I'm Blessed

It's Monday again, and that means another opportunity to share the reasons I am blessed in Gretchen's blessing party.  Today I am just thankful for a lot of the little things.  This past week, Michael really started smiling a lot more, along with his first attempts at cooing and giggling.  I LOVE those first toothless baby smiles, those sweet baby coos, and I really love those very first attempts at giggling when the sound involuntarily escapes from their tiny bodies in a way that almost startles them.  I love watching the way our four kids interact with one another (ok, not so much when they are arguing and fighting, but most of the time).  I love how the older two play and cooperate so well together (again, not ALWAYS, but a lot of the time).  I love how sweet they are to try to help and include Abby in their fun.  I love how they sweet and loving they all are with Michael, always wanting to hold him, talk to him, read to him and just spend time with him.

I am also thankful for autumn.  I love the colors.  I love the smells, especially coming from the oven as we do more baking.  And I love the cool, crisp weather that is still warm enough to go out and enjoy during the day, but cool enough in the evenings to encourage snuggling.  I also love harvest time.  (Ok, I don't so much love not seeing my husband for most of the day, but I do love to see the fruits of his hard labor being brought in.  I am also blessed to be living on the home farm now, so that we do have more opportunities to see him, such as when he comes in to grab some lunch- or dinner as it is known by most farm families.)  I am thankful for the beautiful weather that is making harvest much easier.  I love to see the kids' excitement at the possibility of getting a ride in the combine, the tractor or the grain trucks.  I love that they love their daddy and love to spend time with him, and I love that he loves them and wants to spend time with them.  And I love the quiet time together with my beloved when he comes in at the end of a long day of work, and the kids are asleep.  (Again, that perfect snuggling weather goes perfectly with quiet conversations and time simply spent being together.)

It really is true- the more you focus on your blessings, the more you realize how blessed you truly are.  The more I write, the more I realize how very blessed I really am.  I could go on and on about the blessings God has bestowed on our family, but I think we will stop here for now.  I have hungry children to feed (ok- I am very blessed to have food to feed them!) and I need to save room for next week. :)