Every evening before I turn in to go to bed, I always take a few minutes to do a quiet shut down of my home—lights off, start the dishwasher, maybe start a load of laundry to be hung or dried come morning, pick up toys, etc. It’s nothing over the top, no detail cleaning. It is a simple, overall tidying up of my sweet home.

Tonight, after an evening spent with family over fajitas because, obviously, Taco Tuesday, I found myself feeling so grateful for this home. In the quietness of my four walls, my children sound asleep and my husband winding down waiting for me to snuggle up beside him in bed, I find myself reflecting and reliving the day in my mind.

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I see the time I spent hugging and kissing my kids, watching a movie with them, baking in the kitchen, saying prayers to bless our food and our day. I see my mom having made a couple of hours visit to help prep for the holiday ahead. I see the phone conversations with my sister and the FaceTime moments our children shared over breakfast together. I also see my husband’s side of the family gathering in my home to break bread together or in this case tortillas.

I keep finding myself wanting to whisper, “Thank you, house.”

Thank you for sheltering us, keeping us warm and dry. Thank you for being a space where my family and friends can gather. Thank you for that warm meal I was able to make because you equipped me with the tools to do so. And thank you for the little reminders this evening of a day that I can only consider to be a blessing from God.

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And in the stillness of the night, I also see toys left out from a little girl whose imagination soared throughout the day. I spot a glass of tea I sipped on while doing my evening tidying. I notice in the corner clean clothes I was able to wash for my family. I pass over crumbs on the countertop and stovetop from meals I was able to provide. Nursing supplies catch my eye, reminding me of the sweet moment I get to be still with my baby boy every three hours. I also see throw pillows that are dented from the bodies of people who are most important to me.

I see all of the blessings my home has provided my family.

And at the end of each night as I turn down the lights to walk into my bedroom, I shut the door and look back on my day. All I can say, with a gentle smile across my face, is “Goodnight, house, you’ve blessed me well today!”