Homeschool started today, and with it a new routine for all three of us - the art gratitude journal.  The plan is that each day we will journal to a quote from this book:
a wonderful collection, by season, of quotes relating to gratitude and peace. There are religious quotes from all world faiths, as well as secular quotes. I bought it last year after seeing it on my moment of Zen blog, SouleMama. I decided to have the quotes pre-written for the kids, so they could just glue them in and focus on the art. With Madeline's motor issues and Max's distaste for writing (unfortunately cultivated during first grade at public school, where benchmarks dictate paragraph writing for six and seven year old's, despite the developmental inappropriateness of it), I wanted them to see this as a joyful exploration, not an assignment. Here are their results:
Max bought a rainbow colored pencil at the HSC (Home School association of California) conference Saturday, and was busily experimenting with what it could do. Madeline produced her page and two more before we moved on. I was stumped at first, trying to decide what I would do with my page, when I saw Piggy on the table. If you know my son, then you know Piggy. Piggy has been his constant companion for the last six years. He has lost one ear and his tail, and the second ear is a tangle of threads. He was once a lovely peach color, but now is essentially gray. But he has provided so much comfort over the years, and so much love, that he really is a figure of grace.

Yes, we have found a new morning routine.

Of course I am thankful for my family and all of the people who bring joy to my life, for our health, our employment, and the time we are able to spend together. But today, I reflected on some of the smaller things that I am also thankful for:

fair trade, organic coffee at Trader Joe's

Gluten free bloggers, especially Karina's Kitchen, Elena's Pantry, the Nourishing Gourmet and Gluten Free Girl (you all have brought so much good food to our family!)

.01 and .005 Micron pens

a cabinet full of herbs

fall leaves

cardigan sweaters

flannel sheets

polar fleece socks

sleeping children (fingers crossed on that one!)

coffee (did I mention that already?)

and for all of you that have clicked on this little blog. Happy Thanksgiving!