It's over. I did it. Thirty gratitude posts in thirty days and it was hard. Not as hard as last year, but still more difficult than I anticipated. Overall though, I would say it was a very worthwhile exercise and one I would encourage you to try, even just privately. It's amazing how my mindset changed knowing I needed to record something I was grateful for each day. I started really noticing the blessings that were there all along.
I'm must say though, that for now I am grateful that the this daily posting thing is over. I'm ready for a break from generating words. Now, maybe I can find time to start reading them again. Farewell NaBloPoMo. I doubt I'll participate again. But who knows, I've said that before.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Drumroll please...
We put the names in a hat,
and my trusty assistant drew out a winner!
and my trusty assistant drew out a winner!
Congratulations Painted Maypole, you won the custom cape from Superflykidz! I'll be contacting you in the next day or two with details. Thanks to everyone who played along.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Gratitude - Day 29 (Online Shopping - and a PSA)
As I mentioned earlier this month my sister-in-law has been joining me in this 30 Days of Thanks thing. I have been surprised at how often I will check her posts and see that she is thankful for the same things I am. It's been fun to see the similarities. Except when I see she has given thanks for something I was planning on being thankful for in a future post, thus rendering it off the table. I can't have our shared relatives thinking I couldn't come up with my own Thanksgiving topics.
Yes, I really am still that immature. And paranoid.
Anyway, yesterday she gave thanks for online shopping. And man, if she didn't steal the words right out of my drafts file. But you know what, today I got online and comparison shopped Playmobil new and used at a dozen different stores. I ended up with two crazy deals on a castle and knights for Ben. One item, predictably, on EBay and another at a random store that, inexplicably, had a set marked for 75% off the going price of anywhere else on the Internet. A rare moment of shopping rapture, folks, right there in my spinney chair.
Ben's Christmas shopping is officially done. And I did all of this by 11AM while drinking Peppermint Mocha Coffee and wearing my pajamas. She said it first, but it bears repeating: Online Shopping Rocks.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And speaking of good deals on online shopping...
Old Navy has all their pajamas 50% off tomorrow (Sunday) ONLY. In stores AND ONLINE. Which means all their sleep pants (men's, women's, girl's, boy's) are $7-$8 each. Petites. Tall. Plus sizes. The whole deal. Baby/Toddler PJs are $7 for the set. So go now, and buy for everyone you know. Who doesn't like pajama pants? Oh, and the tops are on sale too if you are inclined towards matching pajamas.
And if you want to thank me for this kind public service announcement, I like the white/pink plaid. Size XL. Thankyouverymuch.
Yes, I really am still that immature. And paranoid.
Anyway, yesterday she gave thanks for online shopping. And man, if she didn't steal the words right out of my drafts file. But you know what, today I got online and comparison shopped Playmobil new and used at a dozen different stores. I ended up with two crazy deals on a castle and knights for Ben. One item, predictably, on EBay and another at a random store that, inexplicably, had a set marked for 75% off the going price of anywhere else on the Internet. A rare moment of shopping rapture, folks, right there in my spinney chair.
Ben's Christmas shopping is officially done. And I did all of this by 11AM while drinking Peppermint Mocha Coffee and wearing my pajamas. She said it first, but it bears repeating: Online Shopping Rocks.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And speaking of good deals on online shopping...
Old Navy has all their pajamas 50% off tomorrow (Sunday) ONLY. In stores AND ONLINE. Which means all their sleep pants (men's, women's, girl's, boy's) are $7-$8 each. Petites. Tall. Plus sizes. The whole deal. Baby/Toddler PJs are $7 for the set. So go now, and buy for everyone you know. Who doesn't like pajama pants? Oh, and the tops are on sale too if you are inclined towards matching pajamas.
And if you want to thank me for this kind public service announcement, I like the white/pink plaid. Size XL. Thankyouverymuch.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Gratitude - Day 28
It's an easy kind of day to be grateful. Lazy and full of moments that whisper of beauty and contentment if I stopped to listen. And today, I did. I stopped to note a girl sitting in a movie sighing in her first infatuation. I knew the characters on the screen would always hold happy, wistful place in her heart. I saw the way she stopped by the mirror when the show ended to smooth her hair and reapply shine to her lips. The movements not yet practiced enough to be natural. My heart aching a little - just a little - at how soon they would be.
Later, basking in the chaos of our weekly dinner, I watched the backs of my boys as one led the other down the hall, trying to imprint the scene like a snapshot in my mind. The tall boy - nearly a man - stooping to guide his miniature counterpart.
Then, tonight, with all of my being I marked the feel of two small bodies pressed against me. Savoring their weight and scent as we read our bedtime stories. It was Christmas stories tonight; the beginning of a new season. A season I find myself anticipating with a tentative and unexpected peace.
Later, basking in the chaos of our weekly dinner, I watched the backs of my boys as one led the other down the hall, trying to imprint the scene like a snapshot in my mind. The tall boy - nearly a man - stooping to guide his miniature counterpart.
Then, tonight, with all of my being I marked the feel of two small bodies pressed against me. Savoring their weight and scent as we read our bedtime stories. It was Christmas stories tonight; the beginning of a new season. A season I find myself anticipating with a tentative and unexpected peace.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
by Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1896)
We walk on starry fields of white
And do not see the daisies;
For blessings common in our sight
We rarely offer praises.
We sigh for some supreme delight
To crown our lives with splendor,
And quite ignore our daily store
Of pleasures sweet and tender.
Our cares are bold and push their way
Upon our thought and feeling.
They hang about us all the day,
Our time from pleasure stealing.
So unobtrusive many a joy
We pass by and forget it,
But worry strives to own our lives
And conquers if we let it.
There’s not a day in all the year
But holds some hidden pleasure,
And looking back, joys oft appear
To brim the past’s wide measure.
But blessings are like friends, I hold,
Who love and labor near us.
We ought to raise our notes of praise
While living hearts can hear us.
Full many a blessing wears the guise
Of worry or of trouble.
Farseeing is the soul and wise
Who knows the mask is double.
But he who has the faith and strength
To thank his God for sorrow
Has found a joy without alloy
To gladden every morrow.
We ought to make the moments notes
Of happy, glad Thanksgiving;
The hours and days a silent phrase
Of music we are living.
And so the theme should swell and grow
As weeks and months pass o’er us,
And rise sublime at this good time,
A grand Thanksgiving chorus
by Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1896)
We walk on starry fields of white
And do not see the daisies;
For blessings common in our sight
We rarely offer praises.
We sigh for some supreme delight
To crown our lives with splendor,
And quite ignore our daily store
Of pleasures sweet and tender.
Our cares are bold and push their way
Upon our thought and feeling.
They hang about us all the day,
Our time from pleasure stealing.
So unobtrusive many a joy
We pass by and forget it,
But worry strives to own our lives
And conquers if we let it.
There’s not a day in all the year
But holds some hidden pleasure,
And looking back, joys oft appear
To brim the past’s wide measure.
But blessings are like friends, I hold,
Who love and labor near us.
We ought to raise our notes of praise
While living hearts can hear us.
Full many a blessing wears the guise
Of worry or of trouble.
Farseeing is the soul and wise
Who knows the mask is double.
But he who has the faith and strength
To thank his God for sorrow
Has found a joy without alloy
To gladden every morrow.
We ought to make the moments notes
Of happy, glad Thanksgiving;
The hours and days a silent phrase
Of music we are living.
And so the theme should swell and grow
As weeks and months pass o’er us,
And rise sublime at this good time,
A grand Thanksgiving chorus
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Gratitude - Day 26 Random Randomness
Today I am thankful for Pumpkin Pie. It's baking in the oven right now and making my house smell like Thanksgiving like nothing else can. It's not a special recipe, just the one off the back of the Libby's Pumpkin can. Because that's what I had growing up which, obviously, makes it the best.
I'm thankful for Clara who has been walking around the house with a quarter all day singing "My money, my money, I love my money" to the tune of The Bunny song from Veggie Tales. Which is just so completely opposite of what Big Idea was trying to teach with that episode I just can't stop laughing at it. Which just makes her keep doing it, my little oblivious idolatress.
And I wrote a post over at Worst Mama today about the Second Hand Christmas theme I am doing this year. And I am thankful for that too. Even if it has elicited some strange looks.
Oh and to beat a dead horse (or dead contest as it may be) tomorrow is the last day to enter the Superhero Cape drawing so go leave a comment if you are interested. Your odds are looking pretty good.
I'm thankful for Clara who has been walking around the house with a quarter all day singing "My money, my money, I love my money" to the tune of The Bunny song from Veggie Tales. Which is just so completely opposite of what Big Idea was trying to teach with that episode I just can't stop laughing at it. Which just makes her keep doing it, my little oblivious idolatress.
And I wrote a post over at Worst Mama today about the Second Hand Christmas theme I am doing this year. And I am thankful for that too. Even if it has elicited some strange looks.
Oh and to beat a dead horse (or dead contest as it may be) tomorrow is the last day to enter the Superhero Cape drawing so go leave a comment if you are interested. Your odds are looking pretty good.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Gratitude - Day 25
Today after a marathon shopping trip I made a big pot of soup. I am gearing up for a lazy couple of days and know I won't want to do any cooking tomorrow other than the requisite pumpkin pie baking session with Allie. Feeling uncharacteristically in the holiday spirit I picked up The Polar Express at Blockbuster when I was running around. So after dinner the kids and I (all but Brandon - who, sadly but predictably, ditched us for some friends) piled on the sofa to watch it. Ben had never seen it but I figured with a boy, a racing train and Santa it would be hard to go wrong. And I as right. He absolutely loved it. Watching it through his eyes brought me such joy. He was positively riveted through the train scenes and would periodically bounce or cheer in his seat in excitement.
(Although what is with the part where the creepy marionette comes to life and starts screeching at the kid? I forgot that part was even in there and it scared Ben to death. Poor kids gonna have nightmares tonight about rabid toys.)
Sitting on a sofa snuggled under a blanket with my children is one of life's simple pleasures. A pleasure that is often neglected in our home. More often than not when my kids are watching a movie it's because I am trying to get something else accomplished. It's rare that I just sit with them in peace for any length of time. Let's face it, it's rare that there is peace for any length of time. So today I am thankful for the time we spent piled happily on top of each other. And for the opportunity, when the movie was over, to talk about what the first gift of Christmas really was. The gift I strive to be thankful for most of all.
(Although what is with the part where the creepy marionette comes to life and starts screeching at the kid? I forgot that part was even in there and it scared Ben to death. Poor kids gonna have nightmares tonight about rabid toys.)
Sitting on a sofa snuggled under a blanket with my children is one of life's simple pleasures. A pleasure that is often neglected in our home. More often than not when my kids are watching a movie it's because I am trying to get something else accomplished. It's rare that I just sit with them in peace for any length of time. Let's face it, it's rare that there is peace for any length of time. So today I am thankful for the time we spent piled happily on top of each other. And for the opportunity, when the movie was over, to talk about what the first gift of Christmas really was. The gift I strive to be thankful for most of all.
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