Anniversary

On May 16 Ryan and I celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary. I must admit I have been struggling a little lately with my age, aging body, passion for motherhood. But, a date with my wonderful husband was just the medicine I needed.

I absolutely adore him. He is my hero. He is able to speak life into me. Our lives have become so intertwined that it is hard to tell where he ends and I begin. God has given me the perfect man to love, honor and adore. I am so thankful...

866. Holding his hand with two fingers

867. When he looks into my eyes so intentionally

868. Loving me for who I am, all the good and bad

869. Laughing with him

870. His encouraging words about my mothering

871. Intimacy

872. His commitment

873. His passion

874. Growing love year after year

875. Hope for many more years, dreaming of our future together.

The I'm Thankful for door...

I really believe that training our minds to focus on all that God gives is the key to joy! Being thankful transforms us, but like anything we have to practice giving thanks until it becomes our automatic response.

I was trying to think of a way to begin training my children to, "rejoice in the Lord always," and this is the idea the Lord gave me...

The, "I'm Thankful for...door"

My challenge is for the kids to find something new every day to give God thanks for and write it down. We often talk about it at dinner time, but anytime of the day we have post-it notes available for writing or drawing our thanks to God.

Here are some of our thanks...

Hallie...flowers on trees

Zachary...Mom
Ryan...my children, wife and dog
Hannah...music, worship and songs
Me...sunshiny days
Jacob...Jesus as the bridge to God (salvation)

Mother's day thanks...

851. Zac on Mother's Day..."Mommy, mother's day is the best day of the whole year."

852. A family hike on Mother's Day in Fontanelle Forest

853. Listening to frogs

854. Walking sticks

855. Hammocks

856. Finding Spring's first ladybugs

857. Lunch with my Mom

858. Buying Melia shirts with my mommy

859. My mom's hug

860. Mom helping me out with the kids bedtime

861. Breakfast in bed

862. Handmade cards and letters and pictures

863. Ryan buys me the best clothes...my new China/travel/hiking pants

864. Pictures hanging by ribbon in the window

865. Relaxing, eating with our friends. Their house is so comfortable.

His goodness...

836. Getting things done

837. Clorox cottonballs cleaning my shower while I do other things.

838. Zac helping me clean

839. Rice Krispie Treats with sprinkles

840. Ice Cream cones

841. Holding a baby

842. Talking under a tree to a friend

843. Phone call from another friend because she missed seeing me this weekend

844. Encouraging words from another friend!

845. Sitting in the same room with Ryan

846. Mahoney hikes with the kids

847. A soccer game with the family in the backyard...girls won!

848. Book club friendships

849. Hannah living with us

850. Kisses after school from Hallie and Jake.