Sunday Seven: 1

Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy,

and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.

—Willam Arthur Ward

Today is my first edition of Sunday Seven. If you didn't read my last post, this is my reminder of the blessings woven into my life — or a digital gratitude journal as some might call it. This will be my record of memories that bring a smile across my face, or things I simply want to remember. Life is incredibly short, which I am reminded of often, and we need to celebrate it!

ONE

In our home, there is constantly a project going on. Most recently we had to have our kitchen ceiling repaired as the newly installed drywall was cracking. Thankfully it was a quick fix with minimal drywall dust.

TWO

Monday I seized an opportunity, after work Valor and I ate a quick dinner and hurried to the playroom. I sat on the floor completely focused on him as he cooked up tacos and chocolate milk in his kitchen. His sweet-giving heart served me and made sure my plate was always full. While he cooked I thought about times when we have guests in our home, or simply when I walk in the door from work — my boy with a servant's heart says, "Take off your coat and shoes. Come in!" If I have drinks set out for guests, he quickly makes sure they have a napkin. Watching his tender heart develop is a huge blessing. As I sit watching him stir the pot of plastic tacos, I realize he is the living reflection of our Savior. What a beautiful reminder on a mundane Monday. God wants to take care of our needs and He will if we just sit down on the floor by his feet.

THREE

The Coffee+Crumbs Magic of Motherhood book was released this past Tuesday, and I read half of the book that same evening. It has made me laugh, cry and everything in between. For any mama this is an excellent read. Also, I am in love with the Coffee+Crumbs website and podcast. I look forward to each new essay published and podcast. This essay, She Gave Me The Eyes Of A Mother, is one of my all-time favorites.

FOUR

After graduate school Nick accepted a weekend position in a hospital's geriatric psychiatric unit —which was okay at the time. But after becoming a family of three it was painfully obvious that this schedule was not to our benefit. We were simply ships passing in the night. His absence each weekend and many holidays was difficult. It often felt that work unfortunately came before our family. After four-plus years of this schedule, Nick was able to put in his resignation and this weekend was the first of freedom!

FIVE

With Nick's new found freedom, we got to spend the weekend in Indiana celebrating my mother-in-law's and oldest nephew's birthdays.

SIX

I'm always on the hunt for a healthy, yummy and quick recipe. This one marks off all the checkboxes!  Add this one to your lunch menu for the busy work week, you won't regret it!

SEVEN

Blurry but oh so precious. This Palm Sunday was the first time Valor got to participate in the waving of the palm branches at church. It was very cute to see how excited he got when he saw me in the congregation and tried to jump out of line toward me.

Well, that's a wrap folks, my seven highlights from the past week. Writing them down and giving thanks will continue to remind me how much I have to be grateful for. There is so much good. I hope these Sunday Seven posts will help inspire you to count your blessings and join me in living your life in a constant state of gratitude.

You say grace before meals. All right. But I say grace before the concert and the opera, and grace before the play and pantomime, and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketching, painting, swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing and grace before I dip the pen in ink.

— G.K. Chesterton