O the South & Gratitude list #452-#512

I'm slightly struggling with "life after vacation,"

:: or rather the reality of it ::

After having so many wonderful meals cooked for me by my mama,

all the wonderful help with my children, time-off,

little housework, and no homeschool,

reality is pretty heavy stuff!! 

BUT I am determined to get back in the swing of things.

God is good and I am so very thankful. 

I truly do love the South.... and am so proud that I grew up there,

BUT I'm seeing that I truly DO love the Northwest as well! 

The South and the "southern way" will always, always 

hold a dear place in my heart.....

and I will always have a fondness for sweet tea, grits, magnolia trees,

colonial homes, Cheerwine, thunderstorms, country music, and the Masters. 

(I have learned though, that I am NOT missing the heat,  humidity, and insects!!)

So much to be thankful for, my list goes on: 

safety and sanity flying alone across the country with all 5

meeting with dear friends over a meal

sweet friendship with my mom and dad

watching my 96 year old grand-dad play checkers with 6 year old Toby

warm southern sun, insects, and humidity

fish from the pond.... and fishing

beautiful southern sun-sets

turtles coming up for a breathe

two very possessive geese and one adorable gosling

Whit learning to ride a two wheel bike

laughter in the sprinkler

alone time with my hubby.... 24 hours in fact!!

antique stores

a swimming pool in the country

jet-skiing

protection from a thunder storm while on a family boat ride

my mom's "heart-house" Bible lesson with the kids

Ellie and Abby's reconnection with their pen-pals

canoe trips down the canal with Popi

friends willing to loan us their van

the Krispy-Kreme "HOT DOUGHNUTS NOW" sign....all lit up
Chick-fil-a
Cracker-Barrel
Coca Cola
Sweet tea

Magnolia Trees

Lightning and Thunder

Sweet times with Aunts and Uncles

Visiting my child-hood church

grown-up children who are walking with the Lord

coffee with a seasoned mom

making posies with the girls and my mom

a new piano teacher

coffee in the sunshine with my hubby

Drew's ease to breathe while in the South

children playing ball tag

Irish dancing lessons for Abby

new journals from the used book store

North Carolina bar-b-que

Mosby and Prissy....the kitty-cats

reconnecting
the flexibility of homeschooling
13 year cicadas roaring in the forest
country music
colonial homes

3 beautiful Northwest days

our lovely rental home.... to come home to

the anticipation of crafting

community group

texting with friends

reading to Toby

cleaning, cleaning, cleaning

a BEAUTIFUL walk in the country while Ellie had horseback

yellow wild flowers

dandelions

finding a new author..... Lynn Austin and enjoying some reading time!!

creative play

boys climbing trees

barefoot feet

brothers and sisters

As Ann Voskamp says in her book One Thousand Gifts:

"....when my soul doth magnify, my time doth magnify...

I redeem time from neglect and apathy and inattentiveness

when I swell with thanks and weigh the moment down

and it's giving thanks to God for this moment that

multiplies the moments, time made enough.

I am thank-full. I am time-full."