multitude monday

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"::

2599. the early-morning sound of the paper guy backing out of the driveway
2600. the way Anna calls the newspaper "the news" :: i.e. "The news is here mom."
2601. our annual neighborhood block party/potluck
2602. meeting the newest neighbors {a new couple who moved in down the block and a 10-day old baby from across the street that I hadn't met in person, only in pictures
2603. a visit from Kirby's brother
2604. bike day at preschool
2605. 45 kidless hours to celebrate our anniversary
2606. sleeping in
2607. 11 hours of uninterrupted sleep
2608. 16 years of marriage
2609. watching Jacob's football game :: coffee in hand, Kirb by my side and no kiddos to keep an eye on
2610. shopping at i like you
2611. massage
2612. long-standing, meaningless-to-the-rest-of-the-world traditions between me and Kirbs that make us both smile
2613. dinner at Chatterbox
2614. my sacrificial parents and their willingness to stay with our lively brood!
2615. coming home to our half dozen
2616. transferring birthdays and special dates into my new 2013 calendar {that I almost paid full-price for, but then saw the exact one I wanted in the clearance section for 70% off :: someone had written on about 3 pages of it and then returned it, so it was "used" . . . hey, I've got white-out!}
2617. checking things off "the list" that have been on there for MONTHS
2618. Sara singing Toby Mac
2619. great finds on a trip to Goodwill
2620. re-affirmation that the book is always better than the movie
2621. "Step into Africa" with the 4 bigs. a fabulous experience. SO glad we went!
2622. writing a letter to Melvin
2623. new babies
2624. 5K coming up this weekend for me, Rebekah, Lydia and Joe
2625. "for all your goodness I will keep on singing. ten thousand reasons for my heart to find" :: love it!


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

multitude monday

Here's my continuing Multitude Monday post, which all started a while back, right here on a wonderful, amazing blog that I read each day.

"One Thousand Gifts":

1659. cool, old cars {complete with wood paneling}
1660. fun mail
1661. a beautiful moon
1662. kids playing on a trampoline in the dark
1663. grilled chicken
1664. football games
1665. seeing friends
1666. a glorious October weekend . . . amazing weather!
1667. kind people who drive my kids places
1668. a lovely afternoon walk
1669. a fabulous concert with my love::1670. kids excited about their new Bibles::1671. the very best of friends and time together
1672. very thorough doctors, modern medicine and a baby who can breathe::
1673. a "good" nights sleep :: better than I expected, all things considered

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

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for the mail. I love to get mail, especially personal mail. It totally makes my day! Getting the mail is something I look forward to each day . . . the hope that there might be something unexpected and fun in the black plastic box at the end of my driveway. A hand addressed envelope . . . or dare we even hope for a package?

I also love to send mail. Mail trucks, stamps and blue boxes on street corners make me happy!

Yesterday I got 3 pieces of personal mail when I made my daily trip out to the end of the driveway. How fun is that! 1 is a treat {and doesn't happen often enough} . . . 3 is nearly unheard of!


How about you . . . does something hand-addressed in your mailbox completely make your day too? Do you send much mail these days?

I know it's a little outdated, but I just think an e-card or an email or a facebook wall post isn't at all the same as getting your well-wishes through the mail! It just doesn't cut it in my book. Generally speaking I'm a pretty "green" person and don't like unnecessary use of resources -- for example I can't stand junk mail! and I use cloth diapers, for crying out loud! -- but I don't find sending personal mail to fit in that category. I think cards, notes, letters and packages are necessary for one's emotional health! And when did the majority of the world decide it was ok to stop sending thank you notes? {Sorry, that's just a personal beef that I struggle with, I'll stop now.} So, call me old-fashioned but I'm going to keep using my hand, a pen and some cute paper to do a good share of my correspondence and then hand-write an address on the front of an envelope, stick on a stamp {I am thankful for the technology that has saved us from the yucky task of stamp-licking!} and enjoy the feeling of placing it in the big blue box in our neighborhood. Then I will imagine how my note might be just the bright spot someone needs in their day!