Multitude Mondays - Week Seven

154. that Emily is still taking naps

155. surprise checks in the mail

156. hour long phone calls from old friends

157. babysitters

158. going on a trip with Daniel... alone

159. eating at good restaurants in Charleston

160. Emily getting to spend alone time with her Mimi

161. catching up on movies

162. how Daniel and I don't run out of things to talk about, unlike our college dates

163. alone time with the husband

164. how excited everyone in our house in when Daddy comes home

165. having a long weekend due to MLK day

166. my Bible study starting up again

167. finding a mentor here

168. good ideas coming from other people that you can't wait to implement

169. what reading the Old Testament has done for my faith

170. being surrounded by people who are going through tougher struggles -- it puts a lot into perspective

171. free medical care we receive from the military

Multitude Mondays - Week Four

Well, we got through the last week without Daniel. It has been nice that December flew by so fast, because before we knew it, Daniel was back safely in our home. After taking 4 flights in a little over 24 hours, I'm impressed that he was only 4 hours delayed. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about Daniel's bags. They are either in Georgia (the country), Germany, DC, or Charlotte, but they definitely are not at our house. Taking into consideration that he flew three different airlines does not make matters any better. We will just continue to pray that they will get here before we leave Wednesday morning for Texas, as there are Christmas presents inside the bags, as well. If missing bags are the biggest of our problems, then we are doing pretty well. We really have a lot to be thankful for...

87. Fruit smoothies

88. The joy in making Emily laugh

89. Having a busy schedule that makes time fly by when Daniel is gone

90. Stickers -- hours of enjoyment

91. Doing our first of many Christmas art projects

92. Realizing how old Emily is getting while we cuddle on the couch watching the Sound of Music

93. Going to see a living nativity

94. That Daniel is safely back home from Georgia (the country)

95. That Emily knows how to pray now before meals and sometimes reminds me

96. Making new friends

97. Watching Emily be entranced by the Nutcracker

98. Participating in ornament exchanges

99. Becoming more involved and the satisfaction and growth that it brings

100. Getting to be a mommy

101. The feeling of a clean house

102. Going to dinner with good friends

103. Knowing God is always there

104. That Daniel managed to get on the last flight back to Jacksonville last night

105. Finding brilliant ideas on the internet that I would have never come up with

Multitude Mondays - Week Two

I have so much to be thankful for, as always. I have a journal out on our kitchen counter so I can write down things as they come to mind. It will also be something nice to look back on when I am done with all of this. I will never be done thanking the Lord, but you get what I mean. I was only going to list blessings 21-40 on here because I am nervous that, although it is easy to come up with stuff right now, it will get more difficult when I am around, say, blessing 678. But, these are suppose to be my blessings for week 2, so I guess I will list them all. It will only make me search out more blessings in the future.

21. Cool weather that makes lugging around a little one when pregnant not so horrible.

22. Healthy pregnancies.

23. How happy Emily's pink boots make her.

24. Lazy days when you get to stay in your pajamas.

25. Our comfy new couch that I sink into when I dip into the Word.

26. The amount of sunlight that comes in our house when all the blinds are open.

27. My family's health.

28. Being able to skype with family across the country.

29. Our new laptop computer.

30. Christmas music and Christmas movies.

31. Getting to wear sweatshirts again, even if I am sweating by noon.

32. Pregnancy hormones that make this freezing house slightly more tolerable.

33. How much Emily loves going to the grocery store.

34. The ministry of motherhood.

35. Books that make Emily shake with excitement.

36. Chubby crayons for little hands.

37. Internet access in foreign countries.

38. Hot apple cider.

39. Watching Emily hang her first ornament.

40. Spiritual readings.

41. For the Lord convicting me in so many areas of my life lately.

42. Getting to chat online with Daniel.

43. Neighborhood coffees.

44. Playgrounds and how many there are in our area. (4 within a mile of us. 3 are within a 1/4 of a mile.)

45. A little one singing along to her songs from the backseat.

46. Sitting on the couch while Emily and I each read our own books.

47. Emily running and throwing her arms around me.

48. Watching Emily and Roxy playing and hearing deep belly laughs.

49. A warm, cozy house when it is cold outside. (I love my heater!)

50. Pictures drawn by the talented Emily Grace.

51. Emily moving to the big table to share meals with us.

52. How incredible Daniel is with Emily.

53. How much Sunday refreshes my soul.

54. That Emily can play at the daycare/nursery without any tears now.

55. Learning from women with older children.

56. That Emily is not a "runner..." yet.

57. Nap time when I need to get some things done.

58. Nap time when I need to sleep, as well.

Multitude Mondays - Week One

Thanksgiving has reminded me of all I have to be truly grateful for. It's unfortunate that on this one day a year we continually give thanks -- something that should happen every day of our lives. I have to admit, I come to the Lord all too often with more prayer requests than thanks for everything he has blessed me with. One of my daily prayers is that I see the hand of Lord in everything, so I can constantly remind Emily (and future children) of God's truths. I am hoping this list will help me be thankful for EVERYTHING he has placed in my life, and as a result, nurture thankful children, as well.

The idea comes from the blog, A Holy Experience. I love what writer Ann Voskamp says about her experience...

"Too often I miss him, oblivious, blind. I don't see all the good things that He is giving me, gracing me with, brushing my life with. True, he is everywhere, always. But maybe, before the Gift List, I thought of Him as further off, not so close. When I started to see all the things that I love bestowed upon me, I started to see Him as near, present, everywhere, showering me with good things. Seeing the things I love all around me gives me eyes to see that I am loved, that He loves me."

Today I start my running list of a thousand gifts and every Monday I will add to it. Would you like to, as well? It's about making our life all about worship and experiencing God's transforming powers.

Here we go...

1. My wonderful husband who loves me unconditionally.

2. The timing of our first great blessing. That I currently have an 18 month old who amazes me everyday.

3. My fluffy puppy who keeps me company when my husband is far away and the babe is in bed.

4. My Bible.

5. All the Word has revealed to me.

6. My alone time with the Lord that I attempt to fit in every morning before our little one wakes up.

7. Hearing the voice of God through others.

8. Trick-or-treating bags carried around as purses that put smiles on little girls' faces.

9. Women that encourage me by their faith in the Lord.

10. Realizing that I am not a horrible mother and that others struggle with the same things I do.

11. Pumpkin spice muffins.

12. Blogs that encourage and inspire.

13. Doing dishes every night and hearing the uncontrollable laughter coming from bath time with Daddy.

14. A new little one constantly moving in the womb.

15. That Emily folds her hands any time she hears the word "pray" or "God"

16. Fake Christmas trees that don't need to be tended to.

17. Christmas trees that are already strung with lights that are perfectly spaced out.

18. Our Christmas decorations that went up the day before Thanksgiving.

19. Setting out our nativity set for the first time.

20. Remembering every time I walk by our nativity how important of an event this was.