1,000 Gifts

21. Hard morning hugs from my son


22. Eli's baby dancing


23. My cozy blanket in my favorite chair


24. The branch and twig shelter my kids built in the front yard


25. Chocolate milk


26. Early morning boy smile


27. Powerful impacting quotes


28. Nice pens and paper


29. The beauty of cursive writing


30. Tomorrows



To start at the beginning go here.


For an opportunity to be thankful with your kids this month take a peek at my friend Cara's blog.

Real Life Around Here

It's been a bit crazy around here to say the least.

My father in law is on the mend. They took the vent out almost two days ago. He sat up in bed and called us on the phone last night. Nothing but the kindness of God. Thank you for your prayers. We are grateful to have more time to spend with Papa.

We finished up our Occupational Therapy appt. this week. On top of ADHD and ODD Isaac has Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). This understanding has been the most helpful to date in affecting daily life. I am just beginning to understand what is it, it's triggers and how to help him. So much more to this but little time to share right now. Honestly, I am overwhelmed on a day to day basis but fully trust that God in his kind wisdom has a plan in all this. It is SO difficult to watch your child struggle like this. Please pray for our family.

Eli is REALLY walking. He does an awesome crab walk across the room. He still falls over but is becoming a toddler minute by minute. Where has my baby gone! He is such a happy and cuddly baby. He has a very soothing effect on us all. No matter the kind of day we have, we all gather at night to laugh and play and giggle with him. He is a true joy!

My sweet Journey has decided she wants to be a Zoologist or Animal specialists of some kind. She wants to volunteer at the shelter and a place called Dog Town where they rescue dogs who need help. She also is a blessing to her brother Isaac. She has amazing patience with him and tries very hard to help him succeed. Not a hint of resentment so far...and trust me she would have grounds for it at times.

Aaron is working LONG hours building his department at work. I miss him but in due time things will settle down. Grateful he has a job.

Me, well I am off tomorrow afternoon on a 2 day personal retreat. I am going to a place that has solitude rooms...doesn't that sound nice. I will add more tomorrow if I have time, if not see you next week.

Wordless Wednesday

1,000 Gifts

11. 1 Peter 1

12. The availability of God's word at my fingertips and eye shot EVERYDAY!

13. Color ~ especially brilliant earth tones

14. Tomorrow's filled with fresh mercy

15. Isaac reading ten sentences with ease and joy.

16. Drooly baby faces

17. The bright red and orange of fall leaves. Just so peaceful to me.

18. The wind as it blows those fall trees

19. My husbands job

20. My local church (they are a bunch of amazing god loving people)


To start at the beginning go here.

Choosing the Better

I had a choice this morning during the baby's nap to vacuum, clean, fold and organize which has such a sense of satisfaction to me. I can easily confuse that feeling of peace associated with a job well done, with the eternal peace that passes all understanding. They are not the same.

Choosing the first over the later, is being too easily satisfied. Being lulled into rest by this temporal and visual satisfaction is a cheap substitute for the real amazing peace provided in grace. A rest you can't find anywhere else.

So, by grace I made my way up to my bedroom crawled into my comfy chair under my favorite fleecy blanket and RESTED. Yes, my body ceased moving but this rest was for my soul. Drinking in the word, the truth. Pouring out my heart. It felt like a water fall, all those things gushing from my heart, yet I landed in the warmth, safety and comfort of His hands. He carried the burden and care of my ill father in law, my husband, my sick kids, my tired body.

When I came down stairs the house was still a mess. Cheerios on the floor, dust bunnies in the corner, laundry on the couch and toys on every flat surface.......and all it did was make my heart glad. There are toys everywhere because I have three healthy children. Those same children have been provided clothes to wear and food to eat. We have a warm pleasant home to sleep in every night.

So bring on the dust bunnies and cobwebs because not only does a family live here but the Lord of heaven and earth who provides all we need for life and godliness. He truly is our peace and provision.

Thank you Lord, that for this day in your grace and mercy....I chose the better thing.

My prayer is that I do the same each day knowing full well when I don't, your provision of mercy is enough.

Prayer Request

Edit: My FIL did make an improvement today (Nov. 1). He is still very sick but they are thinking he will pullout of this. That's our continued prayer. Thank you for praying for him and our family.


My father in law is in the hospital. He was taken via ambulance yesterday for breathing problems they found were related to pneumonia. He also has H1N1, Supra ventricular Tachycardia and his kidneys won't function.

They had to put him on a ventilator a few hours ago.

Please pray for him, for my MIL , my husband and his sisters.

I just dropped my husband off at the ferry to go see his father. He was told to come now.

It's pretty serious.

A Sample of Heaven

During our circle time over the breakfast table in the morning we are reading Randy Alcorn's Heaven for Kids. We are very much enjoying reading this together. It is stirring great questions and thoughts. One such time occurred this morning.

We were reading from page 62.


It's like when your mom or dad lets you have a tiny piece of turkey or dressing to sample just before the Thanksgiving meal. It's not enough to satisfy you, but it's good enough to help you think about how delicious the whole meal will be!

All our lives, even if we don't know it, we've been dreaming of the New Earth - the heaven that will last forever. Whenever we see beauty in the water, wind, flower, animal, man, women or child, we see just a sample of what heaven will be like.


My daughter immediately piped up and said "There's our little sample of heaven", pointing at her baby brother. I could only smile and agree.

She then went on to ask me if I would rather be here on earth when Jesus returns or be with Him when He returns. This started a beautiful conversation. She has really been paying attention!

Our little sample of heaven.