Last night as I was finishing up dinner I heard Andy open the front door, I thought to myself "I LOVE that sound!" That sound symbolizes so much to me. We have a home that we can enter into. It's our home. Our loud and crazy and full of life home. I have a husband. I have an incredibly faithful and hardworking husband who just finished a full week of work and he is coming home to unite with us, his family, so we can begin the celebration of our weekend together. In that moment I was able to break through the orchestra of evening noise, breathe deep and adore the one who gave it all to me.
That got me thinking... I want more of that. More thankfulness. More looking through the possible roadblocks to praise. More of Him, the giver.
In light of it being the first day of November I wanted to challenge myself to see if I could find at least a sound each day this month that I was thankful for. New reasons to give thanks. The sounds that have always been there, but that I overlook in the hustle and bustle that is my life. This month I am going to slow down and listen. Listen around, but specifically listen for Him. What is the Lord wanting me to hear? I don't want to miss out on any opportunities of praise.
"Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen that you may live." ~Isaiah 55:3
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November 1 - Andy walking through the front door on a Friday night.(for reasons mentioned above).
November 2 - Joseph playing with the train set that I had as a little girl. He loves that set. It warms my heart to hear him knocking around the wooden pieces that I treasured so long ago and to see his engineering mind at work. / Neighborhood children jumping on our stomp rocket on our dead end street. Such sweet childhood memories are being made.
November 3 - Hearing my precious little ones belt out during singing in church, even when they are off key and start singing when everyone else has stopped. Hearing Rosemary "bah" every time the service gets quiet. It's the absolute highlight of my week worshiping with our church body. / The crackling of our first fall fire in the back yard. / Prays of a babe praying for the upcoming election.
November 4 - Alarm clock going off. I despise that sound, but this morning I was glad for it's reminder that it was time for a cold walk with a neighbor. Even though she sees the world through very different lenses than I do, I appreciate our unique friendship and how it challenges me.
November 5 - The nonstop chatter of Samuel on our special date. I cherish our time alone together and I love hearing all about what he thinks about. He still wants to be a cowboy. When I asked him what kinds of things he's been talking about with his friends lately at gymnastics he told me "I tell them about Rosie. I tell them all the cute things she does. Like when she's happy she says "dada" but when she's sad she says "mama"". It was hard not to burst into tears. Here he is a 7 year old boy with his friends when his family isn't around and the thing he talks to them most about is his baby sister. Such a sweet sweet boy. The earth is undoubtedly a better place because he's on it!
November 6 - Hearing Annabelle talk to her ballet instructor! She is such a hoot. She just started her second 6 week session of ballet today. There was a break in the music so the instructor went to go put some music on and Annabelle shouts out "Can you put some ridiculous music on?" The teacher just burst out laughing, looked at us and said "she is my absolute favorite child ever!" And then another parent commented "you just cant make stuff like that up." No you can't. Not with this girl. You never know what's going to come out of her mouth. I can only attempt to capture some of her character in writing.
November 7 - The sound of Gamba running through the door. Apparently there was a lose board in our fence and he found it and pushed it through. He's a Houdini I tell ya. I yelled and yelled for him but no luck... then I had to call in for back up. Daddy came home, yelled once and Gamba booked it from wherever he was. Ugg!!! Drives me crazy. I was just thinking to myself how I could live without all of his hair in our house, and then he goes and runs away. It was almost as though he was say "I'll make you think twice for wishing my hair away!" The sound of him running in the house was the best sound all day!
November 8 - Listening to Andy and Julie chat about life. I love their relationship and watching it grow through the years. Having no biological siblings is lonely, but I love having her!
November 9 - The crunching of leaves. We took a hike off the Blue Ridge Parkway with Julie while she was visiting and it was so refreshing. The weather was perfect. Cold enough to know it's fall, but not so cold where you froze up there. I love hearing the sound of leaves crunching, especially when it's the only sound you hear.
November 10 - Andy's jokes! By Sunday night I'm usually rolling my eyes at every single one, but when Monday morning comes around and he's back at work, I am always kicking myself for not kissing his face each time he tries to make me laugh. Oh how I love him and his strange sense of humor. Especially on a day when we are celebrating Veterans, I am thanking God for mine. There were so many days of our marriage that I could not hear his voice and I would have moved heaven and earth to hear just a word. His voice reminds me of God's blessings in my life.
November 11 - The squeals of my children as they see a grandparent drive down our street! I love it that they have such close relationships with their grandparents. I remember how excited I got to spend time with my grandma. In fact, I still feel the same way I did when I was little. I pray they never grow tired of their grandparents and always jump for joy when they appear into sight.
November 12 - Late nigh talks with Andy. I love the way he shares everything on his heart - his reflections, ideas, and his struggles. He invites me into his world. He is vulnerable and not interested in maintain a fake front that all is well when it is not. I am so honored to be his best friend.
November 13 - We have a cousin staying with us this week, so Rosemary is back in our bedroom. I love having her sleep in our room. All of her little snorts and baby breathing in the night melts my heart. And then in the morning she wakes up cooing. Such precious noises that I know won't last for much longer. I want to savor every one.
November 14 - The sound of my sewing machine in action. I don't get to sew as much as I'd like, but when I do, I am so overjoyed. I love to create and it's such a wonderful way for me to express my creativity. Andy watched all 5 kids for me so I could head to a fabric store to sew with friends. I try to sew after the kids go to bed, but I'm often so tired by then I don't have enough energy. This gives me a chance to sew during earlier hours and actually make progress.
November 15 - Lucy's laugh after she has acclimated herself to our home and has shed her guard. The sound of a former orphan unhindered with joy makes me worship my Maker all the more! He sets the lonely in families.
November 16 - The rhythm of the tires on the road. I love to drive long distances with my kiddos in tow listening to their audio stories or music. Such good conversations happen in the van. It took me awhile, but now I drive that mama mobile loud and proud. But, don't get me wrong, if someone were to offer me a suburban, I'd drop that van in a heartbeat.
November 17 - Even though I am aware that Sunday gathering is to worship and not about me, there are songs that allow me to enter into worship easier than others. This song is one of them and we sung it on Sunday. It is the cry of my heart.
Beautiful Exchange
You were near, Though I was distant
Disillusioned I was lost and insecure
Still mercy fought, For my attention
You were waiting at the door, Then I let You in
Trading Your life, For my offenses
For my redemption, You carried all the blame
Breaking the curse, Of our condition
Perfection took our place
When only love
Could make a way
You gave Your life
In a beautiful exchange
My burden erase, my life forgiven
There is nothing, that could take this love away
My only desire, and sole ambition
Is to love You just the same
When only love
Could make a way
You gave Your life
In a beautiful exchange
When only love
Could break these chains
You gave Your life
In a beautiful exchange
Holy are You God
Holy is Your name
With everything I've got
My heart will sing how I love You
November 18 - Andy was suppose to be home Wednesday this week at the
very earliest, but he called and told me he'll be home tomorrow!!! I love some alone time at night, but boy do I love my husband more!
November 19 - Hearing Andy singing and praying with the kids before bed. I love how intentional he is with them spiritually. When Daddy puts them to bed it's normally a 45 minute minimum event. He rarely is in a hurry to get them to sleep and takes the extra time needed for deep questions and extra hugs and kisses. I am always amazed at the topics he discusses with them and even more amazed at how well they can comprehend the topics. I underestimate their spiritual maturity so often.
November 20 - Hearing the girls chattering back and forth in the morning waiting for the clock to turn 8:00. Annabelle singing away while Rosemary chimes in with her long "aaahhhh's" trying to sing along. It is an absolute joy to hear those two enjoying each other so much before they are even out of bed. I love it that they have each other!
November 21 - The reply of "I forgive you, Mommy." Today has been a rough day. I've had to apologize to my children more times than I remember. My patience has been low and my frustration high. I am so grateful for their unfailing love towards me. They forgive quick, give hugs and kisses and then make me a card or do something sweet to show their love. So blessed to have my little people give me grace when I need it!
November 22 - Listening to the kids recite their scripture memory verses. They are SO into them. They are eager each day to nail down their verse so they can add another one to the bunch. And then hearing them mumbling them throughout the day as they go about their little people activities makes my heart rejoice. Praying that these verses will hid themselves deep in their hearts and never depart. I remember the verses that I memorized with my grandmother as a little girl. They have stuck with me for literally decades. So thankful that the Word of God is living and active, and able to transform lives.
November 23 - Gamba snoring! I love that sweet puppy so much. I love it when the house is so quiet at night and Andy and I are winding down and in the silence of the evening you will hear him snoring and dreaming away. Puppy paws moving because he's most likely dreaming of chasing a squirrel.
November 24 - Samuel humming. He goes through phases where he hums all the time. Sunday the worship leader started a song and a couple notes into the song Samuel knew exactly what song he was singing and started humming away. No one else around was making a sound. He is not very vocal about his love of music, but he does. If I notice he is having a hard day and his spirits are low, I will just go and quietly put on some praise music. He is instantly in the room singing or humming and slowly his cares fade away. Music is so powerful.
November 25 - The chaos that ensues when someone realizes that Rosie is away and yells "Rosie's awake!!!" Everyone screams and runs in her room and often times get right in her crib with her. The boys did this with Annabelle and now they are continuing the tradition with Rosemary. They love them some babies!
November 26 - The beep of my cell phone going off that I got a text. Mom texting her play by play of her long and delayed trip east. So thrilled to receive the last text of the night "here" meaning she was outside so I could go let her in! Finally!
November 27 - The splashing of the kids in the pool with Poppy. The highlight of every one of his visits is hours upon hours of them all in the hotel pool.
November 28 - The sound of paper being unwrapped. We had our Christmas with Nana and Poppy on Thanksgiving day. The kids took such care to make and wrap their gifts this year. Hearing Nana and Poppy so carefully unwrap their gifts was such a precious sound. Then hearing Gamba rip into his gift was a hoot! He LOVES to unwrap presents. He completely went to town on this one.
November 29 - My mom's laugh! There is usually a time or two during our visits when we get laughing so hard "that" laugh comes out. I just love it. I don't even remember what we were talking about to have made her laugh that hard, but hearing her laugh makes my heart SO happy.
November 30 - The sound of homemade blow darts going off all around our home! The boys got some foam darts that didn't really work for Christmas so Andy decided he would go and get some supplies to make his own. They of course work great and were a huge hit. As I came home tonight to a quiet house, I opened up the front door and Andy was hiding, staged and ready with his darts and started firing away at me! I love his playful spirit. Sure was an interesting welcome home greeting.
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Wow. That was so easy. I honestly didn't think I was going to make it the whole month without having to repeat sounds, but I didn't even struggle a bit to listen for new sounds. Definitely will do that again. So much to be thankful for! I love my noisy life.
