Happy Thanksgiving!

The turkey has been gobbled up, the mashed potatoes ravaged, and the remainder of the meal put to rest, our bellies topped off with pie.  The little ones are snugly wrapped in sleep, and the house begins to quiet itself for the night.  It has been a day of plenty, a day of abundance.  In a world where so many go without, we feast.  We are blessed.

Blessed.  

I have so much to be thankful for.  Not just the basics, the things we take for granted - food, shelter, clothing, and all matter of modern conveniences...  But security, hope, and, most of all, love.  I am surrounded by love.  The love of a wonderful husband, who puts up with far more from me than he ought. Seven precious children - there are few people who are blessed to be the mother to such a large brood.  It is truly a gift that I cherish every day.  Friends - far and near, on-line and in person.  Love.  I am surrounded by love.

As we tell our children the story of that First Thanksgiving so many years ago, I hope that I can somehow convey the passionate love and gratefulness that burned within the hearts of those first settlers - our ancestors, and that I, like them, may never take the simple things for granted.  And, that I might hold dear the things that are really important, and never forget.

And be grateful,  Those who sat in communion at that first great American feast knew Who was responsible for their bounty.  May I also, with the honest zeal they showed, give thanks to God for everything He has given me, every moment of every day.  And, like them, celebrate extravagantly in all His blessings.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Gearing Up

This week is going to be crazy-busy.  I'm not sure, exactly how everything is going to get done, and part of me is just waiting to see which big thing falls through the cracks.  Not to mention all the small ones...  But, through it all, I am going to make a really honest attempt o be thankful - to truly live my gratitude this week.

As the season of holidays and celebration approaches, won't you please join me in remembering the true reasons we celebrate  - thankful for all His blessings, and mindful of the One True Gift...  And always, always, thankful for Grace.

So Much for a Day of Rest...

Sunday is supposed to be a Sabbath, a time away, a time to rest.  But today...  Not so much around here.  The kids were still on a bit of a high from the play (both performers and viewers), so we had LOTS of energy abounding all over the place.  And because we never properly celebrated Amanda's birthday back in July (due to her travel arrangements for her mission trip to Tanzania with my parents), I had planned today as her "birthday" - complete with THESE homemade cinnamon rolls for brunch, spaghetti and meatballs for dinner, and chocolate cake with homemade frosting. of course, to end the evening.

But, as I was putting the finishing touches on the cinnamon rolls after church, Brian called me and told me that he had a pastoral emergency to attend to, and he wouldn't be home for a while.  So, I began the dinner preparations and fed the kids brunch while he dealt with the immediate aftershocks of the suicide of a terminally ill neighbor/friend of a parishioner.  Ministry sometimes isn't pretty.  This was one of those days when I am glad that much of my work goes on behind the scenes.  I prayed for him while I held down the (rather rambunctious) fort.

He returned a while later, and walked in to the warm scent of sweetness and cinnamon.  He thanked me, saying that it was nice to be greeted by something other than the smell of death.  You do get these strange little insights in our line of work.  I was just thankful that I was able to be his safe place today.

I finished up the cake and started the frosting, and sat down to nurse Joshua before Brian and I headed out to Walmart for our Sunday grocery shopping run.  Got that errand done and hurried home to finish dinner and decorate the cake.  A couple of hours later, spaghetti, sauce, meatballs, and garlic bread completed, we sat down to enjoy Amanda's favorite meal.  Everyone ate their fill, and then, we had cake.    We sang to Amanda, even though it was months after the fact.  But her eyes shone, and she clearly appreciated being remembered.

All through the fabric of this busy, hectic day ran the thread of the sorrow of the other family.  In stark contrast to the loud, boisterous joy that was radiating through this house, was the knowledge that there was, just across town, another family, suffering unimaginable grief.  As I sit, writing this, my feet ache and my back is stiff.  But I am thankful that I have the opportunity to be busy, and tired.  Because I know, I know that others do not have that luxury.  So, I go to bed, this evening, exhausted and sore, but also humbled and with a heart full of gratitude for all of the blessings in my life.

I am truly blessed.

Thankful Thursday

I'm starting a new thing here on my little blog.  I was inspired by the many Thankfulness memes that always make their way around the blogosphere this time of year, but most recently by A Holy Experience's Thousand Gifts, which I intend to start, as well.  Ann has set Mondays as the day for sharing this, though.  Stay tuned, as I follow through with my own Thousand Gifts.  But you can never reflect too much on your blessings, can you, in this season of Thanksgiving?

So here is my list of random things I am thankful for today:

• the golden, red, and mottled leaves breathing their last
• the smell of spaghetti sauce simmering on the stove
• leftover donuts
• decaf coffee with flavored creamer
• hidden chocolate
• baby snuggles
• newly wavy hair
• toddler dress-ups
• the sounds of laughter echoing down the hall

So, what are YOU thankful for?  Take some time this season to ponder your blessings with me.  Share with me in the Comments, or feel free to continue the meme on your own.  And come back next Thursday for more Thankful Thursday musings.

A Blessed Christmas

It never ceases to amaze me...  How, in spite of all my worrying and stressing and general out-of-sorts-ness, how God comes through and showers me with blessing.  As I sat and watched the kids open their presents, I was overcome with overwhelming gratitude and joy,  Because, somehow, we managed to pull it off.  As I knew would happen, we were able to provide enough for the kids to have their Christmas.  No, it wasn't big.  No, it wasn't fancy. But there were stockings filled, and presents neatly piled under the tree, and even a couple of surprises. It was a nice combination of meeting needs and fulfilling wants. Just what Christmas morning is supposed to be.

It was a joy to see the looks on the girls' faces upon opening their Starbucks' cards (decaf, only... they know...), and to watch the bigger boys put together their marble coaster and various Lego creations. And David loved his scooter... He's been riding it all around the family room, since it's too icky to go outside... But perhaps the most precious memory of all was watching Hannah, who was not at all interested in opening any of her presents, but WOULD NOT let anyone else help her. I wish I had gotten it on video... It was the absolute sweetest thing... ♥♥♥

So, once again, I have been given the gift of Christmas peace, in spite of all of my attempts to make it otherwise. God is good. And, after the gifts had been dispersed, the roast eaten, and the candy consumed, I was able to just bask in awe and wonder of the Gift that was given to us so many years ago. I am truly blessed. And I thank God for all of those blessings in my life - my friends and family, my children, and most of all, for that Baby in the manger, without whose Gift, none of this would be possible.

Merry Christmas, everyone! And may God richly bless you, as he has me, in the coming year...

Happy Birthday, Sarah

Today, fourteen years ago, I became a mother. Fourteen wonderful years ago, I brought Sarah Elizabeth into this world, and my life changed forever. I have been blessed beyond measure to be entrusted with this precious girl, to love, to teach, and to guide. What a gift!

Today, we ate chicken chow mein (her favorite home-cooked meal) and chocolate cake (heart-shaped, with yellow and purple frosting). And opened presents - clothes, mostly, nowadays... I took pictures, but I'm too tired to upload and edit them tonight. But fret not, dear readers, I promise to post them in the near future. It was a good day.

I thank God every day for the privilege of being a mother. I never imagined just how much I would love this job. There are no words for how your heart just overflows. Parenthood has given me new insight on just how our Father views us... If I feel this much *love* for my child, the LOVE that God has for us is just unimaginable. What a blessing...

Thank you, Sarah, for coming into my life. And thank you, Jesus, for blessing me with you. I pray for the wisdom, guidance, and grace to be the mother that you need me to be, to help you grow into the woman God means you to become. Thank you for allowing me the privilege of coming along with you on your journey. I look forward to sharing and growing with you for many years to come. Love, Mommy

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope that this day has found each and every one of you well-fed, sated with both the bounty that found our tables overflowing, and with the fellowship of family and friends that filled our hearts. 

We had a great day. Laid-back and relaxing. It was the first time in a loooong time that we have spent Thanksgiving with just us - no extended family, no cousins or grandparents. Just the eight of us. Which when you put it like that, sounds not so alone.  *grin*  Yes, I missed the traditions, the camaraderie, the fun that we have when we all get together.  But there were some benefits, too.  My house wasn't (ahem) perfectly clean, and I spent a good bit of the day in my jammies.  It was a good day.

I have so much to be thankful for, this year.  My husband, and my children.  Friends and family.  How our needs have been met, and how we've been blessed beyond our wildest dreams.  Hannah's birth.  Nathan's teeth.  And just today, I reconnected with two of my very best friends in the entire world.  God is good...

This next year, I am going to be more intentional about acknowledging my blessings, and writing about everything for which I ought to be thankful.  I have been truly blessed beyond measure, and I need more than just one day a year to celebrate that.

So, to all my friends, even those of you to the North and those across the Pond, Happy Thanksgiving.  I am thankful for you, more than you know.

Happy Birthday, Hannah!

One year ago today, at 2:22 AM, we welcomed Hannah Kathryn into our family. And what a day that was! In case you missed it, you can read her birth story here. Her entrance into this world was just perfect, as was she. And every single one of those days since, she has been a true blessing.

Here are a few pics from that day...

Just 7 minutes old.  8 lbs 12.5 oz, 21" long... Perfect, healthy baby girl


Snuggled up with Mommy


Baby burrito

Being born is hard work...


Going home


Two days old, on Thanksgiving, with Daddy


Once upon a time, if you had told me that I would be the mother of six, I would have told you that you were nuts. Well, I might not have had the words, exactly. Who *does* that, anyway???? But I remain, every single day, amazed and humbled by these wonderful, priceless gifts that God has entrusted to me for safekeeping. I have the greatest job in the world. I am privileged to be able to watch them grow, to be included in their circle of love. Every time I look into her intense brown eyes, I am reminded of just what an incredible gift Hannah is. There are no words to express that feeling.

And yet, that overflowing in my heart is only a dim and dark reflection of that Love which our Father has for us. Wow. It's just almost too much to contemplate. So on this memorable morning, I thank God for all of the blessings that He has lavished upon me, His daughter. And I'll give my almost-no-longer-a-baby an extra snuggle, and rejoice as all eight of us gather this evening for cake and presents - and be reminded of the Feast to come.

Thank you, Lord, for all the blessings of this life.

A Sunday Full of Blessings

Today began like any other Sunday, with Brian and Nathan getting up and leaving for the early service, and me getting the other ones ready for Sunday School and the late service. Hannah is still teething (darn molars), and wanted to nurse and nap instead of letting Mommy get ready. So we just make it before the service music begins, and as I drop Hannah off in the nursery, I have to deal with bad attitudes from both Nathan and David. *sigh* Not exactly the perfect lead-in for worship...

But somehow, through all of the noise God met me there, and the day began to change.

Brian had been gearing a noise coming from the blue van, newly fixed, and running again (thanks, Dad!), and had quit driving it. He thought it might be a belt coming through one of the tires (yeah - we need 4 new ones - they're bald. *sigh*), because it felt wobbly and kind of thumped. He drove it to church this morning, though, so I could come in my van at my convenience, since Hannah was so fussy. Well, as it turns out, it wasn't the tread. When the garage changed the flat while doing the other repairs, they apparently didn't tighten the lug nuts all the way. *eek* And it was completely by the grace of God that the wheel didn't come flying off at any point during the last month. Brian got them tightened down after church, and we're good. What a miracle!!!

And so, as the kids are settling down for a much-needed quiet time (they were wiped out from the wedding and trip yesterday), I sat down at my computer and logged on to FaceBook, to be greeted with a friend request from our former neighbors in Ambridge, while Brian was in seminary. I can't tell you how good it was to see her name! They have a large family, and homeschooled also, and our kids played so well together. I can assure you that we will never have better neighbors anywhere we ever live. Ever. And both of us have been too busy to catch up by other means, so FaceBook is the perfect opportunity for us to keep in touch. Well that, and the fact that my kids want me to ask if her kids have Webkinz, so they can play together. Again, what an unexpected shower of God's goodness and grace!

And lastly, I was perusing one of my favorite Mommy Boards while nursing Hannah to sleep, when I noticed one of my friends posted a link to Target for an INCREDIBLE deal on a Britax Marathon. This top-rated convertible car seat, which retails for around $250-$280, was on sale for an amazing $42.99. Yes, you read that right. FORTY TWO DOLLARS AND 99 CENTS.  Well, $46.00, with tax. Free shipping. I have been stressing about how we were going to afford a new carseat for Hannah, who has pretty much outgrown her Graco SnugRide. I have lusted after a Britax seat for years, but we were never in a position to be able to afford one. These are the safest, highest rated seats on the market.  And now, I am the proud owner of one.  It might take up to six weeks to get here, but I really don't care.  It was such a good deal!  Once again, God knew the need, and met it, going beyond my wildest dreams.

We are called to abundant living.  God wants so much for us - he is just waiting to let our cups overflow with bounty.  And today I was given a lesson in that.  Truly, He is great and loving beyond measure.  My heart is spilling over with joy, praise, and love.  Thank you, Lord, for all the blessings you have poured out on me today.  And, please, make me truly thankful.

Amen.