Last week I started listing some of my favorite things.
I list them because they remind me to be
thankful
joyful
and
grateful.
So often, it’s easy to journey through life and forget to remember the beautiful gifts that are right in front of us. Life is hard, and busy, and challenging, and draining, and crazy — and all of that smooshed together in a day can lead quite quickly to overwhelm. I’ve discovered that when I take just a few moments to remember the blessings and favorites in my life that my outlook for the day (or week or sometimes hour) shifts. Even in the hard times.
So with that, here is my list of favorites for this week.
gluten free Chex cereal
Samuel eating gluten free Chex cereal
freedom to homeschool
Chloe’s ipod touch
getting to borrow Chloe’s ipod touch
the game Settlers of Catan (if you haven’t played it you must try)
(taken with Chloe’s Ipod….hee hee hee)
the fact that my kids like to play Settlers of Catan with me
(Settlers of Catan that I play on Chloe’s Ipod)
my dishwasher
little boys named Elijah who love to spike their hair
quick-reading thermometers
parent observation days at ballet
Trader Joe’s Gingerbread Coffee
Hannah’s camera
(i love using her camera)
Hannah’s pictures
the fact that Hannah blesses me with many of her pictures
nail polish remover
Gracie’s really puffy slippers
The Amazing Race (I secretly would love to be on that show)
LUVS diapers
my Bible
cell phones
the beauty of chopped vegetables
middle girls who love to chop and julienne and dice veggies
the smell of those veggies cooking
my gluten free cookbook from my friend, Carissa
the natural cleaning tips that Carissa has on her blog right now
heat in the winter
that Spring is coming (and hopefully soon)
(some faux grass — we need that for Minnesota winters)
the smell of clean laundry
clean laundry that is put away
empty hampers in my laundry room
(a give-away coming very soon having to do with laundry)
a couple more cute pictures of Samuel with the gluten free cereal
my parents
and this verse
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God, my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
Psalm 25:5
Have a blessed and thankful Friday, my blogging friends!
♥ Rachel
20 comments
the one thing that stuck out to me that you are thankful for his your daughters ipod. I loved my sons ipod too until I WASHED it with my sweatshirt. So, don’t do that (smile) still trying to save money to replace it~ha! But, I do love the other things you have on here as well.
I love this list…so many things to be thankful for. Love the pictures of Samuel and his cereal!!!
My heart settles into peace just reading your thankfuls and looking at Hannah’s pictures. Thank you! (we love Settlers too!)
What a great list, Rachel! Those pictures of Samuel are just precious. Awww… 🙂
Hope you’re having a blessed Friday!
~ Lindsay <3
aw, thanks for mentioning me. you are so thoughtful. i really hope that cookbook is being good to your family! and happy cleaning to you. i’ll think of you when i’m scrubbing away!
so many sweet blessings. i want a hannah. : ) kelly and i both ALWAYS say that we want sage to be as amazing as she is!!! i also want to take pictures like hannah. : )
and samuel eating his cereal is precious!!!
elijah is a stud!!!
we LOVE settlers! one day we’ll have to play together… you know the day that we sit and talk with caribou coffee while hannah takes pictures of us?! that day!
hugs to you, sweet friend.
have a lovely weekend!
I love this!! You inspired me to do one of my own…maybe we should do this every Friday–what do you think?
Doesn’t it keep things in perspective to remember what we have to be thankful for??! I love this, Rachel – you got me going on a “Favorite Things” post this week too, except mine was on Tuesday, not Friday – does it still count? 🙂
I always love reading your lists of favorites and thankfulness. I’ve actually never played Settlers of Catan before – and only actually heard of it several years ago – and that’s something I know I’m going to need to fix asap! Haha – I don’t have an iPod touch either – I borrow my mom’s when I’m home on break so I can play Solitaire. I feel like borrowing is more fun than actually having an iPod touch of my own!
I love your lists! I adore all of the pictures of Samuel and so thankful he loves His cereal. I got a kick out of the picture of play food on the high chair! Oh and I’ve never heard of that game, but it sounds like something my kids would love! Be blessed today!
That’s neat that you have been listing your favorite things and what you are thankful for. I just took a week doing that at my blog-and it has really taught me to be more thankful for what we have…and it really makes a difference.
God bless!
I need to do this too-Analeigh is sick again with a cough and fever and I am so ready for winter to be over and so I need to sit down and write in my journal what I am thankful for so I don’t dwell on the negative and focus on the positive and what God has blessed me with today.
Samuel is just beautiful and he looks like he feels so good here-his little eyes look good-praying for him to still be able to absorb what his little body needs from his food.
Hope you have a great weekend.
Hugs
Thank you for the positiveness in your blog and the reminder to always go to God in the mist of everything no matter what is going on.
I love Rice Chex too!! Even better that it’s gluten free 🙂 You know there are coupons you can get for $1 off which lately makes a box of cereal $1 here in Iowa.
Samuel looks wonderful. Your heart must be leaping with happiness just seeing him so healthy.
Beautiful pictures Hannah 🙂
hugs sweet friend~ Cinnamon
hey chicki…samuels looks fab…God is good…heey have just been collaborating with a friend who has amazing cooking prowess and she has a blog..I have put it together for her and photographed her food(I am no photographer but it gives you an idea) All her recipes are on there for free and are vegan… quite a few are also gluten free….the carob crackles are to die for and great for a party or little reward snack…hope it can be of benefit to your family….we are only just getting this website up and running so check in every now and then cause there is loads more to go on it…blessing my dear…your faith inspires me daily…I can only hope and pray that my children grow up with the faith that yours do…xxxx
okay blonde moment…here is the blog address…lol
hiskitchen.blogspot.com
All for the Glory of God…xxx
Love this post…the photos are lovely also.
So glad to have you as a follower at my place. Looking forward to getting to know you better!
Elizabeth
http://www.justfollowingjesus.com
Settlers of Catan is so much fun! It can be addicting too…
Know that you’re always in my thoughts and prayers!
Psalms 86:3-4 Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily. Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
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Continuing to lift up prayers!
Psalms 86:5-7 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications. In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.
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That picture with Samuel’s face in the bowl is just priceless!!! LOVE IT!
A grateful heart pleases God and you just glorified him by having one!
Love,
Lynnette