportunity for me (and you, if you like) to write down the moments that define life. To pause and remember what makes life special. To document and revel in the tender mercies God gives us.

There are no rules in writing "There was a moment..." posts. You don't have to wait until a certain day of the week. You don't have to write about a certain aspect of life; we're not limited to just motherhood, or just work, or just school, or just relationships, etc. etc. etc. Just write about the moments.

I would be very appreciative if you would share these moments posts with me, too. I've been seeing way to much unhappy junk lately. The news is downright depressing. I want to be reminded of the massive amounts of good in the world. Please share! If it only ends up that one or two people want to share, then we'll have our little elite group. If more interest is shown, maybe I'll do a weekly link up or something...we'll see how this goes, eh?

To jump start with a little inspiration, here's some quotes for you:

"Life is like an old-time rail journey—delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride."
Gordon B. Hinckley (emphasis added)

"...recognize that the joy of motherhood comes in moments. There will be hard times and frustrating times. But amid the challenges, there are shining moments of joy and satisfaction."
M. Russel Ballard

What do you think? Will you join in and share the moments?