"Count your blessings--name them one by one.
Count your blessings--see what God has done.
Count your blessings--name them one by one.
Count your many blessings, see what God has done."
Gratefulness has a lot to do with taking the time to 'walk down memory lane', doesn't it? The other day I sat down with Nathan and we traced and cut out hand shapes from construction paper. Some of the hands were my size. Some of the hands were Nathan's size. Some were Nia's size. We used these hands to make a display which went on our mantle:
"Things we thank God for. Thanksgiving 2007"
Each hand held a unique item. Here are the things we are thankful for this year:
On Nia's hands:
-blankets
-smiles
-Mommy
-rocking
-dry diapers
-bottles
-naps
-kisses
-Daddy
-being held
On Nathan's hands:
-Joker and HooYah
-Daddy
-Grandma
-coke
-"Boo"
-Grandpa
-turtles
-Mommy
-"Queen" (Nia)
-trucks
On Mommy's hands:
-good books
-Nathan
-freedom and those who fight for it
-music
-Nick/Daddy
-a God who "gives and takes away...blessed be Your name."
-the Beauty Queen (Nia)
-vanilla lattes
I was also thankful that there was not enough time to cut out enough hands to hold all that I am thankful for. The other day we purchased a turkey--a big turkey. We don't have a huge family, but we have neighbors. Four of the kids that frequent our house, Charity, ChiChi, Tracy, and Doc, live just down the apartment 'corridor' with their mother. We invited them to share a Thanksgiving dinner with us. They plan to come over at suppertime for turkey, potatoes, stuffing, cranberry relish, and an apple pie. I'm excited for this time together with all 'my kids.' They joke that they have 'adopted us.' In many ways we do feel like family.
The day after Thanksgiving starts the first annual "Girl's Early Morning Out." At 4AM five of the neighborhood girls will be knocking on my door. We will be starting a morning off with some Starbuck's coffee (they think this is really cool, but I think it is more a 'necessity' at 4AM). Then, we will have fun tackling the crowds and early morning doorbusters together. These kids have never taken in the festivities of the day after Thanksgiving. This should be lots of fun! Off to pick up the house a bit!
Nathan Paul
10/10/2005
Nia Madelynn
08/27/2007
Lottie Caroline
11/03/2008
Liam Calvin
03/25/2010
Nixon Kyle
10/16/2014
2 comments:
I like very much your hands of thankfulness! :) What a nice tradition to start with your family. And Thanksgiving dinner sounds like it will be a blessing too! :) The girls shopping thing sounds fun for you young girls -- I am too old to be up and shopping at 4:00 a.m. -- hope your bargain hunting goes well!
What a great idea with the hands of thankfulness- I'm going to have to remember that one for next year. I am trying to get Olivia excited about heading out with me on Friday but so far she isn't too excited. Oh well, I may just sleep in as much as my young ones will let me instead and just shop later.
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