multitide monday

Psalm 145:10
"All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
and all your saints shall bless you."


a while back, a sweet friend sent me a link to this sweet blog and i have since been so encouraged by this woman who is a stranger in real life. we have been transitioning into this residency stage of life as adam completes his 3rd ward month in a row and it has been really hard at times. i have truly struggled with fleeting joy...i guess my happiness is too often dependent on circumstances: ___X__ amount of time with adam, __X__ amount of time with adam while he is actually awake, children that sleep through the night and obey quickly and cheerfully, __X__ amount of money that we can use for things other than bare necessities, a vacation...the list continues...these things are idols as they are the "one more thing" i think i need to make me happy/content/joyful. they are the things i subconsciously (and sometimes consciously too) think i need to add to Jesus to make things right. the truth is that i have been so abundantly blessed with grace upon grace upon grace. as God has worked on my heart, i heard of this thing call the gratitude community . of course, we don't need gadgets and things to make our hearts thankful instead of complaining ones...we need Jesus to do that. however, what i like about this little community is that it is just simple encouragement to give thanks for the daily graces and kindnesses that God showers upon us all the time...and that, my friends, changes our hearts...action first and then feelings second (as pastor george always reminds us). if we really step back and think about the tremendous work of grace He has done for us through His precious Son, our hearts should always be offering thanksgiving.



so here we go, i had this red moleskin that was blank. i love journals, but am a terrible journaler. it is bright and easy to find, i leave it in my kitchen so i can write in it when i think of something. adam has joined me. we write one-liners and we number them to remind us of the abundance we have been given...material and immaterial. we are just thanking. periodically ( on multitude mondays) i may post a few of the things we have written down.

1. blue sky speckled with pure white clouds
2. pudgy hands that hold mine
3. "toddler attacks"
4. blond curls
5. husband's early release from work
6. conversation with sweet sister
7. blooming calla lillies
8. kitten with limp, reminding me of God's grace with me
9. husband's boldness with neighbors
10. generous parents visit
11. soft brown eyes
12. a tooth in graham's little mouth
13. music by the river with husband
14. time today to read encouraging words
15. no injuries upon toddler falling out of crib
16. the joys of "losing you life"
17. post-call husband
18. sweet girl singing hymns with her daddy
19. neighbor visit
20. over-ripe bananas in banana bread
21. grace, grace, grace
22. my children are alive (after hearing of two who tragically died last week)
23. wiggles
24. peek-a-boo
25. banana bread (repeat)
26. the book of Job
27. frozen plums
28. marit running everywhere
29. that "dying is gain"
30. family walks
31. sweet mommy/child field trip with friends
32. farms
33. toddler excitement over how "big" horses are
34. no tooth damage upon first busted lip
35. road races
36. mother-in-law pound cake
37. jogging strollers
38. a most beautiful and kind wife (adam wrote that one...)
39. children's laughter
40. a Sunday off
41. kids sleeping through the night
42. light-hearted fun with ellen (adam again)
43. a cool morning
44. 2-tooth smile
45. long sleeves
46. warm sun shining through our window
47. sidewalks

see? in just a little over a week, we have compiled this light-hearted list as we look for God's every day graces in our lives. He cares about the intimate details because He is a good and personal Father to His children. join the community if you like, keep a private journal, or not...but do endeavor to cultivate thankfulness and allow God to change and soften your heart.