I have to admit that I enjoy our neighbour's Christmas lights more than our own. From this window by the couch, I have the perfect view of them and they are so gorgeous. I probably enjoy them more than they do too, because it is difficult to admire your own lights unless you leave the house at night. For the past few evenings I have enjoyed their Christmas lights next to this gorgeous fake firelog on our HDTV.
I'm so thankful for Jackson's magical purple bedroom and all of the imaginary places we go when we're in there. Tonight we built "Ponyville". The great thing about kids is that nothing has to be perfect when they pretend. We used a wooden blocks box for the gazebo, and covered up her plastic oven with a flowery receiving blanket to make a mountain. On top of the moutain we sat a piece of cardboard from one of her pony boxes that had a picture of the real "Ponyville". Under the table was the garage for all of the cars--Jaks' second passion right now. She's been in bed for an hour now, but I still hear her playing in Ponyville. I wonder what will change in that bedroom once her brother moves in.
The change table is one of my favourite places to be these days and I'm so thankful for the sanity it brings me.This is where baby Joey is in his own little baby heaven. He lies under the teddy bear mobile that cousin Leah bought for Jaks (she loved it too) and just stares up at it as though it were the best invention there ever was. He loves it when I spin the bears and sing the song, (sing to Frere Jaques)"Round the bears go, round the bears go...around the sun..around the sun...round and round the bears go, round and round the bears go... now they're done, now they're done.
Tonight I'm thankful for the shady green meadow just outside of the library. It is a meadow to me, despite running along the busiest street in town. The trees are as old as the books inside, and Jaks and I have enjoyed reading and cuddling under them for over two years now. A shared story is that much more special under the shade of a giant tree. I have to add here that on a cold day this winter when we drove to the library and practically ran to the car to get out of the wind, Jaks suggested we sit under the trees for a story. Unfortunately we had baby brother with us, who wasn't appropriately dressed for such spontaneity.
We've discovered a new beach in town, and I'm so thankful that most other Pentictonites have not! I'm calling it Ellis beach because it's at the end of Ellis street and has a plaque on it discussing a Mr. Ellis who once lived in the area. It's just a few blocks away from the busiest spots in town, yet we've only seen two or three other families there each time we've been. There's no public washrooms yet, but I suppose that would bring the public.
This week I'm thankful for the blue church. On Sunday people of all ages told stories to inspire the high school grads in the congregation. One man told of how he was dug out of the rubble as a baby after a bomb landed on his house. A woman who suffered from a stroke described the process of learning to speak, read, and write again, and how all she wants to do is to be able to work. A retired woman stood up and talked about how her life is busier and more wonderful than ever. I held back the tears a number of times, and thanked God for leading me into this inspiring place.
Today I'm thankful for our twin thrift shops that sit side by side on Main St in Penticton. This is where we buy children's books for ten cents, including classics like Judy Blume's Are you There God it's me Margaret, for future reading. We also get fifty cent puzzles, two dollar hoodies, and ten cent wine glasses. Did I mention our four dollar coffee table?
My newly decorated sunroom with its fake palm tree and all of its red accents. Now that the good weather is here we spend more time reading, sipping coffee, and chatting in here than anywhere else. It's also a cozy spot to work at night on my new laptop.
Our garden is blooming again. I'm thankful for Gramma and Kelly for helping me get our garden started last year, when I couldn't tell the difference between a weed and a strawberry. They shared their plants, time, and gardening tips, and everytime I'm playing in there I think of how blessed I am to have found such a wonderful sister and mother-in-law.
I'm thankful for our limegreen kitchen with our new spray-painted black dishwasher that we rescued from the back lane. With Jackson's multicoloured magnetic letters and numbers, on its front, I could easily see our free dishwasher in a magazine centerfold. And, oh how pleasant it is to wake up to tidy counters without that horrid dishrack.
Jaks and I are blessed to have discovered Picnic Park. We named it ourselves, but it's the perfect spot to spread out blankies, blow bubbles, read books, and pig out. Last week I thought we'd try somewhere different to picnic, but when we got there Jaks said she wanted to go to "the right place." Picnic Park has the greenest grass and the most polite birds in all of Pentiction.
Thank God for San Jose del Cabo, where we enjoyed our first family vacation. I can't help but arrange pictures of the surf, sand, and sunshine all over our home, so we can dream of returning one day soon.
