My Daily 5 ~ #13

Miss Me? My internet was down all week due to technical difficulties. I had to wait almost a whole week for what I needed to come in. I was having withdrawals! That's actually a little bit scary when you think about it. Didn't realize I was so dependent on my internet!

I'm not going to post all of my dailies because that would be just a little crazy, so I'll pick a few of my faves from the week and that will be that. Then I'll start again (hopefully) tomorrow.

417. no work on Columbus day

 418. walkie talkies

420. hiking and caves

426. that both kids have basketball practice on the same nights this week (at the same place and time too!)

430. that Bethany is actually learning to save money

437. a quiet evening alone with Yohn

439. measuring the neighborhood with Elisha for a school project (not the project itself, but just the time with him)

445. shopping with Bethany for costume materials

(Photos from our recent camping trip)

 He's stumped... LOL!

My Daily 5 ~ #8

378. smiles from the people at church

379. shopping with the whole family and having it be enjoyable

380. seeing a sweet lady from church at the store

381. essential oils I use to control my asthma

382. that Yohn and Elisha lock up the campus together at night (when they can do it early enough anyway) because it's "their time" (aka guy time)

My Daily 5

I started posting five things that I am thankful for each day on facebook as a challenge to a young man we are currently working with. I'm doing it so he has the motivation to do it too. I thought I'd post them here as well, and add pictures where I can. Although I did start my counting a while back ago, hence the reason the numbers are off...

342. Watching Elisha perform with the worship team

343. Getting organized (believe me, it's long overdue)

344. Working with Bethany on her science project and learning to let her do it herself

(it's supposed to be a heart model)

345. Quick dinners

346. Getting an awesome song stuck in my head:

Counting These Gifts Given to Me...

No pictures again this week... but I really liked doing it and plan to rectify this next week!

1. the way the kids interact with their friends

2. the stillness of the clouds

3. silly voices coming from the other room (and being thankful they are getting along!)

4. praying for our sponsored children and the ones who will received our Operation Christmas Child boxes

5. hot meals

6. seasonal crafts

7. listening to a small child in daycare break out in song during each puzzle we put together

8. being off work

(obviously this is not the same day as #7)

9. watching the wind blow the leaves off of the trees

10. Groupons to Sky High!

11. the kids excitement over their surprise

(going to Sky High)

12. being able to hear

(we saw deaf people signing to each other while at Sky High)

13. $15.00 gift card to Food Maxx

14. making pumpkin cream pie with the kids

15. listening to Elisha and Yohn play Ready 2 Rumble

16. playing Othello with Bethany

17. Bethany's excitement over being able to (almost) play "This Old Man" on her keyboard

18. letting the kids sleep in the living room and the "Hurrays!" it gets

19. sleeping late

20. knowing that MIL has the Thanksgiving meal covered

21. playing games with the family

22. watching football

(we don't have cable or satellite or anything besides a DVD player so this is a treat)

23. the kids playing with their grandma

24. safe travel

(even though we didn't go far)

25. hearing Bethany play her recorder and her keyboard at the same time

26. reading a book

27. the colors of the leaves

28. getting free camp chairs from Craigslist

29. the smell of ham cooking

30. putting up the Christmas tree

(although it still has to be decorated, at least we got it up!)

31. watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas together

32. scoring a great deal on Shutterfly

(3 photo calendars for only $15.00!)

Now what about you?

Counting These Gifts Given to Me...

1. being able to participate in Operation Christmas Child this year

2. the kids' excitement over filling the boxes

3. the slight snore and "sleep breathing" coming from the kids' room

4. the kitten who won't leave the rubber bands on the OCC boxes alone

5. blessing and being blessed by another even though we are hundreds of miles apart

6. sweet notes from my kiddos

7. the kids' new love for reading

8. the perfectly warm sunny day

9. a quiet evening with the kids (meaning - no fighting)

10. the way my kids really are best friends

11. the people I work with

12. fixing lunches for my kiddos

13. Friendship Stew at the school

14. lots of little "indians"

15. Gene's 51st birthday

16. Sunday mornings

17. donuts

18. dropping off the OCC boxes

19. praying for the children who receive the OCC boxes

20. playing video games together

21. having dinner as a family

22. no school this week

23. reading the evening away

Gifts Given to Me...

1. watching Elisha's team and smiling at how much they have to learn

2. a nice evening at home with my family

3. my children's laughter

4. when my girl climbs up in my lap

5. writing down my gifts

6. Bethany's excitement over being invited to play the xylophone in the school Christmas program

7. sleepy kids who fall asleep watching a movie


8. the kitten who is forever being "mauled" by my children

9. friends

10. Elisha being excited about basketball practice

11. leading my lifegroup

12. feeling God's hand in my life

13. teasing my husband :)

14. listening to Bethany play the xylophone

15. snuggling under a blanket

16. whispering children who should be asleep

17. a sleepy child who falls asleep under clean clothes

18. having a day off from work

19. having time just Yohn and I

20. free pizza

21. joking and laughing with my husband

22. being able to watch Elisha's game

23. Elisha's excitement over getting a steal and a rebound

24. grocery shopping with my girl

25. laughing at her insistence she have red apples

26. laughing at the fact that she couldn't wait to get home to eat one and had the lady at the Starbucks wash it off for her

27. putting together a puzzle with her

28. chocolately smiles

Gifts Given to Me...

This week I almost didn't remember to write my gifts out daily, but before bed each day I'd remember and take some time to reflect on each one. They truly are gifts and I am glad I have taken the time to see them.

1. hearing my daughter sing her own praise music (meaning a song made up by her) from the bathtub

2. costumed kiddos (see previous post)

3. Bethany catching a lizard during trick or treating (again see previous post)

4. a nice warm evening

5. talking of the stress with Yohn

6. encouraging Elisha to keep on trying and not get discouraged in basketball

7. crazy hair day at school

8. pictures that help me remember these precious times

9. disciplining and learning to be patient

10. having Bethany wanting me to read to her still

11. book orders and how excited the kids get to see them

12. halloween candy

13. laughing at the fact that the guinea pigs squeal every time they see me (hoping for some nice yummy treat)

14. getting a card made by my girl

15. kid's drawings

16. lifegroup and late night talks

17. small hands that leave doors open

18. big hands that might be guilty too

19. pajama clad children past noon

20. listening to the rain

21. my children's laughter in the back seat

22. an almost too big kid who still thinks she needs to sit on mama's lap

23. purchasing the remaining items for our operation Christmas Child boxes

My bloggy friend Kate, has been doing this for four weeks now and I am so excited for her. Also my IRL friend Debbie has joined in the fun!

Next week if I remember, I might just incorporate pictures in with this, I think that might be fun.

Gifts Given to Me...

Remember when I used to do Count Your Blessings Sunday? You don't? Oh well, at one point I did because I was trying to help a dear friend focus on her blessings instead of what she didn't have. She and I did it for a while and then, well, it just kind of fell by the wayside. Then I read this book One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp, and oh my! If you haven't read it, it's a MUST READ! Seriously, everyone I have directed towards this book has said what an incredible blessing it has become in their life. It was when I read it that I started counting my gifts, my daily blessings again with a passion. But again, it fell to the wayside and I think when I stopped I ended up finding 182 in one month. I never made it to one thousand.

Fast forward to now and my dear bloggy friend Kate has picked up the book and been blessed. She subtly has challenged me to begin again. So here I am, recording the gifts God has sent, watching for opportunities to be thankful. I must admit, I haven't been consistent this week, but what I have found I have treasured. Here's mine:

1. early morning snuggles with my Bethany

2. the delightful voices of my children playing together and getting along

3. spending one on one time just Yohn and I every day at our lunch break

4. my lifegroup

5. watching growth in others

6. feeling God's nudging and knowing that I need to spend time just He and I

7. my little boy's faith

8. my precious daughter's giving spirit

9. throwing away stuff and being okay with it

10. freecycle

11. my son's basketball coach who is instilling in the boys to push themselves and do their very best, always

12. being able to go right to God in the stressful moments of the day and admitting I can't do it on my own

13. praying for others

14. my husband's sweet letter he sent via e-mail, encouraging me and loving me

Next week, I'm gonna try to log them in daily as remembering really only comes from writing them down and appreciation flows when you can really see what's been done just for you. A gift, each and every one.

I encourage you to hop on over to my friend Kate's blog and leave her some encouragement this week. Also, Ann Voskamp will be posting her Gifts tomorrow for Multitude Monday. If you haven't read her book you could still check out her blog and see why I say READ THE BOOK!

Count Your Blessings Sunday

Well, it's Sunday again, the week had really flown by. Time for a self evaluation of the blessings in my life. If you'd like to join in, you can do a post on your blog and then link back here or just leave your list of blessings in the comments section. Here goes...

1) My husband whose patience with me never ceases to amaze me. No matter how I screw up he always says it'll be okay. Thanks Babe, some days I wish I was as gracious as you. I'm learning but I think it's because you've been the example. I'm blessed with you!

2) My kids in whom I take great joy and delight. You are fun to get to know as you grow older (but I'd rather you'd slow down that growing a little bit, huh?) and I appreciate how much your little hearts get excited about prayer and when you realize how God has worked in your own lives. It's an inspiration to me.

3) For my job and home because I realize that these days people are losing both.

4) To God my Savior who has been revealing things to me about myself lately that I think I've been in denial about. Every time I start to argue instantly the Holy Spirit is there to remind me of the correct answer. Thank you God you're working on me. Thank you that you don't give up on me. Help me to continue to trust in you.

It's that simple. Hope you'll join in with us.