IF MAMA AIN'T HAPPY, AIN'T NOBODY HAPPY

Wow. My three hundredth post. I have had a lot to say in two and a half years!

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I sat down last night to write a post. My three hundredth. The past few days had been such . . . inconsistent ones, that I decided I needed to think about the things that I'm grateful for. However, as I sat in front of my computer, trying to feel grateful, I was having a really hard time. Nels and the girls came into my room, ready for prayer before getting in bed. I knelt down and among the fiasco that is family prayer at our house, I totally lost it. Sorely tempted to grab my keys and leave the house. I got myself under "control" and helped him finish getting the girls in bed. For the remainder of the night Nels kept asking me if I was okay. (Of course I'm fine! Why would you think any different???!) Needless to say, I never quite felt like coming back to my "grateful post". Another thing that obviously doesn't need to be pointed out, but I will anyway, is that hormones, excessive sugar, lack of sleep, and anxiety don't really bode well for anyone in our house.

This morning I woke up to sun shining through my bedroom window. Not the gloomy kind of sun that is shrouded by grey clouds, but bright, cheery, yellow sunshine. As I held the door open for Hazel and Nels as they left for work and school, I could see the little green tips of my daffodils, just starting to push their way to the surface, through the snow still covering my flower beds. And I felt like singing. And I did. And I cleaned the kitchen floor. On my hands and knees - doing a good job of it for the first time in months. :) (Don't think that I don't clean my kitchen floor regularly. With three children, that would be disgusting. But I usually use a mop.) (Also, please don't give me any well-meaning encouragement about nesting -- I've been "nesting" for more than a month now. My floor was just really dirty and I was feeling up to it this morning. :) Even though the yellow sunshine is no longer shining, but is now shrouded with those yucky grey clouds, the temperatures are still reaching toward 40 (!) and it has been happily sprinkling all morning. Not snowing! Oh happy day!

Spring is still probably more than a month away for us here in Eastern Idaho, but the end is in sight and it will come before we know it. I think I could learn a few things from my daffodils this morning.


I AM GRATEFUL

1. Family. I have the best family. My sweet little children and wonderful husband. They make me smile. They are so excited for this baby to come. The "rest" of my family. My sweet siblings and parents. They all love me. - Even though I have not been maintaining "balance" very well lately.

2. Friends. So many friends have been there to show their love for me over the past week. People I have gone to visit, end up giving ME a boost. So many people have dropped off wonderful tokens of love for me and my family. I love you all. What a wonderful place I live in!

3. A healthy body. I have walked so many miles over the past week. I'm so thankful that my body is good to me. Even when it's achy and painy. :) I'm thankful to be a woman and to have the body that I do. I'm so thankful for the part that I play in bring children into this world.

4. The Defining Line Salon. :) It is amazing what a little pampering can do for a person. :) Even if their magic essential oils don't put me into the throws of labor, it sure feels nice to get a neck massage and have some really wonderful, comfortable gals to chat with. :)

5. Garbage men. Seriously glad that we don't have to haul our own garbage to the dump. :)

6. Pine-sol. That smell will forever mean clean to me. The smell that is permeating my house right now. I love the feel of a clean floor.

7. Seasons. I love when the seasons change. I love the things that are good about each one of them. For the most part, I have really enjoyed the rest that comes with Winter this year. It has been welcome and needed. Looking forward to the Life that comes with Spring.

8. Books. I love the oblivion that can come from books. :) As long as it is moderated. :)

9. Sleep. I slept last night. Thank the Lord. Seriously.

10. Work. I am so thankful for work. For parents that taught me how to work. I don't always love it, but I am thankful for it.

11. Faith. I'm so thankful for the peace that can come (even if it is only in spurts :) from the knowledge that the Lord is in control and he truly does what is best for me and my family. Sometimes (a lot) I feel angry at this reality. I like being in control -- or at least having some kind of bargaining power, you know? I feel resentful when I can't bend circumstances around my desires. (Can you believe that I even complain about my sweet Lilie's shenanigans?? I never really wonder where she gets it from.) However, regardless of the grown up "fit throwing" that I've been doing the past few days, I'm thankful for the faith that I have in my Father in Heaven's love for me. And his eternal patience. (Gives me more than a little something to think about in my own parenting techniques.)