Thankful Thursday

Some things we've been enjoying, lately, here at the troops:

Front porch

(I found the ferns for $5 at Lowe's last week - yeah!)

Perfect spot for swinging, talking, watching kids ride bikes, eating Popsicles, etc.

Pretty perennials coming up in the flower beds.

Every year I try to add a few more.  

These were added last year.

Fractiles.

Little Man LOVES them.

You can read more about them here.

These belong to Grandmother, but we've enjoyed borrowing them this week.

Easter Lily from my Dad.

Isn't it amazing?

And beautiful?

I think we counted 12 blooms OPEN this morning.

With many more to come.

The view from my computer desk.

Ahhhhhh.

Nothing like Spring.

Especially when you have three strong boys to mow, edge, and clean up the yard.

And last but not least,

our wonderful Easter Program at school.

The Resurrection story told using only scripture, quoted by grades Pre-K through 6th.

From Isaiah's prophecy to New Testament fulfillment.

We had someone is almost every Elementary class!

Son #3 is in the 6th grade, so in his 7 years at our school, he's learned over 100 verses about the prophecy and fulfillment of Jesus' coming.

So blessed.

Son #4 - 4th grade, Son #3 - 6th grade,

Daughter #6 - 2nd grade, Daughter #7 - Kindergarten, Daughter #5 - 3rd grade.

Happy Thursday!!

Not Thursday, but Thankful

Truthfully, I'm procrastinating.

Which just happens to be the word that was on Word Girl yesterday afternoon while I was curling the girls' hair for the Easter program.  But that's neither here nor there.

I should be on to other things, already, this morning.

Instead, I was perusing the latest edition of World magazine, while Little Man was eating his cinnamon cereal, and I found myself looking for one of my favorite features.  The "Voices" section - the regular columnists, Andree Seu being one of the first I always read.

Her column titled "The Magic Word" (you can read an excerpt here and while you're at it, you should subscribe, too, if you don't already) is about saying "Thank You".

"Upon reflection I replied that what helps me is the practice of thanks.  If you are thanking God throughout the day, you are walking in the pathway of grace. . . the presence of God directly relates to your worship, and the aroma of thanks ascending releases His resources into your life."

She then tells the story of Betsie and Corrie Ten Boom and giving thanks for the fleas that prevented the guards from intervening in their barracks, allowing them to study the Bible and share Christ unhindered. (I highly recommend "The Hiding Place", too, if you haven't read it.)

We had fleas in our house, once (long story).  And no dog.  I'm not sure I gave thanks.  I don't remember giving thanks, anyway.  Except maybe for the exterminator who finally helped us get rid of them.

But I believe this principle with all my heart.  Giving thanks changes ME.  My perspective.  My focus.  My attitude.

In our BSF study last week of Isaiah 60, we dove into the second half of verse 18.  "Thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates praise." The first part?  Speaks of our security.  Which comes not from our circumstances (which may or not be what we would choose), but from our Savior and our promise of eternal life.

But the gates of praise?  This reminds us that praise takes us into the presence of the living God.

Not just in church when all of the children are clean (sort of), combed or curled, dressed nicely, and behaving in a somewhat decent way. . . the music is lovely, the words to the hymn glorious. . . my handsome coach is beside me (or at least near me, sometimes you have to divide and conquer), and for that moment I am overwhelmed with the goodness of God in allowing me to be so very blessed in spite of the fact that I am completely undeserving.

Those are good moments of praise.

But the better ones?  The ones I think truly delight our Lord?

Are when things are going completely wrong. . . and we STILL say, "Thank you."

I am grateful I don't have to say thank you for fleas, today.  That I know of.

But I will have an opportunity today.  Every day.  To say "Thank you, Lord." for what He brings to me, allows in my day, trusts to my care.  I can say "Thank you, Lord, that I am healthy, strong, and can run the 6 miles on my training schedule, today."  Instead of focusing on how tired I am, how much I want to crawl back into bed, and how much I have to do.

"The frequent God-ward utterance of "thank you" is the maintenance mode of larger spiritual warfare."  (Andree Seu)

Being thankful helps me do what I should, even when I don't feel like it.  Helps me smile about circumstances that make me want to cry (although it's OK if there is crying, too!).  Helps me love, when I feel unloving.  It opens the pathway into my heart for God's grace to pour through.

"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise:  be thankful until Him, and bless His name."  Psalm 100:4

Remembering April 19th.

It's been somewhat of a theme with me this year. . . purposing to remember God's faithfulness in the past so I can trust Him for today.  And the future.

This is at the forefront of my mind TODAY, more than most, because 16 years ago something terrible and horrible happened here that, as a city and a nation, we have purposed never to forget.

I was sick that morning.  The "good" kind of sick (if there is such a thing), because we were expecting our firstborn.  We had been married a few months.  Living in our little rent house.  It was Spring, we were enjoying life together (except for the non-stop vomiting on my part) and our hopes for the future were SO bright.  Newlyweds.  21 years old.  Expecting my first baby.

The BOOM shook our little house.  In that split second I would have sworn something had happened to OUR house.  The noise was so close and loud that I could feel it.  I had the morning news on and within minutes I watched footage from a news helicopter as it approached downtown and a cloud of smoke. 

As the camera got closer and closer to the scene, a horror unfolded before my eyes.  I grabbed the phone and called my mom, "TURN ON THE TV.  NOW."  Then hung up to watch the first images of a building severed in two.  Roof top hanging over a jagged edge.  A "doll house" view of the middle of the Murrah building.  A cavernous space where walls, floors, and street had been only moments before.

It was the kind of destruction that should have been a movie set.  But it was real.  Only in the hours to come would we realize HOW real.  168 lost.  Fathers, mothers, grandparents, sisters, brothers, friends.  None of them knew that day would be the end of their life here on earth.  Some of them were children.

In my little serene newlywed life, nothing changed in the practical sense.  My family was safe.  Only "friends of friends" touched personally by the devastating loss.

But then again, nothing was ever the same.

I had been in that building two months earlier to change my social security card to my married name.  Most of us who live here had been in that building many times, for many reasons, and could have easily been there that day.

Our city responded in an amazing way.  People running TO help instead of AWAY from the smoke and rubble.  Improvised memorials, gifts, prayers.  We saw the best of human kindness acted out in front of us.

16 years later, I have a tall, handsome, firstborn SON.  Getting ready for his driver's permit next month.  Finishing up his Freshman year of highschool.  Looking forward to his third mission trip this Summer to Mexico.

16 years later, I am training to run this for the second time.  The "half", anyway.  I'm proud of my brother, who decided 11 years ago that our city should remember EVERY year - by founding a marathon to raise money for the Memorial and to remember those who lost their lives that day.  My brothers have run it all 10 years.  My parents have run it many times, as well.  This race has been the largest contributor to the cost of operating the Memorial which is a private organization, not a government funded sight.

So today?  I remember.  I remember where I was.  What my life was like at that moment.  And some things that were forever changed.

Today I pray for our nation.  Our city.  Our government leaders. 
Today, especially. . . I pray for those who are still grieving the loss of their loved ones. 

And, of course, if you want to join us in "Running to Remember"?  We'd love to have you!  (smile)

Not feeling it.

I do have days when I feel like I can't be stopped.
When my run feels "easier".
The to-do list gets smaller by the minute (even if it never goes away, altogether).
The house is in order.
The laundry folded.
Dinner made and ready for the oven when we get back from school.

I do HAVE these days.

Today is just not one OF them.

Instead, Little Man took a "nap" at 7:45. A.M. And I fell asleep with him.

I only glanced at the treadmill instead of getting on it.
And we ran all of our errands, instead.
Dinner is planned, but banana bread is what I made.
Smells divine.
The honest truth is that I haven't LOOKED at the "list", today. Not once. Which I will regret when it's time to go to school and I haven't done something I should have.

And just now? When I tucked Little Man into his soft (as he always tells me) bed with the blinds closed and the fan on and the noisemaker humming away? I almost joined him.

I still might.

Busy, exhausting, fun-filled weekends leave me a little "off" on Monday morning.

But there is still so much to enjoy - even if it's not very productive:

The surprise Starbucks from my daddy when we passed him on our way to see Grandmother.
The visit with Grandmother while helping Little Man make magnet designs.
The Crystal Light sale+coupon that we scored at Homeland.
The wandering around Wal-mart while Little Man ate puffy Cheetos and wiped artificial orange coloring all over everything.
The Curious George Coloring book.
The quiet.
The sunshine.

I know the treadmill can't be avoided all day. Four miles must be done. I know dinner will be needed at about 6:00. That gives me 4 more hours to procrastinate. The laundry is washed, and if worse comes to worse (or really for the better), the kids can fold it, tonight. And I suppose at some point, taking a shower would be a good plan.

But for now I'm enjoying not "having my act together". It's kind of nice. Every now and then.

Seems like someone should check the banana bread and make sure it's OK, don't you think?

Happy Monday!

Thankful Thursday

Happy Thursday Morning!

Just going to jump right in - lots to be thankful for, today!

1. Healthy kids. Son #4's stomach troubles have stayed confined. This is a HUGE blessing, as you well know!!

2. Clean House. Ahhhhhh. Thought I'd take advantage and snap some pictures of the new carpet for you. But. . . there is still a big laundry pile. Ha!

3. Postponed birthday was celebrated last night, with both sets of grandparents and a few cousins added in. Fun!

4. This guy. Who turned 11 on Sunday while he was sick. ELEVEN, can you believe it? He alternately frustrates and delights me. And I love him.

(and LOOK, you can see the new carpet RIGHT THERE. Ha!)

5. Fabulously beautiful weather this week. These are the few days each year that Oklahomans LIVE for. We don't get many like this. . . but they are perfect.

6. Hair cut. Trim, really. After 10 weeks I fully enjoyed it! Growing hair out is a challenge, but so far so good.

7. God's perfect provision for the Coach and Son #3 to go to Washington D.C. later this month. Will be a great time for them to share, together. The Coach went with Son #1, 3 years ago. I went with Daughter #2, 2 years ago. The tradition continues. Although I'm pretty sure we can't keep it up for 5 more. Ha!

8. A morning at home. After a trip to school to pick up Daughter #7 on Monday morning (turns out she was just fine, after all) and movies, BSF and lunch on Tuesday, errands and lunch, hair cut and more errands on Wednesday. . . a quiet morning at home is NICE.

9. Morning off from the treadmill. Normally this IS my rest day, but I am actually going running with a friend this afternoon. However, it didn't require me to get up early, sit Little Man in front of PBS for 45 min, OR wait for my shower and breakfast. So it feels very much like a rest.

10. That the tree pollen is almost finished falling on my car, deck, driveway, porch and sunroom windows. Ugh. Can't wait to get it all cleaned up. Nothing like a green film on everything.

11. Everyone stayed in their own beds last night and didn't feel the need to wake me up to tell me anything. Lately, Little Man has been getting in bed with Daughter #6 - I think because he wakes up coughing and she is his current favorite. But then she comes to wake ME up because she can't sleep with him in there. Or Son #3 comes to let me know he's going to use his inhaler. Why do I need to know this? Not sure. Or Daughter #2 wants me to know she can't go to sleep (normal for her). I guess it makes her sleepy to walk down to my room and TELL me this. (sigh) An uninterrupted night is lovely. Ha!

12. Enough left-overs from the birthday dinner last night that I don't have to cook tonight! Yea!

13. $5 Boston ferns for the front porch. FIVE dollars. I couldn't believe it. Feels more like Summer, already.

14. Laughter. I love that my kids make me LAUGH. Often. And loudly.

"Mom, can I have some gasoline for my lips?" from Little Man. He meant Vaseline, of course.

Son #4, while tiring of hearing the big kids talk about how they NEED a cell phone, "I don't even want a phone, I'm just going to use a flare gun."

The corny jokes around the dinner table, the teasing, the silliness. How dull life would be without my eight little personalities keeping me hopping.

NOW, I think it's time to make a pot of coffee and get this house in order for the day. Maybe I'll even get to that mountain of laundry in my otherwise clean living room so I can take some pictures!

And I just realized that we have asthma meds to pick up at Walgreen's. So it's won't be a morning JUST at home. But I'm grateful that we can get what we need to keep our allergy kids breathing and healthy.

What are YOU thankful for, today?

My ways vs. His ways

It's finally quiet here, tonight. Finally.

Do you ever feel completely unprepared for the week ahead? When it's Sunday night?

I'm so there.

Blessings need to be counted, though. The safety the Lord gave last week through numerous school activities, practices, appointments. . . the work of life, these days.

I hate to admit it. . . but sometimes I miss those days when they were all little and we were dying just to get OUT of the house! Ha!

The grass is always greener, I suppose.

But our crazy busy, LOUD lives are full and rich and blessed. Full of fun, laughter, meals around the table, and someone always there to play with, and clean up after. Rich with family that loves us and friends who do a great job of pretending that they like our company, too. Blessed with God's perfect provision, unconditional love, and the peace that passes all understanding in the midst of our chaos.

Thank you, Jesus.

It seems that most days, lately, turn out differently than we originally plan them. I don't suppose that's much of a surprise when you are dealing with 10 individuals, a teacher-daddy, seven students, and a mom who can't remember where to turn (just ask the kids. . . no. . . don't!). Oh. And a four year old.

Today we were looking forward to church together, a 10K for my mom and me, and celebrating our 4th born's 11th birthday, tonight.

However, last night the birthday boy got sick. . . which changed the plans a bit. Bless his heart. If you have to be sick? Your birthday is a bummer day to do it.

I miss being at church. But I do enjoy the quiet time focusing on only ONE child. And I desperately needed to color my hair. Just being honest. When IS a mom supposed to do these things?

Mom and I still made it to our 10K. BOY was it hot. So hot, that our pace wasn't what we'd hoped for. But even though rather warm, it was a lovely Spring day. The course was pretty, and the mileage manageable (isn't anything less than 13.1?). The company was lovely, too.

Then home for a quieter evening than we'd planned. Movies, left-overs, and school preparations. . . instead of lasagna, cake, and presents with our family.

I won't deny that the quieter day, tomorrow, is really a welcome gift. Errands will wait, grocery shopping will have to be done, later. I don't mind being given a day AT HOME. With my boys (two of them, anyway). I'm pretty sure no one else will want to be here with us.

Maybe I'll even get to taking those pictures of the new carpet (that we are LOVING!). Or finish up that post on expectations that has been rolling around in my head for the last week.

But I may just fix the birthday boy some more chicken noodle soup and ginger ale and fold laundry while we watch Cosby episodes.

I wouldn't mind that a bit.

Half Way There. . .

Good morning!

Day two of the Carpet Adventures has begun here at the troops.

We had a late night, but a good "camping out" sleep

- mattresses on the floor -

and the sunshine is promising another beautiful day!

On the agenda for today,

Little Girl's yellow room:

(we decided it is the WORST carpet in the house!)

Daughter #2's room:

These pictures don't really show the color on the walls,

her room is light blue.

And our Master Bedroom:

As with any home improvement project,

we had some unanticipated work to do, yesterday.

Grinding down the concrete around the air vents

(which have been filled in since our kitchen sewer incident years ago),

touching up paint on the walls

(much easier without the furniture in the room!),

and touching up the stain on all of the baseboards

(which has evolved into touching up ALL of the woodwork).

The results have been fabulous, though!

We are LOVING the new carpet in the living rooms and boys' room.

It's prettier than I could have imagined.

I would show you pictures, since we "moved back in" to those

three rooms last night.

However, they were almost immediately filled with furniture

from the rest of the house! HA!

So here's a sample:

Old carpet on the right,

New on the left.

Lovely 70's entryway tile in between.

And did I mention the extra surprise of two sick kids?

Good thing we were planning on staying home, anyway.

Happy Friday!