Thankful List ~ May 2014

May 2014 Thankful List

*  This month we decided to bite the bullet and spend money getting the van serviced.  We took care of the timing belt, water pump, spark plugs, motor mount, and other stuff like an oil change.  Although it was VERY costly I am thankful to know that our vehicle is in great condition and should not have issues any time soon.

*  Some slightly older ladies in our church initiated a series of meetings called EKG- Heart Checks.  This is a once a month meeting for older women to help younger women in the church evaluate their hearts in light of the commands in Titus 2.  I am beyond thrilled about this opportunity and was overjoyed to be able to participate in the very first meeting.

*  Our small group took a retreat to a house in Virginia (provided for free from one of the families).  It was WONDERFUL!  We studied the topic of contentment together.  We searched the scriptures, read articles and poems, we prayed, and we listed to a sermon to help us think rightly.  We also had lots of free time to fellowship with one another.  We played Fris-cup (a great tailgating game invented by one of the guys in our group), we went kayaking and hiking, played games, we roasted marshmallows over a fire, and one evening we even distinguished constellations (a rare treat for us city-folk).

*  Of course the retreat would not have been relaxing or productive had the kids been with us.  This month we participated in a weekend kid swap with some friends.  They kept our two kids while we were on the retreat and we kept their three kids later in the month for their anniversary.  Our kids played great together.  Other than very minor issues it was great for everyone.  We are definitely going to be doing it again soon!

*  We took the kids in for well-check appointments at the end of April and our pediatrician discovered a heart murmur in both Addilyn and Josiah.  God gave me peace.  In fact, I’m pretty sure I even forgot to bring it up with my small group girls who I tell everything to.  At the beginning of this month we went to a pediatric cardiologist a couple of times for different tests and we were told that it is a very minor murmur and they should grow out of it.  They said that we don’t have to make any lifestyle changes, but to monitor them a little more closely when they are sick or running a fever.

My little "robot."

*  This month Addi got stung by a bee TWICE and although this may not seem like something to be thankful for, it is because now I know she is not allergic!  When a bee stings me I swell up really bad so it was good to be with her to monitor her closely when it happened.

*  We started reading a book as a small group call Total Church by Steve Timmis.  It has been so good.  I have really enjoyed the perspective it discusses and it has been encouraging to see that many of the concepts it presents we have been striving for already.

*  I had a great time of fellowship with a friend from church this month.   We spent a couple hours washing her patio windows and just talking about life.  It was such a sweet nourishing time and I’m thankful my husband lets me get out and have ladies time every so often.

*  We made a decision that Josh and I will be celebrating our 10^th Anniversary by visiting Denver Colorado.  Friend offering her home so we have a free place to stay. 

I had a sweet Mothers Day with the kids.  Josh had to work but I enjoyed time with the kids and I was thankful that God showed me grace to have a good perspective and not have a pity party in light of the miscarriage.

*  I am VERY thankful that my little Josiah-man is now potty trained!!!  Potty training is my least favorite part of parenting (well, up until this point we don’t have middle-schoolers yet).  However, God showed us lots of grace.  He rarely has accidents now and I am just so thankful for how quickly he picked up on everything.

*  Josh met with one of our Pastors and was able to gain a lot of clarity about potential future options.  We are praying through these options and are hoping God will give us great wisdom and discernment as we have some big decisions to make.

*  I’m thankful for the TCC Women’s event Grace Filled Expressions.     I went to a session on canning and since then I’ve made quite a few jars of strawberry and blackberry jam.  The kids and I went strawberry picking and we also found a black berry bush in our neighborhood so we have had a lot of fun with learning new things.

*  I had a wonderful date night with one of my closest girlfriends.  We ate at newer downtown restaurant, walked around the city, and just had some great conversation.  It was wonderful!

*  As usual I’m also very thankful for my funny kiddos.  Here are just a few things that happened that are worth sharing.

*  Josiah rode his horsey through the grocery store one morning and yelled, “Giddy up” and “whoa” the entire time.  He even stopped and asked strangers, “You wanna pet my horsey?”

*  Josiah got very creative in waking us up in the mornings.  One day he came in saying, “cock-a-doodle-doo.”  A few days later he crawled in bed with us and just started kissing my face over and over and over again.  One morning he decided to tickle me.  The next day he came in with his blanket over his head and just stood beside the bed saying, “I hiding.”  The most recent and the one that made me laugh the most was when he crawled on top of me and whispered in a sing-songy voice, “Do you want to build a snowman?”  Oh, my word- this kid is hysterical but needless to say we’ve started locking our door.

*  We went back to the rose garden a few times.  I captured this sweet picture.  I could not believe how grown up Addi looked with her legs crossed.  It just blew my mind.

*  One night after dinner we let the kids have ice cream cones for dessert.  After 4-5 minutes Josiah looks at me with the most serious face and says, “Mommy, I wuv ice keam.”

*  Addilyn is my little planner.  One morning she woke up and said “Daddy, what are we going to do today?  What you think.”  When he did not immediately give her the schedule of day she turned and asked me, “Well, Mommy, what you figure?”

*  Addi also picked me a yellow dandelion and put it in a vase with water.  Funny enough, it re-bloomed for 5 days!  Each night it closed up and looked dead, but every morning it would be open, bright, and yellow again.  So fun!