It's rapidly getting cold outside and winter is quickly drawing near. Life is starting to slow down and days are shorter and temperatures colder. Just as those bears out there are gearing up (or gearing down, I suppose one could say...) so I feel life is slowing down for us as we prepare for life indoors the next couple of months. Also slowing down is the number of posts I do a month. It seems a little backwards to me- in summer when we are busy out galavanting across the countryside, I have many post swarming around my head that actually make it to my blog. But now, even though life isn't as busy and things have slowly settled down, so has the frequency of my writing and posting. I don't know why. Oh well.
I am still thinking of things that I am thankful for each day this month. I don't know what day it is, but I am sure that I have at least ten things that I need to write about relating to thankfulness. I am not going to do all ten now, but like I promised, there should be thirty by the end of the month.
1. Hibernation. I am so thankful for the slowing down of my world once fall and winter comes. This is something that I never experienced in always-sunny-California, yet having experienced it these past four years, I know that I could never go back. I love the changing of the seasons, seeing how vastly different the same landscape is between the different calendar months. I love that summer provides the opportunity for lazy days outside and many energetic expeditions, but even more, I love the winding down of life during winter time. I love how life turns inwards, to my family, my home, my heart. I love the times to just sit inside and talk, curl up with a movie, or just sit and be. I am thankful for slowing down.
2. God. Cliche, no? But seriously. My path with God has gone in various states since college (When looking back, I look to college as "high" for myself spiritually), but within the last couple months things seem to be clicking a bit more, which hasn't happened in a long, long time. Realizing His complete love for me is something that I am trying to grasp once again, and it's a journey that for the first time in a long time, I am actually okay with being on.
3. Francis Chan. Not to be weird, but this guy says some powerful stuff. I know the Bible is the ultimate book, but other books can help to, right? Dave and I are going through "Crazy Love", and being only ten pages or so in, I am finding myself challenged by his words. Every now and then he suggests a video to accompany the reading, and if you have time, here was todays:
He would come and speak sometimes when I was at college during our chapel time, and each time I was left feeling provoked by his message.
4. My James. I am completely and utterly thankful for my little ball of energy and joy. Four years ago I never imagined that I would sit through hours and hours of Thomas videos and have my house transformed into Sodor Island on a daily basis, but here I am. I would not trade any minute of it. He's the best thing that has happened in my life (okay, okay, technically I should say God, or Dave, or something else, but whatever...) and I am so thankful for the joy and insight he brings me on a daily if not momentarily basis. I am thankful for his heart for people, his love for his sister, and yes, even his passion for trains.
5. Mom blogs. I mean, I wish I was as funny and creative as these ladies, but I am not. I am thankful for the reprive and grace that then give me (unaware) as a mom. Most importantly, I am thankful for the laughter they give me during my day. This one and this one are two of my favorites. I also love all my friends blogs too- they're just too many to link to here! But I love them all!
Okay, that's it for today, mostly 'cause James is up now and we probably have to watch a video. A Thomas video. And thats okay, since I am thankful for it and all, right?
**Edit** After I published this post, James came downstairs and proceeded to spill my coffee everywhere over the end table, the couch, and his toys. I might have got a little upset with him. A little. Does that cancel out all the "thankful" things I said about him earlier? I mean, he was just hitting the side of the mug with a pencil saying it sounded like a train bell, so I shouldn't get too mad at him, right? Oh well. I did. We're better now though, in case you are wondering....
2 comments:
I like the fall and winter, too. I know what you mean about Francis Chan. He's pretty fantastic. I'll have to check out that other mom blog, besides RFML. It looks cute!
That's how it always goes, with kids, it seems. I think it's the other way than what you said-- that the grumpiness you felt toward him is canceled out by your recognition of your thankfulness for him!
I hadn't seen that other blog either. Funny. Reminds me of Hyperbole and a Half, which hasn't been posting lately.
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