Thing-Finder

"What are we going to do now?" asked Tommy.

"I don't know what you are going to do," said Pippi, "but I know I can't lie around and be lazy. I am a Thing-finder, and when you're a Thing-finder you don't have a minute to spare."

"What did you say you are?" asked Annika.

"A Thing-finder."

"What's that?" asked Tommy.

"Somebody who hunts for things, naturally. What else could it be?" said Pippi as she swept all the flour left on the floor into a little pile.

"The whole world is full of things and somebody has to look for them. And that's just what a Thing-finder does," she finished.

Pippi Longstocking

Chapter 2: Pippi Is a Thing-Finder and Gets into a Fight

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Let me begin by saying that it's really a delight to read something silly to your children. I love to read good stories with wonderful characters, and I love to read a good book that makes my boys giggle, wonder & imagine.

Back to Thing-finders...my five-year-old has got a knack for finding a most wonderful thing: money. Nearly every time we come home from an outing, he puts his hand in his pocket & says "Mama! Guess what I found?!"

"Fifty-seven cents!!"

I'm no longer surprised, but sometimes it's perplexing for his brothers. They can't seem to believe Eli's luck. But I've explained to them this; Eli finds the money because he's looking for the money.

It brings me back to wondering about joy, gratefulness, misery.

I have been kind of pushing through my summer with a sort of duty, things to do, people to see, places to go. In all that mash I've kind of lost my eye for beauty. Not finding so much joy. Forgetting thankfulness.

In the Spring I started my thankful list, I got really good at finding things. Things to appreciate, (washing machines) things to enjoy, (little boy laughter) things to remember, (the way he holds my hand from the car to the store) things to laugh at, (the silly face I've seen a million times). But I've gotten out of the habit of looking. Looking for joy... but when I am Thing-finding, joy-finding....I find it. Always, I find something to enjoy.

What is it? What happens when we grow up that we get all serious and too busy to live. To breathe the moments in and out and look and really see a person?

Regardless, I guess all I can do is to fight my own little tide of gloom. Start again, numbering my blessings, joys and silver-linings. I'll pick up the pen and start again counting my joy:

835. a whole, entire day to be at home; make order and rest

836. kind teachers that invest in my boys

837. a fisherman-husband who loves to visit with me, everyday.

838. long-distance phone calls on the couch, smiling at dust bunnies without a care

829. the rustle of wind through the trees

830. a lunch date at the kitchen table with my Nate, playing staring games and giggling together.

What thing will you find today?

December in 5 minutes

True to it's saying, a picture is worth a Thousand Words. I hope you can brew a cup of your favorite tea, sit down & review December with me.

Snow and Lights, the joys of December. Light.

For He is the Light of the World.

#Middlest's painting hangs over our guest bed. It may be my favorite thing in the house, presently.

Littlest poses in the new school room (more to come on that).

We did it!! December is a month for extra puzzles. It was such a treat for the five of us to sit around the table listening to Christmas music, the boys bellowing "Hark the Harold.."

...and the bag of balloons that grew faces and names, each a "baby" to the boys .

This was the stairwell that is growing into a pantry.

Decorating the tree.

Christmas Morning, a big, fun gift from Nanna and Grandpa. Hours and hours of fun.

Christmas Eve snacks

Littlest and his hamster, Blueberry. Natalie was lost in a horrible accident. Blueberry arrived the next day and has proven to be a friendly little girl whom Little loves fiercely. Such a sad story.

Christmas Morning, my Sweetie and I in all our morning "glory."

Hot Cocoa nearly everyday. Extra special in these sweet mugs my grandmother passed on to me.

Grandpa reads "Twas the Night Before Christmas" as the boys look on.

New life in December; paperwhites and grass for our Jesse tree project.

Graham Cracker Houses all around. Peek.

Our Jesse Tree.

December table.

December morning over the river. The view from my bedroom.

December has been a most pleasant month, quiet and productive. It's been a time for thinking and dreaming, playing and laughing. Creating and exploring. I'm excited for the New Year. See you then!

Conversations with Myself

I'm grateful that I never set out to make this blog spot something specific. I labeled it "A Thousand Words; a biography of books, boys & becoming." With such a broad spectrum I feel I can stay true to those topics generally, and I enjoy writing all over the place.

I occasionally stop and wonder why I enjoy blogging so much, it's clear to me that my blog is like an old friend....like a favorite blanket or pair of slippers....cup of tea in a favorite chair. There is a comfort in routine & ritual of being here. I'm unsure of how many people peek at my blog anymore, but truly, I don't care. If I'm blogging to myself, it's fine and I'm happy to do it.

This morning is one of those that just just fits comfortably. Laundry is going, chili chock full of veggies is in the crockpot. The sun is streaming in the windows interrupted only by an occasional twirly, falling leaf.

The boys are on the walls, just where they belong.
Soon I'll strap backpacks on them and we'll haul our school to the library because I really can't stand being inside so much when the autumn days are so cool, crisp and colorful. I love these days.

I've signed the boys up for gymnastics. It was Nate's idea, and the idea caught on with his brothers. We had our first classes last week and the boys all came away with an enthusastic "YES, we love gymnastics!!" Tonight I'll take them to class again & I'm grateful for their strengthening bodies and added rhythm to the week.

I'm off to relish the day, what are you doing today?

A Cheerful Heart with an Overwhelmed Mind

Life is not today, what I want it to be.

It's far too full, for one. My list of things to do seems to not shrink, but grow by a few things every day. I don't like that. I want my list to shrink. But our life is full in so many ways so there are things to do.

I laid the wood, paper and Ponderosa needles ready last night so I could light the fire the moment I crept down the talking stairs of our house this morning. And as I did I was overwhelmed of all there is to do and be and whether I should go ahead and keep these plans or just cancel so that I could stay home and be a mom and wife and get things that are screaming at me done. Very, very important things.

I wonder at the purpose of my days.

I feel week and shaky, thinking of all that I need to be when I know I'm just little old me and that I can't possibly get all these things done anytime soon. So I whisper to God that this is who I am, what I do and can He reach down and help me be tender and teacher in the middle of all this thinking and lists and tasks? This, I thought, is how each day should begin. Humbled and knowing I need help...crying out or whispering for His help. I can't do it.

And then I sat down in the morning light and read His Word. There was no miracle in it, no standing out word but that I should do this or drop that. But I wrap His instruction around me and press forward into the morning. I read in Proverbs that a cheerful heart is a good medicine so I determine to have just that as I muddle through. I want my family to have good medicine today.

When I read other blogs this morning, there are so many other mamas that feel this way. What to do? How to slow down and love when you're new-baby exhausted? How to take care of your family when you can hardly take care of yourself?

It is good, not to be alone.

And I come back to a cheerful heart, I join up with Ann again today to count the things for which I am grateful, the things that give me a cheerful heart when mediated upon.

The tender hug of my mama when she's missed me so heavily. I wonder if she felt how I pulled it in, felt it completely?

Music that is light and keeps us moving and cheerful.

Memories of long ago friends, and feeling that my life is full in friends.

Carpet that doesn't reveal every.single.doggie hair.

Memories of middle of the night words whispered to not-sleepy babies.

Dog piles in my art room, just minutes ago. I was in the middle of all those boy-arms and legs.

Laughter with my 10-year-loved husband. And that look he gives me. Still.

A hot fire that draws us all in to the same room.

Babies. Mine are all big, but there are so many fat, cute babies to wink at and smell. Oh, I love babies.

Today. To fill as I like. To have the choice of a cheerful heart.