I'm thankful for...

Continuing on my Thanksgiving train of thought...

I teach three and four year old children at church, which means there's not a lot of actual teaching going on.  We talk about something and then do an activity or song or something so that one boy doesn't feel the need to turn upside down in his chair and kick the girl next to him.  Then we talk a bit more, and the cycle continues.  (including the upside down in the chair bit)  It's interesting to say the least, and I can certainly say that kids say the darndest things.

Anyway, today, I asked the kids what holiday was coming up this month.  One girl yelled Christmas!  *sigh*  Nobody else had an answer.  So, we spent the time discussing Thanksgiving, what it means, who we are thankful to, and what we are thankful for.  We covered the basics; earth, water, sunshine, bodies.  Hopefully that will get them started thinking about all the things to be grateful for. 

I have noticed on Facebook, lots of people posting a daily gratitude statement.  I meant to do it too, but I just haven't.  I think it's a great idea, even if it's only a personal thing, maybe I should start writing thoughts on my calendar.  I know thoughts have come to me.  For example, I am so thankful that my husband found a small group of other students in his Calculus class that he can study and work on assignments with.  Before that, I was studying with him, which meant that I wasn't getting anything else done.  I mean, high school calc was over 10 years ago... I don't really remember it, and we were staying up ridiculously late at night after the kids were in bed, trying to get things done.  I was starting to get worn down, as our baby would wake up not long after we went to bed.  I could feel sickness creeping up on my tired body and I just couldn't see how we were going to make it.  And then, he found a group to study with.  It has been such a blessing all around.  I guess this is two thankful thoughts in one, because I am thankful for that group, but also that my prayer was answered. 

What are you thankful for today?

Generosity

I think I have just fallen in love with the idea of planting more than what you need in the garden and sharing with those unable to grow garden goodness.
Due to our move, my garden had to be put to bed. We weren't there to tuck it in on a few chilly nights and it died. I wasn't there to take care of it or harvest things anyway, but I'm still kind of sad to be done already. I'm not done having those summer vegetable meals from the garden.
We moved to a place where peoples gardens are still going pretty strong and it is kind of depressing that I don't have my garden here and I don't really know anyone to beg a tomato off of. I was moaning to my husband about it and how I've only met a few young mothers who surely don't garden, we can't afford to buy much at the farmer's market, and grocery store tomatoes just aren't the same.
The very next morning, I went to a neighborhood playgroup for the first time and almost immediately, one of the other mothers asked if anyone was interested in some produce. I was so grateful to be blessed by her generosity. I doubt she realized what a blessing her over abundant garden was to me. We already ate the zucchini and I have a lovely bowl of tomatoes sitting on the counter just waiting to be part of a B.L.T.