multitude monday {another two-weeker}

Here's my continuing Multitude Monday post, which all started a while back, right here on Ann's wonderful, amazing blog that is a favorite of mine. If you've never checked it out, do yourself a favor and click on over. She's an amazing, gifted writer and an inspiration!

"One Thousand Gifts"::

2394. my grandma's sweet spirit
2395. birthday dinner made by my mom and delivered to our house during an extra-busy week
2396. many heart-felt birthday wishes from many wonderful people
2397. a birthday morning doorbell and (iced) coffee delivery from a thoughtful friend
2398. first guests staying in the basement
2399. 64 years of life for my dad -- what a blessing he is and a great example of selflessly serving others
2400. the Stoll reunion
2401. kids reuniting with their cousins and second cousins and second-cousins-once-removed or whatever all those relationships are
2402. Stoll family Bunco {or is it Bunko? these are things I just don't know!}
2403. basement 99% finished
2404. moving things back downstairs and reclaiming our house
2405. free birthday coffee coupons
2406. friends who pray for, laugh with {because what else can you do but laugh -- well, after you're done crying that is}, support and encourage me through the not-so-fun stuff of life
2407.wrapping up the summer soccer season
 
2408. Sara's good nature, even when sick
2409. fun Olympic party with neighborhood friends
2410. a fun, just-what-I-needed, life-giving night out with Al
2411. side-splitting laughter while shopping at Patina
2412. Chatterbox Pub {always a favorite!}
2413. making it through a rough week
2414. hope
2415. Jacob's friend Jack :: I love that kid!
2416. a fun day with Jacob :: he's pretty fabulous too!
2417. all-day VBS for the middle 4 kids at Como Park Lutheran
2418. 34 years of life for my brother. What a wonderful man of God he has grown into. I'm proud of you, Luke and am thankful that you're my brother!
2419. Sara's DAILY explosion of new language, she's picking up new words by the minute these day and it never ceases to amaze me. Today she pointed at the radio and told Jacob to "turn on KTIS." Honestly babe, you're not even 2.
2420. Kirb (or God :: maybe a bit of both) fixing the dryer
2421. my dad going to Menards to get a bunch more wood for me -- buying lumber is not the most fun errand to do with kids!
2422. unexpectedly bumping into a friend and catching up for a few minutes
2423. good days
2424. watching a bunny munch on the grass in our yard
2425. a good book, a cool evening and a little breeze ::  heavenly!
2426. geese flying through a beautiful sky
2427. harvesting peas, cukes and carrots in the back yard with Anna
2428. a glorious sunset :: what a loving, caring, thoughtful artist God is!

Alrighty, that's it's for now. Tune in next Monday for the next installment.

multitude monday {two weeks worth}

Here's my continuing Multitude Monday post, which all started a while back, right here on Ann's wonderful, amazing blog that is a favorite of mine. If you've never checked it out, do yourself a favor and click on over. She's an amazing, gifted writer and an inspiration!

"One Thousand Gifts"::

2353. overnight rain
2354. late-night IKEA furniture assembly with Kirb
2355. Sara saying "Buh-bye, have fun!" over and over and over again {the funniest part is that I wasn't going anywhere}
2356. carpet!
2357. making thankful walls in the laundry room
2358. beadboard, doors, trim . . . basement coming together
2359. dropping kiddos off at camp
2360.  Sara spontaneously "raising the roof" and "head banging" whenever the rockin' music comes on
2361. Jacob and Rebekah taking care of our neighbors house/lawn/mail/plants while they're gone
2362. watching Anna play soccer
2363. spending the 4th (and the 3rd) with the Newman family
2364. Sara's excitement over the pool and swimming :: she LOVES it!
2365. cooler temps {even for just a day or two}
2366. morning snuggles with Joe
2367. Jacob's burn healing up nicely
2368. my faithful, kind, cute, loving, funny, thoughtful husband
2369. Sara's chubby feet
2370. Lydia's spunk
2371. double coupon day at the gas station and a 20 cent/gallon coupon, which, when doubled, saved us $8 on a 20-gallon fill up
2372. girls night with my  mom, Bekah and Lydia
2373. helpful kids
2374. family trips to the library
2375. hanging out the laundry :: it calms me and makes me feel all peaceful {unless it's 100 degrees, then it makes me sweat!}
2376. the race our kids organized on a Saturday morning complete with numbered bibs, a finish line and medals :: Joe took 1st place and Bekah carried Anna the last little bit because she was worn out
2377. an early morning run with Bekah
2378. Jacob getting more man-like by the minute {and me being -- mostly -- ok with that}
2379. Bueggers asiago bagels . . . mmmmm
2380. book club night
2381. the best news ever
2382. girl's weekend with friends on the way to pick up our girls {11 girls between us all} from camp
2383. seeing the kids write on the thankful walls in the laundry room
2384. the community we have at Central
2385. girlfriends!
2386. birthday week free coffee coupons {I'll be happily caffeinated all week long, I think!}
2387. lap swimming on a beautiful, sunny morning
2388. a great week at camp for Rebekah
2389. my clothesline
2390. {much-needed!} overnight rain
2391. donuts from SugaRush
2392. the kids all singing along to Go Fish in the van on the way to church
2393. my wonderful friends

Alrighty, that's it's for now. Tune in next Monday for the next installment.

best news ever

This morning Joe, Anna and I were innocently sitting in the living room. Anna said something about heaven and how we'd all be there together some day and I told her that if she wanted to be in heaven with Jesus some day that she needed to ask him to come live in her heart and say she was sorry for all the bad things she does and thank him for dying to take away all those bad things. I explained (again, since we've been explaining the same thing over and over in many different ways her entire life) that she needed to decide herself and ask him to come live in her heart. She was ready, she was excited and before I knew it, I was helping her pray to ask Jesus into her heart. It was so wonderful! Kirb has been the one at that moment with the older 4 kids, and this time I got a turn. I was reminded of an evening a few weeks back (or was it months, already) when, after dinner, the 3 big kids were praying for the 2 littles, since they were the only ones in our family who hadn't made their own decisions to make Jesus the Lord of their life. This morning I was so thankful for one answer to that prayer. We called Daddy right away to tell him and then called Ama & BopBop :: happy tears all around! When Jacob and Lydia woke up, she told them and they were both so excited for her too. We emailed Bekah at camp so she could know the great news too. It was all so endearing! . . . but never fear, we are normal -- about 37 seconds after the sweet, sentimental moment there was an equally nasty sibling moment involving punching. Oh well, enjoy it while you can, right?

We had a celebration tonight and went out to dinner. My mom and dad joined us, too, which added to the fun.

Let me introduce you to the newest (future) resident of heaven ::

And another picture of Anna that I love. I took it at her soccer game yesterday morning. Those bobbing, curly pigtails :: I can hardly stand it!

So, isn't that the best news ever? It completely made my day . . . my life!

multitude monday tuesday

Here's my continuing Multitude Monday post, which all started a while back, right here on Ann's wonderful, amazing blog that is a favorite of mine. If you've never checked it out, do yourself a favor and click on over. She's an amazing, gifted writer and an inspiration!

"One Thousand Gifts"::

2325. my village :: borrowing a friends Suburban while our van was out of commission for a week and our Suburban-owner friends were visiting family in Alaska
2326. shared commiseration
2327. date night
2328. gift cards
2329. early morning raspberry harvesting
2330. afternoons at the pool with friends
2331. AC on hot, hot days
2332. basement countertops installed and lookin' great
2333. framing and doors
2334. finished pantry
2335. Trader Joe's
2336. lemonade stands on the corner
2337. paper airplanes with the words "I love you" written on them flying through the air :: part declaration of love, part apology
2338. celebrating 70 years of Wanda :: a woman from whom I have learned much over the years
2339. a working van
2340. 2 days of kids selling lemonade on the corner and their whopping $65 in earnings!
2341. seeing friends from out of town
2342. how Anna's eye lashes all clump together in the pool
2343. Joe finding a dollar in his pocket :: oh the joy!
2344. happy kids home from camp after a great week
2345. provision from the Lord to pay for the van's new transmission
2346. friends coming over for supper
2347. last-minute sleepover plans
2348. a swift, clear answer to a very specific prayer
2349. our quirky, loving church family
2350. Sunday night church softball games
2351. a holiday week and looking forward to time with friends
2352. climbing into bed, tired and weary, at the end of the day and smelling sheets fresh from the clothesline

Alrighty, that's it's for now. Tune in next Monday for the next installment.