The Grateful Tree

Once upon a time in late August, there was a leaky dishwasher....

                 

                            which led to a slow saturation of the wood floor 
causing it to buckle.

                                      which led to tarp ...
and an obnoxiously large, drying tank 
                                                                   ...which hummed, and vibrated and sucked every last drop of water out of our floor boards...........for three whole weeks.

Then the floor was ripped out....

             along with the dishwasher....

                                  to prepare the space for new floor boards...and the refinishing of our entire kitchen...with the fumes, and the sawdust. 

                                                

So we packed up.
                                  And moved out. 
                                 The entire family.

 to grammie and grandpa’s for four days. I'm glad they love us so much ;) 

  But then, we moved back in,  back to a house with the refrigerator and tables in the living room—>

       However, one week later, it is all a distant memory because everything is back to the way it was, with new floors...(with new dents already..)

I have to say, I’ve never been so grateful for a dishwasher or fridge or anything in my whole life. The past two months have been a season of transition and an exercise in being grateful in all circumstances. 

Yes, and truly I do know that there are worse things to be dealing with in life. 

I do recognize that most of the world does not have a dishwasher. 

Most of the world does not have a refrigerator or wood floors. 

However, this whole situation was like an irritating fruit fly to me, buzzing around me, irritating me. 

It’s so easy to start complaining. 
However, complaining and being negative does no good for anyone, especially me.

Being grateful despite circumstances is really a mindset. Positive people choose to see things in an optimistic light. There is an attractive energy that radiates from positive, grateful people. My hope and goal is to raise children who are  grateful, no matter what!

SO, I’ve been trying to have small conversations with Evie during the day which encourage her to recognize her everyday convinces as extraordinary blessings! 

November seems to be a month when everyone pauses to remember all the “good things” in their life. I want this to be a natural mindset everyday! However, I did jump on the Thanksgiving bandwagon and I borrowed an idea from a friend and constructed a “Thankful tree.”

 Walking into Micheals to get the appropriate supplies to construct this creation, it was a little out of my comfort zone because I can hardly sew on a button. However, I was pleased with how the finished product evolved. It’s a simple construction; a flower pot, a Styrofoam ball, an attractive branch from outside and a few cut out leaves. 

Each day Evie and I sit down and she tells me one thing she is grateful for. The irony of her gratitude though is that it usually reflects and directly contrasts my grumbling, ungrateful heart. 

For example, the refrigerator that was placed smack dab right in the middle of the family room area became her object of gratitude for that day. 

The table that was just stained by dumped nail polish was what she recognized as valuable;

She was grateful the floor...

               the pouring rain outside…

and our couch that desperately needed a vacuum. 
Evie is able to see things and blessings for what they are. 

Her insight and her heart of gratitude humbles me everyday, and I learn from her. 

However, she is human and grumbling and whining and complaining drives John and me to almost the brink of insanity sometimes. Basically, she acts sometimes how adults (i.e.. me) want to act, in a "kicking and screaming sort of way."

Everyone has a choice to focus on the good in people and in circumstances rather than the negative. Our kids notice us. They listen to us. Evie picks up every word, attitude and remark from me. They are little sponges, absorbing it all. It makes me consider what I can be grateful for in every moment. I have a lot.