random notes

i apologize to you who are my "readers", if I may use the term, for writing so little the last few weeks.  Life's been a bit chaotic.  i feel as though the cycle of change that scott and I have been in over the last months is now spinning faster and faster and we are falling into this vortex of no-turning-back.  not that i'm scared of the vortex, i'm just finding the spinning a little tiring!

Lately i've been struggling with the lack of thankfulness displayed on a minute-to-minute basis by my children (who are 6 and 3).  i've composed a proverb (yes, i write proverbs now that i'm a blogger.  this is my first).
yelling at a child to be thankful
does not a thankful child make
i feel like the sphinx from "mystery men".  yes, there has been some verbage cast across the kitchen in recent days (i learned to sing loudly from my diaphram and it comes in handy when displaying unholy fits of anger).  "Just eat it and be thankful!!"  "Do you know some children don't eat for DAYS ON END!!!".  i almost brought African starvation into it but i stopped short - who wants to be typical?
so here's my question:  how do you cultivate the spirit of thankfulness and gratitude in small children?  Not just with food, but with toys and time and sacrifice?

and then there are moments that take your breath away as a parent, and lead me into greater thankfulness and gratitude for my kids.  I went grocery shopping with Carter the other day and it was raining, no, downpouring.  I stopped in the driveway, the car filled with bags, (can i just add here that I budgeted $80 and my total was $80.06), and I looked out at the rain and a little voice, filled with conviction, came from behind me:
"we can do dis mommy". 

maybe this is where it starts, the more I show my gratitude for my children, the more that spirit of thankfulness will permeate our home and interactions. 

but maybe not. :)

we go to Saskatoon next week.  I will try and blog as soon as I am able.  thanks for your patience with me.  i have a few commissions in queue, i'll post pics as soon as they're done.