Okay, so I have been doing Thankful Thursdays for a while now, and of course have a never-ending supply of things to be thankful for. But, one of my MANY reasons for doing Thankful Thursday posts, is to inspire others to be thankful as well. So this morning I had an idea. I would like to do a Thankful Thursday post using some of the things you all are thankful for.
Try to think of something specific, yet out of the ordinary, that is a blessing from the past few days in your life. Then send it to me via email, or private message on facebook. Please don't post it as a comment if you want it to be in the actual blog post. I would like to use your first name along with your quote, but if you do not want me to, then just put anonymous please after what you are thankful for, and I will post it as anonymous. I just think it will be fun to see what others are thankful for. I also pray that this will help us to be more aware of the blessings in our lives, and inspire others to be more thankful in their lives too. So...help, please :-). Send me your thankful Thursday quotes between now and next Wednesday night, and I will post them as next Thursday's Thankful Thursday blog post. I can't wait to hear from you! Happy Thankful Thursday!
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Thankful Thursday
Wow! My Thankful Thursday list is long this week. God's blessings are abundant, if we but take the time to look for them...
*A few minutes alone, in the midst of a CRAZY week
*A friend who's encouragement blessed my heart
*The vet that was out of medicine, and gave us FREE samples instead
*Relaxing piano music on Pandora radio
*Fun times with friends we love
*A sick child that is feeling better
*A long awaited game, finally here
*A great night's sleep after a long, busy week
*A son whose heart is in the right place, and who is man enough to own up to his mistakes, even if it means he might get in trouble
*Blessings in disguise
*My children using their talents to serve the Lord
*Prayers of friends
*The privilege of prayer
*Books that make me think
*A daughter who is competitive, and tries her best
*Deer that stay on the side of the road
*A precious few minutes of one on one time with my young prince
*Peace in the midst of uncertainties
*A grandmother who is feeling better.
*An answered prayer for one of our teens, and a big smile on her face
*A teen who accepted Christ after Ignite
*A husband who has a burden for lost souls
*Valuable lessons learned from a woman on her own thankful journey
*Circumstances that humble us, and draw us closer to the Lord
*The playful banter of siblings
Dear Lord, I thank you for all of this, and SO much more!
*A few minutes alone, in the midst of a CRAZY week
*A friend who's encouragement blessed my heart
*The vet that was out of medicine, and gave us FREE samples instead
*Relaxing piano music on Pandora radio
*Fun times with friends we love
*A sick child that is feeling better
*A long awaited game, finally here
*A great night's sleep after a long, busy week
*A son whose heart is in the right place, and who is man enough to own up to his mistakes, even if it means he might get in trouble
*Blessings in disguise
*My children using their talents to serve the Lord
*Prayers of friends
*The privilege of prayer
*Books that make me think
*A daughter who is competitive, and tries her best
*Deer that stay on the side of the road
*A precious few minutes of one on one time with my young prince
*Peace in the midst of uncertainties
*A grandmother who is feeling better.
*An answered prayer for one of our teens, and a big smile on her face
*A teen who accepted Christ after Ignite
*A husband who has a burden for lost souls
*Valuable lessons learned from a woman on her own thankful journey
*Circumstances that humble us, and draw us closer to the Lord
*The playful banter of siblings
Dear Lord, I thank you for all of this, and SO much more!
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Game Time!
Our school began a football program this year. Just in time for the young prince to play. Here are a few pictures from the very first game...
The oldest princess is a cheerleader. She got pretty sick after the game started. But she was a trooper, and rallied back to cheer with the squad before the end of the game. I love my girl!
Going in to play! And for his very first time, he did great! The team didn't win, but WOW they all did a fantastic job, and held the other team well. We are looking for great things out of this wonderful group of young men!
Who knew I would ever be excited about football? But, I think I just might be able to get into it after all!
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Because I'm a Teacher, and Teachers Know EVERYTHING
His big brown eyes grew bigger and he sucked in his breath and said, "WOW!!! You REALLY DO know EVERYTHING!!!"
My first year of teaching, I taught a combined first and second grade class. One of the preschool teachers was my helper each afternoon. One of my students had a younger sibling in her class, and she would share Jonathan stories with me each day, as he was often in trouble. So, I knew Jonathan from teaching his older sibling, and from my helper's colorful stories of him.
One day I was sitting at the lunch table with my class, and Jonathan's class was in the process of lining up right beside our table. Jonathan pushed the little boy in front of him. I said, "Jonathan! We do not push!" and proceeded to have him apologize to the other little boy.
My first grade student sitting across the table from me said, "Mrs. Hodges, how did you know his name?"
Feeling playful, I said, "Because I am a teacher, and teachers know EVERYTHING."
To which my student replied, "Okay, if you know EVERYTHING...(it was at this point where I knew I was in serious trouble and immediately began praying for the Lord to return before he could finish his question)...what is God doing RIGHT NOW?"
Whew! No problem! I had this one covered! I answered him, "Nathan, He's watching you."
His big brown eyes grew bigger, and he sucked in his breath and said, "WOW!!! You REALLY DO know EVERYTHING!!!"
It was adorable, and at that moment, I probably could have carried it farther and had him convinced that I was the smartest teacher in the world. But, I didn't. I told Him I was teasing, and that I didn't really know EVERYTHING.
I still don't know everything, or even most things. But one thing I DO know. And that is this...wherever you are right now, God IS watching you. He sees your struggles. He knows your pain. He loves you. So much that He sacrificed His only son to be able to spend eternity with you. He loves you more than anyone else could ever even think of loving you. And you will only find satisfaction for that longing in your soul through a personal relationship with Him. Satisfaction won't come from a boyfriend, or a girlfriend, a husband or wife. It won't come from a different sized clothing. It won't come from being in the "in" crowd. It won't come from a bottle, or a pill. It won't come from better grades, or a newer, faster car. It won't come. It won't come from ANYTHING less than a personal relationship with the God who created you, and knows EXACTLY what you need.
If you don't already have a personal relationship with God, please speak with someone you know who can show you from the Bible how to have that relationship with the God who is watching you right now. The God who loves you and is waiting for you to come to Him. The God who knows EVERYTHING, and that includes your name. Seek Him today. Let Him satisfy that longing in your soul that ONLY He can satisfy.
Oh, and one more thing I know, if you choose to have that personal relationship with Him, you will NEVER regret it.
Isaiah 55:6
Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
Acts 2:21
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
My first year of teaching, I taught a combined first and second grade class. One of the preschool teachers was my helper each afternoon. One of my students had a younger sibling in her class, and she would share Jonathan stories with me each day, as he was often in trouble. So, I knew Jonathan from teaching his older sibling, and from my helper's colorful stories of him.
One day I was sitting at the lunch table with my class, and Jonathan's class was in the process of lining up right beside our table. Jonathan pushed the little boy in front of him. I said, "Jonathan! We do not push!" and proceeded to have him apologize to the other little boy.
My first grade student sitting across the table from me said, "Mrs. Hodges, how did you know his name?"
Feeling playful, I said, "Because I am a teacher, and teachers know EVERYTHING."
To which my student replied, "Okay, if you know EVERYTHING...(it was at this point where I knew I was in serious trouble and immediately began praying for the Lord to return before he could finish his question)...what is God doing RIGHT NOW?"
Whew! No problem! I had this one covered! I answered him, "Nathan, He's watching you."
His big brown eyes grew bigger, and he sucked in his breath and said, "WOW!!! You REALLY DO know EVERYTHING!!!"
It was adorable, and at that moment, I probably could have carried it farther and had him convinced that I was the smartest teacher in the world. But, I didn't. I told Him I was teasing, and that I didn't really know EVERYTHING.
I still don't know everything, or even most things. But one thing I DO know. And that is this...wherever you are right now, God IS watching you. He sees your struggles. He knows your pain. He loves you. So much that He sacrificed His only son to be able to spend eternity with you. He loves you more than anyone else could ever even think of loving you. And you will only find satisfaction for that longing in your soul through a personal relationship with Him. Satisfaction won't come from a boyfriend, or a girlfriend, a husband or wife. It won't come from a different sized clothing. It won't come from being in the "in" crowd. It won't come from a bottle, or a pill. It won't come from better grades, or a newer, faster car. It won't come. It won't come from ANYTHING less than a personal relationship with the God who created you, and knows EXACTLY what you need.
If you don't already have a personal relationship with God, please speak with someone you know who can show you from the Bible how to have that relationship with the God who is watching you right now. The God who loves you and is waiting for you to come to Him. The God who knows EVERYTHING, and that includes your name. Seek Him today. Let Him satisfy that longing in your soul that ONLY He can satisfy.
Oh, and one more thing I know, if you choose to have that personal relationship with Him, you will NEVER regret it.
Isaiah 55:6
Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
Acts 2:21
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Thankful Thursday
I love taking the time to share each week little snapshots of the big ways God has blessed our family. I hope reading them reminds you of ways He has blessed you! God is so awesome! He deserves all glory and praise!
*Safe travels for the volleyball team
*Air conditioning
*The good news from a far state was true :-)!
*Lessons learned at the marriage conference
*Fun times with good Christian friends
*A wonderful, godly husband
*Both volleyball teams winning their games :-)!!!!!!
*A book that is stretching me, and challenging me spiritually
*The safe travels of family members
*Ignite teens that invite their friends
*Unspoken blessings beyond anything I could ask or imagine
*Daily ministry opportunities
*A lady that I don't even know that faithfully prays daily for the prayer request that is nearest and dearest to my heart. What a blessing is that!
*Safe travels for the volleyball team
*Air conditioning
*The good news from a far state was true :-)!
*Lessons learned at the marriage conference
*Fun times with good Christian friends
*A wonderful, godly husband
*Both volleyball teams winning their games :-)!!!!!!
*A book that is stretching me, and challenging me spiritually
*The safe travels of family members
*Ignite teens that invite their friends
*Unspoken blessings beyond anything I could ask or imagine
*Daily ministry opportunities
*A lady that I don't even know that faithfully prays daily for the prayer request that is nearest and dearest to my heart. What a blessing is that!
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Thankful Thursday
Giving thanks to God for ALL of our MANY blessings, but these are a few that stood out this week...
*Fun swimming with the littlest princess and friends
*An unexpected visit with people we love
*A long talk with my sister
*Looks more and more like that good news from a far state is true :-)!
*Getting to spend time with friends I haven't seen in years
*A great new class of 5th graders
*New students in our high school almost daily
*A daughter that comes to me for advice, and actually listens, and takes my advice to heart
*Fun silly little family traditions
*Praying with my children
*Children who are quick to pray when there is a need
*A surprise treat in our mailbox that made us smile
*A friend that is a huge blessing to me in SO many ways
*Fun swimming with the littlest princess and friends
*An unexpected visit with people we love
*A long talk with my sister
*Looks more and more like that good news from a far state is true :-)!
*Getting to spend time with friends I haven't seen in years
*A great new class of 5th graders
*New students in our high school almost daily
*A daughter that comes to me for advice, and actually listens, and takes my advice to heart
*Fun silly little family traditions
*Praying with my children
*Children who are quick to pray when there is a need
*A surprise treat in our mailbox that made us smile
*A friend that is a huge blessing to me in SO many ways
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
A Fruit of the Spirit...in my mailbox!?!
There it sat, pretty as you please, on top of the mail in the mailbox. It was a pear. A pear? In our mailbox? What in the world? Marc handed it to the littlest princess, who ran to me laughing..."Mommy! We learned about pairs in school today!" Did it have something to do with that? No, because when she handed it to me, it had this message written on it...
How creative and cool is that!?! It made me happy. And, it made me think. Someone thought of us today, and did a small deed. It probably didn't take much money, and only a little time, but it meant the world to us! It was love in action. It was encouraging, and uplifting. It was totally unexpected, and therefore a very pleasant surprise.
Someone shared a fruit, and an encouraging message with us. But more than that, they shared one of the fruits of the spirit...love. So yes, there actually was a fruit of the spirit in my mailbox!
How often do we have the resources to do little things like this for those around us? How often do we take advantage of those opportunities? Or, unfortunately, how often do we miss out on them? I was blessed by a friend's thoughtfulness. I pray that when I have a chance to be a blessing, I will not miss it.
Thank you, to the sweet person who did this little act of love for us today! Your thoughts and actions blessed us, and encouraged us to do the same for others.
How creative and cool is that!?! It made me happy. And, it made me think. Someone thought of us today, and did a small deed. It probably didn't take much money, and only a little time, but it meant the world to us! It was love in action. It was encouraging, and uplifting. It was totally unexpected, and therefore a very pleasant surprise.
Someone shared a fruit, and an encouraging message with us. But more than that, they shared one of the fruits of the spirit...love. So yes, there actually was a fruit of the spirit in my mailbox!
How often do we have the resources to do little things like this for those around us? How often do we take advantage of those opportunities? Or, unfortunately, how often do we miss out on them? I was blessed by a friend's thoughtfulness. I pray that when I have a chance to be a blessing, I will not miss it.
Thank you, to the sweet person who did this little act of love for us today! Your thoughts and actions blessed us, and encouraged us to do the same for others.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
And The Littlest Princess Says..."It's my BIG DAY tomorrow!"
The littlest princess starts Kindergarten tomorrow. And watching her excitement, reminds me of my first day of Kindergarten. I too, was the baby of my family by several years. I had watched my big sister and brother go off to school day after day. I LOVED books, and would line my stuffed animals up and sit in my little rocking chair and teach them all day long. So, on my first day of Kindergarten, I was up and dressed WAY TOO early. I remember having to sit and wait until it was time to go for what felt like YEARS! Anyway, I thought I would ask the littlest princess a few questions, to see what exactly is on her mind...
What do you think about starting Kindergarten tomorrow?
I'm excited and ready. I'm so excited! I can't wait! I wish I could be there already!
What do you think you will miss the most about K-4?
Very good question!! Umm. My teacher, cause she was very fun. But the thing I didn't like...taking naps!
What do you think you will like best about K-5?
My friends, and my teacher.
What do you think you will not like about K-5?
Nothing (cute little giggle)
What do you think you will like best about your new teacher?
I think she will be nice and funny! I hope she is excited about teaching!
So there you have it. The littlest princess' night before Kindergarten interview.
**5:55 a.m. Update** And she is up and running she came in and said, "Hallelujah!! Today is the day I go to school!!" This should be fun! Pictures to follow :-)!
All ready to go!
Finally there!!!
What do you think about starting Kindergarten tomorrow?
I'm excited and ready. I'm so excited! I can't wait! I wish I could be there already!
What do you think you will miss the most about K-4?
Very good question!! Umm. My teacher, cause she was very fun. But the thing I didn't like...taking naps!
What do you think you will like best about K-5?
My friends, and my teacher.
What do you think you will not like about K-5?
Nothing (cute little giggle)
What do you think you will like best about your new teacher?
I think she will be nice and funny! I hope she is excited about teaching!
So there you have it. The littlest princess' night before Kindergarten interview.
**5:55 a.m. Update** And she is up and running she came in and said, "Hallelujah!! Today is the day I go to school!!" This should be fun! Pictures to follow :-)!
Thursday, August 4, 2011
My review of the book Courageous by Randy Alcorn
It's about police officers, but it isn't. It's bigger than that. It's about fathers, but it isn't. It's bigger than that. It's about troubled teens, but it isn't. It's bigger than that. It is about a society that is on the fast track to loosing it's young people, if men don't start taking the place of leadership God intended for them to take in their homes and families. A type of leadership that says,"I love you too much to sit back, and allow you destroy your life." It's about active leadership.
The book Courageous by Randy Alcorn is a novelization based on the screenplay by Alex and Stephen Kendrick. It follows the lives of several policemen, one immigrant worker, and each of their families. When tragedy strikes, one father, takes the advice of his pastor to "become a student of God's Word." Through his studies, he realizes that he must make some changes in his life. He writes a resolution, and asks his friends to join him by adhering to it and being accountable to one another. His friends realize how important it is and agree to work together to help one another live the resolution.
The characters are both strong and vulnerable. The plot is both interesting and believable. I love the strong moral message. I love that Alcorn stays true to some of his deepest convictions by having one of the characters volunteer at a Crises Pregnancy Center. I also love that Alcorn includes characters from past movies by Sherwood Pictures, Fireproof, and Facing the Giants. I was disappointed to find out that one of my favorite characters, Bronson, is in the book but not in the movie (according to my husband who has seen the movie). But that is all the more reason to read the book, so you don't miss out on the colorful antics of Bronson.
I was given a free advanced reader copy of this book by Tyndale House Publishers, for the express purpose of writing a review. I did not promise a favorable review.
The book Courageous by Randy Alcorn is a novelization based on the screenplay by Alex and Stephen Kendrick. It follows the lives of several policemen, one immigrant worker, and each of their families. When tragedy strikes, one father, takes the advice of his pastor to "become a student of God's Word." Through his studies, he realizes that he must make some changes in his life. He writes a resolution, and asks his friends to join him by adhering to it and being accountable to one another. His friends realize how important it is and agree to work together to help one another live the resolution.
The characters are both strong and vulnerable. The plot is both interesting and believable. I love the strong moral message. I love that Alcorn stays true to some of his deepest convictions by having one of the characters volunteer at a Crises Pregnancy Center. I also love that Alcorn includes characters from past movies by Sherwood Pictures, Fireproof, and Facing the Giants. I was disappointed to find out that one of my favorite characters, Bronson, is in the book but not in the movie (according to my husband who has seen the movie). But that is all the more reason to read the book, so you don't miss out on the colorful antics of Bronson.
I was given a free advanced reader copy of this book by Tyndale House Publishers, for the express purpose of writing a review. I did not promise a favorable review.
Thankful Thursday
A select few of the countless things I am thankful for from this past week...
*The greatest husband in the world
*Protection for friends of ours that were in a wreck
*Good news from a far state (I'm praying it's true!)
*That I was born in America (and as an added bonus...Texas at that!:-))
*Carefree laughing with total abandon over silly little things
*That God never sleeps
*Children that love one another to the point of making sacrifices for each other
*A new school year
*Answered prayers
*The youngest princess can now tie shoes
*Hearing a new student tell his mom his first school day was GREAT!
*The greatest husband in the world
*Protection for friends of ours that were in a wreck
*Good news from a far state (I'm praying it's true!)
*That I was born in America (and as an added bonus...Texas at that!:-))
*Carefree laughing with total abandon over silly little things
*That God never sleeps
*Children that love one another to the point of making sacrifices for each other
*A new school year
*Answered prayers
*The youngest princess can now tie shoes
*Hearing a new student tell his mom his first school day was GREAT!
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