A Litany of Praise and Thanks

Wow, the past 2 weeks have simply been overflowing with blessings, and I can't help but think that much of that is due to the prayers of my readers, friends, and family.  So THANK YOU, again!!!

Here is a litany of things that I am praising God for this week:

Isaiah is finally sleeping through the night and the "sleep training" process was miraculously easy with him.  We started laying him in his crib awake when it was time for him to nap, and he only fussed for about 5 minutes the first couple of times, and now when we lay him down, he doesn't fuss a bit.  He just rolls onto his side to snuggle with is blanket and happily goes to sleep---all...night...long!  I can hardly believe it.  I am so thankful for my husband who not only insisted that we do the sleep training, but he also did most of the work (especially in the middle of the night those first few days).

Isaiah also has become fully weaned this past week.  This was a bit earlier than I had intended to wean, but in my heart I knew it was the right time for my own personal health--physically and emotionally I was exhausted from waking up every hour at night to feed him.  I am so thankful that the weaning process was a breeze.  This little guy just loves his bottle and loves being held for feedings by his daddy and his adoring brothers.  I think he is getting way more milk from the bottle than he was getting from me, which is probably part of the reason he is now sleeping through the night. 

I can already feel the difference in my hormones and moods now that I am getting adequate sleep and not nursing anymore.  My cycle this month is also showing a good change...my ovulation occurred a week earlier than the previous 3 months, which is closer to my normal cycles again, and my luteal phase lengthened considerably!  Translation:  I am starting to feel more like my happy self again!!!

I also started making notes in my "thankful journal" again, so here are some more little things that I am praising and thanking God for lately...

1. being asked to sponsor a beautiful young lady named Nichole for a Cursillo retreat (please pray for her November 14-17...she has a deep wound in her heart that needs healing)
2. the Eucharist, the Lover of my soul, always there...always
3. "Trinity-Taco-Tuesdays":  our new tradition of going to pray at the Trinity chapel after school and then going out for tacos afterwards
4. my new (even shorter!!!) hairstyle
5. Isaiah's peach-fuzzy hair
6. Michael's contagious smile when he caught a rainbow trout
7. date night at home with Chile's chips and salsa
8. Isaiah's gummy grins and pointy chin
9. wearing warm fall clothes again
10. girl time with friends
11. pretty scarves and hats
12. my always-happy-2-year-old, my sunshine in the rain
13. hearing Joseph tell stories of his 6th grade teacher, the former Army "drill-sergeant"
14. watching Michael run and catch balls in the back yard all by himself
15. taking pictures
16. phone calls from my sensitive brother
17. family rosary time with a candle burning
18. quiet time
19. watching the World Series with my boys while sipping a wine cooler
20. catching up on my photo albums
21. my husband surprising me with lattes that I don't deserve
22. a date by myself at a crepe shop
23. hugs from Dominic, my big boy who still loves to hug his mommy
24. a glimpse of sunshine and hope peeking through the clouds in my soul

 

 

"We should not accept in silence the benefactions of God,

but return thanks for them."

St. Basil

 

"When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted

or take them with gratitude."

G.K. Chesterton