Giving and Receiving

Thanksgiving has come and gone!  It's my favorite holiday, and I wish it lasted more than one day.  I've thought a lot about thankfulness lately. Each year when I make our Christmas card, I try to focus on a specific scripture/theme to use.  This year I decided to use "It's better to give than to receive".  After our wonderful surprise gift on Christmas Eve last year, I have thought about giving and paying it forward often. I have also thought about how sometimes receiving can be a wonderful blessing as well. NPayne and I try really hard to serve, to let our children serve, to use our gifts; and oftentimes the feeling of gratitude from those blessings we receive from serving comes naturally.  There are days when feeling thankful is a choice for me, and I get so busy or wrapped up in stuff that I forget to thank God. Those are the days that I have to intentionally carve out time to show gratitude and give God glory for what He brings to me.  One thing I read this week that hit home with me was this....."Jesus doesn't stop being good, but sometimes we stop being grateful".

I'm Thankful

I'm Thankful....

for something to keep me busy when I can't sleep
for pain medicine
for a comfy bed waiting for me once I do get sleepy
for the next few days off

I'm Thankful

I'm thankful for....

children

and

adults

who

are

willing

to

work

hard

serving

others!

I'm Thankful

I'm thankful for...

My body....even though it has many ailments.
My mind....even though it can't remember everything.
My family....even though we have conflicts sometimes.
My house....even though it's a mess most of the time.
My car....even though it's old, has torn up seats, and is full of kids' stuff.
My life....because it's good.

I'm Thankful

I got behind a day....ooops!!

I'm thankful for:
hands to hold
kisses and hugs
children who forgive me

I'm Thankful

I'm thankful...
dishes to wash
beds to sleep in
blankets to cover us
books to read
goodnight kisses

Thanksgiving....I'm Thankful!

Thanksgiving....my favorite holiday!  I do my best to try to be thankful everyday, but honestly I fail on that often.  I'm just going to try to share a few things I'm thankful for everyday on my blog until Thanksgiving has come and gone.  Please know that some of these things are things I'm thankful for right at that moment, but most all of them are things I'm thankful for on a daily basis.  Here are the first few:
I'm thankful for....
fall leaves
that we all have coats
food on our table
a table to all sit at together
friends
songs that make me cry
love

The list will continue tomorrow!  Stay tuned!

I Miss Him So Much!

Nov. 7th....today I am thankful for my dad!  It's been 7 years ago today that he left this earth and entered the arms of our Savior!  I know he is not sad, sick, in pain.  I know he sees us every day.  I know that even though Elliot does not know him, he knows her.  I miss my dad.  Addi, Cal, Drew miss their Papa.  Bryna doesn't remember him, and Elliot only knows him through what we've told her and pictures!  It gives me great joy to know that someday he will look in her eyes, the eyes that look just like his, and it will be like they've been together forever!  My dad died Nov. 7, 2005:  but I didn't lose him....I know exactly where he is!

I Miss Her So Much

Addi is on a trip with the drumline from her high school.  They competed in a National Competition today and did very well....3rd overall...best in quads and front ensemble (where she plays).  Seriously...best in THE NATION!  She's amazing.  I could watch her play every day.  I can get very frustrated with the time investment in drumline, because it does take so much time away from our family.  When I watch her, I see in her face how much she loves it.  She is finding her way....sigh!  As parents, we pray our children will grow to be strong, responsible, kind, loving, serving people who make good choices.  But as they grow....even if it seems like they are growing the way you hoped and prayed (except maybe she could be a tad bit tidier) ;), we feel them slipping away.  She is almost 16, and I am trying to hold onto all the time I can.  My body truly aches when I think about her graduating high school....then what?  College?  Away?  Far Away?  I don't know if I can survive it.  I would never want to interfere with her dreams, and I would never let her know that my heart would have a constant ache of longing for her to be home with me; but I know it would.  I'm already missing her so much, and she still lives in my house!  Time is going by too fast....way too fast!