Extremely Grateful

Some days I just stand and pause in awe at how much God has given me.  

A husband who loves me and cares for me, who is my best friend.  

These 9 young ones who call me "mom" and help make me a better person each and every day.

The love that has just multiplied and continues to multiply daily in our house.  

++Thank you, God, 

for your grace and gifts daily!!!++

Thankful Thursday - ed #3

So much to be thankful for!!  

Today has just been a normal school day.  But here's three things that stand out from today that I am extremely thankful for...

The kids (who are done with school) are playing Lego's and Max and Pookey just came out to me with this cool creation.  I love how their little brains are not limited with time and most especially space when it comes to creating.  Isn't this Lego dude the coolest?

Little Yoda was ready for a nap, and thankfully his sweet sister (who is almost done with her school) scooped him and up, and rocked him to sleep.  She's a multi-tasker at heart, so she has to squeeze in some reading while keeping babe asleep.  She's reading the last of the Mysterious Benedict Society books on our kindle.  I read the first three aloud to the four big kids over the last couple of years, and told them they have to read the last one on their own.  So of course, Melody is wasting no time at all.

And progress!!!  Plaster guys are here today.  Painting (plain ole white is hubs preference) and flooring next week!!  Can we possibly be done in the next couple of weeks?  I think so!!!

++Thank you, Lord, for your presence living and breathing among us in the simplicity of our lives!++

Thankful Thursday - ed #2

When we bought our house over 15 years ago, we bought an older home and only calculated my hubby's income when it came to how much we could afford for a mortgage....   We *really* wanted to buy a new house and include both of our incomes.  But, I am SO thankful my mother-in-law spoke up and said that we should not calculate my income because once we start having babies, I may not want to go back to teaching and that I'll want to stay home instead.  Wow!  Was she right!  I have stayed home as a full time mommy ever since baby #1 arrived!!  I am ever so grateful we "settled" with an older house and only took into account my husband's income, and not my teaching salary as well.

Having bought an older/smallish house, we have had to make many renovations to help our house grow as we grew, little by little....  We added on a large two story addition when Mario was a baby.  When we had our sixth baby, we grew out of our normal mini van, and bought Big Red.  Shortly thereafter, we added on a larger garage that would fit it.  Then we renovated our kitchen and dining room.  Two years ago, we finished off our basement.  And, now we are in the process of a complete renovation in our main bathroom upstairs.  Phew!!!  When we are done with all these renovations, we'll practically have a new house.

So today's "Thankful Thursday" post is for those wise words shared and listened to.

**BEFORE**

**DURING**

 (stay tuned for completed pictures in the next few weeks!!)

++Thank you, God, for wisdom shared and open ears to hear!!!++

Thankful Thursday - ed #1

It's the small stuff.  Grace, love, and joy can be found in the smallest most ordinary moments of every day life.  I had a couple today that I wanted to share...

**Sweet Pookey came to me and told me he wiped clean the toothpaste dispenser because it was all gunky and gross.  This is normally a job I do once a week on my own, but he noticed before me and did it all on his own.  No prompting at all!  Just saw a job that needed to be done and did it.  He's 6 years old, by the way.

**We just got back from a little trip up to WI last night and I had mountains of laundry and unpacking to do today, so I was just going to let the kids have the day off school today.  This sweet kid ate breakfast, showered and got his basket of schoolbooks out and began working all on his own.  Wasn't told.  Just did it.  Because he's homeschooled and that's what you do on a weekday.  WOW!  Mario blew me away!!

++Thank you, God, for showing your presence so beautifully in these small but really BIG ways.  You are truly here and present with us daily!++