Sightings

1. :: the way snowsuits make them all puffy ::
2. :: snow lying thick ::
3. :: a fireplace ::
4. :: planning new projects ::
5. :: finding them cuddled together this morning ::
6. :: hearing his voice, knowing he arrived safely ::
7. :: practice making her strumming sound like song ::
8. :: a Sunday read ::
9. :: he can't speak in a normal voice, always four-year old boy loud, always ::
10. :: that church met yesterday (after two Sundays of illness, it was so good to be back) ::
11.  :: good news for a neighbor ::
12. :: sledding laughter ::
13. :: cookies and coffee with friends ::
14. :: up a little later ::
15. :: picking up new glasses later ::
16. :: celebrating my mother ::
17. :: hearing them play ::
18. :: having him home ::
19. :: cold walking ::
20. :: coffee smells ::
21. :: dancing purple pajamas ::
22. :: feeling a little sore from yesterday's faithfulness ::
23. :: grateful that it was too hot causing a bit of middle-of-the-night nausea instead of virus ::
24. :: snow ::
25. :: the plow that will let me walk safely when I'm finished with this post ::
26. :: hanging in there in my insistence, boy likes eggs and girl keeps her hair back ::
27. :: warm rabbits ::
28. ::  party plans ::
29. ::  bird book indices and learning how to use them ::
30. :: tv free evenings (though we do need to finish up that borrowed dvd) ::
31. :: pink in the sky ::
32. :: sitting in front of the fire with a candle alone ::
33. :: reading the story of the golden calf with her ::
34. :: all the little ways she relates to things to remember them ::
35. :: cold ::
36. :: flash drives ::
37. :: visits with friends and grace given for his friendships to grow ::
38. :: paying off loans ::
39. :: stories read and shared ::
40. :: easily putting him back into his bed ::
41. :: a sick day, to sit, and cuddle, and watch (Mary Poppins anyone?)::
42. :: that new computer to learn ::
43. :: that the old computer dying has held out for the learning ::
44. :: jars of soothing salve and bandages ::
45. :: all the sunshine of the last days ::
46. :: a babysitting sleepover ::
47. :: the dinner with friends and the walk in the wood together ::
48. :: doctors who will see girls without their mothers (with just a phone call) ::
49. :: antibiotics and rest ::
50. :: new rug and pad to keep the floor warm for sleeping bags before the fire ::
51. :: microwave returned to the kitchen ::
52. :: windex to clean said microwave ::
53. :: rabbits outside ::
54. :: gentle lists ::
55. :: sitting with women admitting to struggling with the same things ::
56. :: getting ideas from the same who've found victories in those things ::
57. :: clean freezers ::
58. :: and the picking up of meat to fill one of them ::
59. :: more than paths in our basement storage ::
60. :: that little fitness notebook, building faithfulness one day at at time ::
61.  :: books being read ::
62. :: glitter and glue ::
63. :: outside play ::
64. :: gift subscriptions ::
65. :: leaving the sink full of dishes ::
66. :: stretching out on the couch ::
67. :: listening, really listening ::
68. :: taking them out one at a time ::
69. :: tulips planted and waiting ::
70. :: silent hugging wake-up ::
71. : can't be missed morning cuddles with my gifts ::
72. :: those heart revealing conversations with my man ::
73. :: coffee in an owl travel mug ::
74. :: and the memories of shopping with a friend that go with the mug ::
75. :: starting again with little changes, here's to six-week terms with one week breaks ::
76. :: white and marbled cats ::
77. :: the happy-scared bunnies ::
78. :: guitar teachers ::
79. :: listening to them play ::
80. :: hearing hearts--so thankful for the glimpses He gives when I ask ::
81.  late sleeping for three of us
82. bach flower (worry) drops and the calmness they bring
83. cool mornings
84. calls from Mom
85. that man who leaves us all sleeping late to work for us
86. his little hand in mine
87. all the learning on a frosty walk
88. the cardinal at the very top of the tallest tree against clear cold-weather blue
89. shorter to-do lists
90. not making a list
91. wrapping gifts
92. the way he shows me he loves me
93. finishing the cut-out cookies, for the last time. . .from my initiative
94. five minute pick up
95. cuddling with her every morning
96. little boys and borrowed blue undershirts
97. the birds whistling in the tree in the cold
98. lunch with a friend
99. reading a Can You See Book one page at a sitting
100. a warm little body on each side
101. lights on the porch--His Light
102. ornaments clumped at eye level
103. all that yarn from a failed project
104. new coffee
105. the way she still comes for comfort
106. and climbs on my lap every morning
107. his gusto
108. light eeeking into morning
109. visits and good news
110. a kind new teacher
111. coffee with friends
112. hearing guitar strings being plucked
113. marvelous maple milk
114. piney smells
115. a putting together tree, this year
116. all those nativities
117. learning about hanukkah
118. made beds and picked up rooms
119. a time to stop
120. Nehemiah 8: 9-10
121. laughter
122. good words
123. clotheslines
124. green tomatoes
125. baby cucumbers
126. cantaloupe blossoms
127. buckets of laundry water for plants
128. cooling showers
129. It Is Well
130. librarian grace
131. finding the box of fish on her own
132. deck big enough for sand and a kiddie pool
133. yellow yarn
134. his voice picking up the phone and sounding really good
135. shared wisdom
136. fun conversation
137. lunch and play with friends
138. the way their hair curls with kid sweat
139. basements
140. cold, clean, filtered water
141. fans
142. clean dishes
143. sitting early on the swing
144. pink rhododendron flowers
145. His presence
146. the way he eats
147. naked boy bellies
148. His story in her story
149. yellow paint found
150. Pen and paper memories
151. Starting Again
152. Love jars
153. Geese fly across bridges
154. Cell phone grace periods
155. Finding old homeschool reading curriculum
156. Snow Days
157. On time for church
158. Daughters making gifts
159. Careful, hesitant baby steps
160. Painting
161. husband home
162. the married meeting minds, making plans
163. handmade princess ballerina dresses worn out
164. lunch with friends
165. big barks at nothing just to say we are watched and wanted
166. baby plants--the very beginnings
167. Minimum Maintenance
168. husband compliments on squash
169. acorn squash smothed
170. melting snow
171. sunny days
172. homeschool group encouragement
173. Oompa Loompa songs
174. green cell phones
175. supported steps toward walking
176. tea for colds
177. origami envelopes and letters for her friends
178. the boys that make girls laugh
179. laughing girls
180. sunshine and melting ice
181. big black dogs sprawled on the kitchen floor
182.  a list of joys
183. time to write peacefully before small group
184. a home ready to host
185. five minutes
186. timers
187. impromptu play dates
188. potato soup
189. husbands counting their blessings
190. stories read to children
191. cabinets cleaned by little girls
192. safety
193. naps, have I said this before?
194. sleeping all night long
195. chocolate chip oatmeal cookie smells
196. vest weather
197. dog rinsing the dishes
198. four of us together reading
199. talking with my dad
200. girl dancing in fairy dress
201.  man confident now to mud the ceiling
202. bookshelves on sale
203. t@rget pharmacists
204. library books
205. mountains painted with snow and ice
206. deciding to sit with the sick instead of staying home
207. hymns at church
208. friends to see
209. good reads
210. boys yelling at the video game--big and little
211.  tiny little plaid button down shirts on littles
212. inside corners he's happy about
213. honest mothers
214. healing memories
215. stamps, water painting, and gifts for friends
216. big brown smiling eyes
217. chores with joy
218. girls in sunglasses
219. princess ballerina dresses
220. dog hopping with joy
221. baby on the mend
222. girl laughing in flurry of snow
223. cabbages in from the garden
224. getting to three stores
225. Christmas gifts in a cabinet here
226. two good days in a row
227. seeing blue skies
228. raincoats and rain boots
229. picked up toys, basement ready for vacuuming
230. chili and corn bread
231.  playing children
232. cardinals
233. wise words from a wise man
234. snuggles with a little boy before sister was up
235. the way they laugh when they play
236. riding mall cars with her own money
237. sharing the ride with her brother
238. the red of a poinsetta
239. giving in to His leading
240. knowing everything will be OK
241.  journal and time to write
242. new blogs, simple
243. pears and clementines in a bag from Mom
244. not finding a poetic way to record everything
245. the way he understand that sometimes my tone is about something other than what he just said
246. the big bang theory
247. recording what we have done
248. a food chopper
249. a jar filled red, remembering that their is nothing I can do to diminish His love
250. big black dog for company
251. ::children playing loudly in the dirt::
252. ::the tulip profusion in our front yard::
253. ::finding a way to walk::
254. ::and finding a way to enjoy it::
255. ::plans and hopes::
256. ::knowing the One who redeems::
257. ::remembering how He works::
258. ::praying for His redemption of my shortcomings::
259. ::the friend who pointed out that He is familiar with all my ways means He is aware of my quirks::
260. ::remembering I am dust and finding comfort in it::
261. ::seeing grace unfold::
262. ::a cleaned out basement::
263. ::a sleeping through the night recovering dog::
264. ::the way a chicken can make many meals easier::
265. conversation with my sister
266. purple yarn
267. getting some of those papers filled out
268. rescued tulips
269. quiet quiet time
270. a timer and respect for it
271. Made to Crave
272. bright, cloudless blue
273. plans for space and a move for more time
274. knowing I need a way of counting what I've counted before
275.  realizing chickens would be less work than a big dog
276. seeing the hurt dog begin recovery and start to feel really good (as long as he has his pain meds)
277. seeing new babies in all their pudgy newness
278. getting excited about a niece
279. finding words to inspire five minute frenzy, purple rug meeting
280. wondering what is next and how He's going to work it
281. finding a sense of trust about it all growing in me
282. my journal
283. the way he is all cheeks and eyelashes
284. kid stretches
285.  finding a walk that works
286. getting into the swim class (oh, I wasn't looking forward to that)
287. time to sew
288. seeing my tulips weren't ruined
289. making a decision
290. telling my dad the decision first
291. a real estate agent we know we can trust and like
292. being confident that He will be faithful with my imperfect faithfulness
293. supplements from the nature store appearing to work (maybe I can cancel that appointment) 
294. her insights
295. a hair plan and appointment
296. hair mud for her growing out bangs
297. starting a dress
298. learning something new (what did you know about Bonhoeffer)
299. seeing the frost hasn't "done in" plants I mistakenly assumed were safe
300. knowing to cover the plants
301. the way waiting for any change makes me stretch
302. her sadness in finishing a book--she is learning to make friends with characters
303. a good cup of coffee
304. thinking about meeting friends for a book talk even when it isn't finished or enjoyed
305. planning for a family art dreaming session
306. secret plans to celebrate Easter
307. the way he bites his toe nails--gross yes, but so very him (little him) 
308. Simon's and Abigail's doctor
309. a good well-child visit
310. what's turning into a beautiful end of March day 
311. remembering the cat book
312. this post 
313. yesterday's swim visit
314. his honest words to me
315. the changes in possibility that comes with honest words
316. dog doing well
317. pay day,especially when my subtraction didn't match the banks
318. my Kindle
319. and free books
320. the sunshine to take a walk in
321. sitting in the mellow time before everyone is up and together again 
322. knowing it is warm in his room
323.  slow organization
324.  corners to make me re-love our home
325.  emails from sister-in-laws
326.  thinking about a new sister-in-law
327.  all the art sorted and given
328.  an aunt's phone call
329.  promised end dates, and the help we'll need then
330.  walking to practice