Turning Three

Today you, my dear blog, turn three. 

I can hardly believe the way time travels.

It seems as though I was just introducing myself. 

Oh, we've come a long way!  

This form of self expression has grown me. 

I love being able to contemplate the world. 

Thank you to anyone who reads this.

Your listening is truly a gift. 

And, blog, welcome to another year. 

Things haven't quite tied up from the last. 

Somehow I don't imagine they'll tie up for a good deal longer. 

Time traveling and all. 

 But don't get discouraged. 

Happily ever after is a process. 

Continuing my gratitude journal. . . 

891. watching a fireworks display with friends

892. loud and crazy being meaningful

893. sparkler twirling

894. swinging on the patio with my sisters 4th of July night

895. freedom

896. watching Brave (I found it amusing, with amazing animation, but having a somewhat forced plot)

897. strawberry balsamic and Persian lime olive oil drizzled on salad

898. spotting a friend while running errands

899. fun during our second dress rehearsal

900. quiet afterwards

901. Rose of Sharon beginning to bloom

902. watching a friend's baseball game

903. dust billowing from the ground

904. enthusiastic yelling

905. afternoon with my mom

906. seeing Snow White and the Huntsman (It seems we go to movies in spurts. I found the elements of story in this one spectacular and very thought-provoking. It wasn't nearly as much fun as Brave, but I enjoyed it more)

907. straw-like grass (though I really do want to get rain)

908. checkers games with my sisters

909. no need to "go easy on them" (at all)

910. Wii tennis tournament in honor of Wimbledon

911. cute and comfortable t-shirts

912. happy processes

913. three years of blogging

Blessings~ Megan

Running to the Light

Thankful for everyday. . .   

576. fire pit fun

577. the smell of smoke lingering on my sweater

578. being huddled up in a blanket on our patio swing

579. making "acorns"

580. my mom learning she has a dairy allergy

581. problems going away with the butter, milk, and cheese

582. dairy free

583. counting 107 trick-or-treaters while handing out candy for the first time

584. transformations into Cleopatra, a gypsy, and a panda




585. chili and rice

586. a quarterly science test completed

587. finishing reading Robinson Crusoe (It was okay, but lengthy)

588. my Dutch friend teaching me Dutch things

589. Chipotle

590. watching Cars 2 with my sisters

591. Daddy home after a week away

592. a dinner of pumpkin pancakes

593. adventuring through Trader Joe's

594. Thanksgiving turkey in the fridge

595. calmed wind

Blessings~ Megan

On Vacation

Continuing with gratitude during a week away from home. . .

521. time in the car

522. my mom sharing stories about camping by the lake

523. a nice hotel room

524. Middle Sister and Youngest Sister creating a makeshift Barbie area in between the beds

525. tea from home (courtesy of my mom)

526. my dad telling us about when he went on vacation as a kid

527. refreshing dips in the pool

528. watching Tangled with my sisters

  Youngest Sister added the blue ribbon, as (for the moment :) this is her favorite movie 

529. slower days

530. time with my family

May your week include a break, whether or not you go on vacation~ Megan

Blurry Beginnings

The beginning of school has always been blurry to me. Homeschooling has allowed us to ease into subjects and routine. It's a process similiar to getting in cold water at the swimming pool-- it takes time to get used to, but eventually becomes refreshing. 

This school year something changed. I wasn't able to wade into subjects. The stakes grew higher, the work harder, and the time I had went quicker. Curricula filled with books, questions, and answers pushed me into the murky waters of high school.  

Slowly the waters are becoming clearer. I'm getting more and more comfortable with the change, but I am still trying to work out some kinks. Until then I am glad that my Multitude Monday can blur into Thursday. 

Again counting my gratitude after a few good, but blurry weeks of activity. . . . .

493. homemade granola bars

494. a new lunchbox, needed a lot this past month

495. running outside, barefoot

496. two pitchers of water with lemon in the refrigerator-- one for my mom, and one for me!

497. a hard teacher who made me grow

498. security in God

499. dance. I have always really enjoyed it, but this dance intensive made me see how much I love it.

500. time at home

501. warm walnut bread with dinner

502. my very own laptop

503. friends moving here from "across the pond"

504. swimming in a lake for the first time

505. watermelon

506. watching The Next Food Network Star via Hulu 

507. swimming with good friends

508. this cream helping to heal my first (and last) sunburn of the summer

509. school starting

510. routine back in place

511. reading about the Gospels (this book gives fascinating insight!)

512. dinner at Dean & Deluca last Friday night-- a nice ending to a long week

513. taking a peek at the dessert display there

Definitely worth seeing. . . 

514. eating the "globes" Middle Sister and Youngest Sister baked using vanilla cake mix, food coloring, and white frosting when we got home

515. the way geography and baking can work together deliciously

516. cucumber plant curly cues

517. rain watering for us

518. Youngest Sister baptized!

519. being on track with school

and, most of all,

520. renewed focus

~Megan

Gratitude Journey

Looking deeper,
          Appreciating grace, 
                           Choosing to be thankful.

This is more of a gratitude journey than list.

Continuing to count my blessings. . .

381. a bubble bath

382. pancakes and Cool Whip

383. riding on a carousel

384. Youngest Sister's six pandas

One of these bears is not like the other. . .

385. seeing Soul Surfer (really good!)


386. empty shelves

not for long :)

387. chapstick

388. a color wheel made out of pencils

389. jogging with my dad

390. puzzles

391. a fun time celebrating my dad's birthday

392. 50% off (darling) ribbons

393. sisters enjoyment of the Build-a-Bear website

394. pudding

395. a Simply Irresistible Parisian link-up over at Castles, Crowns, and Cottages this Saturday

May your week and whatever journeys come with it be good~ Megan

Hearts Like Doors

A picture I drew in 2nd or 3rd grade

 186. Poems tucked away-- in both the basement and my memory 

187. Pink treats for a friend's fun movie party 

 188. Dripping chocolate

 189. Mom's wisdom when the brownies cooked too long

190. Mom's wisdom in general



191. A delightful book. Youngest Sister was the first to hear it and Middle Sister read it next. They seem to revel in asking me what part I'm at and then looking at each other and mysteriously saying that I haven't come to the big secret yet. After that they laugh and tell me they're teasing. I know they are but I still wonder. . .

192. Movies to curl up with on cold nights

193. Playing with cute little girls and boys somewhere in between being babies and toddlers in the nursery at our church

194. Two round blue eyes of one little girl looking into mine. Too small for speaking, she sat peacefully on my hip and we traveled around the room. I would ask if something looked fun to play and she would simply shake her head. Content.

195. Quiet confidence more effective in opening (my) heart than any words

Happy Valentine's Day! ~Megan