Last time we skied we left the little one with Grammy. This time we decided we would try to take her along. She is our timid one, she doesn’t like to try new things. She went down the bunny hill a couple of times holding tight to her daddy and then she was done. Her and I went into the lodge and played Leapster for a couple of hours. Near the end of our day she decided she wanted to try one more time.

This time she went down the bunny hill all by herself. We decided we would take her up on the chairlift. She was a little scared as it climbed higher and higher. She was really nervous when we held her hands to get off at the top. She held on tight to her daddy’s hand and they took off down the hill. She screamed the whole way down. When they got to the bottom, she wanted to do it again.

It felt like a milestone today. The baby isn’t a baby anymore. She is starting to be able to do everything her big sisters can do. It was a happy/sad kind of moment. It isn’t easy to think that my baby is growing up, but it was a great day.

Another week full of moments of gratitude.

#311 4 days teaching in 4 different classrooms

#312 Hubby vacation days with nothing to do but spend time together

#313 Working out with the track team (and kind of being able to keep up 16 years later)

#314 Overcoming my fear of the chair lift

#315 Spending the day in the snow with friends

#316 Loving on adorable twin baby girls

#317 An evening away with my mom and sister

#318 Sunday night early bedtime

#319 Finishing a 700+ page book with my oldest

#320 Grandpa helping out with the girls

I never know what a new week will bring. But I am grateful for all the memories that happen during when I least expect it. The list gets longer, the memories grow fonder and my heart is overflowing with joy and love.

My girls can fight like cats and dogs, but when they get along, it absolutely melts my heart. We have spent a lot of time indoors this winter so they have spent a lot of time together. When I see sites like this one, I have to take a picture. I have to remember it because unfortunately winter isn’t over. . .

My list continues:

#301 A week at home to get my house in order.

#302 Spending time in the weight room with my hubby.

#303 Spending the weekend with old friends

#304 Three teenage boys as overnight guests, since we will only have teenage girls in this house

#305 Feeding three teenage boys breakfast, a little glimpse of what it would be like to feed boys everyday

#306 Mexican food, worth the miles I had to run to eat it

#307 God keeping us safe on treacherous roads

#308 Family to take us in when it wasn’t safe to drive home

#309 40 degree weather, yes, that is glorious in South Dakota in March

#310 Track Season, excited to be back to help coach a few Bulldogs on the track I ran on 16 years ago

Before I crawl out of bed on a Monday morning I take a deep breath. Every morning gets a little crazy around here getting kids off to school, but Monday can be extra trying.

No one really wants to roll out of bed after a fun weekend. We are scrambling to find hats and gloves. And then they are off and I can breathe.

Even though it gets a little crazy, as soon as everyone is where they are supposed to be I am thankful for Mondays. I was greeted this morning with three e-mails from dear friends filled with encouragement, wisdom and prayer. Time spent in Romans 8 encouraged me with a scripture to take with me through the week.

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

#291 Extra special time spent with my husband

#292 Coffee with an old friend

#293 Four busy days of work

#294 Celebrating Dr. Seuss birthday and Read Across America

#295 Getting to the gym 6 days last week

#296 New Cookbooks

#297 Finished Projects

#298 Made from Scratch Chocolate Cake

#299 Sleepovers hosted by other mom’s

#300 Prayers from Friends

This is the day
That the lord has made
We will rejoice
And be glad in it

I woke up this morning and this song keeps running through my mind. No the snow has not melted, but the sun is shining. It should get into the 20′s today. That is a blessing. I am sure that the sun being out is a reason to rejoice, but I am realizing that…

I need to learn to rejoice in the days that the sun isn’t out.

I need to learn to rejoice in the days when the skies are gray.

I need to learn to rejoice in the days that life just isn’t going the way that I had it planned.

Adding to my list always helps me to remember all the reasons I have to rejoice. It reminds of the many things that I take for granted. It reminds me that the little things in life are not little things.

#281 The Coach that really cares about the girls on his team, not just about the win

#282 The daughter that is passionate about the game but handles losing with grace

#283 Ending the season with a win

#284 A girl that loves to create

#285 A girl that loves to give her creations away to everyone she loves

#286 Seeing my girls on stage sitting at a Grand Piano making music

#287 Beautiful music from talented kids

#288 Making time for the gym

#289 Sitting at the table hand-stitching with my mom

#290 Saying yes to a sleepover (knowing that we can catch up on sleep later)

My list is coming a little late this week. Not because I am lacking gifts to add to my gratitude list, just enjoying Valentine’s Day with my family. I love Valentine’s Day. A day all about Love. I know the argument of showing that Love everyday. . . which is important, but I still love that their is a holiday to focus on it.

It was not a day filled with Candy and Flowers. Instead I was greeted in the morning with his words.

“It has been a growing 11 years in our marriage and our faith. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you!”

Words to me are a beautiful gift.

They never fade.

They never die.

I cherish them.

#261 A Week of Love Notes

#262 Making Valentine’s Boxes with my girls

#263 Spending a day teaching Music

#264 Snow Melting

#265 Sun Shining

#266 Playing Heart BINGO with a class full of 2nd graders

#267 Celebrating my nephew’s 17th Birthday

#268 Listening to my niece sing a solo (I had never heard her sing and she is amazing)

#269 Running 2 miles without dying

#270 Realizing I don’t need to look for Joy. I have already found it in Him.

But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. Psalm 71:14