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Small Graces

Yesterday, was one of those rare perfect days. Jeremy and I both woke up an hour before the kids and enjoyed some quiet time reading on the sofa. I got in a good long, hard swim. Then we had a leisurely brunch on our front porch. The sun decided to shine while we spent a few hours working on house projects. Then we joined good friends in celebrating a sweet girl's first birthday. Despite all the activity the kids were happy and whine-free most of the day. Bedtime was easy and Jeremy and I got to spend some more time together on the sofa - this time catching up on a few of our favorite television shows. 

I needed yesterday because the rest of the week was HARD! Be it the weather, physiological reasons, or just my own selfishly sinful heart, I was a cranky a mess. All week I felt behind and exhausted. The sun refused to shine. The kids bickered and whined. I reacted with annoyance and frustration instead of patience. The kids whined some more. It seemed that if something could break or spill, it did. Seriously, one day at lunch we had spilled juice, spilled syrup, spilled milk, and a broken glass, THEN while I was cleaning up messes Little Lady escaped in to the living room with her syrup covered fingers. It was hard to find "small graces" -  being thankful took effort. But the reasons to be thankful are great - this messy chaotic family God has blessed me with is a precious gift. 

this man - he is a tremendous dad

this oobleck ended up everywhere but it also kept little hands busy for
an hour

a driveway full of gravel is great fun


a new gravel path to our garage- much better than the previous mud ditch

a much needed day out of the house and at the zoo.
the lions where excited to see us again

there was also a new exhibit with button controlled dinosaurs

and the carousel always brings smiles

there are daffodils all over our town

a disco ball hat. right before i took this picture i was on the verge of crying
from exhaustion - jeremy's arrival home was still a couple hours of way. then
these pink reflections made me laugh, which made little lady laugh, which
caused my heart to swell with joy

garden growth (spinach and snow peas)


A weekly reflection inspired in part by Bob Bennett's song "Small Graces".

"these are the small graces, the little moments when the miracles come...
sometimes they slip by without notice
sometimes they are very hard to see
other times it's very clear when they are happening to me" 

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