Twenty-Seven!!

Today I am thankful for family traditions. We are beginning to set up the Christmas trees tonight and everyone is very excited! The kids see decorations they remember from years past and eagerly ask to help with setting them out...
candles,
wreaths,
the nativity set,
a nesting snowman,
the reindeer,
cross-stitched towels,
the J-O-Y hangers,
the stockings.

Although I can be *a tad* controlling,
I am learning to
let
go
little
by
little,
and
I am seeing the joy in working together as a family.

Day 26

Today I am thankful for family time, working in the yard together. As the children get older, it's getting easier and easier for us all to pitch in and work as a family to build things and take care of our home. It's a great feeling, and now we can look out back and see what we accomplished together.

Twenty-Five Days of Thanks

Today I am thankful for unseasonably warm weather! It was a sunny and balmy day today, perfect for a run to CVS and back (had to print pictures for Christmas gifts and for my kindergartener's Star of the Week project.) It felt great to be wearing shorts and enjoying the sun on my face. After my run, I hooked up my phone to a set of speakers and cranked up the Christmas tunes while the girls helped me haul the outdoor decorations out front...our windows have been wreathed and burgundy bowed, the garage doors, side gate, mailbox and lamp post have been green garland'd and burgundy bowed. I'm leaving the lights up to hubby this year...he also has to get the reindeer set up and the giant wreath hung and spot-lit. Other than that, the outdoor Christmas decorating is DONE! And for the first time ever, I not only avoided freezing my fingers numb, I was wearing shorts the whole time!

Happy Thanksgiving! Day 24

Today is Thanksgiving Day. I am feeling SO overwhelmed with love, joy and thankfulness. I was able to spend today with my husband, my four children, my parents, my mom's parents, my sisters, their husbands, and my niece. We all shared in cooking for the gathering, and enjoyed a bounty of delicious food. My daughters sat with my grandmother and made pom-poms for their dolls' slippers. We talked and laughed. My older two children played the piano for the family. We took pictures. We savored our time. Together.

"Time never changes,
The memories, the faces
Of loved ones, who bring to me,
All that I come from,
And all that I live for,
And all that I'm going to be
My precious family
Is more than an heirloom to me."
- Heirlooms by Amy Grant

And I'm not just thankful.
I am thankful to God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the Lord of Hosts, Alpha and Omega.
"Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost."

on the 23rd day of thanksgiving posts...

Today, I am thankful for rainy days. Crazy? I know! But I just love staying in jammies, sipping a hot beverage (coffee, tea, cocoa...love it all!), cozying up to the fireplace, listening to some relaxing music, enjoying the aroma of a burning candle, with some chili or soup simmering on the stove. Sunny days are wonderful, but there is something special about a rainy day.

22 days of thankfulness

Today, as I stood at the kitchen sink with my younger two children, polishing silver in preparation for this Thursday's Thanksgiving gathering, I found myself incredibly thankful for several things:
Tradition.
Family.
Beautiful wedding gifts given by dear friends and family.
Special time spent teaching traditions to my children.
Inspiring music to listen to as we carried on with our task.

Twenty-One

Today I am thankful for handwork and crafts, specifically knitting. My grandmother learned to knit when she was four years old and has created thousands of amazing sweaters, hats, mittens, and the list goes on. She taught me to knit awhile back, and although I am not nearly the expert she is, I really enjoy knitting!!
Today, while my girls were at school, I was able to try the doll clothes I've been busily knitting, on the new American Girl dolls (just wanted to be sure they fit before I wrap them up to give the girls on Christmas). And guess what...they all fit and look beautiful! The only thing that will top this feeling will be to see their faces when their dolls are dressed as cheerleaders, wearing robes and slippers, or jogging suits with hoodies.
Do you have a crafty hobby? I definitely recommend picking one up!