I should start this post by telling you that I didn't want to sit down and write this post.
Well ... I did want to write it earlier, while at the office, but I forgot our little books so I promised myself that I write it later since it was now Tuesday and I really meant to write it on Monday.
Then, I got home, intending to write it and I got so mad, mad, mad that the house was a total mess when I came home from the office. And I had to clean it. I hate coming home to a messy house. (who doesn't?)
Then ... it dawned on me that I am the one who needs to learn gratitude and I started thinking about Ann's post on raising grateful kids. She listed as the top reason to encourage your kids to keep gratitude journals was because it would help them develop a more positive attitude. Ummm... how does that saying go? "Teacher, teach thyself." And I realized, that I desperately needed to sit down and count my blessings. In spite of my bad attitude. And, truthfully, because of my bad attitude!
So ... despite the fact that I had to clean the house after working today at the office, cleaning up messes that I didn't make. And, despite the fact that my computer froze and I've been sitting here for 20 minutes trying to "unfreeze" it (and that, too, makes me MAD) ... I have so much to be grateful for.
So ... in the name of faking it until I feel it, here goes...
Week one of our exercises in gratitude has been really, really rewarding. Tim and I and the boys have had fun counting our blessings in sweet times of devotion. We also took Ann's tip and wrote some thank-you notes. The boys chose their Daddy to be the first recipient of their thank-you notes. And, really, who on earth could be more worthy of our gratitude?
Jared & Will each dictated sweet notes to my cute husband, thanking him for going to work everyday and reading them books and doing nice things. They signed their names (Jared added "I love you" in his best Kindergarten penmanship) and we mailed them. Two days later we received a happy call from Daddy to tell the boys that the notes brightened his day and were now proudly displayed on his wall. I have to smile just thinking about it. Will and I also finished his thank-you notes from his birthday party. I have a horrible habit of procrastinating sending thank-you notes and it makes me feel terrible when I let it just hang over my head. It felt so good to get those done!
Yay for gratitude.
The boys' first week of journaling was so precious that I just have to list them all. Each day the boys had to list 7 things and I know its a long list, but its such a treasured glimpse into the inner workings of their little hearts and minds. Here is what we are thanking God for this week:
Will is thankful that ... "I have a dog ... I have a trampoline ... I like that I'm 4 ... that I had a nice birthday ... that I have a nice baby ... that I have pictures and a night light ... for train table ... coloring ... play trains ... buying Gordon and Henry ... playing with my baby ... I have a mommy and a daddy ... we have a nice house and a nice crib and nice beds ... that we have a trampoline ... a nice mommy and daddy ... a nice house ... nice toys ... nice lights ... nice doors ... nice chairs ... play with my baby ... #4 shirt ... nice bunkbed ... that our bunkbeds make room for a reading chair for daddy to read ... a crib for Caleb ... nice table ... special drinks ... a nice dog ... flags on the wall ... bug catcher ... Mrs. Hayes ... good water (inside) so we don't have to drink out of the toilet ... good water (outside) so we can water our plants and blow up water balloons ... a couch so we don't have to sit on the floor ... a nice Thomas tent ... that I get to play with Will, Lauren, and Emily ... grilled cheese ... wood blinds on our windows ... that I get to play with Luke ... that I have a nice school ... a nice Mrs. Achterkirch ... a nice dog ... that I get to go to Owen's birthday ... that I have a nice baby."
Jared is thankful for " My Mommy & Daddy ... that we have a home to live in ... clothes ... swimsuites ... a nice pool ... that our Daddy can clean our pool ... that we have a cute baby ... that I have a nice brother ... I have a good Daddy ... I have a nice mommy ... a nice house ... sunshine ... good water to drink ... light switches so it won't be dark and we won't be scared ... that after Christmas its going to be my birthday two days after ... hot juice ... that my mommy can make me bread and eggs and spends money to get us a new house to live in ... I'm a big brother ... I have friends to play with ... a nice brother names Will ... My brother Will ... my brother Caleb ... good food to eat ... good water to drink ... Mommy can make me eggs ... Mommy can make me Apple cider ... Mommy can make green smoothies ... Papa Bob ... Grandma Kim ... a new roof ... a new house ... Mommy ... Daddy ... refrigerator to keep our food cold.
I love these kids. I love that their whole world revolves around me and Tim and our home life. What an awesome, awesome responsibility.
And, me? Well, I have way too many things to be grateful for to even count. And, yes, my attitude has much improved since the beginning of this post. :-)
I printed more of these journals to keep counting with my family. And now I am signing off to go fold these journals and cuddle that cute husband who works so hard to make all this possible.
Wonder who will be the lucky recipient of some thoughtful notes by the boys this week? :-)
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