Multitude Monday, Take 261

“...in this counting gifts, to one thousand, more, I discover that slapping a sloppy brush of thanksgiving over everything in my life leaves me deeply thankful for very few things in my life. A lifetime of sermons on ‘thanks in all things’ and the shelves sagging with books on these things and I testify: life-changing gratitude does not fasten to a life unless nailed through with one very specific nail at a time.” (Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts, p. 57)

Thanking God this week, one-by-one, for...

4309. the beautiful women and girls I had the privilege of speaking to last week (more on that soon, I hope)
4310. a rich and fun visit with my dear mentor and her wonderful family
4311. Elijah getting dressed and ready for preschool without dawdling
4312. opportunities and grace to help Steve instead of pursuing my own agenda
4313. GoodReads, to finally keep track of what I want to read all in one place

4314. red magnolia seeds
4315. sunshine after rain
4316. the edges of trees just beginning to turn orange
4317. an electric skillet on which to cook eight pancakes at once
4318. Jude reading Blue Hat, Green Hat to himself ("bwoo. weh. lello. upps!")

4319. Elijah telling me I look pretty
4320. a new red Klean Kanteen for Elijah
4321. post-nap snuggles with Jude
4322. a friend's willingness to babysit while I hit my favorite used book sale
4323. awesome deals on two enormous bags of books (mostly gifts!)

4324. pumpkin spice lattes
4325. said friend's adorable baby belly, an answer to prayer
4326. my little cowboy bravely handling it better than could be expected when we didn't get to stay at Cowboy Town (long story...with a giant GRR)
4327. a picnic lunch at the park and a walk around the lake instead
4328. the way Jude's hips and legs twist back and forth comically inefficiently when he runs

4329. Steve staying home with our sick little guy while Elijah and I went to church
4330. moving stories
4331. Bible reading plans
4332. His incredible patience
4333. His jealous love