I'm back....for now.

I cannot believe I haven’t been on here for two months! Well, I CAN believe it, but I’m just surprised that it went so quickly and that I didn’t miss it as much as I thought I would. I’ve gotten so much accomplished – all the deadlines I had in the last two months were met on time. I’m caught up in paperwork and ironing and everything else I had fallen behind in because of my ‘all-day-long sickness’.
I am still on the Zofran but will hopefully be able to get off that sooner than later. We should be able to find out if it’s a boy or a girl in a few short days…that is, as long as baby cooperates and doesn’t position itself in such a way that we can’t see those important gender-determining parts!

121. For still being pregnant. The total count of friends having miscarriages who would have had a baby close to my delivery date is up to 3 now.

122. For all the things I got done in the last 2 months.

123. Figuring out how to hem pants so by Big Boy could have pants to wear.

124. All the resources and comforts we have here that we totally take for granted.

125. The resources to be able to anonymously send money to people in the mail.

126. Being part of the Christmas Eve service at church. Even though it was almost a train wreck, it taught me a few things – like what it’s like to be part of a different worship team, what I am capable of when singing harmony by myself, and what it felt like once again to be off-the-charts nervous (haven’t felt that way in a loooong time).

127. Living close to family. Every person who asked if we were traveling for Christmas always responded with ‘That’s nice’ when I said that everyone lived in town so we didn’t have to go anywhere. While it can be overwhelming during the rest of the year, it IS nice at Christmastime.

128. Naps.

129. The ability to organize. I love this time of year with all the organizing stuff in the stores. I have to restrain myself when out running errands.

130. An opp coming up in a couple weeks.



You can also read my complete gratitude list here.

I'm still on my way to listing 1000 Gifts with Ann at A Holy Experience.

Gratitude?

I'm still on my way to listing 1000 Gifts with Ann at A Holy Experience.

Well I survived California and even had some fun while there.  My kids will NOT remember Mommy feeling super-sick while on our trip, thankfully.  I am, however, extremely behind in my blogging now because I have been gone and also so tired from being gone.  I have nothing scheduled ahead to post after tomorrow.  And this week brings a number of deadlines for different projects at the clinic, at church, and for me personally.  So if I disappear for a bit it's not because I don't love you.  xoxo

I titled this entry "Gratitude?" because I have been struggling with being thankful for my 'all-day-long' sickness in this first trimester.  It has worn me down enough that I have begun to grow very weary of it.  I did some figuring last night....I usually get work done after the kids go to bed.  So every night from 9:30 or so until 12:00 (sometimes later) I get things picked up around here, work on the computer, etc.  But lately I have had to get horizontal way earlier than that - like 10:00 or so - due to gagging so hard I am about barfing all over.  Two hours a night for five nights a week figures out to losing 10 hours of 'work time' a week.  Gee, no wonder I'm stressed out about all that has to get done by Friday AND I'm behind in my blogging AND the house is a mess.  Pray for me, dear ones, that this sickness stuff ends in a couple weeks (when I'm at 12 weeks).   
111.  For still being pregnant (again).  I have another good friend who announced her pregnancy but is concerned of a miscarriage.  She is four weeks behind me.

112.  For safe travels to and from California.

113.  For the wisdom to buy a seat for Little Man on the way home from Cali.  He is definitely NOT a lap child, despite only being 1.

114.  For Sugar Free Jolly Ranchers and little oyster/soup crackers.  Sometimes those are the only things that get me through a gaggy evening.

115.  For the opportunity to go to Legoland before my Lego-maniac had 'aged out' of most of the rides there.  I didn't realize how 'baby-ish' the rides would be. 

116.  For my mom and all her energy to have been along to Cali.  What great memories with Grandma.

117.  Being able to return to serving on worship team at our church after a couple months off because of that cabin.

118.  Friends who are honest with me.

119.  An opportunity to mentor someone and grow myself along the way.

120.  A beautiful fall here in SD.



You can also read my complete gratitude list here.

Flaunt Your Gratitude

I'm still on my way to listing 1000 Gifts with Ann at A Holy Experience.

I will be missing the next two Mondays due to a trip.  Going to try to take my gaggy, draggy, and saggy behind to CA (along with some other people too).  It should definitely be a vacation to remember - unfortunately I think the thing that's going to be remembered is my feeling yucky the whole time we're there.  May God have mercy!!



101.  For still being pregnant.  A good friend who was going to be due only a couple days after me miscarried a couple weeks ago.

102.  For calmer weekends at home.

103.  Fall weather.

104.  A husband who really is trying to live this out, despite my moodiness, gagginess, and all-around fun-ness during this terribly hard first trimester (hardest out of all my 4 pregnancies).

105.  Naps.

106.  Zofran.

107.  Citrucel.  Miralax.  Carob.  You get the idea.

108.  My Dyson vacuum.  It really sucks.

109.  Good neighbors.

110.  A strong God I can lean on.





You can also read my complete gratitude list here.

Gratitude Galor

Today I complete my first 100 items on my list!  That means if I stick with it and don't miss any Mondays, I should finish my 1000 on May 14, 2012.  Whew!

I'm still on my way to listing 1000 Gifts with Ann at A Holy Experience. 




91.  A quiet night and morning.

92.  Science experiments.

93.  Finally getting to share a secret (aka surprise).

94.  The opp to give to others out of my bounty.

95.  The internet.

96.  A kid who gets up EVERY morning without a problem and gets ready for school without any hassle.

97.  A hubby who fears the Lord.

98.  Rice Krispie bars

99.  Shoes without holes.

100.  Prayer journals.








You can also read my complete gratitude list here.

Gratitude Altitude

I'm still on my way to listing 1000 Gifts with Ann at A Holy Experience. 

Have you ever thought of how your altitude affects your gratitude? By altitude, I don't mean your distance from sea level. Here in this part of South Dakota we are only 459 metres (which is 0.285 miles) above sea level. 

By altitude, I actually mean your place in your walk with God right now - on the mountaintop or in the valley. Sometimes it seems the hardest place to cultivate some gratitude is when you're right there in the middle of those two places. Neither at the highest point nor at the lowest. That mundane, ho-hum place where nothing is exciting and nothing is extremely hard.  Where are you right now in your walk?  And how are you doing on cultivating gratitude in your life?

I missed last week's gratitude post for a number of reasons. But the funny thing was I had plenty to add to my 100 Gifts list. I was overflowing with gratitude because I had been up on the mountaintop for a whole weekend. So today, I will do a doubly-long list, including some of the leftovers from my spiritual high a week ago.

71. A husband willing to serve.

72. Beautiful weather, sunshine and clear blue skies.

73. Strollers.

74. Kind-hearted famous people

75. Famous people who are kind to my daughter

76. Moments when you learn the world is smaller than you thought.

77. Clean water.

78. The cross.

79. A desire to learn new things.

80. Your peace when I feel overwhelmed.

81. A good, Christian school

82. Eyes wide open

83. 10 fingers to type with.

84. A glimpse of heaven.

85. Being a mom.

86. Blogs that I can read about a trip to Guatamala and feel as though I'm there. (by Ann, Shaun, Amanda, Lindsey)

87. Renewed joy.

88. Older women who don't belittle me and my problems, no matter how insignificant they are.

89. A husband who makes time to listen.

90. Knowing You are there when I feel alone.




You can also read my complete gratitude list here.

Abounding in Gratitude

This weekend we had a wonderful family trip up to the Ingalls Homestead near De Smet, SD.  This is the location of the homestead claim for Charles and Caroline Ingalls, the parents of the more famously known Laura Ingalls Wilder.  They have a great touristy-educational kind of place set up...there's a dugout home, a shanty, a hay-roof barn, and a replica of the house Pa built along with some other buildings.  There were also people who did narrations/stories/demonstrations of what life was like for the pioneers.  And, bonus, they give a wagon ride out to an old schoolhouse and have a short narrative about school in the 1890's. 

Besides it being a terribly WINDY day, we had a great time.  If I was a photographer, I would post some pictures on here.  But, besides the fact that I need a better camera and I could blame my bad pictures on that, the reality is the batteries in my current crummy camera died halfway through the day - and I, of course, didn't have any backups with me.  In my 'organized defense', I usually have batteries in there, but for some reason someone else had used them and hadn't replenished my supply!  That doesn't happen to anyone else, does it?

But, I'm on here to add to my gratitude list.  NOT gripe about my camera problems! haha

So, on with the list.  My 'theme' today, if you can't tell by reading it,  revolves around the fact that I am NOT a pioneer woman of the 1890's.  And, it makes obvious the fact that I am indeed a big, wimpy 20th century city-girl gal.  Nellie Olson look out!  :)


For all information pertaining to Laura Ingalls Wilder, check out www.destinationlaura.com



61. Automated washers and dryers

62. Soap - millions of kinds and sold in stores everywhere

63. Insulation. And Tyvek.

64. Cars. Roads. Airplanes. ANYTHING transportation-wise that's not a covered wagon.

65. Electric stoves.

66. Furnaces & gas fireplaces.

67. People who sew - clothes, quilts, blankets, coats, gloves, etc.

68. Freezers.

69. Electricity period.

70. Chocolate chip cookies & peanut butter.






Here are a few pics from our day at the Homestead...

Dugout - smelled musty inside

The Shanty home - a little better but pretty small!

Trying to get ready for the wagon ride, but Little Man wasn't cooperating

Ahh, that was the prob.  Wanted MaMa.  Me and Mr. Cheese.

Inside the schoolhouse.

1890's school drinking fountain

It is still best to be honest and truthful and to make the most of what you have. - Laura Ingalls Wilder

Gratitude Schmatitude

I'm still on my way to listing 1000 Gifts with Ann at A Holy Experience. 

I'm thinking I'm going to need to include some family members in this listing experience.  We had some troubles with a certain oldest child yesterday - definitely drew attention to an ungrateful spirit brewing.  And, since he doesn't often read my blog (the url for it unfortunately isn't Lego.com) he doesn't get to see my gratitude list.  Hmmm....wonder if I could get it on that site somehow?  haha

51.  Experiencing worship at a different church.

52.  A hot weekend at the lake.

53.  An understanding.

54.  A lesson.

55.  Another foot-in-mouth moment to humble me.

56.  Great in-laws.

57.  The last snuggle before bed.

58.  A good guard dog.

59.  Dreams.

60.  Hearing the voice of God thru those around us.


You can also read my complete gratitude list here.



What are you grateful for today?

Growing My Gratitude Attitude

I'm still on my way to listing 1000 Gifts with Ann at A Holy Experience. 

I was thankful for her post last Friday, which you can read here.  Before I'd read this one, I'd thought everything was beautiful and perfect in her world. 

Now I can see she has days just like the rest of us but yet sees such beauty around her AND can capture it in photos and words in a way that is truly gifted. 

Her world isn't perfect.  But her God is. 

Thanks Ann!


41. Last day of summer vacation.

42. First day of school.

43. Christian teachers who are dedicated to teaching at a Christian school - no matter how low the pay is!!

44. That no one else has this stomach bug I've been dealing w/the last 3 days.

45. For time w/Little Man to learn and discover new things.

46. Endless piles of work that make me feel needed.

47. Friends who don't give up on me.

48. Sweet corn, watermelon, green beans, the harvest of summer's bounty.

49. Carpooling.

50. Not as much rain this last week so things can dry out a bit.

Gratitude Monday

I'm still on my way to listing 1000 Gifts with Ann at A Holy Experience but I also wanted to mention that I came across a day last week in the 30 Day challenge in Nancy Leigh DeMoss' book Choosing Gratitude that talks about being thankful for the little things.  She mentions the 'stones in a jar' illustration, where one could say the jar is full because there is no more room for any of the big stones....when pebbles are dumped in, they fill in the spaces between the stones and make the jar fuller.  And then sand can be added to make it REALLY full. 

And so it is with the little things in our life. 

Filling in the spaces between the big blessings in our jars of gratitude.


Here is a link to a beautiful telling of the 'stones in a jar' illustration in regards to how we manage our time.



31. An opp to soak up as much summer as we can at the last minute.
32. Wisdom that comes from other things besides books.
33. Health.
34. Allergy meds to help w/health when it isn't so good.
35. A clean shower at the end of a hard day of work.
36. Friends who write beautifully and encourage/inspire me.
37. Openness and honesty.
38. Forgiveness.
39. Full stomachs.
40. A God who says "Fear not" even though He should be the most feared.

Gratitude Attitude

It sometimes seems that gratitude is a hard thing to balance.  By that I mean it can feel as though if I express my gratitude for certain blessings, that it's being taken by some as boasting.  Or, if I don't express my gratitude that I'm adding to the perception of being a thankless and ungrateful wretch, an ingrate.  Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place!! 



How have you felt about expressing gratitude in the past?  What struggles do you have with showing gratitude for blessings in your life or for things people have done for you?



21. Not getting any water in our basement w/record rainfall for the months of June & July.


22. The kids NOT getting parts in the play this week - we can relax a bit more and get some things done around here too.

23. Discernment

24. Patience (for today anyway)

25. God's word

26. online courses for renewing teaching licenses

27. Francis Chan

28. Living close to the kids' grandparents, aka our parents.

29. A quiet moment

30. A sunny day to dry out the water-logged ground.

Grace Breeds Gratitude

Continuing on in my 1000 gifts list with Ann at A Holy Experience, here is my list for this Monday.  I think Monday's will be our 'Gratitude Breeds Grace' days, depending on how we get things coordinated around here. 

One of these days our 'ducks will be in a row' and our 'poop will be in a group.'  

Yes, amazing it will be!

My Gratitude List
11. The opportunity to see people blessed by singing to the Lord.

12. A Sunday afternoon nap.

13. Sleepovers at Grandma's house...for the kids. And date night for Mommy & Daddy.

14. Truth-speaking pastors who are brave enough to preach it like it actually IS in the bible.

15. Coming before the throne of God in prayer. EVERY time I pray. Wow.

16. A comfy bed to sleep in.

17. A husband who rolls over when I elbow him in the night to interrupt his snoring.

18. Having friends over to visit.

19. God's faithfulness in the midst of trials.

20. Cell phones.

My Complete Gratitude List

Gotta have this all in one place, otherwise I'm going to repeat the things I'm REALLY grateful for more than once.  This will be an continually updated post, so I apologize in advance for your having to read this again (and again).


My Gratitude List
July 19, 2010
1. God pushing me to start a gratitude list TODAY (7/19/10).

2. A fun weekend with the kids.

3. Safety for Rick and his dad traveling this past weekend and for the opportunity they had to help a motorcyle accident that involved a pastor.

4. My hard-working husband who loves to help people.

5. A church who lets me sing in front of people. haha Won't ever get over this one!!

6. People's faithfulness in ministry despite the hardships.

7. Gifts/talents God has given me and the opportunity to use them.

8. Kids who pray by themselves before eating lunch.

9. People who accept and love me for who I am, despite my sometimes prickly exterior.

10. Friends to laugh with and get encouragement from to face life's trials once again.

July 26, 2010
11.  The opportunity to see people blessed by singing to the Lord.

12.  A Sunday afternoon nap.

13.  Sleepovers at Grandma's house...for the kids.  And date night for Mommy & Daddy.

14.  Truth-speaking pastors who are brave enough to preach it like it actually IS in the bible.

15.  Coming before the throne of God in prayer.  EVERY time I pray.  Wow.

16.  A comfy bed to sleep in.

17.  A husband who rolls over when I elbow him in the night to interrupt his snoring.

18.  Having friends over to visit.

19.  God's faithfulness in the midst of trials.

20.  Cell phones.

August 2, 2010
21.  Not getting any water in our basement w/record rainfall for the months of June & July.

22.  The kids NOT getting parts in the play this week - we can relax a bit more and get some things done around here too.

23.  Discernment

24.  Patience (for today anyway)

25.  God's word

26.  online courses for renewing teaching licenses

27.  Francis Chan

28.  Living close to the kids' grandparents, aka our parents.

29.  A quiet moment

30.  A sunny day to dry out the water-logged ground.

August 9, 2010
31.  An opp to soak up as much summer as we can at the last minute.

32.  Wisdom that comes from other things besides books.

33.  Health.

34.  Allergy meds to help w/health when it isn't so good.

35.  A clean shower at the end of a hard day of work.

36.  Friends who write beautifully and encourage/inspire me.

37.  Openness and honesty.

38.  Forgiveness.

39.  Full stomachs.

40.  A God who says "Fear not" even though He should be the most feared.

August 16, 2010
41.  Last day of summer vacation.

42.  First day of school.

43.  Christian teachers who are dedicated to teaching at a Christian school - no matter how low the pay is!!

44.  That no one else has this stomach bug I've been dealing w/the last 3 days.

45.  For time w/Little Man to learn and discover new things.

46.  Endless piles of work that make me feel needed.

47.  Friends who don't give up on me.

48.  Sweet corn, watermelon, green beans, the harvest of summer's bounty.

49.  Carpooling.

50.  Not as much rain this last week so things can dry out a bit.

August 23, 2010
51.  Experiencing worship at a different church.

52.  A hot weekend at the lake.

53.  An understanding.

54.  A lesson.

55.  Another foot-in-mouth moment to humble me.

56.  Great in-laws.

57.  The last snuggle before bed.

58.  A good guard dog.

59.  Dreams.

60.  Hearing the voice of God thru those around us.

August 30th, 2010
61.  Automated washers and dryers

62.  Soap - millions of kinds and sold in stores everywhere

63.  Insulation.  And Tyvek.

64.  Cars.  Roads.  Airplanes.  ANYTHING transportation-wise that's not a covered wagon.

65.  Electric stoves.

66.  Furnaces & gas fireplaces.

67.  People who sew - clothes, quilts, blankets, coats, gloves, etc.

68.  Freezers.

69.  Electricity period.

70.  Chocolate chip cookies & peanut butter.

September 13, 2010
71. A husband willing to serve.

72. Beautiful weather, sunshine and clear blue skies.

73. Strollers.

74. Kind-hearted famous people

75. Famous people who are kind to my daughter

76. Moments when you learn the world is smaller than you thought.

77. Clean water.

78. The cross.

79. A desire to learn new things.

80. Your peace when I feel overwhelmed.

81. A good, Christian school

82. Eyes wide open

83. 10 fingers to type with.

84. A glimpse of heaven.

85. Being a mom.

86. Blogs that I can read about a trip to Guatamala and feel as though I'm there. (by Ann, Shaun, Amanda, Lindsey)

87. Renewed joy.

88. Older women who don't belittle me and my problems, no matter how insignificant they are.

89. A husband who makes time to listen.

90. Knowing You are there when I feel alone.

September 20, 2010
91.  A quiet night and morning.

92.  Science experiments.

93.  Finally getting to share a secret (aka surprise).

94.  The opp to give to others out of my bounty.

95.  The internet.

96.  A kid who gets up EVERY morning without a problem and gets ready for school without any hassle.

97.  A hubby who fears the Lord.

98.  Rice Krispie bars

99.  Shoes without holes.

100.  Prayer journals.

October 4, 2010
101.  For still being pregnant.  A good friend who was going to be due only a couple days after me miscarried a couple weeks ago.

102.  For calmer weekends at home.

103.  Fall weather.

104.  A husband who really is trying to live this out, despite my moodiness, gagginess, and all-around fun-ness during this terribly hard first trimester (hardest out of all my 4 pregnancies).

105.  Naps.

106.  Zofran.

107.  Citrucel.  Miralax.  Carob.  You get the idea.

108.  My Dyson vacuum.  It really sucks.

109.  Good neighbors.

110.  A strong God I can lean on.

October 25, 2010
111.  For still being pregnant (again).  I have another good friend who announced her pregnancy but is concerned of a miscarriage.  She is four weeks behind me.

112.  For safe travels to and from California.

113.  For the wisdom to buy a seat for Little Man on the way home from Cali.  He is definitely NOT a lap child, despite only being 1.

114.  For Sugar Free Jolly Ranchers and little oyster/soup crackers.  Sometimes those are the only things that get me through a gaggy evening.

115.  For the opportunity to go to Legoland before my Lego-maniac had 'aged out' of most of the rides there.  I didn't realize how 'baby-ish' the rides would be. 

116.  For my mom and all her energy to have been along to Cali.  What great memories with Grandma.

117.  Being able to return to serving on worship team at our church after a couple months off because of that cabin.

118.  Friends who are honest with me.

119.  An opportunity to mentor someone and grow myself along the way.

120.  A beautiful fall here in SD.

January 3, 2011
121. For still being pregnant. The total count of friends having miscarriages who would have had a baby close to my delivery date is up to 3 now.


122. For all the things I got done in the last 2 months.

123. Figuring out how to hem pants so by Big Boy could have pants to wear.

124. All the resources and comforts we have here that we totally take for granted.

125. The resources to be able to anonymously send money to people in the mail.

126. Being part of the Christmas Eve service at church. Even though it was almost a train wreck, it taught me a few things – like what it’s like to be part of a different worship team, what I am capable of when singing harmony by myself, and what it felt like once again to be off-the-charts nervous (haven’t felt that way in a loooong time).

127. Living close to family. Every person who asked if we were traveling for Christmas always responded with ‘That’s nice’ when I said that everyone lived in town so we didn’t have to go anywhere. While it can be overwhelming during the rest of the year, it IS nice at Christmastime.

128. Naps.

129. The ability to organize. I love this time of year with all the organizing stuff in the stores. I have to restrain myself when out running errands.

130. An opp coming up in a couple weeks.

Starting a Graditude List

Here it is a Monday again!  The start of a new week, a new chance to show God's grace to those around me.  A new opportunity to be reminded of the grace I have received.

I have always been one who struggled with trying to NOT naturally find the bad in everything. I have even thought "Is it possible to LEARN to be more grateful or do I just resign to having a "Wednesday child" personality?"  (you know, "Wednesday's child is full of woe")  Hubby says I would have made a very good architect or inspector because I can walk in and find the one little spot he missed in the freshly painted room! 

Anyway, is it possible to learn gratitude?

Yes it is!

But it's definitely not something that will happen overnight. 

One of the books I've read this summer is Nancy Leigh DeMoss' Choosing Gratitude.  It is a very good book and I would especially recommend it if you have the tendency to see the glass as 'half empty' instead of 'half full'.  At the end of Nancy's book is a 30 Day Devotional Guide to Grow in Gratitude - she also has a gratitude challenge on her website you can find here.

I've finished the book but have held off on starting the Challenge at the end because I wanted to wait until the kids went back to school next month.  But this morning I was pulled to Ann's site, intrigued once again by her Gratitude Community. 

I guess the Lord is calling me to start it NOW and not wait. 

So without further adieu....thanks God.



My Gradtitude List
1.  God pushing me to start a gratitude list TODAY (7/19/10).

2.  A fun weekend with the kids.

3.  Safety for Rick and his dad traveling this past weekend and for the opportunity they had to help a motorcyle accident that involved a pastor.

4.  My hard-working husband who loves to help people.

5.  A church who lets me sing in front of people.  haha  Won't ever get over this one!! 

6.  People's faithfulness in ministry despite the hardships.

7.  Gifts/talents God has given me and the opportunity to use them.

8.  Kids who pray by themselves before eating lunch.

9.  People who accept and love me for who I am, despite my sometimes prickly exterior.

10.  Friends to laugh with and get encouragement from to face life's trials once again.


If you would like to join the Gratitude Community, click below.  Otherwise check out Nancy's challenges in the links above.

And, THANKS for stopping by!