Life Transitions and Gratitude

It's hard to know what to write about sometimes. We are busy working away here at home, and are loaded down with blessings and challenges, both large and small. Things have been going steadily about.

Blessed things we've observed and been a part of in the past week or two:

~ The first Robin of the season came to our birdbath this week

~ School work moves forward, slowly but surely. Each of our teens still at home has had their own small successes this fall. Our daughter, a senior taking dual-credit classes at a local college, scored a 102 on her college history test!!

~ 15.5 yo son is progressing well in Spanish and Biology

~ 13.5 yo son is doing well in piano. He's also reading and remembering facts & details a little better each week. He's still impulsive, repetitive, and silly sometimes, but he is *creative.* That is in him for a reason, we are just trying to see where it will go with him, and how best to guide him. He is constant in taking responsibility for his bunny's care.

~ Our oldest, who turns 20 this month, came down from Omaha for a week-long visit. It was so good to see him and provide some rest, food, hospitality for him. He is making plans for a future with a fantastic gal, one whom I am enjoying getting to know and treat like a daughter.

~ Watching The Sound of Music with *all* the kids, guy and gal best friends included

~ Opening our home to the kids' best friends and some of their parents, too!

~ Getting to enjoy dinner in their home, as well :-)

~ Planning a Spanish Class ministry of adopting and buying for several Latino kids this Christmas

~ Putting up our Christmas tree with some of the kids while listening to oldies music

~ Making trips to the library a weekly habit once again

~ watching the boys stay in a good routine of a few basic chores and schoolwork...even the 13 yo...though Math is still very much a challenge for him.

~ Teaching Spanish I and II and enjoying the challenge of providing some fun learning opportunities along the way

~ seeing restoration of books through to the end, wathcing the look on owner's faces when they receive their books back in restored and preserved condition for their own children to enjoy

~ cooking up a storm for a week for a crowd (from scratch)!

~ picking the last of our fresh garden tomatoes and peppers

~ now it's cold enough to throw the extra quilt on the bed (I love this time of year, transitioning into the cold part of fall just before winter)

~ The blessing of sleeping later is such a treat. We keep a later schedule around here, as my most productive hours are around midnight, and the kids may be working or have friends over, as well.

~ the fun of planning and preparing Christmas baskets

~ grateful above all for the Lord' provision