502.  Movie night with just my 4yo.

503.  February thunderstorms.

504.  Two-year-old nephew’s knock knock joke:  “Knock Knock!”  “Who’s there?”  Hysterical laughter.  The end.

505.  We’ve entered the “I’ll feed myself” stage.  Oh, joy! 

506.  A clean(er) bedroom.

507.  Real life trumping blog life.

508.  Ordering my groceries online.  (Not all.  Some.  From Azure.)

509.  A new local CSA starting this spring!

510.  Giggly little girls, which I’m anticipating this evening as a couple of nieces come to visit.  Fun!

What Finer Things are you celebrating this week?  Link up and let us know!

Little Bit of Everything {Finer Things Friday} is a post from: The Finer Things in Life

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There’s much to count this week!

487.  Sunday afternoon rest.

488.  Long toddler naps.

489.  Helpful visit with our family doctor; leaving encouraged.

490.  Watching my girls dance at the basketball game; one precise, the other with personality flare.  Cracking me up.

491.  Sugar cookies made (and eaten) by preschoolers.

492.  Our home, my husband’s job, our grade schoolers’ classrooms, and our 4 year old’s preschool all a mere hop across the (quiet) street from one another.  Location, location, location!

493.  Daddy sneaking over to the preschool program during his planning period.  Timing is everything.

494.  Sunny days!  (We had a few cloudy ones, too.)

495.  Visiting with new friends.

496.  Presents under the tree.

497.  Kids reminding us to light the (advent) candles.

498.  Child-delight in old-fashioned, wooden, no batteries needed, toys.

499.  Extended family hugs and fun.

500.  Family photo attempts with 20 people.  Oy!

501.  Shopping for stocking stuffers.  (my favorite!)

Sunday Blessings is a post from: The Finer Things in Life

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472.  Precious toes and giggles under the tree.  (Excuse the holes in his socks.  Oh my.)

473.  Oooing and Ahhhing over each treasured ornament.

474.  Kids nearly putting the whole tree together themselves.

475.  Teaching the baby that the white “balls” ARE NOT BALLS.

476.  Three full nights of sleep in my own bed.

477.  Unexpected gifts from a friend.

478.  Church dates.  I often take just one child with me at a time.

479.  Closing in on the gift list with time to spare.

480.  Christmas specials on tv.

481.  “Thank you, Mama.”  It never gets old.

482.  Secret laughs shared only with my husband about something one of the children said.

483.  Tiny Town Christmas festivities.

484.  Last-minute parade preparations.  (She decided at 10:00 to be in the parade at 1:30.)

485.  Cleaning out the Halloween candy to toss to eager children along the route.  (yes, really)

486.  My shivery little elf.

Sunday Blessings is a post from: The Finer Things in Life

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This was not in my plans, a weekend at the hospital.  In fact, we had just hauled the Christmas tree up from the basement, and I was stirring supper when it happened.  Again.  The sudden, excruciating, doubled-over screaming pain.  An ER visit, x-rays, morphine, hospital transfer, more x-rays, barium, and long sleepless hours later, we sit watching Pocahontas and waiting for dismissal.

It’s scary, and tiring, and really no fun at all.  It breaks a Mama’s heart to be able to give little comfort to one child in pain, and send another one away for a night (or two) for the very first time.  Without his Mama, and without his Mama’s Milk.  {sigh}

It’s been a rough weekend, folks!

I’m learning, though.  Learning to trust.  Learning patience.  Learning gratitude in all things.   My thankfulness may have no effect on her physical condition, but this discipline of giving thanks brings perspective to the situation.  We are blessed and God is unfailing!

462.  The pain does go away, as abruptly as it starts.  (After all the tests, they’re still not sure what’s going on.)

463.  An incredible support network.  We are well cared for!

464.  One tough little girl who does what she needs to do to get better.

465.  A well-equipped, designed for children, pediatric unit.

466.  Modern medical technology; if it can be found, it will be found.

467.  A safe, comfortable place for our other little ones.  Grandma’s house is where I want them if they can’t be with me.

468.  I don’t want any of my children to suffer, but I’m thankful that she’s old enough to have the communication skills necessary to help everyone understand what’s going on.

469.  A solid, hard, 6 hours of sleep last night.  I’ll take it! 

470.  A rare Starbucks treat.  (Looking for the silver linings to being in the city!)  My first salted caramel mocha, and oh my was it tasty!

471.  Discharge papers. 

Sunday Blessings ~ Again is a post from: The Finer Things in Life

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We’ve made a tradition of taking turns sharing what we’re thankful for as we drive to Grandma and Grandpa’s for the big meal.  Once we learned not to talk over each other , it was a joy to listen to nothing but thanks for a whole 20ish miles.  Next year I need to record the thanks as we go!

449.  Big Sister, the Hairstylist.  She does such a great job!

450.  Girls’ Day Out with my two.

451.  An excited “Mama!  Mama!  Mama!” upon our return.

452.  Bringing treats home to the guys.

453.  Lunch out with friends.

454.  Hard decisions.  Knowing they’re right doesn’t make them any more fun.

455.  Doctor’s office acting fast; taking an odd situation seriously.

456.  Creative “ladders.”

457.  His persistence.

458.  Sister giggles past bedtime.

459.  Small pieces of every dessert on the buffet.

460.  Lazy, slow mornings.

461.  Delight with a “New Playhouse!”  Oh, the joys of a clothes dryer box!

Sunday Blessings is a post from: The Finer Things in Life

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434.  Hard thanks for the uncertain.

435.  Security in knowing “God’s got this!”

436.  Picking out library books with my big girl, remembering some of my old favorites.

437.  Endless fun with handmade busy bags that a friend brought for my children.

438.  Ninety years.

439.  Crunching through the leaves.

440.  Giggles over alligators in my ears.

441.  A game of HORSE in the driveway.

442.  Winning a game of HORSE in the driveway. 

443.  Winning a game of HORSE in the driveway against my basketball-coaching husband and sports-loving son.  (Ok.  I’m done now.)

444.  Brothers.  It hits me all the time how blessed my children are to have each other.  My boys each have a brother, and my girls each have a sister.

445.  Innocent (hilarious) dinnertime prayers.  “God is great and Jesus, I love everyone on the whole earth, except for the robbers.  Amen”

446.  Little sister “protecting” big brother from daddy.

447.  Little guy’s first wagon ride.

448.  Quiet morning hours at the library.

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420.  Classic board books read over and over (and over!)  What are your favorites?

421.  Ditching the menu plan for what sounds good.

422.  Shoe shopping with my girl; marveling at her maturity and enjoying conversation.

423.  Delighting the children with simple things.  (I hope they will always delight in the simple things!)

424.  “There are 20 kids in our yard,” my husband half-jokes after school one afternoon.  (There were really only 14 or so.)

425.  Taking turns lifting him to his goal.

426.  Self-cheer and much clapping after every “score.”

427.  Ending my days with wisdom from Proverbs.

428.  Sharing secrets with trusted friends.

429.  Comforting a teething baby.  (When will that last molar pop through?!)

430.  The hum of only the ceiling fan after the kids go to bed.

431.  Big Saturday breakfast with neighbors and friends (and I didn’t even have to cook).

432.  Laughing silly over dice.

433.  Cheering for the winning team.

Sunday Blessings is a post from: The Finer Things in Life

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And still, always, there is much to be thankful for.

406.   Silly spiders made for classroom parties.

407.  Driving 30 miles to “Trick or Treat” great-grandparents.  Such a great tradition.

408.  Beautiful, mild weather to walk around Tiny Town, with everyone else in Tiny Town. 

409.  Three molars in (kind of), one to go.

410.  Extended breastfeeding.  I truly don’t know how I’d comfort him otherwise!

411.  My red apron.  It’s just plain fun.

412.  Looking up recipes from the laptop, in the kitchen!  (Marvels of the 21st century.)

413.  Breakfast for dinner.

414.  Phone calls from “online friends.”

415.  Sleeping in on Saturday.

416.  Snowflakes in October.

417.  Three week sports break.  So nice to have daddy home early!

418.  Four children + One Mommy at Saturday Mass, and everyone behaved.

419.  An extra hour of sleep.  (Or something like that.)  Did you set your clocks back?

Sunday Blessings is a post from: The Finer Things in Life

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395.  Watercolors painted in the sky.

396.  A message:  Grace precedes everything.  Stewardship is our response to grace.

397.  4yo lying still, resting quietly through the sick.

398.  His first “beaters.”

399.  Six hour stomach bug (it could have been 12 or 24, right?)

400.  Blankets piled high on the bed.

401.  Homemade applesauce, fragrance throughout the house.

402.  Gorgeous fall days, mild temperatures, leaves ablaze.

403.  8yo piano solo at church; her first.  I didn’t cry!

404.  Brisk fall morning for final soccer games.

405.  Knowing that the molars have to eventually pop through, and this too shall pass.

Sunday Blessings is a post from: The Finer Things in Life

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Did your week go as planned?  All projects accomplished, house ship-shape, children tended to, husband cared for, appointments made, delicious meals eaten, budget balanced, smiles all around?

Me either. 

Let’s reset with gratitude, shall we?

It happens.  A day gets off to a rough start.  The baby cuts two molars at the same time.  Yes.  Two!  Molars!  The weather turns so beautiful that your house simply locks you outside and the laundry remains unfolded.

It’s okay! It’s life!  Let’s live it, enjoy it, strive to improve it, and be grateful for it. 

Nothing grounds me more than gratitude.  It calms the chaos and reminds me what I’m working for and toward.  Also, when I’m busy counting blessings I’m too busy to worry about what I didn’t do and what I don’t have.  I have it all!

*** (Oh, wow.  I just looked at my last Sunday Blessings post to see what number I left off with.  Look at #382.  Random stomach bug?  I think not!)***

383.  Healing and the doctor’s complete release.

384.  Heavy pumpkins for carving.

385.  Silly phone calls from grandma.

386.  Her playing volleyball, surprising us all with her strength.

387.  Sweaty little boys running hard.

388.  Orneriness.

389.  A warm bowl of soup.  I could eat one every day from now until May.

390.  Neon orange “reduced” sticker surprises.

391.  Loading up on gifts at clearance prices.

392.  Arriving early without being rushed.

393.  6yo to 8yo:  “You’re the rockin’est girl I know.”

394.  Baby’s uncharacteristic 2 1/2 hour nap; me joining him!

Reset with me, will you?  Be grateful.  Count your blessings.  Prepare to take steps to Get it Together this week! 

Reset with Thanks {Get it Together ~ Day 22} is a post from: The Finer Things in Life

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