365 Days of Gratitude: Eleven - Twenty-one

Twenty-one: I am thankful for unexpected pleasures and treasures!  With about 10 minutes notice, my husband and I met my parents for lunch down at the Marina.  A beautiful day - a beautiful view - with wonderful people - and enriching conversation.

Twenty: Cherry Blossoms! I am thankful for the beauty of our natural world! 

Nineteen: Ah! Spring!  I am thankful that the kids love riding on the bow of the boat as much as I do! 

Eighteen: We went for a walk with good friends.  I am thankful that since we no longer have 'little people' of our own, we can borrow family friends for these precious moments! 

Seventeen: I am thankful for teachable moments!  She asked about how water comes out of the taps and Daddy knew of a shower tap that needed to be fixed!  

Sixteen: I am thankful for Fridays!  I love bringing the kids home from school, knowing that we have the next two days together, uninterrupted by school schedules!

Fifteen: So, I had the disconcerting honour of accompanying our daughter on her first tour of the high school she will most likely be attending. I loved how pleased she was to find her Grandma in a Graduation Photo in the hallway.  We have all lived in many places on multiple continents over the past 6 decades . . .  and yet we have come full circle!  I am thankful that although my daughter is excited about high school, she still wanted to hold my hand for the entire tour! 

Fourteen: I am thankful that we can do this  . . . from our driveway to mountain trails.

Thirteen:  The girls had their final basketball game of the school season.  They played well and learned a lot this season, thanks to a Dad who stepped in to do the coaching.  They play to win, but they also laugh their way through most games!  This one was no exception! Check out where the ball ended up after a particularly wild attempt at getting a basket!  I am thankful that these girls know how to have fun, even while playing to the best of their ability! 

Twelve:  I am sure it was just yesterday that these two were playing in the playhouse and swinging on the swing set!  I am thankful that they know how to buckle down and get the homework done - albeit with trampoline breaks every ten minutes or so! 

Eleven:  I am thankful for impromptu Sunday night walks by the ocean and for a daughter who finds ways to incorporate gymnastics into everything!

Thoughtful Thursdays

Opinion is really the lowest form of human knowledge.

It requires no accountability, no understanding. The highest form of knowledge… is empathy, for it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another’s world. It requires profound purpose larger than the self kind of understanding.

- Bill Bullard

365 Days of Gratitude - Ten

We are all thankful that Grandpa's boat is back in the water for another season after spending the winter in dry dock in the yard.  Months of exploring, swimming, dining aboard and more await us!

365 Days of Gratitude - Nine

My Mom teaches our kids piano lessons.  I love eavesdropping on their lessons and I love the enthusiasm she exudes and encourages in the kids - they really do enjoy practicing and playing the piano!  I am thankful for the relationship they have with their Grandma and this opportunity they have to learn piano from a loving master pianist!

Thoughtful Thursday

Do what you can with what you have where you are.

Teddy Roosevelt

365 Days of Gratitude - Eight

I am thankful for the sound of giggling and crazy laughter that erupts whenever my husband gets on the trampoline with the kids!

365 Days of Gratitude - Seven

I'm not the 'lunches out with the ladies' type of person, but I went for lunch with a friend today.  She and I have never had time together without our husbands and kids on board too.  It was wonderful!  We had a very good visit - she taught me a lot and our conversation prompted some great lines of thought for me.  I am very thankful  for the time I spent with her today and I hope and plan to do it again.

365 Days of Gratitude - Six

I am thankful that my kids have had the opportunity to learn how to read in two languages. Additionally, I am thankful that they are individually capable of learning how to read in two languages! (A favourite part of my Tuesday schedule is spending time as a parent volunteer at my children's school.)

365 Days of Gratitude - Five

I am thankful for the power of humour.  It helps diffuse tension, uplift low moods, coax forgiveness, setttle disputes, entertain boredom, fill time, lighten loads . . . not to mention making our meal times quite priceless at times!

365 Days of Gratitude - Four

I am thankful that I have settled spiritual beliefs that comfort, reassure, correct and guide me. Sundays help to remind me of the hope I have in Jesus.

365 Days of Gratitude - Three

Our local grocery store had Customer Appreciation Day events on today.  I am thankful that although my children are growing up so so quickly, they are still young enough to enjoy playing in a bouncy castle!

365 Days of Gratitude - Two

We took supper down to the beach for the first time this year!  I am thankful that spring has arrived once again!

365 Days of Gratitude - One

I am very thankful that my 11 year old who was so ill this morning is feeling fine tonight. The proof: 1.) requested a Subway 6 inch ham sandwich for supper, 2.)and ate it all, 3.) is quietly catching up on the school work she missed today and 4.) is cutting out brown construction paper "E"s so she can take a tray of 'brownies' to school tomorrow for April Fool's Day!  (We will also bake a tray of real brownies to share with her classmates for morning break!)

Thoughtful Thursdays

Victory belongs to the most persevering.

- Napoleon Bonaparte

365 Days of Gratitude

Okay . . . I accept the challenge!

Thank you to Laurie at Bare Hands:Practical Life Strategies for Women

Books! Books! Books!

So as I was watching our daughter in a nail-biting playoffs game in volleyball yesterday, our son sat deeply engrossed in a book about Matthew Henson getting to the North Pole.  Our son was completely oblivious to the crowd around him, the game on the court and even the occasional ball that narrowly missed him on his close-to-the-sidelines bench!

A Dad of another player is in management at our local Chapters and asked, "Does he always read like that?"  My response: "Yes!  Thankfully!"  What followed was an interesting discussion about books vs tablets, Kobo eReaders, Kindles, etc. !  He shared the fact that Chapters book sales went UP last year instead of the expected down with the onslaught of e-books!

I was pleased to read this article by Michael Hyatt this morning.  He succinctly makes many of my points for me!!

Happy Australia Day!

ANZAC Biscuits

Our favourite ANZAC Biscuits (Cookies) Recipe:

1 cup quick oats

¾ cup desiccated coconut

1 cup flour

1 cup sugar

125 g (4 oz) butter

2 tbsp golden syrup

½ tsp baking soda

1 tbsp boiling water

Preheat oven to 300 F (150 C).

Mix oats, flour, sugar and coconut together.

Melt syrup and butter together.

Mix soda with boiling water and add to melted butter and syrup

Add to dry ingredients.

Place 1 tablespoonfuls of mixture on greased tray or parchment paper (allow room for spreading).

Bake for 20 minutes.

Loosen while warm; cool on trays.

(Makes about 35).

Thoughtful Thursday

Children desperately need to know – and to hear in ways they understand and remember – that they’re loved and valued by mom and dad.

-Paul Smally