:: growing a grateful heart ::

Earlier this year, after reading Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts, I felt compelled to record the things I'm thankful for within each day. They can be big or seemingly small things, but anything that makes me stop and think "Wow" or pause in gratefulness for a beautiful moment experienced or observed. Recording 1000 things I'm thankful for was the goal, but not one to achieve in a "I can tick that one off" kind of way (although I honestly do have to remind myself from time to time that it really isn't about "getting to 1000"), but moreso a tangible way to allow myself to slow down and realise how much there is to be thankful for. I've tasted the fruit of thankfulness and it's very good. Not just for me, but for those around me and for our family. It's so good for our souls.

At the time of mentioning my goal my mum was inspired to do the same. Just the other day she said she'd reached 1000 things she was thankful for (and was continuing on). My often-forgotten notebook with it's 300-odd moments of thankfulness suddenly got a bit of a kick into gear as I realised how I sporadically picked it up and recorded things, then left it again for several days (or weeks) at a time. Since then thankfully I have been more intentional about stopping to take time and notice what goes on and what is so beautiful in these moments.

Sunday was full of these moments. A quiet day around home as we made the most of time together with nowhere else to go other than next door that evening to celebrate a birthday. 
The girls spent a good amount of their time drawing and then decorating their drawings for their "Tonton" (Uncle) Tim, whose birthday it was that we were to celebrate.  Pens, stickers and glitter that didn't stray off the paper, other than to decorate little noses. 

Fascination with papa's drill (and all of papa's machines) that helped fix the trolley wheel
 

Which was put straight back to use as a cuddly bed for "billy" the beloved bunny.

Our house is quite the "work in progress" at the moment, with piles of things everywhere as we sort through what we keep, what we sell, what we give. I had the container of the baby clothes that I can't part with in the living room to fold. The girls discovered it and had a great time trying on their winter hats and scarves. Ironically the weather outside was quite wintery-chilly, so they didn't look out of place :o)

Plastic containers soon transformed into "bateaux" (boats) and the girls sailed off on adventures waving goodbye as they left...

Even though I'm not entirely ready for summer to be over, the anticipation of Autumn and its beautiful colours is pretty exciting :o) And the sight of these Autumn fruits on our dining room table, the pears and apples bought the day before from a local orchard. What a treat!

I love watching the girls play with their beloved Grandpapa. This was early evening before the party...they love him and he loves to play and adventure with them. What a gift :o)

Uncle Luc and Aunty Priscille arrived with two little surprise party attendees, their new bird "twins." Initially the girls weren't quite sure what to think of them, but later found the courage to hold them and even give a 'bisous' (kiss) :o)

It was a day filled with thankful moments. The first time everyone in the family has been all together for a long time, and maybe the last time for a while. The girls did really well with a later evening and we all laughed when one's excited enthusiasm at the sight of the cake with candles all lit, inspired a spontaneous little song that she repeated over and over "Happy gateau Lala!" ('Lala' is used for three of their favourite people, none of whom were there)  What joybringers they are to us all :o)

These days my notebook sits out open on the table, with a pen nearby, so it's easy to stop and note things down. And the thing I love about it is that the more I write, the more I open my eyes to see things of beauty and thankfulness. Jesus loves a thankful heart, of that I am sure, because he knows what life it brings and what good it does to one's soul and outlook. It reminds us to look beyond. Lately I'm finding that I'm often challenged/inspired by the story of Jesus healing ten men with leprosy. When they were cleansed of this awful disease only one thought to come back and thank Jesus. And his action was rewarded. I have realised how often I am blessed and continue blindly on, not even stopping to say thanks...to Jesus, but to those around us who show their love and generosity in action. So...I'm trying to learn and grow a thankful heart...slowly but surely!