A Heart Full of Gratitude

Every now and then I am blessed with moments when my heart fills with gratitude; sometimes creating a big smile, sometimes feeling like I am wrapped in a big hug and other times 'til my heart overflows. Here are a few of those moments:

 

As I arrived home from picking kiddos up from school on a particularly grumpy day before Thanksgiving, a floral delivery van pulled into the drive-way.  I walked out of the garage to meet them, sure they were delivering something for a neighbor who wasn't home. Nope!!!

They were flowers for us!  I LOVE flowers! But from who?  Thankfully these kinds of deliveries come with cards & a note.  They were from a sweet friend who is thoughtful & kind who unknowingly changed a grumpy Mom's day! Thanks Nikki!


As I was just getting in the van after a long morning at the grocery store I get a call from Paul asking if I was still shopping; could I look for an ugly sweater for him?  Since when does my very conservative, quiet, mild mannered husband want to participate in National Ugly Holiday Sweater Day?  He was hoping to instigate a festive day at work, but knowing full well he would be the only one dressed up.

And he was!  He relished in the compliment he received from the lady at the gas station, "You . . . sure are . . .festive . . . "


As we were at the car dealership this past weekend emptying our old van of personal belonging my girls almost in unison said, "But I am going to miss Mr. Van".

While driving in the van with Sarah the other day, out of the blue she says to me, "I like playing with John at school."  The following conversation ensued:
M: You play with John at school?
S: Yes!
M: When?
S: At last recess. That is the only recess that I have time to find him & still play with my friends.
M: Why do you play with John?
S: Because he doesn't have anyone to play with. Sometimes my friends play with us too.

Just when I begin to wonder how to teach my kiddos to be kind to each other, I have a conversation like this and realize perhaps they already know!


After years of observation & much contemplation at the beginning of the summer we have removed chocolate out of John's diet.  We have noticed a huge improvement in his ability to cope with transitions & normally frustrating situations.  We have noticed an increase in his ability to focus and to process. I told John, and tell him over and over again, that he can't have chocolate because it makes his brain go crazy.  We have told teachers at school, church & those who would need to know where ever he goes that he is "allergic" to chocolate.  They have all made been great at addressing this issue but I still have been worried how John would handle this change as he LOVES chocolate. He has done well especially when I offer him an alternative when everyone else is indulging in a chocolate treat. The other day while we were making gingerbread house he picked up a handful of chocolate chips; I warned him not to eat them.  He said, "I won't," and held them up to his nose, "I just am smelling them!"


Just as we were getting ready for our Christmas Eve traditions Paul noticed out the back windows that the sky was full of colors. We didn't see a new star in the sky or wake up to a blanket of white snow this Christmas.  Instead Heavenly Father reminded us of Him and His Son through a beautiful sunset!

It is moments like these that I feel the Spirit and I am given the strength to keep plugging along through the crazy, stressful & hard times that come along with mortality!  Our Heavenly Father is real & mindful of us!