A garden of Gratitude

(Heh, heh – this vintage picture makes me smile!)

This is the month to be mindful of our thankfulness, a wonderful idea.  I’ve been trying to set aside time each day to list my blessings.  How neat to find that paying attention to my blessings and focusing on being grateful has worked to increase my gratefulness and my blessings!  I decided to list things a little at a time, each day, and will share these as one post sometime around Thanksgiving.

I am thankful…

1. For the sense of empathy M has… his heart for poor children, hungry children, babies we know and don’t know, neighbors… and the specifics he’s able to articulate in prayer for them.  I worry about his tender heart so much, but I know that this is really a blessing and I’m learning to be thankful for it.
2. That my 5 year old “big boy” has begun taking my shirt to bed with him (like when he was a baby – does he even remember?) to snuggle with and smell as he sleeps.  That is love. 
3. For all the beautiful nature surrounding us, and for a renewed eagerness to be out in it as much as possible.
4. For good books that prove how amazing and inspirational words can be when the right person puts them together in the right way.
5. For a husband that comes home from work tired, and still finds the time to read a chapter or two of Hank, the Cowdog out loud, sometimes with only one tired eye open.  And still knows how to make us laugh at all the silly parts.
6. For being closer (not there quite yet) to making peace with the possibility that no more babies are in my future.
7. For a small house that only takes a few hours to clean.  I’m convinced God knew what he was doing because he knows how I am about cleaning.
8. For magic erasers.
9. For my new sewing table and the little sewing / mama-craft nook in our home that I finally found a way to make.
10. For forgiveness, from everyone – God, my husband, my son… everyone.
11. For glorious autumn days that help me remember to be joyful.
12. For coffee.
13. For Coke.
14. For an oven that still bakes lovely things like pumpkin bread and apple crisp even though it is ancient.
15. For routines and good habits.
16. For wisdom when I (remember to) ask for it.
17. For intuition.
18. For our neighbors and our friendly little lane.  
19. For traditions.
20. For the books we read out loud and the friends we make with the characters in them.
21. For the women I meet with every Monday morning… they have each become so important to me.
22. For friends that remember to ask about specifics in my life, showing that they are sincere in their care.
23. For such good role models as the people in numbers 22 and 23.
24. That so many people have taken a look at our Jesse Tree packet and have downloaded it or printed it to use with their families.  It feels good to share wonderful things with others and it’s humbling to think of helping someone “out there” with something our little family does.
25. For occasional, unexpected moments of peace and quiet.
26. For soft, thick, cozy yarn and the pleasure of making something out of it, just for me.
27. For the joy of making things for others too.  {Lest you think #27 was selfish. ;) }
28. For catching the moment on a windy day when yellow leaves are falling so quickly and thickly that you can’t see past them.
29. For catching sight of little boys trying to hula hoop.  :)
30. That the worst thing my 5 year old has to worry about is finding where he mislaid his newest and most favorite rock.
31. For children’s audio books.
32. For the library, and that it is so close to our home.
33. For my husband’s job, and his willingness to support us while I stay home.
34. For a better understanding and appreciation of the work of a stay-at-home mom.
35. For my health and the health of everyone I love.
36. For my weekly hour in our church’s adoration chapel.
37. For visiting relatives.
38. For turkey dinners and naps afterwards.
39. For a warm, cozy bed.
40. To live in freedom.
41. For our military, the sacrifices they and their families make.
42. For the beauty of falling snow.
43. For the pure joy snow gives to the children I know.
44. For the cozy inside feeling snow gives me.
45. For second (and third, and fourth…) chances to get things right.
46. For the gift of being a mother, a wife, a sister, a friend, and every other role I’ve been given – I am truly blessed.

Art Time – Oh the things You can do with Melted crayons

Our Thanksgiving tree (find the pattern here) was up and ready to go, one week before Thanksgiving:But no autumn-themed scrapbook paper to make our leaves from!  Target dollar spot, you really let me down this year. I checked other places too – and could not find a single (cheap) autumn pattern anywhere – sigh.  I just love those scrapbook leaves. 

Ah well, this was a great opportunity for an art project I’ve been meaning to do for ages – coloring with crayons on a warming plate. 

We used scrapbook scissors (pinking and scalloping) to cut leaves from white cardstock; covered our little cup warmer with foil because melting wax tends to leak through paper, even cardstock; put the leaves on top of the foil and slowly drew with the crayons.(I do not have a warming tray, but this little cup warmer works great for small projects like these leaves.  You could also use a cookie tray taken from a warm oven, but make sure little hands don’t get burned!)

The crayon melts as you draw and begins to glide across the paper.  There’s something very relaxing about doing this!  M enjoyed it so much, he stopped making designs and began to just color entire leaves.  The smooth movement and the deep saturated colors on the paper put him into a sort of trance. :)  I think this would be a great rest time activity!  After he was done we turned the warmer off, crumpled up the foil, and were done.  No mess, which is always a plus, right? :)

Our leaves (mostly):

 

We also made some great little autumn shapes by melting old crayons and pouring them into cookie cutters… this is always fun because it involves SMASHING crayons with a hammer or piece of wood, or whatever you may have lying around that would make a good smasher. ;)

Sort:

Smash:

Melt and pour:

Let harden, then pop out:

A little wax leaked out the bottom of the cookie cutters, but everything turned out okay.  Still, I would use the flexible, non-stick muffin trays in place of cookie cutters, if you have them.

Have a beautiful day! :)