GRATITUDE FOR A NEW LIFE

If I had the time to sit at the computer for hours today I could finish up my list of 1,000 gifts.


There are easily 1,000 things that I am thankful for regarding our move.  We have been settling in and enjoying ourselves in our new neighborhood so much that I have not had the time to blog.  And I haven't been taking nearly enough photos either!


301.  happy travelers

302.  little kids in sunglasses

303.  walking trails with mountain views

304.  remembering how to get around town
305.  finding the new places since we last lived here
306.  Chick-Fil-A
307.  big walk-in closets
308.  friendly neighbors
309.  new friends for my children
310.  milk delivery from a local dairy
311.  summer squash from the farm stand, sauteed in butter
312.  dry, sunny days
313.  my new clothesline

314.  bright blue skies
315.  family walks every evening 
316.  Haagen-Dazs cookie dough ice cream and watching The Office on AppleTV every night with my husband
317.  children excited to start school 
318.  3 great new teachers met at parent orientation 
319.  discovering what is blooming in my new yard

320.  collection of paint chips and decorating plans
321.  unpacking the last box
322.  realizing that after 7 months of praying, planning and packing we can finally call this home
323.  remembering that day when I asked God to make it happen
324.  peace that passes understanding
325.  grateful praise

A PARENT'S PRAYER

At my baby shower I received a notebook, put together by the ladies from church, that was filled with jokes and cartoons about parenting, quotations, poems, and advice about motherhood.  On the last few pages was  printed  "A Parent's Prayer".  I don't know who to contribute it to.  It has been passed from mother to mother over the years and the author's name has vanished.   I wrote it in my my prayer journal and read it occasionally because the words have become mine.

     

Oh Lord, make me a better parent.  Teach me to understand my children, to listen patiently to what they have to say and to answer their questions kindly.  Keep me from interrupting them and talking back to them.  Make me as courteous to them as I would have them be to me.  Give me the courage to confess my sins against my children and to ask of them forgiveness when I know that I have done them wrong.

May I not vainly hurt the feelings of my children.  Forbid that I should laugh at their mistakes or resort to shame or ridicule as punishment.  Forbid that I should ever punish them for my selfish satisfaction.  May I grant them all their wishes that are reasonable and have the courage to withhold a privilege which I know will not be good for them. Guide me hour by hour that I may demonstrate by all I say and do that honesty produces happiness.

Blind me to the little errors of my children and help me see the good things they do.  Give me a ready word for honest praise.  Help me to grow with my children, to treat them as those of their own age, but let me not exact of them the judgements and convictions of adults.  Allow me not to rob them of the opportunity to wait upon themselves, to think, to chose, to make decisions.

Make me fair and just, companionable and considerate to my children so that they will have genuine esteem for me.  Fit me to be loved and imitated by my children as I imitate Christ.  This is my prayer in our Savior's name.  Amen.

When I saw that Ann's topic at Holy Experience this month is prayerful parenting I knew I wanted to share this.  It seems overwhelming at first.  I remember thinking "Yikes!  Do I really expect to be  that perfect parent with this prayer?"  but really the prayer acknowledges the help we all need whether parent or child.  It's easy to think as the authority figure that I am in the right and my child needs correcting.  It's easy to pray "God help my child... fix my child...direct my child....
Of course the truth is that I have no idea how to do this parenting thing and find I need correction all the time.  Thankfully I have a heavenly Father who is a perfect parent.

YOU KNOW YOU ARE ON A LONG ROAD TRIP IF...

On the 1st day you start off in this east coast landscape of trees and familiar places.

On the second day you hit the Midwestern plains and endless corn.

On the 3rd day you are pleased to find this gas station - the only sign of life for 100 miles.

When your children happily share the one apparatus at a random rest stop playground.

When you listen to an hour long discussion on Martha Stewart Satellite Radio about how to organize dish towels and the items under your kitchen sink, and you find it fascinating.

(Other topics on satellite radio include how to make Peruvian style ceviche,  the 10 keys to a successful marriage, and a song entitled "Everybody Burps" on kids radio.)

When your children have new experiences at every stop.  "What kind of crazy phone is this mama?"


When you break all your own rules for healthy eating and pass out lollipops every hour.
And you eat your three day supply of chocolate on the first day.

When stopping for gas is reason to smile.

When you are glad to have GPS so that your children can build a "navigational room" in the middle row with all your maps.


When you spend an hour determining the perfect lumbar support setting and seat tilt for maximum comfort
(and honestly you didn't know you had those controls before).

When your mantra becomes "Follow the big yellow truck.  Keep your eyes on the truck.  The yellow truck is your guide."

When you finally see the sign for your destination state you MUST stop for a photo
and the first thing your dog does is step across the state line to mark his territory.

And you know it's over when you arrive in your new home town and are greeted by this scene and you feel so grateful. 


We are thrilled to be here and have so much more to share.  Thank you to all our friends and family members who helped us get here by, packing, cleaning, watching children, loading trucks, driving trucks, and praying for a safe journey!