So Grateful for:

1.  Small boys who climb into our bed just before the alarm should be going off anyway.

2.  Atonal but joyful whistling all day long.  It's like four small echos of the whistled joy I've always loved in their father.  I love it!

3.  Woodsmoke on air cool enough to cause shivers for the first time this Fall.

4.  Three brothers close enough in age to race each other through school work and then spend hours daily together practicing drop kicking a soccer ball.  Many offered sympathy when a third little guy was scheduled to arrive just thirteen months after his brother, but they can't have known how quickly the work fades and how many blessings come along with close siblings.  In a world where families are carefully "planned", I am often amazed by the beauty in relationships conventional wisdom teaches parents to deliberately avoid. They just can't know.  We didn't know.  But I am grateful now, oh so grateful for a heart that God softened to children early in marriage.

5.  Nearly four year old Peter begging for yet one more bird outline in dots to complete and color.  His little sketch book is filling quickly!

6.  Lego masterpieces perching out of small boys' reach on tops of bookshelves.   On the tops of just about ALL the bookshelves.  :)

7.  Forts made from old blankets and ropes complete with provisions in sacks for lunch.

8.  Two and a half year old John finally big enough to share his thoughts.  So precious, these first years of chatterings.

9.  Cookie dough and recipes that need doubling just so there will be enough for a few cookies after samplings.

10.  Tiredness reminding that Baby is safe and growing.  Also pregnancy calendars for big brothers to check (hourly) to find that yes, baby does look a bit like a "wizard" this week, but though he's now the size of a cupcake sprinkle, he has a dear little heart beating away in his chest.  Fearfully and wonderfully made he is.  Just fearfully and wonderfully made.