Multitude Monday

It's been a while since I've had an opportunity to participate in the Multitude Monday. Not that I haven't had things to be grateful for -- we certainly have! -- but I always seem to busy to write them. Today, finally, I have one blessing that I've been waiting nearly forever to share with you:

#56: The gift of new life...

We're having a baby!

I'm 9 weeks along and feeling... well... I'm 9 weeks along :). We're due in early May.

We decided to delay starting prenatal treatment this time because there's nothing doctors can do in the first few weeks anyway. "Stop drinking." "Stop smoking." Things I don't need to hear anyway. It's all up to God -- all the way through. My practitioner (insurance-selected...) recommends starting treatment at 6 weeks or as soon as you find out... we convinced her to delay until 10. Not a huge bump, but significant to us. So, on Columbus day, we'll go in to see and hopefully hear our little explorer and how he/she is growing and finding the way to us. One more week! God willing, everything's normal and we're on the right track.

Happy Monday, and may you be blessed!

Multitude Monday #6

46) A wonderful time with the Organizing Mommy and her family

47) Weddings and more importantly, Marriages

48) Unity amongst believers (more on this in a day or so)

49) Sun-warmed toes

50) When I walked to the mailbox, it smelled like walking through a perfume shop... a good one.

51) Times when the right thing and the easy thing are the same action

52) New fabric

53) A growing understanding of exactly what's been done for me through Christ

54) A deeper love for my husband and his story

55) Hope while in this world that is not our home

Multitude Monday #5

I'm going to be honest -- today, everything's going wrong. The washroom is flooding from 2 (!) sources, the weather is grey, I desperately need to go grocery shopping... the list goes on. But I believe in gratitude, and I also believe that finding things to praise God about may change my own heart. Even in the midst of storms, He reigns supreme.

36) Christ is alive! Christ is alive indeed! (Happy Easter!)

37) We own our own washer and dryer -- we are not bound to a laundry mat (even when they're spraying water)

38) Most things wash up with a little soap and water

39) Fresh, hot, just out of the oven bread makes everything better

40) Family game night with my parents (If you've never heard of Settlers of Catan, you're missing out!)

41) The opportunity to worship with fellow believers throughout this past Holy Week

42) Knitting

43) A freshly-turned over bit of earth for my garden -- all finished and ready for seeds

44) Girly movies and fuzzy blankets

45) The fact that, for now at least, we rent instead of own... fixing this chaos will be our landlord's problem. Everything else in it's own time.

[Edited because I forgot to add the community graphic / link)

Multitude Monday #4

I've noticed something interesting over the past four weeks of searching for my blessings Tuesday-Sunday so they are ready to write on Monday. Every week, they're easier to find; easier to see. It's like I'm training my heart to be more grateful. Who doesn't want that!? So... my next 10 blessings. At this rate, it'll take 2 years to get to my 1000. I suppose at some point I should pick up the pace...

26) Other's confidence in my own abilities, even when I doubt

27) God-given opportunities to use my spiritual gifts

28) Little children waving palm branches

29) A schedule (I've finally implemented a "chore chart" for myself... and my husband noticed! He thanked me profusely when he didn't have to ask me to get around to the laundry... lol. One of these days I'll get this housewife thing learned)

30) Having all the ingredients on hand for a much craved chocolate cake

31) Long walks in the park

32) Little children showing their personality in ways we never expected (Dear Alexander started school! And he's making progress! He's even learned how to move his own wheelchair on his own, to a part of the room he himself chooses!)

33) Breaking ground on my garden

34) A soul-sister to pray with

35) Pool noodles. They make excellent weapons. :)

Multitude Monday #3

I'm a day late; forgive me, please! My computer died and left me without... it wasn't until late evening that I had everything resolved. Today will also have pictures of several of my blessings!

16) Hours of laughter with so many of our friends

17) Quilt shows

18) God's provision in times of need

19) Cranberry-Orange muffins

20) The still-small voice that whispers, "You ARE good enough..."

21) My first sunburn of 2010

22) Flowers from my husband

23) A dear sister-in-law who recently became a Christian!

24) A calling upon my heart

25) Little green shoots of mint just coming up... there's so much hope!

Multitude Monday #2

I love listing blessings. My mind keeps turning towards them throughout the week -- "What can I thank Christ for today?" I'm grateful for the opportunity to list them here:

6) Unexpected visits from long-missed friends

7) Late night conversations about faith, spirits, and the fate of the world

(These two very much go together. Shaune's friend Charlie was in the area on spring break from college and graced us with his presence. He is such an encouragement!)

8) A fully stocked fridge

9) Long conversations with my mom

10) "Mental Health Days" filled with the music of a long-set-aside viola (Shaune is a brilliant musician. I'm so blessed to have a music-filled house)

11) A box becoming ever more filled with teddies (We have 8 so far. We're shipping it to Mother Bear when we have 10)

12) Library Cards!

13) Family-in-law who have accepted me as one of their own

14) Green grass outside my window

15) A Father who sacrificed the status quo to reach out to both of his lost sons (see Luke 15)

Multitude Monday #1

I'm starting something new today. A few weeks ago, I stumbled across a blog full of beautiful pictures and heartfelt prayers. And I was inspired. Every week, the blog Holy Experience hosts something called Multitude Monday where people can post a list of their blessings. The goal is to get 1000 blessings -- a constant reminder of what God is doing, big things and little things, day by day by day through this life. It's called the "Gratitude Community." I can't wait to see where this takes me.

So... here is a slow start to my counting 1000 blessings over the next few months:

1) Life itself

2) Salvation

3) My loving husband

4) Our comfortable home

5) A full refrigerator

Maybe you'll want to start counting, too? The Gratitude Community.