30 days of Thanks--Day 4

469. Counting gifts great and small... I'm thankful for my new humidifier. Not only has it allowed me to breathe the last few days with a minimal amount of discomfort, but it also has provided a fair amount of entertainment as I watch the swirls and "clouds" of cool mist rising from it's top.

(and yes, I can still get delight out of tiny things like that. I'm looking forward to Tirza getting older, that way I can pretend I'm staring at humidifier mist, tiny bugs, baking soda risen batter, and other commonplace wonders for her benefit. Until then I'll keep pretending like I'm a grown up and used to these things).

30 days of thanks--Day 3

468. My crazy awesome neighbors/brother and SIL/besties: Yep--they're all of that. We live in the same apartment complex, and get together at least once a week besides church and other regularly scheduled things. We've done all sorts of crazy things together, and spur of the moment is the norm. The past few months we've been playing a lot of unusual card games/ board games as that is an interest of my hubby's. I think now they're just as (or more) addicted to unusual  games as we are (mwahaha).

30 days of thanks--day 2

It's November, and this month I'm going to make a conscious effort to write my thanks every day. I often think of things I am grateful for and thank the Lord for them throughout the day. This is good. But when I actually pause to write those things down, they become a testimony of the Lord's grace in my life--a gift that keeps on giving every time I read and remember. 

I am not committing to making a list of a certain number of things each day. Some days I may only write one thing I'm thankful for, other days I may write several. Perhaps sometimes list the same thing twice (I daily thank the Lord for my wonderful husband and daughter!). There are no rules to this--except that every day for the next 30 days I will GIVE THANKS. Would you care to join me?

463. The limp weight of Tirza after her early morning feeding, right before I put her back to bed. The most warm, cuddly thing on earth--a sleeping baby

464. A second humidifier that came in the mail, just in time

465. A short nap with my baby snuggled on top of me

466. Tirza being sweet and quiet all day, while I was not feeling well (she'd be lying beside me so sweet and quiet that I would wonder if she was feeling sick--as soon as I checked her she'd grin as if to say, "Oh, I'm so glad you're here--I've just been looking all around. The world is such an interesting place!" Thank the Lord for a baby that can entertain herself sometimes.)

467. My hubby taking most of the day to look after me

30 days of Thanks--Day 1

It's November, and this month I'm going to make a conscious effort to write my thanks every day. I often think of things I am grateful for and thank the Lord for them throughout the day. This is good. But when I actually pause to write those things down, they become a testimony of the Lord's grace in my life--a gift that keeps on giving every time I read and remember.

I am not committing to making a list of a certain number of things each day. Some days I may only write one thing I'm thankful for, other days I may write several. Perhaps sometimes list the same thing twice (I daily thank the Lord for my wonderful husband and daughter!). There are no rules to this--except that every day for the next 30 days I will GIVE THANKS. Would you care to join me?

*~*~*~*~*

456. A wonderful Reformation Day

"Junker George" on the L, The playwrite/narrator/director (Brenden) on the R

This year was the first year in over a decade that I have not helped to plan our reformation day celebration at church (it was a good thing, because I was sick that night and wouldn't have been able to do much anyway). I was excited about being an observer, because in the past I've been involved to the point that I couldn't get a good feel for what it was like to simply enjoy the evening. The highlight this year was a play written and directed by one of the young men at the church. It was absolutely fantastic (and just a tad bit crazy!). If I can I'll post the video of it, but in the meantime, here are a few pictures:

My hubby was Martin, and had a good time getting into the spirit of the play

Two sisters--Grace and Hope--playing Kathryn Von Bora (L) and random nun companion (R)

OTHER THINGS
457. Hubby reading to Tirza a poem he wrote himself
458. Tirza being willing to snuggle when that's all the energy I had time for
459. Spending (most) of the day without a sore throat
460. Energy to do some housework!
461. A whole case of scrapbooking things to go through--treasure hunting!
462. Hubby doing the dishes for me after dinner

An ordinary day

I'm sitting cross-legged on the floor--my usual sewing posture--as I turn an edge of the fabric and iron the hem down. In the background an audiobook is playing. It's a book I've wanted to read for awhile--and now I'm finally getting to it. Piles of fabric cuttings are around me, piles of girly, flowerdy lovliness. I've been at it for days now. I've barely touched a sewing machine since I was married, and now I'm knee deep in four projects at once. One for church, and then three dresses for three little girls.

Tirza is on the bed, happily amusing herself--she has been for awhile now. The world is such a facinating place to her that she doesn't have any difficulty entertaining herself. I glance up as she starts talking in her baby language. I stretch my legs as I stand, and think at some point in the near future I'll have to start sewing at a table like a normal person. Tirza's talking in a loud, happy voice, and that tells me she'll need to take her nap soon. She gets more talkative when she's sleepy. But for the next few minutes it's playtime.

I scoop her up and she gins in delight. I grin back--it's impossible not to smile at that gummy grin that is all for me. How did I never know that this is what it's like to be a mother? I talk back to her, imitating the baby sounds she's making at me. I ask her if she knows the sounds a frog makes--I don't think we've done animal sounds before. I work through all of them I can think of--moos, baas, meows, all of it-- to her delight.

We move to the nursery so I can change her diaper. The cloth are in the wash, so I grab a disposable. I sing her favorite song while I work, and think that she really IS My Sunshine. I kiss her tummy when we're done, and she laughs. There is nothing she delights in more than mommy or daddy time. I swing her up and around--more delighted coos.

I roll back on the floor and put her on my chest, tiny feet dangling on either side of my head as she laughs down in my face. She knows what's coming next. I playfully nip at her toes, like I'm a fish, and her toes are the fishing line. She laughs in delight as I nibble at her other foot. She loves this game. Is it my imagination, or is she actually wiggling her toes this time to try to "catch" me?

A few more minutes and she's getting sleepy. She dosen't laugh quite as much, her eyes are tired, she's starting to fuss just a little bit. Yes, it's naptime. I cuddle her close in a hug, and say a prayer over her. I put her gently down in her basinnet--the one she's almost outgrown--and pat her back a couple times. She fusses for just a minute or two, more on principle than out of genuine upset--and is asleep.

I feel sadness. This is such a  perfect, happy moment. I'm in love. My baby is perfect. And I'm the only one who will ever remember it. This moment, these days--one play day after another, strung together like a string of exquisite pearls--and she won't be able to remember. I want her to remember. I want her to remember all the fun we've had. I know there will be more wonderful moments--but THIS one. I want her to remember this one.

So, before taking up a needle and returning to the flowerdy girl fabric, I tiptoe to my computer to write out what just happened. It's just an ordinary moment. One that has happened many times over. But it's so beautiful, so special, so perfect. She's too young to remember our fun times, but maybe, if I write it out, she can remember them through my eyes.

Enchanted Nursery Giveaway winners!

The Enchanted Nursery giveaway is over and the winners are:

Wendy R (hiwendyhi@)

and

Jennifer B (jenny9675309@)

Congratulations! Each of you should have received an email with further instructions on claiming your prize.

For those of you who did not win this giveaway--remember that Amanda still has a fantastic sale on her bows till next Saturday! With the coupon code bows4me you can get 30% off your purchase from Enchanted Nursery!!

Focused

Joining Lisa-Jo and others this morning for Five Minute Friday, where we cut the words loose for just five minutes, and see where they fall. No editing, just encouraging the others who play along. The topic today is Focus.

Good. She's smiling. I grab my camera quick, and wiggle my tongue at her. She laughs--I snap the picture. I look at the viewer screen and adjust the settings. Grin at her and she grins back at me. I snap the picture again. 

I'm focused on her. All focused on her. I've never been so happy in my life, and I've never known how to love this much--that little girl that is the personification of love. I'm focused on her.

She plays happily on her own and doesn't complain--but when mommy is all-there? When mommy is looking at her, and grinning at her, and not doing anything but loving her only? That's when the party begins. We two have parties every day it seems. She's focused on me. 

Our first party today--most days now--was after she got up for the day. I pulled out my Bible and turned to the Psalms. I read one to her--today Psalm 100--and she giggled in delight. She loves it when mommy talks to her. Maybe she doesn't understand the words yet, but who's to say when a soul starts to understand? Before the mind does, I'm sure. So I read. I want her to understand this. Mommy has learned the only way to keep life in focus is to keep focused on the One who gave us life. So every morning? We focus on Him. 

I giggle at her and she laughs out loud. I laugh again at her funny little baby laugh as I a snap another picture. This time it's in perfect focus.