Thankful in Words

I lay flat and quiet, cheek pressed against the freezing snow.  When Will's footsteps faded to other side of our man-made sledding hill, I moved one arm an inch up and pushed myself forward with one foot.  My coat crinkled against the crust and I stopped, holding my breath.


It took me a long time to move again.  Finally, when Will grew impatient and started yelling, "I give up!"
I waited to move until he was at his loudest pitch of the phrase.  Grinning, I knew not one of us was going to give up, even if he came down from the hill to look for us, like he threatened to do.


He was wiser than to expose himself to the anger of me and my brothers, though...he stayed on the hill.


I moved forward again.  Now I was in a tricky place - beyond two trees close together, there was no real cover against the stark white snow.  What if I go between the trees? Hmm.  Could be painful.


From Will's place, I was pretty sure I melded into the tricky moonlight gradient of black, gray, and white.  But the silence of the trees wouldn't mask my breathing, or my noisy snow clothes.

not my image

That's the kind of thing I do with my brothers.  Risk my sanity, strength, and voice while playing pirates, fencing, and yelling across the pasture.  Or in this instance, freezing my chin off while pushing myself on my belly through the snowy woods at night, trying to get to our sledding hill while not being seen.  (Pretty impossible, by the way.)

But it's this kind of thing that makes me feel thankful ...
- For my four brothers
- For hot chocolate and a warm house
- For snow
- For quiet
- For a challenge

Every night for thirty days, I'm going to be writing down in my notebook what I'm thankful for.  I've already done it for three days and it's amazing how much sweeter life seems to me.  Sometimes, I'll put what I'm thankful for in posts, like this one.  But only sometimes! :)

Next time, I'll give you your second fencing lesson.  Or a book review on Leviathan...we'll see what I feel like first.  :D

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P.S.  I'm also happy to say that God helped me get my poetry muse back! I was worried that I couldn't write poetry anymore, but the other day, when I was supposed to be writing a school poem, I thought of this great one and wrote it down and needless to say *takes deep breath*... I am so happy!


P.P.S.  Speaking of thankfulness, I've just discovered Ara's blog, Shilah! I think she's my new favorite blogger.  Also, my two pals  have started blogs and I know they'd appreciate it if you head on over and help them get started in the blog world.

My dear friend Amber at Blessing Blog

and

Pheona! (remember her?) Who I'm happy to announce is using that screen name - anyway, she has a babysitting blog at lemons and lemonade



Love!

Ellyn