multitude monday { . . . or tuesday}

Here's my continuing Multitude Monday post -- albeit a day late -- which all started years ago 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 (not to mention a mother of 6)!

"One Thousand Gifts"::

2735. Joe singing in church :: normally he doesn't sing, so it brought my heart a whole bunch of joy
2736. lunch time in an elementary school cafeteria
2737. bookstores :: stacks and stack of books!
2738. the library
2739. autumn :: my very, very favorite
2740. a 2-year-old with a fresh haircut :: being able to see her cute eyes again
2741. hand-me-down costumes
2742. Kirb bringing home a latte for me
2743. being home with no one but a napping 2-year-old when my book took a sorrowful turn and I was crying {dripping nose and all}. no need to explain my crazy weeping over a death that was fictitious.
2744. the funny things our kids say
2745. checking the online grade book and being pleasantly surprised
2746. friends
2747. chalkboard paint
2748. a fabulous {although painfully long} swim meet for our 3 swimmers

2749. brave kids overcoming fears
2750. backyard fires in fall
2751. book club night
2752. seeing a friend's new studio space
2753. my grandma
2754. protection for Sara :: a fall that could have been much worse than it was
2755. Joe on the couch engrossed in a book
2756. carpools
2757. my Bible app and quiet minutes in the morning
2758. a girl smiling, having fun and forgetting her struggles for a few hours while playing four-square {or three-square, as the case would be} with her friends :: being a little girl again for a while and forgetting her adult-size sadness
2759. Jacob picking up Anna from preschool :: the big brother and his little sister walking home down the block together

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

flashback friday

7 years ago this week

multitude monday

Here's my continuing Multitude Monday post, which all started years ago 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 (not to mention a mother of 6)!

"One Thousand Gifts"::

2708. brushing Beka's hair
2709. kids fresh from the tub
2710. a fun visit from the far-away grandparents

2711. a walk around the lake with my mom on a beautiful afternoon
2712. hay rides
2713. kids riding in the tractor cab {"helping" to drive the tractor}
2714. the fun of a corn maze :: and making funny inside-{family} jokes with the kids that make them roll their eyes and chuckle
2715. orange and pink stripes in the sky
2716. a daughter who jumps up from the table, leaving her breakfast, to grab the camera and capture the fleeting beauty of the moment

2717. Sara singing her ABC's all the way through
2718. Jacob home safely after a great 4 days in Chicago
2719. Sunday night youth group
2720. 70 and sunny in late October!
2721. a HUGE pile of leaves in the yard
2722. a post-bedtime movie with Kirb
2723. the amazing talent and creativity and depth of Tyler Perry's work
2724. picking up beautiful leaves on my walk
2725. the fun and excitement of being "boo-ed" and "boo-ing" in return {it's kind of the fall version of a May basket}
2726. Trader Joe's
2727. muenster cheese
2728. pumpkins on our doorstep
2729. the beauty of fall colors :: they seem extra vivid this year
2730. unparalleled youth pastor longevity {the fact that he took me on the same Chicago trip Jacob went on over the weekend more than a quarter century ago is amazing and so fun!}
2731. kids high up in trees
2732. helping move furniture, even though you wish you could do more to really help the hurting
2733. a neighborhood baby shower
2734. really, really fun, exciting pregnancy news!

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

flashback friday

Two of my favorite football players :: Luke & Jacob

Fall 1999

multitude monday

Here's my continuing Multitude Monday post, which all started years ago 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 (not to mention a mother of 6)!

"One Thousand Gifts"::

2685. 2 years of life for Sara
2686. a good nights sleep for all 6 kiddos
2687. easier nights for Rebekah
2688. the amazing blue of the late-afternoon sky
2689. good swim practice for Joe
2690. pink cups at Dunn Bros.
2691. football players in pink socks ::

2692. double coupon day at the gas station :: $6.25 saved
2693. Joe's new glasses ::

2694. clean laundry
2695. the library
2696. Sara's mispronunciations that I love
2697. a little bit of rain for the thirsty ground
2698. protection on the football field
2699. looking forward to some company from out of town
2700. a new baby born to a friend on 10.11.12 :: how fun is that?
2701. lots and lots of creating
2702. a good end to Jacob's 8th grade football season ::

2703. an attentive sister and divine protection for Sara when she choked on a pistachio shell while we were in the van :: thank you, God, that Rebekah noticed her choking and for Kirb's lightning quick response and throat sweep that took care of what could have been a completely different situation with a terrible, terrible outcome. Praise God! We are so very thankful!
2704. some much-needed rain
2705. the sound of rain on the roof :: it had been so long, I'd nearly forgotten
2706. enjoying a good movie with my love after the kids were in bed
2707. Jacob's fabulous football coach :: encouraging, positive and kind. Jacob loved him!


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

flashback friday

sometime in the 1980's

40 + 2

It's been a big week around here.

This guy turned 40 ::

And this girl turned 2 ::

Here are a few little snippets of what you are like at age 2, Miss Sara ::

• you have some really cute mispronunciations that I will be sad to see go someday soon :: J-bud for Jacob, down-sit for downstairs, while-ee-bee for library
• you say "I 'cited about." all the time. I ask you, "what are you excited about?" and you answer, again, with "I 'cited about." (hello mom! I already told you!)
• you always want to be on the go :: I go outside, I go in my carseat, Let's take a walk -- are phrases I hear many times a day
• you love your carseat, and going places -- and you're very curious about everyone else's carseats too. you especially love to go in your Ama's carseat
• you run and play and jump and ride your bike and do a pretty good job keeping up with those 5 older siblings you've got
• you sleep in a big bed
• you gave up your nuks a couple months ago, but still talk about them and miss them -- but you're doing great without them!
• you finally are sleeping through the night more often than not
• you love books :: being read to and looking at books are some of your favorite things to do
• you know most of the words to your 3 or 4 favorite books, and can sit down alone with a book and tell yourself the story

 

• you "raise the roof" and "head bang" when rockin' music comes on
• you still sit (extra safe) in a rear-facing car seat. I plan to get it turned around forward facing in the next couple weeks -- you'll be "so 'cited" to face forward, I think
• you STILL adore your Daddy. you love me too, but you're crazy about him (not that I can blame you!)
• you're fearless
• you love babies (just like your momma)
• you are our favorite 2-year-old on the planet!
• we love you so very much -- all 7 of us (and then some)

I can't believe this was two year ago already ::

We are so glad to have you in our family!

Happy Birthday to the oldest and the youngest members of our family!

multitude monday

Here's my continuing Multitude Monday post, which all started years ago 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 (not to mention a mother of 6)!

"One Thousand Gifts"::

2642. folding Jacob's laundry and tucking in a little love note
2643. Sara napping with the covers pulled WAY up over her head and her adorable little toes sticking out the bottom
2644. the gurgle of the coffee pot
2645. the hum of the washer
2646. a productive crafting day
2647. a big win for Jacob's football team
2648. Rebekah's tender heart
2649. a good night at swimming for Joe
2650. goggles, swim cap and Minnie Mouse dress on Anna
2651. walking home from preschool :: Sara knee-deep in leaves at the curb, crunching with each step
2652. a good, productive PSC meeting for Kirb :: getting closer
2653. Paul Healy, Bethel University alumni of the year. I can't think of anyone better for the honor
2654. blazing reds, golden yellow, deep purples, glorious oranges :: the beauty of fall
2655. a night with all 6 kids at home
2656. Joe reading to his little sisters
2657. an idea in my head that turned out even cuter than how I imagined it
2658. lots of orders this week
2659. Lydia's smile
2660. a great -- although chilly -- 4th 5K
2661. my best time yet
2662. time with dear friends
2663. people willing to watch out kids so we can have time away without them
2664. a great football coach for Jacob
2665. another win for Jacob's team
2666. playing Qwirkle
2667. memories
2668. the 1980 Sears wishbook we had fun looking through and laughing
2669. 40 years of life for my favorite person ever born :: Happy Birthday Kirbs!
2670. REALLY hard laughter
2671. beautiful fall colors
2672. the continued blessing of our new basement space
2673. the blessing of hand-me-downs
2674. the fabulous "village" of people that help us raise our kids -- and who drive them places when there are more things to go to than our family has drivers
2675. quiet
2676. creativity
2677. no more crib in our house :: and me being ok with that
2678. sweaters and warm socks
2679. the faithfulness of God
2680. Lois doing so well. Seeing her back in church again
2681. PSC progress :: a light at the end of the tunnell
2682. Paul Healy's head towering above everyone else in church on Sunday morning :: always great to have him home
2683. making and creating things
2684. a beautiful sunset over downtown

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

no. 4

So last Saturday morning I ran my 3rd 5K. With Rebekah, Lydia and Joe. I was Joe's "buddy" and our finish time was 46.48. Not my personal best! It was a beautiful day, though, and we had a fun time. It got into the 70's last Saturday, but was still a little cool in the morning. A perfect day for the run!

Fast forward 7 days.

This morning I ran my 4th 5K. It was Bethel's Homecoming 5K. A bunch of students and alumni met at the SRC at 9 o'clock for a 3.1 mile run around campus.When I got there, I think it was 36*. Brrrr. Much colder than last week. Also, I didn't bring any kids with me.

Here are a few of my post-race reflections ::

• I must hate the cold even more than I hate running, because I ran this one in 33.04. My best time ever by a long shot.
• If it wasn't the cold, maybe it was my competitive nature :: trying to keep up with all those young college pups or something.
• Or maybe it wasn't really 5 whole Ks. (which is the thought that kept going through my mind after I got my time)
• That campus is somehow WAY more hilly than it was when I was 18! Ouch!
• There's nothing like trail-running along a lake in the glorious beauty of fall. What a beautiful campus -- I also don't remember it being that beautiful when I was 18 either.
• I nearly tripped and biffed it on my face because I was so distracted by thoughts of all the projects I could make when the route took us by a HUGE stack of pallets back behind the football field. So glad I didn't biff, that would have been almost as embarrassing as when I slipped and fell while the ENTIRE football team was walking toward me, returning from practice, when I was a freshman!
• Freshman hill still brings back fun memories.
• The campus has changed a lot in 20 years -- heck, the name has even changed. I went to Bethel College, but the kids I was running with go to Bethel University.
• I'm never very glad to be running, but I'm always glad to have run -- I like to think of it as a bit like childbirth. Once I'm done and have caught my breath, I don't remember it being quite as terrible as it was in the moment and I decide I'm glad I did it, even though it was tough . . .and then I decide I might as well just do it again (that in no way indicates that I am having another baby. Just in case you thought it might.)
• I shouldn't have put the race shirt they gave me on over the 3 layers I was already wearing. By the end I was too hot!
• Tomorrow is the Twin Cities marathon. I have a couple friends running it. That's like almost 9 5Ks one right after the other. Honestly, I don't know how they do that! I always say I don't even like to drive that far (since I am the kind of person who prefers to stay within walking distance of her house 95% of the time -- sometimes I do feel the need to go to IKEA, you know.) Best wishes, marathoners. I'm proud of you!

flashback friday

What a handsome crew :: the Carlson family, circa 1978.

Multitude Monday :: evening edition

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"::

2626. the smell of fall :: dusty leaves
2627. the sounds of fall :: dusty leaves crunching underfoot
2628. fall sunshine
2629. 5K with Rebekah, Lydia and Joe to start off our Saturday
2630. beautiful night sky
2631. first time at Target field
2632. grand slam for the Twins
2633. successful garage sale
2634. laughing so hard you need to fish your inhaler out of your purse to be able to breathe
2635. harvest moon
2636. clothes fresh from the line
2637. the smell of brewing coffee
2638. my hard-working husband
2639. celebrations
2640. carpools
2641. Anna's flu shot bravery

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