30 Days of Thanks

It's November... you know, the month we're supposed to 'give thanks'.  So what better way to break my blogging drought than to share with the wordl what it is that I'm thankful for. These 'thanks' are in no particular order. So here goes...

{DAY 1}...

 

Patience. I am thankful for the way that my patience has evolved through each child. Today I am a MUCH more patient mom than I've ever been.

 

 I've had several life happenings that have taught me a thing or two about being patient. But nothing has taught me more about patience than having 4 kids. I posted about Clare & her tupperware on Facebook this week, but I think it's a good example. I get so tired of cleaning up tupperware and half the time I end up having to run some of it through the dishwasher just to put it back and do it all over again. BUT... emptying the cupboard makes Clare happy, so we do it 365 times a day. She also likes to help me empty the dishwasher. Honestly, sometimes this drives me nuts. I quickly remove all the knives and then let her {one by one} remove each piece of silverware and throw it on the floor at my feet, for me to pick up and put it in the drawer. Everyday. We do this everyday. Patience. I remind myself ALL THE TIME that they won't be little forever and someday I'm going to miss it. Or how about Kole and his 356 hypothetical questions per day? This kid is the KING of hypothetical questions. But I answer them... and I will continue to answer them every.single.day until he asks them no more. Ahhhh, patience. And Hannah... oh sweet sweet Hannah... she is the one who taught me all about this patience stuff. Once I fully learned to be patient with my kids and really just let stuff go, let them have fun, let them be kids, I've found that I am so much happier and my kids are so much happier. You will NEVER EVER walk into my house and see it spotless, laundry completley done and put away, kitchen clean, sink empty. Nope... you'll always see toys out in our front yard {sorry neighbors!}, leaves or dirt tracked in through the house, kids & animals running amok, Hannah & Clare probably naked. Patience. Now, I'm no where near perfect. I can lose my cool with the best of em! I can't tell you how many times a day I have to take a deep breath and repeat 'Lord, give me patience'. Lets just all pray that this patience stuff sticks around through Hannah's horrible 3's {God help me, that's just 2 weeks away!}.