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Every time you feel in God's creatures something pleasing and attractive, do not let your attention be arrested by them alone, but, passing them by, transfer your thought to God and say: "O my God, if Thy creations are so full of beauty, delight and joy, how infinitely more full of beauty, delight and joy art Thou Thyself, Creator of all!
- Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain

You can’t get to joy by making everything perfect. You can only get there by seeing in every imperfection all that’s joy.
-Ann Voscamp

Monday, October 17, 2011

My Apologies, Counting Blessings #162 - 185

I apologize to anyone who might be looking for new posts from me, especially the Counting Blessings posts. I've been very negligent these past two Sundays. I'm going to write that post right now!

I'm thankful for...

162) time to write this post

163) time to breathe

164) time to snuggle with little girls and read stories

165) time to mend a damaged relationship

166) time to play games

167) time to cook healthy meals

168) time to fill drawers with clean clothes

169) time to visit with extended family

170) time to talk on the phone with my sister

171) time to take a shower

172) time with no propane in the tank to figure out how to live without it, if only for a few days

173) time to remind myself of ways to use less propane in the future

174) time to remind myself to check the propane tank in future, so as not to run out again

175) time to do story problems with my daughter that go like this, "David forgot to close his four chicks into the coop last night. A fox ate two of them. How many chicks did David have left?" This was seriously one of her story problems in her math book last week. How awesome is this? Teaching personal responsibility, homesteading skills and math all at once! :) We're using a curriculum the Mennonites developed for use in their schools for 1st grade reading and math. I am loving the simple homespun stories and emphasis on taking personal responsibility and living with integrity my little first grader gets from this. Other types of story problems might be, "Tim and Mary spent the morning weeding the garden for their mother. Tim weeded two rows and Mary weeded three. How many rows did they weed in all?" I love it!

176) time to wash dishes by hand using yummy smelling dish liquid

177) time to snuggle with hubby drinking coffee and reading Small Farmer's Journal together

178) time to clean up spills

179) time to clean up broken glass

180) time to think about how these major pet peeves of mine (spills and broken glass) really aren't that bad when I'm trying to focus on seeing all time as a gift, and how can that be, because don't I hate wiping spills and cleaning up broken glass?

181) time to pet the goats

182) time to smell fresh autumn air

183) time to pray

184) time to make schedules, and maybe time to keep them?

185) time to watch babies! Thank you Little Bird, and Bundle of Joy, for gracing us with your smiles and baby belly laughs this past week. What a joy you are! Welcome to the world, Little Bear! You are warm and snugly, and we love you!


Finally, one thing that I seem to rediscover every fall is that it takes a LOT of time to homeschool, and that seriously leaves very little time to blog, or read blogs. I hope to do some blogging, and probably more reading of your lovely blogs, but things will probably be significantly quieter from Tanglewoods Homestead for the winter.

4 comments:

  1. you sound so very busy Patty,you and another friend make me realize how blessed I am,everyday.It was a beautiful time to appreciate all the blessing of fall-kids playing in the leaves [ good pic. taken]plenty of fresh crisp air! although the Indian summer we had was a little to much of a reminder of what a hot summer we had.complain,complain ,complain,-sometimes I think I do that best--lol

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  2. I think there is no need to apologize-we've all been there!

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  3. Four kiddlies to homeschool? That would occupy all of my time . . . PERIOD! I admire all you manage to get done and the fact that you can still find any time at all to count your blessings. And share them with all of us.

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  4. Judy- I am busy, but there are so many blessings in the business...but you should also know that I do complain sometimes too. ;)

    Hoosier Girl- Thanks, :) and I know you're right. It's so easy for us to think we're the only one.

    Mama Pea- Thanks for the encouragement!

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