capturing our blessings :: 1

{left to right :: Rachel :: Jenny :: Rebekah :: Kristen}

I woke up this morning already feeling behind. I knew Chris had to leave soon and so I was pretty frustrated when I went in to get Josie out of bed and found that she had peed all over the place, dry diaper in hand. The crib was soaked, her sheets, baby doll and pajamas. I quickly stripped the bed and cleaned her up and headed for the stairs.

Downstairs was super hectic as per usual as Chris was getting breakfast on. I started nursing Zeb and noticed that the clock read that I was late, I didn't have much time to get us out the door. Roughly ten minutes and no one was even dressed yet. Chris said his goodbyes after pouring Josie a glass of juice and I kid you not the second he closed the door...boom orange juice splashed from one side of the kitchen to the other. I put Zeb in his bouncy thingy (hates it) and he started screaming. I rushed around mopping up the sticky floor and told the boys to find something to wear. I had tears in my throat...it's just so frustrating to wake up like this, urine and juice and breast milk and screaming...somehow we got into the car - not everyone was in shoes but we were just going to drop Simon off at school so he was at least ready for the day.

After letting him out of the car I got stuck in the crazy morning drop off traffic...it's the worst and I know you know if you have drop off each day. I decided to take a sharp turn in the opposite direction and thought I would treat myself to Starbucks since I knew the red cups were going to be out today! We made it into the line when I remembered that during the morning rush someone had taken my wallet out of my purse and strewn it all over the floor and I didn't grab it on the way out. I was stuck in the Starbucks line with no money and no shoes.

Luckily the girl at the window took mercy on me and gave me the drink for free. It was really sweet and I am pretty sure she could tell I need the holiday cheer in a cup. We made it home and I told the older two to go watch Cailou or something because I needed to clean up the kitchen but I had the sense to sit for a minute and get in a bit of God time before I did anything else.

I knew it was the first day of this project and so I was not too surprised that my morning was crazy. That's how it goes when we are trying to find something beautiful to set our hearts on - boom we are attacked, beaten down, discouraged. But I saw it today in the little things around. I was able to rejoice in the beauty of my children and my health and the warm fire and the good food I was able to prepare.

But we are all fighting a battle, each one of us throughout the day and yet it is so easy to forget that sometimes and focus on the things that are there to drag us down. I am looking forward to the month ahead and not just thinking about my gifts but being forced to look for them too. And I am so grateful for grace and the newness that each day brings.

Hoping you might join us this month is some way too - capturing and fully rejoicing in the blessings you see around you because when you set your mind of those things even only for a moment God draws nearer to you with his loving arms.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Philippians 4:8

capturing our blessings is a month long collaborative project :: four sisters, a photo a day shared side by side as an exercise in finding gratitude and joy during the month dedicated to celebrating Thanksgiving. More about the project HERE.