End of January

Here it is already, the end of January.  How are all of your resolutions coming along?  I made one:  to take time to write down things that I am thankful for on a daily basis.  While we were in Minnesota, I read a book called "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp.  I would describe the book as scripture for the weary mother.  Ann is wife to a farmer and mother to six and writes about finding peace through giving thanks.  How thankfulness is at the heart of true faith.  I found her book very compelling and I've been trying hard to look around and be thankful for even the smallest things.  Ann was challenged to find 1,000 things and soon had notebooks crammed with little bits of life she was thankful for--tiny things like the rainbow of colors inside soap bubbles while she washed dishes.  I don't think I've quite gotten to that level of insightfulness just yet, but I'm watching more closely and taking note.

So...that is it.  That is my one goal and it's truly a pleasure just to sit down once a day and reflect back over my day and what things struck my heart.

I don't have much else to report.  Josiah started basketball last week and was to have had his first game this past Saturday, but everything was cancelled because of the snow.  So far, it's going pretty well...he hasn't played at all.  His second practice was Monday and I already noticed a difference.  He's playing through the Y.  We are quitting gymnastics.  Josiah will do basketball and continue playing guitar while Annika is going to start swimming at the beginning of March and has been taking her theater class for three weeks now.  Gymnastics just wasn't going anywhere for her--almost three years of lessons and she still hasn't learned how to do a cartwheel?  It's mostly these gymnastics places--they stick her in with the youngest girls every time and she never gets farther than turning a somersault.  Irritating.  Anyway, she doesn't like it anymore and I think three years is a fair turn to give to a sport.  Josiah enjoys his tumbling class, but my rule is:

ONE ARTISTIC CLASS (MUSIC/THEATER/ART) AND ONE SPORT.

I know way too many mamas who are overwhelmed with activities for their kids.  It's just too much.  So we keep it to guitar lessons, basketball, theater, swimming...oh, and Girl Scouts for Annika.  She snuck one in on me.  It's once every two weeks, so it's not too big of a deal.  Except for the cookie selling, which is stressing me out too much right now, but that's another blog post...

Oh, and Will has preschool.  I suppose he'll get started on his extras here next year.  Yikes.  You can see how mamas get overscheduled! 

Anyway, here are some old pictures from our trip home...

 Taking a walk at the U

 

From Cosetta's parking lot

William at the MN Science Museum in one of my favorite old exhibits

Mom, viewing the world through the eyes of a newborn

 



 

Annika on the carousel at the Mall of America

Comments

DD4 said…
I enjoyed reading this post, Rachel. I think the kids are doing great with their activities. Also, the photos are wonderful!
Dad said…
I can tell you that I am thankful for a lot of things, a large number of which are in your series of photos this time. Trying a lot of activities lets you find out what you might be good at, don't you think? I remember frosty grass in the sunrise on Powder River Pass one time, cold but beautiful.

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