“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more.

It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal

into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our

past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.”

~Melody Beattie

In the name of gratitude and truthfulness I’ve decided to post a little piece of reality here once a week. Likely just a single picture. See my original post here.

We finally had a good night’s rest, everyone slept soundly in their beds, we forgot the lumpy mattress…And it was our last morning, the only morning we set an alarm, the first morning the little people slept in. We had to wake the stragglers at check-out time. Such a shame.

But I am thankful for the break we enjoyed. For the friend who knows all the good deals and booked the week for us. For the great blessing of homeschooling and self-employement. For mountain views and majesty.

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If you’d like to join in with a reality check of your own, please add a link or note in the comments!

P.S. Moving ::reality check:: to Tuesdays starting next week – see you there!

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more.

It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal

into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our

past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.”

~Melody Beattie

In the name of gratitude and truthfulness I’ve decided to post a little piece of reality here once a week. Likely just a single picture. See my original post here.

Not everyone gets excited about all the meals that happen here. During one of the recent big family dinners, this boy enjoyed his chicken leg with a side of puffed corn cereal. And now dinner is often accompanied by the statement, “I havin’ cer-rear!” He is not one bit impressed when it is denied him. Such is drama of dinnertime with six children.

I am more grateful than I can express for these family dinners, though. The noise, the mess, the complaints, along with the thankfulness, the laughter, and the memories. Despite the sad fact that we no longer fit comfortably around our small table, we squeeze and shuffle, bump elbows and kick shins. Somedays these meals feel like a jumble of chaos and confusion. Somedays there are tears, “see-food”, and bad manners.

But…there is always love; always abundance; always gratitude; always family.

::

If you’d like to join in with a reality check of your own, please add a link or note in the comments!

P.S. Moving ::reality check:: to Tuesdays starting next week – see you there!

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more.

It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal

into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our

past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.”

~Melody Beattie

In the name of gratitude and truthfulness I’ve decided to post a little piece of reality here once a week. Likely just a single picture. See my original post here.

I’m proud of my budding artists even if I didn’t necessarily appreciate their canvas. Thankful for the sweet older sisters who tried to clean up.

(And also wishing I knew a great way to clean grout naturally…)

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If you’d like to join in with a reality check of your own, please add a link or note in the comments!

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more.

It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal

into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our

past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.”

~Melody Beattie

In the name of gratitude and truthfulness I’ve decided to post a little piece of reality here once a week. Likely just a single picture. See my original post here.

For his first 2.75 years, he was mama’s boy. This week for the first time he pushed me away when he was hurt; he asked for daddy when I tried to help; he announced, “Not you! Daddy do it!” over and over. I know I didn’t do anything wrong, I know I’m not the centre of his world, I know that it’s healthy and part of growing up. I’d like to think I am a bigger person knowing what I do. I’m not. It stings. I feel a little shattered.

But I’m getting over it because that’s growing up. And we’re all doing it (even me).

(Really, I am fine. He let me read his story AND tuck him into bed tonight. I am grateful.)

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If you’d like to join in with a reality check of your own, please add a link or note in the comments!