2nd Bell Song from Jack

I was unable to upload 2 videos to my last post but wanted to also share the second song Jack played with the bell choir - Mallet Madness:

Thankful Thursday on Friday

My cup overflows with thankfulness:

• Thankful that we have such wonderful neighbors, the Flanegins, who volunteered to watch Catherine all day and Jonah half a day while I volunteered to help with International Tour Day at the boys' school - it's an amazing event put on by volunteers showcasing many different cultures. It was my privilege to be a part of it and that would not have been possible without Tresa watching my little ones.
• Thankful that my husband drove 8 hours from OK to be able to spend time with us for Mother's Day weekend - woohoo!
• Thankful that my sister offered to have all 4 children go sleep at her apartments so that Tom & I could have a fantastic date night for Mother's Day weekend - awesome dinner, great movie and quality alone time - fabulous!
• Thankful that Tom sold his CRV - one car family until we get to OK!
• Thankful for The Posse - awesome group of women and sweet prayer time Monday afternoon - love those gals!
• Thankful for Jack and the 5th grade bell ringers at AIES - what a talented group of kids and fabulous instruction from Mrs. Van Wie & Mrs. McReynolds - here's a little bit of their music:

• Thankful again for Tresa Flanegin and the Baby Shower she hosts every year for the Life Network Pregnancy Center downtown - it was a great success with MANY items donated to the center!
• Thankful for a sweet lady that I have only met twice in my life at the Life Network showers, but she is full of the Holy Spirit and a blessing to those who meet her - I loved visiting with her both times and learning of distant connections that we have we one another!
• Thankful for the little ways in which we can "catch" our children doing great things - need to keep reminding myself to catch them in the good moments and praise them rather than getting caught in a cycle of negativity and focusing on what they're doing wrong when my patience is running low!
• So many blessings from the Lord - I am thankful for His goodness!

Thankful Thursday/Visit with Old Friend

I have been very delinquent in articulating my thankfulness the last few weeks during sickness, Easter, visits from family & Tom leaving for OK. However, there have been so many things to be thankful for during this time. Here are a few:

• I am so very thankful that Christ died for my sins and yours - that He paid the price for all of us - He died & rose again so that we may live - I am thankful to live a Resurrection Life in a Good Friday world - Thank you, Lord for Your sacrifice and example


• I am thankful for family near and far & for getting to catch up with The Jochums for the first time in 4 years


• I am thankful for wonderful neighbors, The Flanegins, who hosted our family and Doc Sue and a couple of other families for Easter Dinner and an Easter Egg hunt


• I am thankful for the visit with Grandpa T & Grandma Rosemary

I am thankful for getting a brief visit with one of my best friends from High School, Andrea Condit who was flying through Colorado to visit her sister and was able to spare a little time to meet me at a park - here we are: I am thankful for such a fantastic husband who I adore. I love every minute we spend together whether laughing or crying, agreeing or disagreeing, quiet or loud. I am thankful for the phone calls now that we are apart while he is going through training for our upcoming assignment to Mildenhall, England.

I am thankful that while Tom is away, when there is more chaos than normal in the house, I can choose joy and choose to laugh when the hot water runs out because kids took too long showers and there's no hot water for Catherine's bath & the microwave fan turns on and doesn't shut off, and Catherine cries because she wants a bath & the water's too cold - in the midst of chaos, I can laugh & nevermind about the little things!

I am thankful for my precious children. They are beautiful and wonderful and even when they're causing chaos, I still love them! Here's a couple of pictures of Catherine & Jonah being silly and cute:

I am thankful that my sister is feeling better and brought dinner from KFC tonight so that while selling my double stroller and preparing for the week ahead, I had one less thing to worry about tonight!

So many things to be thankful for! God is good, all the time!