I'm thankful for Christmas break! Today is the last day of school before Christmas break starts and I KNOW I'm more excited than the children. We'll have more than 2 weeks off before they go back to school again on the 4th and then back to the grind for mom. It was no small task getting them motivated to get ready for school this morning although thoughts of their Christmas parties tended to keep them moving along.
To all you moms of school age children . . . . enjoy the break . . . . the CHRISTMAS break!! Wooohooooo!!
Friday, December 17, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
2010
I love living in 2010!!! I'm thankful I wasn't born in the 1800's. I love modern conveniences. We have gotten quite a bit of snow in the last week and we have wonderfully paved roads and prompt snow removal in addition to "salt" that melts snow. Back in the day, we would have been snowed in for weeks. I'm glad God chose for me to born during this time period instead of years past!
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
I'm Forgetful!!!
Oops. I didn't remember to create a "thankfulness" post yesterday. I hate that. But I'm determined to have 365 things that I'm thankful for by the time next year rolls around so it looks like tonight is a two for one deal.
First, I'm thankful for books! I love to read!!! But I'm kinda a bad reader. I like fiction. And I pretty much want it to be fluffy fiction. I don't want to have to think. But I truly can't imagine not being able to read and the joy missing from the lives of those who are illiterate. I'm thankful for books.
Second, and I can't go into any detail on this one but I'm thankful for something done for my parents, especially my mom, this week. They received a package from Alaska containing Christmas gifts. I'm thankful for that.
First, I'm thankful for books! I love to read!!! But I'm kinda a bad reader. I like fiction. And I pretty much want it to be fluffy fiction. I don't want to have to think. But I truly can't imagine not being able to read and the joy missing from the lives of those who are illiterate. I'm thankful for books.
Second, and I can't go into any detail on this one but I'm thankful for something done for my parents, especially my mom, this week. They received a package from Alaska containing Christmas gifts. I'm thankful for that.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!!!
Snow Day!!!!!! Woohooooooo!
I'm thankful for snow days and having my kids home with me today. There are days I'm happy when they walk out the door to go to school. Any mother who wouldn't admit to enjoying a little less activity in the house every now and again is lying!! But, today, I'm happy to have them home and NOT heading out into the cold, and it is VERY cold.
I'm thankful for snow days and having my kids home with me today. There are days I'm happy when they walk out the door to go to school. Any mother who wouldn't admit to enjoying a little less activity in the house every now and again is lying!! But, today, I'm happy to have them home and NOT heading out into the cold, and it is VERY cold.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Compassion - Making a Difference
I'm thankful that our guest evangelist for Christmas preached on compassion this morning. Not only do we need compassion for the unsaved, but we need compassion toward the brethren. It was a wonderful message.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Oops
Well, I didn't manage to put my two thankfulness posts on my blog yesterday so we'll do it right now or I'm certain it won't happen today, either.
Today we went to our local nursing home where my husband preaches once a month. We didn't go last month because we were moving that day so we were all ready to go this month. I have a couple very special residents I'm always very happy to see.
We held the service in a different room this week. While my husband was preaching, I left the room to wheel the twins around the hallways in their stroller. They were tired and I knew keeping them moving would sooth them. As I walked out of the service room, I walked past a relatively small room with a whole lot of laundry in it. In the midst of these mounds of laundry was one woman, folding and hanging all the linens, towels, and clothing of the residents of the home. WOW. And I think I've got it bad with my 7 family members and all our laundry.
I've never thought about whoever takes care of the laundry for that facility. Have you? Who else have you over looked in the places where you go? Do you notice the maintenance man or the person who took the time to spread salt on the icy sidewalk?
Illegal immigration is a big issue in our country right now and you often hear people say that illegal immigrants are the only ones willing to do "those jobs" that Americans aren't willing to do. But today, I saw that isn't always true. There are Americans still willing to do "those jobs", unnoticed and unthanked.
My second "thankful" post goes hand in hand with my first.
I really hate laundry. But I really love my washer and dryer. After having a washer and dryer for only 1.5 of the 15 years I've been gone from my parents' home, I'm so grateful and happy to have my very own washer and dryer. I don't have to feed them quarters and I don't have to lug all my laundry outside my home to get it clean anymore. YEAH WASHERS AND DRYERS!!!
Today we went to our local nursing home where my husband preaches once a month. We didn't go last month because we were moving that day so we were all ready to go this month. I have a couple very special residents I'm always very happy to see.
We held the service in a different room this week. While my husband was preaching, I left the room to wheel the twins around the hallways in their stroller. They were tired and I knew keeping them moving would sooth them. As I walked out of the service room, I walked past a relatively small room with a whole lot of laundry in it. In the midst of these mounds of laundry was one woman, folding and hanging all the linens, towels, and clothing of the residents of the home. WOW. And I think I've got it bad with my 7 family members and all our laundry.
I've never thought about whoever takes care of the laundry for that facility. Have you? Who else have you over looked in the places where you go? Do you notice the maintenance man or the person who took the time to spread salt on the icy sidewalk?
Illegal immigration is a big issue in our country right now and you often hear people say that illegal immigrants are the only ones willing to do "those jobs" that Americans aren't willing to do. But today, I saw that isn't always true. There are Americans still willing to do "those jobs", unnoticed and unthanked.
My second "thankful" post goes hand in hand with my first.
I really hate laundry. But I really love my washer and dryer. After having a washer and dryer for only 1.5 of the 15 years I've been gone from my parents' home, I'm so grateful and happy to have my very own washer and dryer. I don't have to feed them quarters and I don't have to lug all my laundry outside my home to get it clean anymore. YEAH WASHERS AND DRYERS!!!
Friday, December 10, 2010
Double Duty
I had in my head my thankfulness post all day yesterday and just never got a chance to post it so I'll post 2 separate ones today.
As a child, getting mail is a huge thrill. But not so much as an adult! Now days I wish my mail would get lost, never to rear its ugly head again!! But yesterday we got an unexpected blessing.
The school tuition bill came. Paying tuition isn't easy but its important. I'm not cut out for homeschooling and we aren't willing to put our children in the public school system for various reasons so we're grateful to have a good, small, Christian school ministry through our church.
As I was looking through the itemization, at the bottom was an entry of "Tuition Gift $100". Someone anonymously paid $100 on our school.
I'm thankful for our thoughtful, anonymous donor.
As a child, getting mail is a huge thrill. But not so much as an adult! Now days I wish my mail would get lost, never to rear its ugly head again!! But yesterday we got an unexpected blessing.
The school tuition bill came. Paying tuition isn't easy but its important. I'm not cut out for homeschooling and we aren't willing to put our children in the public school system for various reasons so we're grateful to have a good, small, Christian school ministry through our church.
As I was looking through the itemization, at the bottom was an entry of "Tuition Gift $100". Someone anonymously paid $100 on our school.
I'm thankful for our thoughtful, anonymous donor.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Do You Hear What I Hear?
I hear my children laugh. I hear music. I hear the words "I love you". I hear sorrow in the voices of those I love. I hear happiness and joy. I hear a train and footsteps. I hear the first words of my babies. I hear whispers in the night from my husband as we lay in bed and talk. I hear a sigh. I hear the rain. I hear sounds of warning. I hear falling leaves and lawn mowers in the Spring.
I hear.
Thank you, Lord, that I can hear all the joys and sorrows of life.
I hear.
Thank you, Lord, that I can hear all the joys and sorrows of life.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
A Forgiving God
I am but dirt. My righteousness as filthy rags. There is nothing good in me. Yet, Christ came to earth so that I could become royalty. I'm a joint heir with Jesus. That's pretty special. I do not consider the Christian life to be burdensome, most of the time. (Just being honest.) Most of the time, I consider it a joy and the least I can do for my Savior who suffered so much for me. But I fail so much. I am so weak. My sin is great. I lose control of my tongue. I am rebellious. I have a bad attitude. Sometimes, like the wife of Lot, I look back. I have doubts. I have little faith. I'm frail and unworthy.
Yet God forgives. He keeps loving. He looks at me in pity and continues to wait for me to come back to myself, thus, returning to Him. Why leave? Our church choir sings a song that I used to do as a solo. It fits my life so well.
Your love endured the cross, despising all the shame
That afternoon when midnight fell your suffering cleared my name
And that sin swept hill became the open door to paradise
Because you paid much to high a price.
Your grace inspires my heart to rise above the sin
And all the earthly vanity that seeks to draw me in
I want to tell this dying world of love that truly saved my life
A life that paid so high a price.
You paid much to high a price for me
My sin, your blood the pain
To have my soul just stirred at times yet never truly changed
You deserve a fiery love that won't ignore your sacrifice
Because you paid much too high a price.
The price my Lord paid for my soul was too high especially as I fail Him time and time again.
Yet He forgives again and again and again. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Yet God forgives. He keeps loving. He looks at me in pity and continues to wait for me to come back to myself, thus, returning to Him. Why leave? Our church choir sings a song that I used to do as a solo. It fits my life so well.
Your love endured the cross, despising all the shame
That afternoon when midnight fell your suffering cleared my name
And that sin swept hill became the open door to paradise
Because you paid much to high a price.
Your grace inspires my heart to rise above the sin
And all the earthly vanity that seeks to draw me in
I want to tell this dying world of love that truly saved my life
A life that paid so high a price.
You paid much to high a price for me
My sin, your blood the pain
To have my soul just stirred at times yet never truly changed
You deserve a fiery love that won't ignore your sacrifice
Because you paid much too high a price.
The price my Lord paid for my soul was too high especially as I fail Him time and time again.
Yet He forgives again and again and again. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Monday, December 6, 2010
A House . . . A Home
I haven't posted about this particular "thing" for which I'm thankful because I'm deeply emotional about it. Unless you've been in my position I don't think you can completely understand and I doubt I'll be able to make you understand in this post but . . . today I'm thankful for our house.
For the last 6 years we lived in a 2 bedroom apartment. It was a nice apartment. When we moved in I was pregnant with our second child, Elijah. It was more room than we NEEDED although it was an adjustment moving from a 4 bedroom farmhouse to a two bedroom apartment. I was devastated when I had to get rid of my grandfather's secretary to move into that apartment. I think I'll always regret that. But anyway . . . .
The apartment was what we needed at the time. Little did I know, we would be there for 6 years. But after having moved 8 times the first 2 years of our marriage, I told Daniel I didn't want to move again until we moved into a house. Then Lydia came. 3 children in one bedroom. It was tight.
After Lydia was born, I had a very tough 18 months. Daniel was on a horrible schedule and I really struggled with depression. Elijah was incredibly difficult. And then Daniel started talking about wanting another child. I refused. I knew I couldn't do another baby, alone 90% of the time in that apartment that seemed to be shrinking as each child continued to grow. During this period we also only had one vehicle. It was very difficult.
Eventually the Lord worked on my heart and I agreed to have another child but there was absolutely NO ROOM for a 5th child in that apartment! We HAD to move and soon. Lo and behold, I got pregnant with the twins. What do you do? We made it work. It still boggles my mind that we made it work. I often prayed that the Lord would make me content with what He had given us, a 2 bedroom apartment and 5 wonderful children and one vehicle. It wasn't easy. Yet, I was tired of the criticism from others. Comments such as "what are you going to do with another baby in THAT apartment?" and "how are you going to do it?" and people reminding me of how small our place was. As if I didn't live there every day with the knowledge of our space constraints in my face all the time.
But aren't we supposed to be content in whatever state we are in? Are we not to be grateful for all things? Even that tiny apartment and one vehicle? God gave us all our children. Its not like we PLANNED on twins or could conceive them by our own design. Neither did we plan on an economic downturn or pay cuts. Life happens.
Then the Lord gave us this house to rent. I'm thankful and I'm grateful. I didn't realize how very much God was answering my prayers to help me be content until we moved out and I didn't NEED to be content in that apartment anymore. The extra living expenses, the increased rent . . . its all worth it. We have some space. We don't have a massive excess of space but there is room for us all now. We have a yard. I have a washer and dryer. Someone commented on my facebook page about loving how I appreciated the small things, like my washer and dryer. Go without them. Its not a small thing. Not with 7 family members in the house. 13.5 years of the last 15 years of my life have been lived without a washer and dryer. Its not a small thing.
So, today, I want to thank the Lord for the beautiful gift of this house. Words just aren't enough.
For the last 6 years we lived in a 2 bedroom apartment. It was a nice apartment. When we moved in I was pregnant with our second child, Elijah. It was more room than we NEEDED although it was an adjustment moving from a 4 bedroom farmhouse to a two bedroom apartment. I was devastated when I had to get rid of my grandfather's secretary to move into that apartment. I think I'll always regret that. But anyway . . . .
The apartment was what we needed at the time. Little did I know, we would be there for 6 years. But after having moved 8 times the first 2 years of our marriage, I told Daniel I didn't want to move again until we moved into a house. Then Lydia came. 3 children in one bedroom. It was tight.
After Lydia was born, I had a very tough 18 months. Daniel was on a horrible schedule and I really struggled with depression. Elijah was incredibly difficult. And then Daniel started talking about wanting another child. I refused. I knew I couldn't do another baby, alone 90% of the time in that apartment that seemed to be shrinking as each child continued to grow. During this period we also only had one vehicle. It was very difficult.
Eventually the Lord worked on my heart and I agreed to have another child but there was absolutely NO ROOM for a 5th child in that apartment! We HAD to move and soon. Lo and behold, I got pregnant with the twins. What do you do? We made it work. It still boggles my mind that we made it work. I often prayed that the Lord would make me content with what He had given us, a 2 bedroom apartment and 5 wonderful children and one vehicle. It wasn't easy. Yet, I was tired of the criticism from others. Comments such as "what are you going to do with another baby in THAT apartment?" and "how are you going to do it?" and people reminding me of how small our place was. As if I didn't live there every day with the knowledge of our space constraints in my face all the time.
But aren't we supposed to be content in whatever state we are in? Are we not to be grateful for all things? Even that tiny apartment and one vehicle? God gave us all our children. Its not like we PLANNED on twins or could conceive them by our own design. Neither did we plan on an economic downturn or pay cuts. Life happens.
Then the Lord gave us this house to rent. I'm thankful and I'm grateful. I didn't realize how very much God was answering my prayers to help me be content until we moved out and I didn't NEED to be content in that apartment anymore. The extra living expenses, the increased rent . . . its all worth it. We have some space. We don't have a massive excess of space but there is room for us all now. We have a yard. I have a washer and dryer. Someone commented on my facebook page about loving how I appreciated the small things, like my washer and dryer. Go without them. Its not a small thing. Not with 7 family members in the house. 13.5 years of the last 15 years of my life have been lived without a washer and dryer. Its not a small thing.
So, today, I want to thank the Lord for the beautiful gift of this house. Words just aren't enough.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
My Pastor
I praise the Lord today for a pastor that preaches the truth in love regardless of the consequences. Not all are so fortunate.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Daniel
I'm thankful for my husband. We were married 10 years in August. We've been together for almost 14 years. It hasn't always been easy. The last 2 years in particular have been difficult. But I love him. God gave me a good man that I didn't deserve at a time when I would have been okay with no man at all. Its been fun and its been . . . not so fun. But its always been good.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Piano
I've played the piano since I was 7. I feel like I've played the piano my whole life. Life before piano lessons is fuzzy. I don't remember my first lesson although I do vaguely remember my first teacher. Seems like I've just always played and music has always been a part of my life. I can't imagine my life without music and being able to play the piano. On the rare occasions when I allow myself to be paranoid, I fear losing my ability to play due to arthritis or some sort of accident and it strikes panic in my heart.
I'm thankful the Lord gave me musical abilities. I'm thankful for the love of music and piano in my heart. It has brought much joy to my life, and by the grace of God, the lives of others every now and again.
I'm thankful the Lord gave me musical abilities. I'm thankful for the love of music and piano in my heart. It has brought much joy to my life, and by the grace of God, the lives of others every now and again.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Day . . . . whatever! Day "Next"
Thank you, Lord, for our Christian school that our children attend. They had the day off school today and I'm reminded of how much I love my children, yet, how much I enjoy the quiet when they are at school for a few hours. :)
In all seriousness, I'm grateful we have a school where our children can get a good, Christ centered education free of many of the stresses that come with the public school system. Our teachers are qualified and dedicated. I appreciate their time and efforts to insure my children are academically prepared to enter the world. I know the school is a drain on our church, yet, the Lord provides and we are privileged to have a place where we can feel comfortable leaving them to have their little brains filled with knowledge, knowledge we know is full of God's wisdom and not the wisdom of men.
Thank you, Lord, for my children's school.
In all seriousness, I'm grateful we have a school where our children can get a good, Christ centered education free of many of the stresses that come with the public school system. Our teachers are qualified and dedicated. I appreciate their time and efforts to insure my children are academically prepared to enter the world. I know the school is a drain on our church, yet, the Lord provides and we are privileged to have a place where we can feel comfortable leaving them to have their little brains filled with knowledge, knowledge we know is full of God's wisdom and not the wisdom of men.
Thank you, Lord, for my children's school.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Day 3
Its officially December 1st!!! The year is flying by! Yet, living it day to day seems to go so slowly.
I drove the children to school this morning in snow, our first real snow of the season and it was great. Its fun to see all the different reactions to the snow from all my Facebook friends. But today, I'm thankful to live in a region of the world where we have 4 seasons. I think winter is my favorite! I love the cold. I love the snow. I love bundling up in sweatshirts and warm fuzzy socks under a blanket watching television or reading a good book. I'm happy that we have cold, snowy days when we are putting up our Christmas decorations. I would hate to live in an area where you decorate your palm tree for Christmas! That just wouldn't be right!
Thank you, Lord, for the 4 seasons!!
I drove the children to school this morning in snow, our first real snow of the season and it was great. Its fun to see all the different reactions to the snow from all my Facebook friends. But today, I'm thankful to live in a region of the world where we have 4 seasons. I think winter is my favorite! I love the cold. I love the snow. I love bundling up in sweatshirts and warm fuzzy socks under a blanket watching television or reading a good book. I'm happy that we have cold, snowy days when we are putting up our Christmas decorations. I would hate to live in an area where you decorate your palm tree for Christmas! That just wouldn't be right!
Thank you, Lord, for the 4 seasons!!
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