Christmas blessings

What a wonderful time of year to think on God's blessings, and the priceless gift of His Son!

• extending quiet reading time, enjoying the peace of silence
• having to stop every time they laughed while reading "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever"
• our refrigerator decked out with Christmas cards
• being spontaneous, going into the city for a Christmas concert on a "school night"
• making her day
• his giddy smile while making music
• reserved seats
• hearing that her interview went well
• a donation made in my name
• adorable kindergarten Christmas chapel
• out to dinner with cousins
• Google hang out, "reindeer mode"
• gingerbread man math activity
• being married to a "handy-man," on day one of his winter break we already had new blinds up in 3 rooms!
• my desk filled with gifts of all shapes and sizes - "open it, Mrs. Beverly!" - the generosity that flows at Christmas time
• seeing him play basketball, watching him score
• celebrating Christmas with family, beginning already on Thursday
• having time to see his family and mine
• reading the Christmas story out loud from my children's Bible
• holiday desserts: canollis, cheese cake, almond squares, and cookies of all kinds!
• smiles that come with giving and receiving
• new dressers (the drawers now close!)
• an experiment, making bruschetta together, turning out to be a hit
• family sitting in church with us
• imagining what it must be like to celebrate Christmas in heaven

counting down to Christmas, counting up my blessings!

• enjoying fairly "plan-free" weekends with less schoolwork and more of the once-a-year Christmas festivities
• eating breakfast downstairs, joined by Mom & Dad
• homemade coffee cake
• making and wrapping gifts for others
• smooth sailing when crowds and traffic were expected
• beautiful new Joann's store in Paramus
• hot chocolate made with milk
• his paper done, time with my love
• being in a sing-along mood
• week nights that feel like weekend nights
• borrowing season 2 of our recent show of choice
• sitting in the sunny spot
• a generous friend - a start to my camera fund, and more
• a good view when I eat breakfast
• feeling valued, dreaming of what the future may hold
• their excitement to learn cursive
• spontaneous time with a great friend after school
• catching up on life's stories with our small group
• baking, giving, & receiving way too many Christmas cookies!
• mild temperatures in mid-December
• beautiful poinsettia from my brother
• attending an important meeting, sharing updates with others
• "A Charlie Brown Christmas"
• small words that encourage, inspire
• holiday shopping at the PTO store
• not feeling bad about relaxing on the couch
• double date, 2 hours of bowling, ending with one of my better games
• stuffing his stocking
• out for dinner with our grandparents
• a Christmas tradition - driving around to look at lights, finding some unexpected surprises!

the list of God's goodness continues --

• voices blending in choir practice
• "Come Emmanuel"
• a reminder that God is always working to deliver His promises to us, even when we don't perceive it
• Christmas decorations, and a pine-scented candle
• making a meal for a family in need
• a stranger's "hello" on the sidewalk
• a break from routine, gaining tips and strategies at a teachers' conference
• celebrating with colleagues at our staff Christmas party
• opportunities for our school to practice serving others
• "decking the halls with dinosaurs," them lined up in the hallway, sharing their dino-mite work
• gingerbread kid ornaments, a tree covered in children's handmade creations
• finding Christmas cards in the mailbox
• surprise mint hot chocolate from my love
• talking with a great friend after far too long
• "miss you" texts from mom
• lunch provided at school as a thanks for what we do
• a mentor who thinks of me even when she is absent
• silly dinosaur Christmas story and sing-alongs
• leaf-print wreaths

• cards signed, sealed, & delivered
• help from other grade levels
• celebrating the birthday of our one-of-a-kind aide
• mini ice cream cupcakes
• time to craft, accompanied by Christmas music
• this year's new ornament, now on our tree!

more of God's never-ending blessings from the past week:

• our decorated Christmas tree
• church services in the dark for the Advent season
• not finishing my to-do list, leaving time to relax and reflect
• walk with mom on a beautiful day
• pumpkin pie leftovers
• having family so close by
• time to spend with a friend on her birthday
• cloudy pink and blue sky, slowly turning to darkness
• cooking with my husband
• working with E in our pj's
• making plans for a new camera
• our school secretary to the rescue! helping me with a paper jam
• unseasonably warm weather
• seeing them "get it" with 2 digit addition
• piano music playing next door, a soothing start to my morning
• his big smile, just because
• the scent of leftover birthday treats
• flipping the calendar
• marbles in the bucket
• making Advent chains, counting down to Christmas
• parents on the playground
• making dinner for my grandparents
• helping her decide on an outfit
• shopping for others, in store and online
• invitation to dinner
• Josh Groban holiday playlist on Pandora
• a doctor who went above and beyond
• party of 8

Overflowing with thanksgiving

The recent long weekend provided time (finally!) for rest and a time of reflection for the many (oh, so many!) things I have to be thankful for. To make an all-inclusive list of God's blessings to me and my family would be never ending, but here is a start.

• an amazing husband
• supportive family on both sides: particularly loving parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters
• a beautiful and cheerful niece
• old and new friends
• a welcoming church family, a place to worship together
• a home to call our own
• friendly neighbors
• not one, but two jobs, when so many are without
• students that make me smile, being able to pray with them
• helpful colleagues that share my faith
• blessings from NYU
• a free country
• health and strength
• heat when it's cold, air conditioning when it's warm
• food in abundance
• clothes for every season
• hobbies that bring joy
• His beautiful creation

But most of all... His Love, evidenced by the gift of His Son ...

the sacrifice He made for me, for you, for all of us.

This blog has helped make me more aware of these blessings, and intentional about enjoying and giving thanks for each one. Seeking out these blessings -- no matter how big or small -- has become more natural for me throughout this year, and been a good reminder that Thanksgiving does not come once a year. Our gratitude to God should overflow every day - even when it is hard to be thankful, especially when it is hard to be thankful. 


I find it most difficult to give thanks in times of busyness - not that there is a lack of things to be grateful for (certainly not!) but I feel there is less time to dwell on the blessings of each day. I hoped that this blog would help me make time to give thanks and share my moments of joy with others -- which it has -- however, updating my blog daily has also become one more thing to do each day.


After much thought, I have decided to continue listing the blessings of each day, but in a different way. I plan to keep a journal that I will write in each morning about the day before. I also hope to continue sharing some of these "little things" with you, but I am no longer committing to do so on a daily basis. I will update the blog as time allows (with lists, pictures, or perhaps even longer pieces like this one). I hope you understand -- thank you for following. I hope my blog has encouraged you to seek out the blessings of each day as well. Stay tuned for more of life's "little things" ... and be grateful! Happy Thanksgiving!

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2011

• a half day devoted to Thanksgiving
• 5 kernels of corn, going round and round the circle to share what we are thankful for, their priceless answers
• moms, dads, siblings, grandparents, teachers, friends
• animals to pet
• a Christian school
• the playground
• Pokemon cards
• the squirmer's big smile and eyes on me as he said, "I am thankful for the best teacher"
• a "vegetarian" turkey
• class moms who helped plan our celebration
• leaving school early, spending the afternoon with my adorable niece
• his family together again

• my husband warming up the car for me, and not forgetting to also pack the rake and shovel
• sticking to the plan despite the drizzle
• the things I do for "my" kids, digging up the playground in my dress pants to plant some chicken bones
• the way their faces lit up when they found "fossils"

making fossil prints

• students and colleagues who jump at the chance to help with clean-up
• silly "mad-lib" stories
• only a 1/2 day to go!