Thankful

I'm thankful for

The blue eyes of my babies

Copious amounts of dessert

Kisses shared

Smiles too

Marshmallows on yams

And fun to be had

Charades with family

And friends too

My brother acting silly

My mom taking time with my girls

Matching jammas

And bedtime bears.

Thankful Thursday

The last few days have been very difficult for me. I've been unusually tired and kind of grumpy, so I thought I'd join in thankful Thursday this week to remember to count my blessings. Actually, not just count my blessings but to take the time to actually be grateful.

I am truly thankful for my husband. He works so hard, is always worn down when he comes home and still takes time to put the girls in the bath and to bed. He prays with them and over them and tells my 4 year old an original story every night at bedtime. He works with the kids at church twice a week and makes time for his parents. I definitely married up. :) Michael is a good man.

I am so thankful for Lilla, my 4 1/2 year old. She is silly and smart, she's a thinker and a fighter, she's strong willed and tender hearted, she loves the Lord and can memorize scripture like no other 4 year old I know. She is musical and artistic and is always impressing me with the thoughts that she shares. Lilla is a gift.

I am so thankful for my Anna. She is an almost 2 year old ball of energy. She keeps me on my toes and our family laughing. She is curious and mechanical, a giggler and a screamer, she let's nothing stand in her way and often overpowers Lilla. Then she follows it up with the sweetest hugs and pats you ever got. Anna is a treasure.

What are you thankful for in your family members?

Want to participate too? Go to http://womentakingastand.blogspot.com/ and join in!

Thankful Thursday

You know, there are just some moments in life that, as a mother, you want to hold forever. Being a mom can be so difficult, and you have days when you think, what were we thinking? But of course, you remember, they are truly blessings from the Lord. I had one of those moments yesterday...

I was putting Lilla (4) down to sleep, we were doing our normal bedtime prayers, when she suddenly said to me, "Mama, I won't bow down to a King, I'll only bow down to Jesus."

Which, of course, absolutely took my breath away. My prayer over her so many nights has been that she would love Jesus and follow Him all of her days. It's difficult sometimes to see that in a four year old though, as they are very sinful and selfish. Um, a lot like a 35 year old I know.

I digress, I honestly don't remember talking to her about the passage in Daniel when Daniel and Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego said this, so I'm assuming it happened in Sunday School. I know it wasn't this past week as they talked about Peter in prison for being a Christian. Apparently during the lesson she shouted out, "That's not right! You shouldn't go to prison for talking about the Lord." Amen sista!

All that to say, it warms me that somewhere she has stored up in her heart these beliefs and theologies. God is working in her. He is answering my prayer, and I, I am thankful.

Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving every year I like to write out some things that I am thankful for. I try to do 365, but I am sick right now with a spinning head so I'll so 100 for now!

1. Salvation

2. The cross

3. Jesus

4. My husband

5. Lilla

6. Anna

7. My sister, Erika

8. My sister, Melanie

9. My brother, David

10. My brother, Chris

11. My brother-in-law, Russ

12. My sister in law, Jody

13. My niece, Madison

14. My niece, Sydney

15. My mom

16. My dad

17. My stepdad, Richard

18. My former stepmom, Sandy. Although she is no longer married to my dad, she still has a place in our hearts!

19. My new stepmom, Nel.

20. My bestie, Carrie

21. Her children, Jenna

22. Buddy

23. My other bestie, Shelley

24. Her hubbie, Tom

25. Her children, Taylor

26. Makie

27. Gracie

28. My dog, Ellie

29. My mother in law, Mary Lynn

30. My father in law, Norbert

31. My BIL, Alan

32. His Wife, Steph

33. Their children, Justin

34. Sean

35. Olivia

36. Emily

37. My BIL, Mark

38. His wife, Melissa

39. Their daughter, Tiffany

40. My SIL, Terri

41. Her husband, Brent

42. Nephew, Alex

43. BIL, Dan

44. His wife, Amy

45. Children, Danny

46. Jeff

47. Matthew

48. Amanda

49. Jackie

50. Billy

51. My BIL, Jim

52. SIL, Tammy

53. Nephew, Grayson

54. Niece, Jasmine

55. My house

56. My car

57. My bed, which I’m laying in now since I’m sick

58. My husband’s job

59. Being able to stay home with the girls

60. The library

61. Wal-Mart, the evil empire, but when you live here, it’s all you got!

62. MOPS

63. MOPS Steering Team

64. My fridge is full of food

65. Our family has clothes

66. We are able to pay our bills

67. My church

68. Worship Music

69. Clean, hot running water

70. Hope

71. Peace

72. Joy

73. Faith

74. My Bible

75. Living in the USA

76. My camera, I’m such a photo taker!

77. Photoshop, it’s amazing what that thing does for pictures!

78. My laptop, all my friends live inside it. J

79. Facebook for all that it’s connected me with this last year.

80. Prayer

81. Real, honest to goodness love

82. Pizza, my very favorite food

83. The special family who helped us financially this last year. Just incredible!

84. God blessing us financially when we really needed it

85. Lilla accepting Christ this year

86. Lilla choosing to be baptized when we never even talked to her about it.

87. Awana

88. Kid’s church

89. My pastor

90. My pastor’s wife

91. Heat, I don’t respond well to cold

92. The Children’s Museum

93. The Zoo

94. The trail near our house

95. The park

96. The change of season, so I can appreciate what I have!

97. Anna becoming well after a very rough start in life last Christmas

98. So many meals and prayers provided to us last year after Anna was born

99. Sleep

100. Life

What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?

Thankful Thursday

As the days whip by in a rapid pace closer and closer to the Thanksgiving holiday next weekend, my thoughts are drawn on all that I have to truly be thankful for. We found out today that a fellow we know from church lost his job, we are thankful for income. When I bought some canned vegetables this week I couldn't help but think of the local food pantry that needs to be stocked, and we are thankful for food on our table. Then I hear about a blogger who is struggling to survive, and I am thankful for my health. When I hear of all the desperate ways people I know are grasping at happiness, which just seems to be out of their reach, I am thankful for the cross.

And...here are two more beautiful little things I am thankful for this week...

Thank you!

My sweet friend, Elizabeth, over at Full of Grace and Blessings in Abundance, was so sweet to send Anna a lovely little spring outfit. That was so kind! And then, blessed Lilla with a sweet gift of play-doh for fun! Well, Elizabeth, this is for you...



Oh, and in other news...

Happy One Month Birthday my smiling baby girl...where did the time go?

Happy Thanksgiving all!

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My cup runneth over

As I've mentioned before, it is seriously snowing here. The fluffy white stuff just keeps coming and coming and coming. I guess we are supposed to get another 2 inches by tommorow.

Well, I have a beagle. Beagles are short dogs, of course. So, snow and beagles peeing usually doesn't mix. Poor Ellie's hoo hoo must be freezing because she tries to take care of business as fast as possible and get back in the house the quickest route. So cute! Michael actually had to dig a square for her in the field across the street so she could go #2 as well. You got to love having a dog.

Anyway, Michael was taking Ellie across the street to do her business and Lilla and I were standing at the door watching Ellie hopping up and down with white stuff flying everywhere. It was as tall as her I tell ya! Michael was looking back at the door just laughing and Lilla was laughing and pounding on the door just wanting to be part of it. It just made me laugh.

As I stepped outside of the scene for just a moment I couldn't help but be thankful for all my blessings. I just had to remind myself of what a good life I have. We are not people of means. We have the smallest house in the neighborhood, we drive older used cars and I shop at Goodwill to save some money. I tell you that just to say, money cannot buy happiness. Being married, having kids or a dog, travelling to far away countries or meeting famous people will never do it either. Ultimately you just have to be thankful for what you have. I need to be thankful for what I have. It seems to me that when I am truly content with what God has given me, that he just blesses me with more. My cup runneth over. What a good God.