Today ~ I Am Thankful For...

I just have to sit down and revel in a few things which I am incredibly thankful for right now:

I am thankful that my sons, Dausen (nearing 17) and Levi (pushing 13.5), have done some amazing bonding over the past few weeks. :D I'm so happy! They are actually really good friends now! :D (Can't you just hear me giggle?) LOL ;D

I'm thankful that I am finally a.l.m.o.s.t. done staining and finishing my doors (it is embarrassing how long they waited to be finished!). They look beautiful (despite the fact that I am a total beginner at this, not to mention they were off the hing, moved around for 3 years and got a bit banged up over time; oh well! Qeu Sara Sara! :o).

I'm thankful that fall is finally on it's way in, and summer is on it's way out (After waiting forever to get it, it is almost shocking to realize I am actually ready for it to be OVER!)...

I'm thankful that even though we started school INCREDIBLY LATE, I'm just sure it's going to be an AWESOME year of learning anyhow! :)

I am thankful that I am actually enjoying harvest time, from the fruits of my own labors! :D (I'm so happy with myself for finally gardening, planting fruit trees, canning, freezing, dehydrating etc. :) With such young trees and a small garden, I only have a little of each thing which I tucked away; but together it adds up to a bit of variety with which to bless our family this winter. :) sigh...

I'm thankful that my husband is suddenly really committed to spending one on one time with each of our boys... He has recently taken each one of them, one at a time, on all day or overnight kayaking trips.

Levi with his little buddy/adopted brother
(at heart). I tolk this photo while we were
camping this summer...

I'm thankful for my absolutly amazing son, Levi. Levi is quite a gem... He came into this world looking a little like me, which I will admit I got really excited about (even though he is a boy... :o Quite honestly, I looked like a boy myself when I was a toddler! True story! ;))

I'm thankful that when Levi headed out the door recently to go on a trip with his dad, he reached down on a shelf (in the darkness), pulled out "Diary of a Wimpy Kid," put it back and said, "That's not what I'm looking for." And with determination and a desire to read from an enlightening/educational book, he asked, "Do you know where 'Does you bag have holes' is?" (Can I just say I'm really pleased with his smart and good desires and decisions???)

(By  the way, this boy is only 13 and was incredibly excited when the author gave him this book at a youth conference for participation. And, yes... I will definitely be reading the book soon myself!)

I'm also thankful that Levi will turn on the music, and grove with me (when his older brothers aren't looking... he has a reputation to uphold! lol)

I'm thankful for my son Dausen... that he is SO PEACEFUL, quiet, calm, easy going, honest, not at all easily offended... he is a breath of fresh air!!! :D I'm also thankful for his incredible sense of humor, and the way he gets our family laughing. He gets our family laughing SO HARD! :D

I love the way Dausen is so NOT adventurous... the way he can find joy and pleasure in such simple daily thing... the way he is so content, and enjoys the simple little every day pleasures so thoroughly...

I think I shall never forget when Dausen was 4 years old. His twin brother decided to learn how to ride a two wheeler, and was out getting on his bike, and crashing, and getting up again - over and over again. Dausen pedaled around on his trike, slowly, peacefully, as his eyes wondered around seeming to take in the clouds, the sky, the sun, the grass, trees, and birds in the air. He was - totally and completely content, and with an expression on his face that said something like,

"Ahhh.... this is the life! Nothing in the world could bring me greater joy than doing what I am doing RIGHT NOW."

This little story depicts Dausen's personality. He does what he wants to do, and he finds joy in it. He is not at all pressured by what others are doing... Peer pressure is not a part of his life.

I LOVE Dausen's soothing and calming personality.

The only reason Mr.Modest (and he is modest in every sense of the word)
 doesn't have a shirt on here is because he just got out of the water...

By the way, Dausen is an amazing swimmer. Last summer or the summer before (somewhere around age 15??) we went camping as a family with some friends. We were at lake Elsie, and Dausen decided to swim across the lake and back. There was a kayak close by in case he needed it; he didn't. He swam with total ease. I'm betting the distance was perhaps 1/2 - 3/4 of a mile each way. He rested a bit and jumped off rocks into the water before returning back... I was quite impressed! I think it's only a matter of time before I talk him into doing triathlons with me... :o I hope. :) Though he seems to have no desire (perhaps due to his very relaxed and uncompetitive nature), I know he would do great! I would LOVE to witness it! :D

I'm thankful for Devry and his adventurous ways! He does many of the same kind of adventurous things that I love to do... slide down zip lines, jump rocks, camp, hike, fish, swim, (anything outdoors); I'm really pretty sure that it is only a matter of time before he is doing marathons and triathlons right along with me... :)

I love the way Devry learns things (some of which is accomplished ~ on YouTube), and does crazy little experimental projects - like building his own potato guns, and getting the family to sit around the room and toss fire to each other! lol (true story, I kid u NOT).

Devry has had a computer attached to him since he was 4 years old and wanted to have a laptop like his dad (he came out of the womb imitating his father - though, when it comes to the great outdoors etc. he reminds me a great deal of ME as well... :). Since it wasn't in our budget to get another lap top (he he) we got him a little plastic flip top that taught ABC's and such; he kept it for years! lol (sentiment). Now he walks around with an I-Pod and/or an I-Pad. He is always looking up things on the Internet, answering questions that he has and telling the rest of us interesting facts.

I'm thankful that Devry runs with me sometimes, and takes care of himself physically and spiritually. I love the way he strives to be polite to others and the way he is giving. I love that he has become such an interesting and fun social being, and the way he just keeps getting better!

 

What is it with me and swim photos today?

Now that I'm done pulling my hair out over the fact that my beautiful daughter Mindy missed the deadline for application to college (again)... I'm thankful that she wasn't home when she told me (so I could scream etc. without her hearing it! JK - kind of... I didn't really scream; I just imagined myself screaming... :). Anyhow, rather than stay upset about it, I'm happy to say that I am now REALLY GLAD that I will have more time with this absolutely wonderful, and amazing young woman! I'm thankful that I didn't have my way, and that she didn't leave the nest the day after high school ended (like I did). I'm SO THANKFUL that we have had this extra time together. And not only that, her path is not the same as mine. I think the wait is actually the way it is meant to be for her. I am SO INCREDIBLY THANKFUL that I DON'T have control over everything - or we would have missed out on a lot. One day she will leave our home, and never come back to live with us again. I'm glad that day hasn't come yet...

By the way, I'm thankful that Miles and I named our daughter Mindy; it was the only girl name we could agree upon. :o And I LOVE it! :D Mindy means "love," and it is beautiful and cute all rolled up in one... :) I'm thankful that she likes it, too. :D By the way, we called Mindy "baby girl" for three days. But hey, I was (what did they call me???) for a week before my dad left work early to tell my mom he had a name for me!

I have to share just a couple more btw's about my daughter: Mindy is an amazing friend to me; I'm really thankful for that. She is also a beautiful person, inside and out, and watching her grow up has been an absolute dream come true!

 

I considered using a sophisticated photo of Miles,
but I figured this one shows of his crazy fun personality.
:D lol ~ And his relaxed attire after church.

I'm thankful for a husband who is always learning, always growing, always becoming more... He inspires me! I love the way he serves others, and not just the kind of service that is quick and easy, but the kind that takes real love and lasting dedication... And I love the way he is so completely non-judgmental and forgiving, of everyone... I am beginning to realize how truly blessed I am to have him. He would do anything for me. He has done so much for me, and continues to do more for me... I am astounded at the things he accomplishes - for me.

I would love to highlight some of the things Miles does right now, but this blog post is getting too long, and I'm late for a chick flick with some friends, so I'll get back to you on this soon (or maybe on his birthday! :)

I'm thankful for my fruit trees and garden. I'm thankful that I was blessed with a strong mind and body to be able to build, plant and cultivate these blessings. I'm thankful that they are growing... I'm thankful for the assurance that each year will continue to get better, and for the patience and wisdom to endure all things, and endure them well... :) I LOVE LIFE! :D

I'm thankful for LIFE.

And I'm thankful for LIVING! :D

I'm thankful for family... 

A few years ago... The 3 oldest kids were experiencing camera shyness,
Levi was sick. :o
But  I Miles and I were having fun! :D

December 2009

About Feb. 2011

This one is SO CLASSIC (for our family). The girls are full of life;
and the boys... lol -  could really stand to have a little more enthusiasm about having their photo taken!

Quick Tripod snapshot a few minutes before we
headed into the IMAX at River Front Park this
summer... What a treat! :D

 And I'm thankful for friends... :)

(sorry, no photos here today... too many to count! -

Plus, I wouldn't want to leave anyone out, and it would be a headache to gather all the photos... :o)

TTFN!

Corine :D