Whew! I laughingly told the prince that I was going to be thankful that the thirty days of thankfulness is over...it is tough to write a blog a day for thirty days! It take some serious planning ahead when your schedule is crazy...it almost made me crazy...well, crazier than I already am. It is much less stressful to wrap it all up in a once a week thankful blog...so after today, tune in next Thursday :-)!
It will be nice not to have the pressures of a daily blog, but that is not really what I'm thankful for. Today I am thankful for people who encourage others. Life can be hard sometimes, and things sometimes just don't go the way we had planned. But I am thankful when God sends just the right person along with just the right words to say, or thing to do that really helps. I love it when it happens out of the blue. God sent someone to encourage us a few days ago, and that person may never know how timely her words were, but they were precious to me. A while back a friend heard that we were going to have an especially busy week, so she fixed dinner for us one night, and that meant more than the world to me. Over the past few months, a friend called to see if we were home and dropped off a plate of cookies with a hug and a smile. A student dropped by with a six pack of bottled cokes. Someone else went out of their way to bring me a treat. Another friend dropped by with a gift and a card saying what she couldn't say with words, but could say with a pen. All small gestures that speak volumes of love to our souls. I am thankful for people who listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, and then follow through to be an encouragement to others. And just as we have been encouraged and blessed, I pray that our family can encourage and bless others. I pray that we spread the thankfulness, not just in November, but every day of the year!
Friday, November 30, 2012
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Thirty Days of Thankful - Day 29
Today I am thankful for my children's coaches. They are a great group of people. They make schedules, they drive children all over the state for games. They encourage, they council, they doctor, and they even fuss when needed. They give of their time, and talents to help our children have a good time while learning teamwork and self discipline. They have way more patience than I could ever muster. Our kids love you, and I am extremely thankful for you!
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Thirty Days of Thankfulness - Day 28
Today, I am thankful for our wonderful Youth Pastor and his amazing wife. We were so excited when God worked it all out for them to come to our church. And they have done a phenomenal job! They love our teens, and do everything they can to show them that love. They work hard to come up with fun activities, coreograph dramas, go on outings, organize garage sales for missions, take our teens on outreach events, plan get togethers, and attend sporting events. They call and text and encourage. They show concern, pray and visit. They teach God's Word to our teens without excuse. They challenge our teens to be more Godly. And most importantly, they practice what they preach in their own lives. I am thankful for them, and their godly influence in the lives of my own children, as well as in the lives of our church teens and those in our community. We are blessed beyond measure to have them! And I am VERY thankful for their servant's heart and willingness to do one of the toughest jobs ever. You two are the best! We love and appreciate you for ALL you do and for your sweet spirits!
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Thirty Days of Thankfulness - Day 27
Today I am thankful for the time I have each night to snuggle with and read to the youngest princess. I love reading to her, and she loves to be read to. I love how excited she gets. I love that she talks about the characters as if they are close friends. I love that when we watched the movie based on the book, she continued to say, "That's not what happened in the book!"
She always reminds me, because she doesn't want me to forget. We try to read one chapter a night, but she often begs for more. She wants to include others in our story time as well, and she often begs for her Daddy to stay and listen while we read. She remembers what we have read in great detail, and loves to tell the story to anyone who will listen.
I love it on the weekends when she brings the book to me during the day and asks to read. Often the chapters end in cliffhangers, and it is hard to wait until the next night to find out the resolution. I love that she enjoys it as much as I do.
I hope she continues to have a great love for reading. I am thankful for our special time together, and for the memories I have of reading to my older children as well. I am thankful for simple pleasures that bring us closer, make sweet memories, and add joy to our lives.
She always reminds me, because she doesn't want me to forget. We try to read one chapter a night, but she often begs for more. She wants to include others in our story time as well, and she often begs for her Daddy to stay and listen while we read. She remembers what we have read in great detail, and loves to tell the story to anyone who will listen.
I love it on the weekends when she brings the book to me during the day and asks to read. Often the chapters end in cliffhangers, and it is hard to wait until the next night to find out the resolution. I love that she enjoys it as much as I do.
I hope she continues to have a great love for reading. I am thankful for our special time together, and for the memories I have of reading to my older children as well. I am thankful for simple pleasures that bring us closer, make sweet memories, and add joy to our lives.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Thirty Days of Thankfulness - Day 26
Today I am thankful for a holiday at home. Living away from family means that on holidays we often have to travel and be away from our own home. And we love traveling and spending time with our families. But this Thanksgiving, my in-laws were gracious enough to come to us. It was very nice not to have to worry about packing us all up and traveling somewhere else. It was wonderful to be able to stay home for a holiday, and still be able to spend it with our family. I am very thankful for our Thanksgiving at home.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Thirty Days of Thankfulness - Day 25
Today I am thankful for holidays. I am thankful for my favorite holiday which is Thanksgiving, because for a while at least, most people give some thought to how blessed they are, and give God the credit for it. I am also thankful for Thanksgiving, because it is the only holiday where we focus on what we already have, instead of what we want. I also love Thanksgiving, because we get to eat one of my favorite things...turkey! If you are what you eat, I'm a big turkey, because I've eaten plenty of it this year!
I'm thankful for holidays because they bring families together. We get to see, and spend time with family members who may normally live far away. I love the joking and laughter that goes on when we get together.
I love holiday music. I love holiday decorations. I love that it is cold outside, but warm and cozy inside. I love the memories holiday evoke. I love that my wonderful mother and father-in-law were here and helped us with our decorating this year. I love the excitement in the children's eyes.
I am thankful for having a reason to celebrate. If Jesus had never come to earth, there would be no Christmas. But He did come, because He loves us so. He wanted to do His Father's will, and make a way for us to go to heaven. And THAT is something we can all be thankful for!
I'm thankful for holidays because they bring families together. We get to see, and spend time with family members who may normally live far away. I love the joking and laughter that goes on when we get together.
I love holiday music. I love holiday decorations. I love that it is cold outside, but warm and cozy inside. I love the memories holiday evoke. I love that my wonderful mother and father-in-law were here and helped us with our decorating this year. I love the excitement in the children's eyes.
I am thankful for having a reason to celebrate. If Jesus had never come to earth, there would be no Christmas. But He did come, because He loves us so. He wanted to do His Father's will, and make a way for us to go to heaven. And THAT is something we can all be thankful for!
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Thirty Days of Thankfulness - Day 24
Psalms 127:3
Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord:
and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Fourteen years ago. It is hard to wrap my mind around that number. 14. I know they told me that I would blink, and it would pass, but I could not believe it then. I believe it now. Because I have blinked, and it has passed.
He used to be such a little thing. And now, today, he is 14. A young man. Not a little boy any more.
He is thoughtful. He worries about others, and their feelings. He would never do anything that would hurt someone's feelings on purpose. He takes the side of the underdog. He has strong convictions. He believes that right is right and wrong is wrong, and he does not give in to peer pressure.
He loves to kid with others. He is rarely serious. He is full of energy, and always has been. He knows how to have fun and to make other people smile.
He has a heart for the things of the Lord, and is sensitive to Him and His Word. He deeply wants those who do not know Christ to have the same personal relationship with Him as he does. He weeps for those who are not saved.
He loves to be outside. He loves to hunt and fish. He loves guns and knives and all things manly.
He enjoys playing sports, and gives it his all. When he is not playing, he is on the sideline fully supporting those on the field or court with encouragement and prayers.
He is a great brother. He often has patience and does the things his sisters want to do, or watches the things they want to watch.
He is funny, creative, tenderhearted and witty. He is sensitive and caring. He is talented musically. He can do anything that he puts his mind to. He is smart, and usually does great in school.
He loves his family, and he is not ashamed to show it. Even more important than that, he loves the Lord and is not ashamed to show it. I am thankful for the young man that he has grown to be, and for the way he stands strong for the Lord. I love to watch how the Lord uses him now, and I look forward to what the Lord has in store for him in the future!
Knowing how close we came to losing him, he is definitely a blessing to our family and I am VERY thankful for him...Today, on his 14th birthday, as well as EVERY day of the year!
Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord:
and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Fourteen years ago. It is hard to wrap my mind around that number. 14. I know they told me that I would blink, and it would pass, but I could not believe it then. I believe it now. Because I have blinked, and it has passed.
He used to be such a little thing. And now, today, he is 14. A young man. Not a little boy any more.
He is thoughtful. He worries about others, and their feelings. He would never do anything that would hurt someone's feelings on purpose. He takes the side of the underdog. He has strong convictions. He believes that right is right and wrong is wrong, and he does not give in to peer pressure.
He loves to kid with others. He is rarely serious. He is full of energy, and always has been. He knows how to have fun and to make other people smile.
He has a heart for the things of the Lord, and is sensitive to Him and His Word. He deeply wants those who do not know Christ to have the same personal relationship with Him as he does. He weeps for those who are not saved.
He loves to be outside. He loves to hunt and fish. He loves guns and knives and all things manly.
He enjoys playing sports, and gives it his all. When he is not playing, he is on the sideline fully supporting those on the field or court with encouragement and prayers.
He is a great brother. He often has patience and does the things his sisters want to do, or watches the things they want to watch.
He is funny, creative, tenderhearted and witty. He is sensitive and caring. He is talented musically. He can do anything that he puts his mind to. He is smart, and usually does great in school.
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