Thankful for

[SACRIFICE]

*John Stra, grandfather of John, circa 194-

[served on the USS Ticonderoga (CV-14) during World War II

where they experienced a Kamikaze attack on the ship,

which he later earned a Purple Heart award for.]

Thankful for

[HIM]

*today, he turns 30. he wears it well.

and this is the quilt I made him for his special day

-sealed with my love, of course.

Thankful for

[OUR CHURCH FAMILY]

*for pictures of our extreme-church-makeover,

click here.

Thankful for

[FRIENDS]

*near & far, you know who you are.

new & old, you're better than gold.

Thankful for

[MILESTONES]

*baby caiden: our 2month-old, thumb-sucker,

through-the-night sleeper (8 hours!),

steal-our-hearts-smiler, loves-to-eat,

cries-everytime-mama-leaves-the-house baby.

Thankful for

[HEALING]

*today. oh, what a day it has been.

Thankful for

[OPPORTUNITY]

*sunrise over the Sea of Galilee

from John's trip to Israel. Feb. 2009

Thankful for

[OUR LITTLE FAMILY]

Thankful for

[GODLY HERITAGE]

:my grandparents celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary:

OCT 2009

Thankful for

[LAUGHTER]

Thankful for

[SEASONS]

Thankful for

[DIMPLES]

Thankful For

[CLEARANCE]

A Season of Thankfulness

Well, Fall is well into gear here and we're already past the beautiful new england colors and pumpkins. So onto Thanksgiving, and with that always come the reminder to be thankful. And so much have I to be thankful for. And something I have been reminded of is that it is so very dangerous to forget.

to forget.

It sounds all too profound, doesn't it? But when we forget, we tend to get away from the importance and impact that those things has had in our life. I had recently come across a blessing box I made some years ago. I had cut up all the random magazines I had and was using the pictures as reminders for recording special blessings and provisions from the Lord and others. I am a very visual learner, so this was quite motivating for me. But it had been packed away for some time thus leaving quite a lapse in recordings. So I dusted it off and the boys and I went to it. The best part was reading all the old cards to the boys which filled us witg reminders of our bountiful blessings.

Many I would have forgotten about.

Some, I will never forget.

So, though I don't know how many little "thankful cards" I'll get to filling out this month, I am going to dedicate the rest of this month's blog to a DAILY THANKFULNESS theme. I will be {attempting} to do a simple post each day until Thanksgiving with a single picture and a single word of my thankfulnesses.

Hope you'll join me in your own heart & way of REMEMBERING.

{Blessing Box How-To}

1. Use a cardboard box with lid top; can be purchased at craft-supply store.

2. Cover as desired: mod-podge is my favorite glue + coating to use.

3. Buy a pack of blank 3x5 cards; cut in half (if desired).

4. Using an exacto knife, cut a slit in box top wide enough to ensure the card fits

through. (this makes it particularly fun for the kids).

5. Fill the box with blank cards (don't forget the date), magazine cut-outs, glue stick, scissors & pen.

There you have it!

{e.}

We're There Alright

YOU KNOW YOU'RE A MOM of 3 BOYS WHEN:

1. You have to use the doodle board to write down your to-do list.
2. You consider a 99c chai latte (decaf) at DD a splurge.
3. You leave the room to change your babies diaper and come back to find your 3 year old equipped with a bottle of elmers glue in one hand and a pair of scissors in the other and your 5 1/2 year old has set a trap with rope and the vacuum cleaner!
4. You use the bathroom as an "escape" to savor just a few minutes of peace and quiet only to realize you have yet to wash your face, brush your teeth, get dressed, do your hair or put your contacts in.
5. You can change a diaper, wrap it and make it in the trash without a single light on.
6. You realize your tea has been brewing for appx. 30 min.s
7. You have to decide between answering the front door, breaking up an argument between the 2 oldest, or letting lunch burn.
8. You realize it's dinner and this is the first time you've fed your kids vegetables.
9. You realize the best time to let the kids have chocolate is right after breakfast: because after lunch is too close to nap time and after dinner is too close to bed time.
10. You spend more time dressing your children than you do yourself.

ENJOY...because I am!

(and please feel free to add your own!)