Saying thanks

I know it is not thanksgiving, but just like valentines I like to think that there are other days of the year we can talk about thankfulness and love. This blog will cover a bit of both today.
The majority of you already know about my crazy desire to make my kiddos fresh waffles with whipped cream every morning. Last week I noticed the waffles were not being eaten and ended up being thrown out after a few days. I hate waste, and I took that as a sign that they no longer were thrilled with the waffles, so I stopped making them. Once the kiddos found out that this was happening, there was a huge uproar at the house. They continue to want the waffles, it was just that I had added too much other choices and they could not eat as much waffles anymore. (I started cutting up fresh fruit...and had homemade cookies for afterschool)It was, however: unanimous that they wanted to still have waffles every morning.
So this week it started again. The girls scarfed down those waffles and barely left any for their brother who wakes up after they leave. By the time Colton had made it down to eat I was already gone off to get ready for a busy day. I heard something quite surprising from my bathroom as Colton was leaving- he said thanks mom!
The next morning this same scene was carried out with him coming up to me and saying thanks for the waffles mom. Thanks. It is one word that I don't think I hear enough. I know why too, I don't happen to use it enough. My other BFF Becci will tell you how often she needs to remind me to use my manners with my children. In my defense that is because she is in the throws of raising a smart 2 year old and teaching manners, whereas I am past that point and seem to have forgotten how to use mine anymore.
How incredibly sad. I don't know how to say thanks. I have known for awhile that I had a problem with saying thanks. I was in a bible study once that taught us how to pray, the first thing they said is to start with thank you Lord. I found this awkward because most of my conversations with God were about me. Things I wanted and things I didn't want. I learned how to say thank you to God when Colton was sick. At that moment in my life I realized how important each day was with your family, and I was thankful. I vowed not to take anything else in this world for granted. So when I start talking to God I start with, thank you. Thank you for my children, I could have been infertile, thank you for my husband- he truly loves me for who I am.
Here is a list that I use to guide me. Some days I have new things to add to the list, like thank you for a great doctor's appointment with the kids. Generally though it goes like this:
1. Thank you for dying for me (may I never take this for granted)
2. Thank you for giving me children ( may I remember they are a gift..even when...)
3. Thank you for my health (truly a gift)
4. Thank you for my Hub (another gift)
5. Thank you for my sister and her amazing daughter (I have learned so much about You through her)
6. Thank you for christian parents (the foundation that goes on)
7. Thank you for my friends (not to be taken for granted)
8. Thank you for my job (even when I am not so happy with it!)
9. Thank you for loving me (even when I am not too love able)
10. Thank you for my church (so blessed to live where I can worship openly)
11. Thank you for my Pastors (they have all blessed me- so please bless them too)
12. Thank you for understanding me when no one else can!
Last night when I got home there was a gift for me...my driveway was cleared. I went into the house and found my son and asked him if he had done that. Thank you, I said, and I meant it. What a blessing. I added that to my list of thank yous in my prayers.
So, when you have to do thank you notes or just have someone holding the door open, just remember that thank you goes a long long way!
Taa taa for now,
Kimmy