Thankful Thursday - Count your blessings!

In just two shorts days we will have a piano again! I'm definitely grateful for that. My faith in craigslist has been restored.

I'm also thankful for the simple ability to communicate. After a fitful night's sleep I realized my "allergies" were more than just pollen (fever, aches, malaise). None of the kids have been sick and I don't usually get sick until the 3rd or 4th kid is sick so I put on my detective hat to figure this one out. Hindsight (always 20/20) says that the baby probably is the one who gave it to me. Her eating habits and sleeping habits have been a little off lately (and I did finish her granola bar the other day). I know there are people of all ages who don't have the ability to communicate and therefore can't tell us when they don't feel good or when they need help. I'm glad I can communicate and that my daughter will learn to communicate better with time (she's not even two yet). Amazing what we take for granted everyday.

I watched this video several months ago, but it was very inspiring and eye opening at the same time regarding those who have no way to communicate with the outside world.
 Professor Jim Gips and Eagle Eyes technology on BYUTV.org

Thankful Thursday - Rain!!

Today I'm thankful for rain. It seems it has been rather dry the past few years, but the past week or two we have gotten some rain.

I'm grateful I managed to get home from school drop off before it did more than a light sprinkle yesterday morning. My kids have wanted to bike to school for a long time and we finally invested in a bike trailer for the youngest ones. I checked the weather report online before heading out this morning, but..... well...... weathermen either don't know everything or don't update frequently enough. It was motivation to bike faster though!

What are you thankful for today?

Gratitude Pic Source

Thankful Thursday - My New Online Recipe File

photo from kraftrecipes.com

Today I am thankful for my new online recipe file. Yesterday I bought supplies to make strawberry freezer jam. I bought a brand of pectin that I don't normally use (it was cheaper). As I have the strawberries half smooshed and ready to jam I realized I don't have the recipe!!! Ack!! Internet to the rescue. I found a recipe that looked good and pinned it to my new online recipe file so that I won't have to hunt it down next year (supposing I do make strawberry freezer jam again next year).

Thankful Thursday - Take 5

So it's Thursday. Or rather it's almost Friday. It's been a day where I feel more like Oscar the Grouch than the Most Magnificent Mom, but that probably means I need to spend more time being grateful not less. Let's see how many things I can list in 5 minutes.

Let's start with the small things.
- I'm grateful for a husband who is currently taking care of yet another kid disaster.
- I'm grateful for wonderful weather for my kids to play outside after school.
- I'm grateful I don't live in a place where it snows (it's pretty, but it's not my thing).
- I'm excited to use my new bike trailer to burn calories instead of gas on the way to school tomorrow.
- I'm grateful no one will read this and make funny comments (oh, wait - that sounded like an invitation to make funny comments).

This afternoon I took the kids on a short bike ride just to check out how it feels to bike with a trailer attached. We haven't had a diaper blow out a long time, but today was the day and yes it happened in the bike trailer. Oh well, it's officially been welcomed to the family now. None of us are perfect either. ;) - I'm grateful I was able to just laugh that one off. A few years ago that would have been a near tragedy. Now it's just stuff.

Quick - take 5 and list what you are thankful for? It's a mood booster I promise. :)

Thankful Thursday - Fun

I asked my 9 year old what we are thankful for this week (Spring Break) and she said, "fun." We've been trying to have some of that around here.

Having a playdate with nine kids (mine plus a few) with an average age of 7 was fun (for a few hours).

Eating brownies for breakfast was fun (shhhh, don't tell Dad).

Enjoying extra electronic time is fun.

Playing games is fun! Spot it is a whole family favorite. So the baby doesn't play it too well, but she collects cards for me just fine.



Creating the sport of stroller biking was fun (but I won't be doing it again unless I can rig a hand brake on the stroller I'm trying to push with one hand while riding a bike). I think I'd better look into a bike trailer!

Sleeping in is fun. How nice that the time change coincided with Spring Break! Hopefully that's too our advantage next week too. ;)

Who says you have to go somewhere to have a vacation? That being said, we do have a day trip planned for the near future with the entire family.

Thankful Thursday - Kudos to the Hubby

This week I'm thankful for my husband. He had some time off this week and I've really been spoiled.

Yes, I could have managed student led conferences with whole crew. Yes, I could have managed the bike rodeo.

No, I could not have helped a friend paint her bathroom in preparation for selling her house. No, I could not have watched another friend's kids while she attended a school program.

Maybe I could have gotten the laundry done and put away without another able bodied adult in the house, but then again it was so much easier to not have to do it all myself.

So after my "mini vacation" (sort of) I get to gird up my loins and fresh courage take because next week is SPRING BREAK (and my husband will be at work).

Thankful Thursday #3

Why does the standard "Slow Children at Play" sign look like a child darting out into the road?

This week it wasn't a child. It was the neighbors beloved dog that darted out into the street at an unfortunate time. That sad incident and the fence blowing over remind me how much we take our safety for granted.

This week I'm thankful for the safety we enjoy and those who make that safety possible, our military, our police force, our good neighbors, and most of our our Maker.

What are your thankful for?

Thankful Thursday #2

Today when I woke up from a nap I knew exactly what to be thankful for today - NAPS!! I'm thankful when my children take them and I'm thankful when I get to take one too. Here's how that famous stuffed bear put it, "Let's begin by taking a smallish nap or two..." Found here on etsy. Naps are a great part of my de-frazzlement when I'm beginning to feel like a candle burned at both ends or a stick of dynamite with a short fuse. So here's to NAPS! What are you thankful for this Thursday?

Nap Time is the Best Time

Thankful Thursday

Source for Printable Gratitude Quote

Welcome to Thankful Thursday! It's my goal to be more appreciative of the blessings in my life (at least once a week on Thursday).

What am I thankful for today/this week?

I'm thankful for a wonderful husband who works so very hard to support our family. He surprised me with a card yesterday (a day early - this is historic) for Valentine's Day!

Share what you are thankful for in the comments.