An Attitude of Gratitude Day 24

I read something today that was so true. This is my take on it. When we get the unexpected check in the mail or a need is miraculously met, it is easy to give thanks. On time provision? Thank you Jesus! Healing? Thank you Jesus! Answered prayer? Thank you Jesus! But, what about the times when the answer that we think should come, doesn't? Are we able to still say Thank you Jesus in spite of our circumstances? I have had one of those weeks (well, months if you want to get technical!) where I have had so many weird things happen that I find myself looking around to see if someone from Candid Camera is following me around! No kidding! I have truly felt like someone was either playing a joke on me or they were just waiting to see if I would still be thankful if ________ happened. Well, I have made up my mind that irregardless of circumstances, answers, silence, WHATEVER - I will be thankful and content in all things. Because it really boils down to a choice of my will. I chose to be thankful when I don't see the provision, when I don't hear His voice, when I don't know the answer. And I can do that, not because there is anything special about me. It is because I trust my God to keep His promises, to take care of me and my family, to meet our needs and to never leave me or forsake me. It truly is about Him and not about me.

So, now that I have gotten that off my chest, here is what I am most thankful for today!

The librarian who finally chose to be kind to me today.

Registering for classes to renew my teaching degree - I am actually excited!

Answered prayers - even the ones that weren't answered the way I thought they should be.

The turkey defrosted!

Homeschooling.

Being a mom - the greatest, most underpaid job in the world - unless of course you count those eternal rewards, hugs, smiles, bonding - never mind, I am grossly overpaid when you think about it!

"But godliness with contentment is great gain."
1 Timothy 6:6

An Attitude of Gratitude Day 23

Oopppssss! I somehow missed this on my "to-do" list last night. No wonder I got so many other things done!! So, here goes my list for day 23:

Shopping with my children.

Finding good deals.

Health.

A good school day.

Knowing that God works all things for my good if I love Him.

Laundry that is washed, dried, folded and put away.

Conversations with my husband.

Hope that you are having a blessed week and feel thankful as we plunge toward Thursday!

"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
1 Thessalonians 5:18

An Attitude of Gratitude Day 22

The last weekend before Thanksgiving has come and now gone and I hope and pray that anyone who has been reading along with me feels too blessed to be stressed and has a permanent attitude of gratitude that you carry with you for the rest of your life. One day to be thankful and show it is just not enough! Today, I am thankful for:

My puppy - Maggie. She is 2 today! Happy Birthday puppy!!

An over the top church that has leadership who stand for truth and are not afraid to teach it, no matter what is "in" to say.

Truth.

Sunday School Teachers who love my children and give of themselves to minister to them and reach their hearts for God.

The unconditional love of God.

"But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
1 Corinthians 15:57

MaKenna's Braces

Two years ago, our dentist referred MaKenna to an orthodontist for a consultation about braces due to several issues going on in her mouth. She has some crowding, an overbite, an overjet and a few other things. Well, unfortunately, braces were just not in the budget at the time and had to be put on hold. During that time, we knew that Mark was finishing a job and began to pray that a.) he would get a bonus for the job (even in these times - not easy) and b.) that it would be enough to cover her braces. Well, lo and behold, he did get a bonus AND it was enough to cover her treatment in full! What an amazing blessing. He is an on time God!

So, Thursday was Makenna's big day. Bright and early, at 7AM we arrived at the office. She was a little nervous so we talked and prayed and laughed a tlittle, too. It took a little over an hour, but here she is, as adorable as can be:



She will have to have them on for about 2 years and we are excited to see what she will look like when it is all said and done. For now, we are getting through one day at a time!

An Attitude of Gratitude Day 21

My family and I spent the day at home putting away all of our fall decor and putting out our Christmas decor. It is always so fun to pull things out of boxes and "remember when" and go through the thoughts that those ornaments, decor or whatever bring to mind. The stories those boxes hold are amazing and wonderful because they were shared with people I love through the years and through many circumstances and situations. No matter what may have been going on at the time - finances, stress, work, births, deaths, etc. - it's funny that none of those things are the things we talk about as what we remember the most about that particular item. Kind of makes me think. Maybe the things that I am concerned about now really aren't that important in light of the memories I have the chance to make with my loved ones. Maybe those are the things that I should spend the most time concentrating on and let the other things in God's hands - the best place for them to be anyway!

I have much more to be thankful for than any blog could contain! But, now that I am decorated for Christmas, it is hard to remember that we haven't even had Thanksgiving yet! I love to decorate early for Christmas and have it there to enjoy for more than just a couple of weeks, so that is my first item on my list today:

Christmas decorations.

Homemade eggnog that turned out absolutely heavenly!

Pizza for dinner - no cooking or cleanup required.

Children who get excited about the same things that we do and enjoy doing things as a family.

Snowmen.

I read this quote today on one of my little inspirational flip calendars: "Were there no God we would be in this glorious world with grateful hearts and no one to thank." (Christina Rossetti) I am so glad that I know who my blessings come from!

"Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence." Psalm 140:3

An Attitude of Gratitude Day 20

Today, I am thankful for:

Co-op. Every week that we have our classes, I am more thankful for the people and the opportunity.

Homemade eggnog... Mmmmmmmm!!!

Christmas lights.

Weekends.

Hope that you have a blessed one!

"Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever."
Psalm 106:1

An Attitude of Gratitude Day 19

Only one more week to go - I can almost taste the pumpkin pie! I can't help but love this time of the year. It truly is "The most wonderful time of the year!" Here are my thankful items today:

The awesome, sweet presence of God at prayer tonight. I wouldn't want to try to make it in this world without Him.

MaKenna's braces are on and all went well - will post pictures and an update soon!

Homemade lentil soup.

Talking with my family.

Answered prayer.

"Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name."
Psalm 100:4