Ontology: Thankfulness: 1000 Gifts

1. 3 Gifts at 3pm:

a slumbering child
a six year old learning to talk and share her thoughts and needs instead of just wailing at shutting down
sorting household supplies and finding free Puffs tissues (because I'm a tissue snob but I'm also cheap--so getting my soft tissues for free makes my day a little brighter)

2. 3 Gifts Green:

asparagus, because really lightly sautéed asparagus is one of the natural wonders of this world
a new-to-us raincoat of mint for my Blueberry who loves to jump in the puddles in the rain
Wild onions releasing their scent to the air, promising spring is coming

3. 3 Gifts Hard to Give Thanks For:

Nursing moments at 1am--because even though I'm tired and I don't want to be awake, feeling soft chubby arms clinging to my neck makes it all better.
My former place of employment. I might not be a houseparent now if I hadn't started out there, and even though I don't want to go back, I have to be grateful for the opening to this pathway we are now on.
My snoring husband--because even though it's an annoying sound at times, I have a great man in my life who chooses to sleep next to me every night because that's where he wants to be

4. 3 Gifts Wore:

a sparkling ring on my finger that even after 13 years of use still brings a smile to my face
Comfy shoes that don't leave my feet aching at the end of a busy day
earrings--because every time I put them on, I can't help but remember a gracious boss who gave me money for my birthday one year with strict instructions that I had to spend it on something completely frivolous and entirely for me. As we were newlyweds and definitely not making much, she allowed me to do something I had wanted to do for many years and not feel guilty for spending money on such a frivolity

5. 3 Gifts Found:

a second toddler shoe hiding underneath a chair so that she could quickly go out and play
a voice message from a friend for no other reason than that she cared
blueberries, hiding in a grocery bag, because my husband knew they would make me happy

6. A Gift Bent, Broken, Beautiful

a poorly folded piece of paper, handed to me by my daughter, with scribbles and wrinkles and dots and lines all mixed up together to tell me a “story” of love

7. 3 Gifts in the Kitchen

a full refrigerator on a slim budget
black and white aprons and mini-girl aprons too
hot and toast bread fresh out of the oven, ready to be smeared with honey and devoured

8. 3 Gifts Loud

a houseful of rambunctious girls, all wanting to talk to me at once
shrieks of laughter from the playground
a chattering voice of a 3 year old who truly wants to share every thought with me—all day long

9. 3 Gifts Carved

a 30 minute nap for me, wrapped in love, carved out by my husband
my Cradle to the Cross wreath
5 minutes of solitude and peace and a prayer breathed, carved from a busy dinner hour

10. 3 Gifts in Christ

11. 3 Gifts Read

12. A Gift in Wind, in Water, in White

wind: The awe inspiring roar that swooped around the cottage this evening, blowing in a storm in the brilliance of sunshine
water: the cleansing taste of my favorite drink
white: memories of a winter’s day of snow dogs and snow angels and snow ball fights on a three year old level

13. 3 Gifts Round

blueberry goodness to burst in my mouth
full little baby bellies, today full with blueberries (apparently he's thankful for them as well)
the succulent look of a bottle of Kombucha ready to be savored.

14. 3 Gifts Found in Silence

sleeping babies, sleeping husband, sleeping children....time to stretch and contemplate and pray without distraction.
breathing time, concentration on the act of slowing down, resting in the peace
bird song heard across the expanse of lawn

15. 3 Gifts Given Away

a hug at 2am to help a bad dream
time from a friend who was willing to put off her shopping trip so we could talk
a quick prayer in a time of stress

Ontology