Jumble of Thankfulness

These days threaten to be a jumble. I mean, they are a jumble. I guess what I'm saying is that they threaten to be nothing but that, if I'm not careful. The to-do lists and clutter and chaos can become all there is if I let it be so...

Baby ME sporting hand dimples and round cheeks - 8 weeks old yesterday 

When that's how I see things - as merely chaos, clutter, and demands, it makes me rather anxious. Shocking, right? It's calming and comforting to notice God's gifts and note them, give thanks for them. Things like...

....feeding a sweet baby on my lap while BH gets way up in my personal space (something I'm very tempted to complain about way too much of the time) and sets up his Brrrrrrm's all over my desk...

The "clutter" of creativity and exploration is another reason to give thanks to the Lord and be glad, for the messes are evidence of life itself, of liveliness. EG built a lot of interesting structures out of marshmallows and toothpicks recently, and several of them still live on this cabinet top. The field glasses are LC's - she's an attentive bird-watcher! (as am I!)

The sunlight always catches my eye when it splashes our walls mid-morning and early evening. I always tell the kids that it's appropriate for the little box-sign to be crooked there since the first line on it says Imperfection is beauty. I need the reminder! Thank you, God for sunshine and for grace that covers all imperfection...

I'm thankful for my vivacious children. Here EG and LC (nearly hidden behind her) are doing their homeschool work.

More schoolwork - AH here. Looks like standing is the way to study, hmm?

Some of the kids have turned the (stripped) guest bed into Lego Land. Here's BH with his curls in the morning light. He is a super-handful these days. Mr. Destructo. Mr. NOOOOO. Mr. Tantrum.

CJ - in her fancy dress, and CA, making Lego Plans. CJ loves a fancy dress....for about 15 minutes. Being on the hot-natured side, she prefers to run about in much less, if you know what I mean.

Baby ME is a smiling, pleasant baby. She lights up whenever we come close to talk to her - she responds joyfully to her siblings. Big sister CA spending a few moments with her...

I'm thankful to the Lord that my children are friends; I'm glad for the fun they have together, the ways they make each other laugh, and that they have each other as confidants....

I am exhausted these days. It's part of this season. Thanks be to the God that I have an able body and mind, so that I can accomplish the tasks of a day, including laundry...

This little scene made me smile inside - where someone had just walked out of her shoes. No, I don't love clutter, but the shoes look like they might just keep on walking, and I'm glad for the feet that wore them and the heart that forgot to pick them up.

The temptation to get consumed in feeling overwhelmed or to believe that the balance and well-being of the universe depends upon me getting things just right and not forgetting anything...I'm answering that here lately with Jesus' words -

Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

And I'm glad the Lord gave me BB for my friend and true love. He's such a good dad to these children of ours and a kind, sensitive, supportive husband to me!