an ordinary mom

if I can do this, you can too

Multitude Monday

Giving Thanks In Every Season

I think it was Thursday.  The sun didn’t exactly shine bright, but the overcast haziness outside was lighter for a while.  There were shadows beneath our trees, shadows that indicate light.  It wasn’t much, but it was enough to lift my spirits for an afternoon.

It was my light at the end of the tunnel.

The tunnel of another long Minnesota winter.  The tunnel lined with cold, hard, gray day after cold, hard, gray day.

Friday and Saturday brought the return of cold, hard, and gray.  I felt the difference, literally, in my body, in my mood, in my mind, and I thought about the difference.  The difference between an almost palpable energetic optimism and the feeling of exhausted indifference taking hold, the difference a little sunlight can make.

I realized the date, the fact that we are only a few days away from the end of January.  I inhaled deeply, and exhaled, attempting to blow away the gloom.

“We’ve almost made it!”

The thought ran through my head shouting, hooting, and hollering like a high school kid whose football team just took the conference title and was on its way to state.  “Woohoo! Yes! Way-To-Go!”  “High-five!!”  I was seriously celebrating inside.

I was gonna make it.

And here we are.  It’s Monday, January 31st, the last day of the month that can be so brutal, the month I usually have to drag myself through, by sheer will power many days.  The book of January is closing, and I’ve only had a few dark moments, brief flashes of that dark place “a good mother”, “a good Christian”, tries not to admit to going.  Depression.  A few moments, brief flashes, that did not overtake, did not defeat.

This is a victory, a small, and yet monumental, personal victory.

So much to be thankful for-

676. pan after pan of cinnamon scones

677. moments of victory

678. knowing that spring always comes, every year

679. thoughts of starting seeds for summer plants

680. 32 weeks of healthy pregnancy

681. finding a forgotton bag of baby girl clothes in the garage

682. a husband holding my belly, grinning wide

683. bean bags

684. silly toddler squeals of delight over bean bags

685. a sister playing so sweetly with a little brother

686. chubby little boy feet

687. whispy blonde little girl hair

688. mint chocolate chip ice cream

689. a husband optimistic about business

690. a sweet book to bless this mother’s heart

A Multitude Monday Giveaway
(more Blogoversary fun! still time to enter 1st giveaway!)

Ann’s new book, One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are, is out!  Her (blog) writing has challenged and inspired me so much the past couple years.  Her book is challenging and inspiring me now, and I’d like to gift a copy to one of you, praying that you would be challenged and inspired as well.  Inspired to a life of gratitude, living in true thankfulness for the multitudes of blessings He bestows on each of us every day, undeserving as we are…

How to enter:
Leave a comment on this post, name just one thing you are thankful for today, by midnight (CST) on Wednesday, February 2nd.  Easy-peasy, n’est-ce pas? 

And for those of you competitive types, who’d like extra chances to win, you may…

– “Join” An Ordinary Mom on Google Friend Connect (left sidebar)
– “Follow” @Ordinary_Mom on Twitter
– “Tweet” about this giveaway (you can use the share button)
– “Like” An Ordinary Mom on facebook
– “Share” this post on facebook

Leave a separate comment for each entry, you know the drill…

Ok, ready? Name something you’re thankful for today…

Oh, and one more thing- while I normally try not to be all about self-promotion, ’cause that’s really not cool, just for this week, you know, since it’s my little blog party week, I’ll be adding this little plea for validation “vote for me” button, to my posts. If you feel so inclined to click, I thank you kindly in advance :-)

Visit Top Mommy Blogs To Vote For Me!

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Comments

  2. I am so thankful for answered prayer. I had something I was really struggling with last week, and yesterday I realized I hadn’t really, fully given it to God. I had prayed about it many times, but I just hadn’t let go – if that makes sense. Not even a half hour after I did I received a phone call with an answer to my prayer. The answer itself was as much of a blessing as the lesson that I learned was. My prayer had actually been answered two days before, I just didn’t know about it until I came to the point where I knew I needed to fully surrender it to God.

    Reply

  3. Thankful I’ve made it through with less depression this year too although the fatigue has been hitting me hard. I’m happy to bid a fond farewell to January! Adieu!
    😉

    Reply

  11. I am thankful for the spontaneous love and affection my teenage sons show me EVERY day. For coffee delivered to my chilled hands, a heating bag placed over my shoulders, a fleece blanket wrapped around me and kisses on my cheeks, hugs queezing me tight!

    Reply

  14. I’m thankful for my daughter who made breakfast(pancakes!) this morning. She even made me a cup of Earl Grey tea.

    I love your list too, BTW.

    (If I win, I hope it’s OK that I’m in Canada.)

    Reply

  16. Today I am thankful for your giveaway. A PERFECT way to celebrate the end of January…I have similar issues with this long (sometimes seemingly) endless post holiday month! For an idea I was encouraged to pursue by writers I admire.
    For sweet children who love me even when I’m a grump.
    For the grace to encourage…
    LIB
    http://bit.ly/fozHzA

    Reply

  21. I am thankful for so many things…our warm house, a job for my husband, music to lift my spirits. I hope I win the book! It’s on my list of books to read in 2011.

    Reply

  29. I am thankful for lunches out with the girls. It was fantastic today! And even though I’m in CT I feel your long winter pain. But, like you said, we’re going to make it!!

    Reply

  35. I meant to tell ya in my first comment (but got excited about the giveaway) that I love #688 Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream is my favorite especially the green one. I’m not even sure if there’s a difference in taste I just like it a little better!

    And I’m now following you via Twitter!

    Reply

  41. Mostly, everyday I’m thankful for all the prayers that I thought were unanswered….but were really just answered differently than I thought I wanted or needed.
    And I’m also thankful for markers being washable.

    Reply

  44. I am thankful for friendship. God has given me some amazing friends to be honest with, pray with & laugh with. I would love to win this book.

    Reply

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