stillness.

It's seven fifty-three AM. The past 2 morning's I have struggled to get up at seven, a half hour after the alarms goes off. I'm an early riser who has a husband that would rather not get up in the morning. He instead rolls back over after the alarm and sleeps until the very last minute. Well, today, the very last minute wasn't even recognized by me as I was still sleeping! Funny how our bodies just decide they're too tired to rouse on certain days.

But, now, all is quiet. Last night, if you walked into the living room of our house, Hudson would have said, "Welcome to Game Night." Okay, it didn't really start out as a game night. We just started playing Sorry Sliders which led into Candyland which led into Uno after we decided a bunch of the other games were too hard for 6 year olds who can't read. BUT, he had never played Uno. After about 25 rounds of it (seriously), he had won at least 5 of them. And, what started out as me and Madi and Hudson, ending up being me, Madi, Hudson, Patrick, and dad.

Then, Bryce, Hunter, and mom got home. Hudson was wired, since he was allowed to stay up til cousin Bryce got here. He was bouncing off the walls. :) Might I add that, while mom and Hunter were going to get Bryce, he was asking Madi all kinds of questions about Bryce, with an occasional, "like a good neighbor, state farm is there" at the top of his lungs. hahahaha... what a blessed night!

Back to seven fifty-three AM, which has now turned into eight AM. I'm sitting in the quietness of this tired household. It has been quite the week for everyone here. There's no school today, and I think, for once, all the kids are still sleeping! I'm relishing this silence. Not because last night was too loud. I like it that way. But, because I am thankful for the times that my parents get to breathe before the day starts (my mom will probably read this and laugh, since there is a possibility children are just being quiet in her room, instead of sleeping). And, I am thankful for some quiet time to pray. I am revelling in the stillness of this beautiful morning.

I am thankful for cozy nights.
I am thankful for the frost this morning (it's making it seem a little more like November 12).
I am thankful for the crazy family night we're going to have tonight.
I am thankful for the sun shining through my window.
I am thankful for toilet cleaning jobs.
I am thankful that Christmas stuff is up in the stores (I think Jesus deserves more than 25 days of recognition).
I am thankful for this tan room.
I am thankful for April, in which Patrick will go back to his normal schedule and i"ll have him every Saturday!
I am thankful for life.
I am thankful for siblings, game nights, and giggles.

Thanksgiving is in 14 days. Be thankful.