So instead, after a brief survey of the back yard I grabbed garden gloves and branch cutters, climbed the ladder and tackled the overgrown bougainvillea. A few minutes of battling physical thorns should provide the space my mind needed to unkink and stretch....and savor gratitude moments, tasting the joy once again :
36. for the empty, lid-less plastic jar near the front door. signalling much recent bug and lizard catching activity
37. for the 3 year old suddenly dashing out the front door and who, when questioned, announces "I'm going to let the lizard go so he won't die"....
38. for the sunset so wide both in color range and height that I had difficulty keeping my eyes facing forward, eastward on the road in front of me, instead of staring in my rear view mirror
39. for the gift of a morning walk in the park accompanied by sunlight AND a gentle rain
40. for the 5 year old boy so entranced by the stories and people of The Chronicles of Narnia that he peppers his conversation with character exploits and Narnia trivia questions
41. for the severely raw throat I garnered as consequence of screaming in rage at my husband of 35 years (I am all for mining the gold of natural consequences - in my life or others)
42. for a reliable, safe, "kiwi green" car to drive
43. with effective A/C
44. and a bike rack on top
45. and flexible seating and storage
46. and plastic, not carpeted floors,
47. for vacuuming out sand from the beach that stuck to small feet
47. after a morning of play at beach and park
48. for the playground merry-go-round - an "old-time" treasure
49. amidst challenging play structures
50. and climbing rocks
51. on a playground shaded by moss-covered oaks
52. peopled by active day-campers playing capture the flag
53. and kind middle school girls who don't retreat from the "social strange-ness" of P,
54. who invite her to conversation and a moment of inclusion.
55. for sauteed spinach
56. and portobello mushrooms
57. and onions and ham
58. folded into egg and white omelet
59. with swiss and fat-free feta cheese
60. for a "savor every bite" sunday morning breakfast
61. for 4 month old boy who now snuggles up close, wrapping his arms so his hands grip the sides of my chest
62. and who stays quietly content wrapped just so, while I sway on the couch or sit on the chair
63. his eyes open, peacefully gazing at mother and father
64. or eyelids drooping, heavy with sleep
65. the coos, chortles, and quiet "conversation" of this same boy with his mother and father
66. his mimicry of their speech so obvious, so intent
67. for this repeated miracle lesson about the development of speech
68. and how we are all formed and shaped by our relationships, within family
69. for the wonderfully consistent love and provision and nurture my parents gave me
70. and its doorway to healthy personality and trust in a God who Loves
38. for the sunset so wide both in color range and height that I had difficulty keeping my eyes facing forward, eastward on the road in front of me, instead of staring in my rear view mirror
39. for the gift of a morning walk in the park accompanied by sunlight AND a gentle rain
40. for the 5 year old boy so entranced by the stories and people of The Chronicles of Narnia that he peppers his conversation with character exploits and Narnia trivia questions
41. for the severely raw throat I garnered as consequence of screaming in rage at my husband of 35 years (I am all for mining the gold of natural consequences - in my life or others)
42. for a reliable, safe, "kiwi green" car to drive
43. with effective A/C
44. and a bike rack on top
45. and flexible seating and storage
46. and plastic, not carpeted floors,
47. for vacuuming out sand from the beach that stuck to small feet
47. after a morning of play at beach and park
48. for the playground merry-go-round - an "old-time" treasure
49. amidst challenging play structures
50. and climbing rocks
51. on a playground shaded by moss-covered oaks
52. peopled by active day-campers playing capture the flag
53. and kind middle school girls who don't retreat from the "social strange-ness" of P,
54. who invite her to conversation and a moment of inclusion.
55. for sauteed spinach
56. and portobello mushrooms
57. and onions and ham
58. folded into egg and white omelet
59. with swiss and fat-free feta cheese
60. for a "savor every bite" sunday morning breakfast
61. for 4 month old boy who now snuggles up close, wrapping his arms so his hands grip the sides of my chest
62. and who stays quietly content wrapped just so, while I sway on the couch or sit on the chair
63. his eyes open, peacefully gazing at mother and father
64. or eyelids drooping, heavy with sleep
65. the coos, chortles, and quiet "conversation" of this same boy with his mother and father
66. his mimicry of their speech so obvious, so intent
67. for this repeated miracle lesson about the development of speech
68. and how we are all formed and shaped by our relationships, within family
69. for the wonderfully consistent love and provision and nurture my parents gave me
70. and its doorway to healthy personality and trust in a God who Loves
#41 cracks me up, #48 makes me sick, but I agree and I love the pic of Isaac and Eli. It describes their personalities so well.
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