422. silly songs
423. clothes that you haven't worn for a while that all of the sudden looked appealing again
424. when your husband says (after you put on the clothes from #423), "I like that."
425. chats with friends amidst the work of the day
426. leftover oatmeal bar from our drive home
427. books on tape
428. not sure how much she is gathering, but...Kj wanting to listen to #427
429. an idea to help Kj and L. know the real meaning of Christmas is not in getting gifts (although God gave us Jesus at Christmas), but giving...our goal is to try to give a gift or do a service each day this month
430. lofty goals (particularly #429)
431. "small world" moments

418. the ability to help out a friend
419. trains of animals, or letters, or books...
420. "I'm a little teapot short and stout, here is my handle, here is my handle....Oh! I'm a sugarbowl!" --don't know where she got it but is adorable
421. a private shower time...ready, set, go!!

400. new L. accomplishments (starting to walk around the coffee table)
401. kj: grandma
402. kj: kj (she typed this)
403. a surprise visit from Friend A. and her kids
404. french silk pie ice cream...even if there is a smidgen of coffee flavoring in it
405. daddy and Kj sized snow angels out my kitchen window
406. a brief outing with L. strapped on so we could both see the snow
407. "Thank you, mama." when I made hot chocolate for the "snow friends"
408. kj: for Joel
409. daddy: snowpants
410. kj: hot chocolate (daddy prompted her)
411. daddy: my job
412. L: when this teething thing is done
413. kj: you thankful for L. (to daddy)
414. teddy: is thankful for Raggedy Andy
415. I am thankful for my family all sitting at this table getting warm.
416. an orange kitchen (thanks mom)
417. this site

389. going to church with family
390. quiet moments to talk with God
391. reading Aunt C.'s blog
392. the anticipation of seeing her again soon...(a few months)
393. the anticipation of introducing L. to her Aunt R.
394. sunshine
395. giving
396. a weekend of exclusively Christmas music (even though it is Thanksgiving weekend)
397. contentment
398. new recipes
399. signals

355. washer
356. dryer
357. drying racks
358. clean clothes to put away
359. non sleepy daughter
360. changing plans
361. quick packing tonight to leave a day early
362. not having to make that decision
363. a fresh large turkey
364. libraries
365. December (a whole week off for Christmas/New Years)
366. January (a joyous wedding)
367. February (anticipation of Baby)
368. March (2 beautiful girls!!)
369. April (the change in weather to make outdoor outings more frequent)
370. May (Kevin started biking to work again)
371. June (Aunt C. waiting until this month to move across the ocean
372. Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband,
373. Baby L. hit the 3 month mark and life got so much more manageable)
374. July (boating)
375. August (sprinkler fun)
376. September (4 wonderful years with my husband,
377. turning 30,
378. trying all sorts of new things)
379. October (random raises)
380. November (roadtrips...
381. friends,
382. reunions
383. 2 chattering girls
384. learning patience
385. change
386. not changing
387. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. Deuteronomy 6.5 - our newest verse
388. too much fun with videos by Nana!

...note: I will try to do a year of pictoral thanks soon...

330. crystal clear window coverings in the living room (as opposed to hazy clear in the kitchen, which consequently make the kitchen look smokey)
331. absolutely free "new" window coverings...here's the trick: take former window coverings from the kitchen and place them in the sewing room for a brand new look!
332. "a handy husband," says Kevin
333. a friend asking me to recall where I had my honeymoon and if I liked the location
334. Kj: Mama, I need to go potty. Find a gas stjation.
Mama: No, we'll wait until we get home.
Kj: Mama, I not need to go potty. I already go at G's house.
335. evening at a friends' house
336. lotion
337. mild weather
338. The comment: "What's that white stuff!?" that came out of my mouth earlier today. We were driving a block away from our house and it was just in front of two houses, nowhere else???
339. lightbulbs
340. heat
341. electricity
342. the ability to sew
343. the ability to cook
344. the drive to try new recipes
345. my expanding taste bud horizons
346. matching sister shirts received in the mail from "My Curl Grandma"
347. three generations of wedding pictures displayed on my shelf
348. a CD player
349. Psalty
350. Signing Time
351. a toddler who enunciates
352. simple toys (just brought out the blocks for L)
353. hands-on nativities
354. going to bed a little early because Kevin is falling asleep next to me on the couch. Talk to you later!

311. delightful dinner conversation
312. serious Kj giving her speech
313. spending other's money to do good
314. (spending our own money to do good too)
315. sorting
316. plans for tomorrow
317. phone calls
318. the fact that my parents had me call them and didn't answer just so I would find out they had an answering machine
319. laughter
320. new books
321. boy 2-4
322. boy 2-4
323. boy 2-4
324. boy 2-4
325. girl 2-4
326. girl 2-4
327. girl 2-4
328. girl 2-4
329. 321-328 Thanks Great Aunt C.!!

307. sweet girls
308. cute yawn
309. pretty dresses that I wore
310. memorable moments

295. laughing because the girls just laid down and Kj is shushing L.
296. going to Hawaii vicariously through my friend's pictures
297. the fact that my new dish washing routine is working!
298. new books from the library--we already read every single one
299. looking forward to another library day
300. happening to go on just the right day, at just the right time to go to story time, with a very animated librarian lady!
301. knowing for almost certain that my daughter is not sick, just got overfed
302. healthy girls
303. Kj to L.: Where's the dot com one? (looking at a Cars book)
304. Kj: Mama's going to sit on my lap. (often pronounced wap)
Daddy: She's going to sit on your lap?
Kj: No, I got a little lap.

305.
Kevin: What are you thankful for?
Kj: baby dolls
Kj: teddy
Kevin: hot soup, bike...
Kj: my bike, my red bike...
Kevin:...
Kj: Jesus, Jesus live in my heart

306. evening outings and still getting baths done

271. a snuggle bug
272. an honorable husband
273. now knowing that split pea soup is ok, but not noteworthy...good to test, but not a regular in our diet...especially since Kj really didn't take to it, and she's not picky
274. Kevin's kid takeover in the evening
275. a thought provoking forward now and then (...not often)
276. fresh air
277. thoughts of Pumpkin Pound Cake (6 eggs, 3 sticks of butter...only 1 cup of pumpkin...I'll have to put in some extra)
278. combing Lola's hair
279. friends
280. knowing menu's ahead of time so I don't have to bring baby food
281. sweatpants
282. generosity
283. bold Kj
284. truth
285. release
286. sharing
287. learning
288. "zigzag over the ocean blue, I'm crazy for the love of you."
289. Kj time
290. Baby L. time
291. random visitors
292. the fact that L. likes toys such as scrubbers, bottle covers, and handkerchiefs
293. "My Curl Grandma"
294. "My Nana"

231. paying $17 for a $50 purchase
232. taking a walk
233. Nana/Kj dates
234. parties to make new friends
235. home canned salsa
236. home canned applesauce for Baby L.
237. home canned pumpkin for all the yummy pumpkin products for the season
238. overnight guests
239. waffles for supper
240. new books
241. new sewing projects
242. quick sewing projects, so I can feel like I have actually done some sewing!!
243. rotary cutter from my dad #2 for Christmas a few years ago
244. Kj waking up from a nap happy, rested, content
245. Kj stepping on a box of pins, not getting hurt, and saying, "Mama, it's ok. I help you pick them up. I pick up the pink ones."
246. no wind/rain/snow
247. we could go out for a walk because of #246
248. coloring
249. answers
250. trying new recipes...split pea soup in the crock pot...we'll see how it turns out
251. baby books...just not the filling them out part...
252. Hymns Ancient and Modern
253. Kj praying..."Mama, I'm praying. I'm praying for Jesus." (she was actually praying to Jesus for Daddy)
254. patience
255. breaks
256. lots of things to do
257. not knowing what to pick first...so then I just find more things to be thankful for!
258. movie night (Did I mention that already? We just had another one.)
259. sunshine
260. Sonshine
261. minced onions--so I don't have to cut up my own and cry all day
262. particular daughters (sometimes) - as far as I can tell, Baby L. will only drink a bottle that she has seen you make. No leftovers, none of the previously frozen supply. Also, not right after she's eaten sitting in her height chair. I switched her bottle schedule up last week and she hasn't had very much since. This "particularity" will serve her well in the future...if nurtured properly!
263. "real" mail!...that I will open...
264. Kevin getting mail from a flower shop...that I won't open...
265. World Vision Gift Catalog
266. a paycheck
267. getting the banking done
268. being intentional
269. Wow, just realizing my Baby L. took longer than a 1 hour nap!!! "It's a miracle!" Remember Temple Grandin.
270. going back to total focus on household chores (bye for now)

215. movie tonight (Friday)
216. being married into a wonderful family
217. sister-in-laws that are also great friends--all three of you!!
218. 2 mamas
219. contracts
220. baby L. kisses

221. ...help from Kevin...
water
running water
good restaurants down the block
leftover pizza
wireless internet
a Bible in my language
a bike
a car
a wonderful family
green eyes to look at
Silverlight
40 hour a week contract
David's elapser program
Dad to go to the football game with
Baby L.'s smiles
time to spend with Kj
free haircuts
big trees in our yard
free tree trimming from the electric company
soft bed
a good employer
flexible hours
good healthcare plan
Fender guitar
Line 6
no one telling me I shouldn't play electric guitar on Sunday morning
playing guitar with Caleb
pentatonic scale
the bike trail
grace
faith
hope
heaven
peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ
Kj remembering verses
good HS friends
college roommate living down the block
Anna's friends' husbands
financial restraint
a handy dad that I can learn from
good health
no recurring sports injuries
parents who live within 3 hours
.net--gives me a job
prospect of a new work computer
weatherstripping
a new storm door
wordpress
coming home and seeing my 3 girls
my fancy pillow we bought when we first got married
sleep...is that number 50? Nope, 51
(can you tell what business he is in??)


222. plants
223. my friend and I marrying roommates
224. she had a baby!!
225. confidences
226. watching our babies grow
227. being amazed at each new change
228. looking back and seeing the progress
229. wondering what the future will bring
230. glareless glasses for my husband

181. conversation:

Kj: mama I found some bugs
Mama: oh, did they wiggle
Kj: no
Mama: good
Kj: mama, I need a kleenex to pick them up
Mama: ok (give her tissue)
Kj: (comes back) mama here's some bugs I pick up so I not scream at them
Mama: oh, thank you (studied the bug to make sure it was actually dead)
Kj: they are hairy they be dead bugs (off she goes to play again)

182. Kj caught herself after only rolling down half the stairs
183. that she wasn't alarmed at the sight of her bloody nose
184. "It's ok, my owie is good. It's better now."
185. new routines
186. brushing my teeth before bedtime
187. getting dressed for the day in sweat pants :) (call me if you are going to visit and I'll change, but I can't guarantee that my hair will be clean)
188. knowing when Baby L. is ready for a nap
189. her going down smoothly
190. stories of my little girls told by my friends (sad and sweet)

Kj was at Wednesday school at church a couple weeks ago and all the kids were running to their "gym" class. She was the slowest although running as fast as she could. She was calling for her Hannah, "Hannah, Hannah wait for me!" Hannah didn't stop or even slow down. All the sudden Kj stopped in the middle of the hall and just started crying. (Hannah's mama was there to give her a hug.)

At "gym" class Kj was holding on to Hannah while running and playing. One of the teachers told Kj that Hannah wasn't able to play with Kj holding on to her. At first I was a bit frustrated, because Kj always wants to hold hands, but I don't know how to teach her that some people don't always want to do that. Then I realized that if Hannah wasn't pushing Kj away then she was ok with the attention. (Hannah's typical reaction, though I know she loves Kj very much, is to push her away or pull herself away--IF she doesn't want that attention!)

191. plain yogurt with blueberry puree for the girls, yoplait-lots-of-sugar yogurt for me

192. "Mama, I want to give L. a sloppy kiss."
193. ride for L. to the bedroom

194. naptime forts
195. Moses baskets

196. Kj hiding under the laundry basket
197. me putting them in their hiding spot, leaving, then finding them again
198. "Your hair is like a flower."
199. stories of Life!
200. tears of joy
201. God's provision
202. friendship
203. support
204. good mail
205. sneaking alfredo leftovers at dual naptime again
206. being teeth conscious
207. the fine line between conscious and paranoid
208. letting things go
209. Loretta...every week telling us she's glad our family came
210. contentedness
211. prayer
212. Friday
213. the weekend
214. Kevin home in just a few short hours

157. IM
158. no cell phones
159. my cleaning motivation the last few days
160. the fact that my table (old and new) is magnetic...it attracts all sorts of papers that I have to figure out what to do with
161. classes for new moms and babies
162. friends to go to class with
163. friends to watch over a sleeping toddler so that I can go with baby
164. Nana and Grandpa's visit this weekend
165. projects to make the house warmer this winter
166. all the things we all can do but don't
167. leftovers for lunch
168. enough for all of us, so I don't have to sneak
169. reading Aunt C's list...maybe I already have that on here...so hard to know if there are duplicates
170. not that you wanted to know this, but poop going in the potty not the panties
171. "May I have an M&M?" "No, but thank you so much for going in the potty!!!!"
172. video chatting with Nana
173. good friends that you can ask to be naptime sitters
174. meatless meals
175. that my husband doesn't mind the occasional meatless meal
176. Kevin coming home very soon
177. visitors to promote quick sprucing up
178. new friendships made
179. anticipation of future get togethers
180. my good looking husband

143. Olive juice. Aisle of view. Aloof ewe. Eye laugh you. A lab boo...from a friend's message to her fiance.
144. "Gershuss"...I don't know either, just a word that Kj uses regularly...trying to find out what it is by context and it isn't working...
145. silicone hot pads that double as "seat stickers" in my Keekaroo height chair, so I didn't have to buy another part to the seat
146. "Thank you for making lunch, mama."
147. kj saying #146 without being taught
148. taking a couple minute break to write these down
149. phone calls from friends
150. phone calls from my mom
151. being guilt free when hanging up with telemarketers...because I actually am busy taking care of children
152. perfect teaching opportunities
153. rain on a day we're not going out anyway
154. Kevin sleeping through my cough, but waking up to help a crying child
155. pictures of the girls with a new friend from our visiting last weekend
156. anticipating Kevin's homecoming!

138. fun answering machine messages that I've saved and listened to again
139. my friend, Anna
140. Awestruck the song my husband found for me,"His Anna"
141. Wake...it made me smile...Thank you, Brother-in-law.
142. early to bed (...early to rise??? We'll find out tomorrow...)

119. "My friend, Winda (Linda), has a little boy named Jonah." ~kj
120. a slice of cheese at the deli case for my little girl
121. using one pan for three different parts of supper
122. bulk packages of items we buy often
123. Ephesians 2:8-10...we are saved by GRACE!!
124. Scootchin' Baby L.
125. waiting to see if Wheaties is a good substitute for rice crispies that are used as a substitute for nuts in baking
126. finding frozen blueberries to make baby food
127. "Hi you Mama!" ~kj
128. waiting for Crista to call and bring Baby E. for a visit
129. Crista's maternity leave
130. baking today
131. Baby L. now trying to stand up by the chair after scootchin' there
132. (although I can't tell her this) the way Kj eats her sandwich...she holds it to her mouth and chews, pushing a little more in every now and then...
133. also the way she licks her lips after eating...I can't even describe it, but it's adorable...and I wonder if it will last
134. "What's in my heart? Jesus and grandma." ~kj
135. secretly eating leftovers during naptime...
136. Baby L. discovering "new" toys
137. starting to baby proof again

68. vacations
69. visiting friends
70. free tree trimmers sent by the power company that provide good wholesome entertainment for a toddler, and a break for the mama to write these thanks
71. college friends that though we haven't seen each other for 1-3 years we can still visit, have great conversation, and learn from each other
72. matching socks for my girls
73. Kj songs...a mixture of all the songs and verses she knows
74. broken CD player in the car so that I can concentrate on those songs
75. apple tart, soothing warm sweet tea
76. warm sunshiny weather
77. the prospect of a walk later today (postponed due to the entertaining tree trimmers)
78. gifts to deliver
79. "I'm a tree trimmer, a girl tree trimmer, not a boy."
80. "I'm a pastor."
81. "Kj let's play dress-up," I was going to have Kj try on a flower girl dress that I wore. "I want to dress up like a pastor." ...
82. cheap hotdogs
83. kid's soup
84. sneaky Christmas projects
85. homecomings
86. Baby L. finally getting to meet Aunt R. at Christmas
87. plans
88. new resolutions...not letting the dishes pile up so that I need 2 drying racks
89. reading Sis. C's Thanks
90. February when we get to see her again
91. April when my Ami get's married after being a spokesperson for True Love Waits!!
92. $1 calendars so I can write those in
93. dual naptime...can I write that multiple days in a row?? :)
94. not just one but now two chatterbugs...Baby L. is in the "Babababa." stage...which sometimes sounds like "Bumpa" = Grandpa and sometimes like what the sheep says...
95. pictures
96. rediscovering hidden treats
97. and having the snack while doing dishes
98. gummy Vitamin D for an extra boost...and it makes me think of gummy worms...and therefore turns in to a sweet treat in moderation (not referring to 96 & 97)
99. Grandma M's scrubbers
100! YES! Llama Llama Red Pajama in the mail for Kj!
101. Kj's smile when she finds out that she got a new book "from the mailman"
102. being reminded of the California Raisens while making trail mix
103. running out of milk and juice so I can clean that shelf in the fridge door
104. Monday Motivation that isn't normally there
105. lots to do
106. getting my voice back gradually
107. OxiClean spray
108. Miss A. my 8th blog follower, and friend
109. the fact that Miss A. moved within a block of our residence
110. Peek-a-boo giggles
111. tickling giggles
112. using more cloth than disposable
113. getting a load of laundry in
114. coughing as God's automatic slow down switch in my body right now
115. that I can get excited about so many little things in my life
116. sitting on the dining room floor, watching Baby L. stand by a chair and babble
117. walks with the girls
118. video chat with Aunt C.

45. husband who bikes to work so I can have the car, even on days I don't need or want it...it's just nice to have here!
46. Bedtime...for me!!
47. finding infant toys that I thought were lost...I even replaced some already, but now there will be enough for both girls...because, of course, the toys that are for Baby L. only are the most desirable ones to Kj.
48. new windows that open when you want them to
49. window installers that also take away old storm doors!
50. special window cleaning cloths to shine up my new windows
51. how windows can have so many good things about them
52. my sister-in-law who is also doing this "gratitude project" from halfway around the world...Great job!! I love you!!
53. the amazing God-given abilities to make 48-51...No man could have done it alone!
54. "Booooks"
55. the voicemail in my emails that says, "Children obey your parents." From Nana to Kj.
56. packing...not at the last minute
57. a load of our favorite clothes-CLEAN!-to choose from
58. hot chocolate
59. Kj recounting the story of Jonah that she learned this morning at Bible study
60. using Noah's ark and animals to reenact #59
61. $5 diaper coupon in exchange for 2 defective diapers...all I had to do was finally call them
62. hot drink to sooth my scratchy throat
63. this particular combination: "Mama, I need you to take me to the bathroom." + clean panties when we get there!!!
64. "family" potty seats
65. random kisses heard coming from the direction of my toddler
66. extra soup to share with my friend, a new mom
67. re-organization

31. belly laughs, because I go to get my toddler out of bed from her nap and she is naked! I, not knowing if she slept at all, decide to just laugh. "You giggle, mama? Why you giggle Mama?"
32. free suppers...no cooking, no cost
33. freedom to vote
34. FF
35. Loretta at FF
36. Romans 5.1 Therefore since we have been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
37. Not being able to memorize Romans 5.1 because it starts out the same as Hebrews 12.1 Therefore since we have been surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. And let us take hold of the...
38. FCA camp where I learned the Hebrews verse while running!
39. Enlightenment through the movie: The Story of Stuff
40. Anna (my friend, not myself) who is so encouraging and helpful and caring and generous and...
41. My Mama #2, a great Mama, Nana, Daughter, Sister, Wife, Friend...
42. My Mama #1, inspirational, encouraging, loving, wonderful, sweet...
43. holding my daddy's hand...still... :)
44. memories: my dad holding my hand when I was a little girl and his pinky tickling the inside part of my wrist...still makes me smile.

22. naptime
23. Kevin (he was very disappointed at not making the top 10...I guess I was just thinking of not obvious gratitude bits)
24. Kevin washing dishes so I could pay the bills.
25. talking with friends on the phone
26. a current crocheting project to do in between the "Mama, what's this?"s
27. help with folding laundry, even if it is only laying flat the cloth baby wipes
28. deep breaths!
29. dual naptime
30. daily hot beverage = hot chocolate or soup or both

13. spills in the refrigerator to prompt a quick cleaning of the veggie drawer.
14. hands free snack time..."Mama, may I feed her one please?"
15. an avid reader
16. new storm doors

17. giggles
18. non-picky eaters
19. new babies that make mine look so BIG!
20. Goals...in particular, the paying off the student loan goal
21. random raises to make that possible

1000 Thanks

1. The sound of the girls waking up from naps...talking to each other.
2. anticipation of a new project
3. supper starting in the crock-pot...after waiting 2 weeks to make this recipe
4. sunshine
5. fall colors
6. family get-togethers
7. reasons to stay in (drippy noses)
8. friends to see
9. toys everywhere! :)
10. book-loving little girls
11. "Mama, may I sit in your 'wap'?"
12. "Our Lord, how 'ajestic is your name in all the earth. Psalm 8:1 again."