Tag Archives: Gratitude

November 4: this guy

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Today, I’m thankful for Tom.

Who is patient when I have none.

Who works so hard to provide for our family, and to understand me when I’m having hard days.

Who will stand up for what is right and try to right what is wrong.

Who shares Jesus with words every Sunday, but more importantly with actions every other day.

Who supports and loves and gives and shares all that he is and has.

Thank you, Lord, for a husband that is worthy to be head of our home and who loves You with all of his heart.

side note: that’s a sippy cup of the nephew’s in the shot. Caleb hasn’t used one since he was 3, just so we’re clear.

Thankful Thursday: 04.17.12

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I’ve been struggling for the last month or so. Big changes in our daily schedules, big decisions I didn’t want to have to make, big stresses everywhere I turned.

Saturday, I spent all day on the couch, watching a SyFy series on the iPad.

Sunday, I cried in the kitchen, and Tom took the kids to dinner and had a little come to Jesus talk with them about some things that needed to change.

Monday, the sun came up.

I woke up at 6:15 and realized it was light enough for me to get in a run before school.

I ate full paleo – no sugar, no grains, no dairy.

I tore through my massive to do list.

Just like that.

The sun came up.

I’ve been returning over and over this week to these words from Tom’s message Sunday about Caleb in the Old Testament (Numbers 13 and 14):

I’m so thankful for these reminders, and the big changes that come with such seemingly small ones.

Want to join in me in creating a life of gratitude? Leave a comment or a link to your own blog post about what you’re thankful for today.

gratituesday: prayer walk

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Seven months ago, we moved back to my home town and to the ranch my parents have lived on since I was a baby. 

Seven weeks ago, Tom was named pastor of a local church and we moved into town, to a a parsonage that seems to have been made to order for our family. It’s been a season of change, but one constant for me has been exercise. Most mornings I spend some time at the gym, but I’m finding a huge blessing in walking through this small town on mornings I just can’t make it.

Out the door, through land that once belonged to my great-grandparents before there were streets and around the corner, past the homes of friends and family and strangers alike……praying for those who live in the houses I pass and all those who live here, that their hearts would be awakened for a God who loves them. 

Past the hospital where I was born, now more of a convalescent hospital…praying for those who make it their home, and for the staff and families who care for them.

Up to Main Street, past closed business after closed business. Truly the only ones that ever seem to be bustling are the donut shop and the pharmacy…praying God would bring renewal to this small town that has been so hard hit by unemployment, gangs, and meth.

Finally, past the church where we serve…praying that God would use it as a tool to make all of the above come to pass, thanking Him for this opportunity to come home, grateful most of all for the love He’s shown us and commands us to share with others.

Blessed to know that while I walk these quiet streets, I walk with my Creator.

Shared at Heavenly Homemaker’s Gratituesday

Sunday Gratitude

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Gratitude

A few more things to be grateful for this week…

161. a timely reminder that I need not allow fear to rule my life

162. another successful baking day

163. a full freezer once again

164.  Friday morning shopping with just Hanna – a little bit of girl time

165.  that I've so far escaped the virus Tom and the kids have all had

166.  a very productive week of creating

167.  new ideas that seem to be making our school day a little smoother

168.  for my husband is truly my partner and the leader of our family

169.  this crazy boy

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cutting apart our Christmas tree…which has been hanging out in the backyard for way too long 

170. two Saturday night suppers with Cole Davis – so glad he moved to our neck of the woods

171.  that Tom already took tomorrow off to come with us to pick up our first raw milk and pastured meat order on the other side of Orlando

172.  a chance to chat with friends at church

173. Mr. Chuck and Miss Kate, Caleb's Sunday School teachers over the last few years…the impact they've made in his life will truly be eternal

174.  I'm not only caught up, but even a little ahead in my year through the Bible reading

175.  how much I'm gleaning from this read through Leviticus

176.  the buyers who make it possible for me to work from home by creating scrapbook layouts to sell on eBay

Dino Final 
(I'm kind of fond of these silly dinosaurs right now!) 

177.  reading in bed each night…one of my most-looked-forward-to parts of the day

178.  Alive Again, by Matt Maher – after owning it for months, this CD still brings me to tears

179.  still more cool weather – this winter has been a treat

180.  tomorrow marks 5 years since we moved to Florida…I can't believe it's gone so quickly and I can't believe how much our lives have changed in that short time.  Such a crazy decision, but I'm so grateful we make it.

Sunday Gratitude – February 7, 2010

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I am just completely overwhelmed by the 10 days ahead.  Before I get too bogged down in my to do lists, I want to take a few moments to be grateful…

101.  another favorite worship song in church this morning

102.  a new computer (with new security software that's driving me a little batty)

103.  our old computer held on until we could transfer all of our files and important stuff to the new one

104.  a chance to start over on all of my favorite links (silly, I know, but it's nice to clean that out a bit)

105.  a quiet Sunday afternoon

106.  how easy it is to plan meals with my freezer full and the inventory sheet in my homemaking binder

107.  finding the perfect paper for a project I'm working on

108.  reading a few verses of Scripture that I've read many, many times before and finding a new meaning (Exodus 14: 10 – 15)

109.  lots of reading time lately…not always what I should be doing, but what something I've needed more than usual lately

110.  new organic, fair trade coffee from BJ's

111.  my snuggly boy

112.  seeing Hanna start a new story after a long time away from writing

113.  knowing that when Tom starts his Spring semester of seminary on Tuesday, he's officially more than halfway through

114.  the endowment fund at church that is providing Tom with the opportunity to earn his Masters of Divinity

115.  2 dinners around the table last week – an unusually low number for us, but still the priority is there

116.  curriculum ordered and on it's way (I could happily spend all day – for many days – exploring curriculum)

117.  homemade whole wheat tortillas in the freezer

118.  a never ending love for learning

119.  cooler weather again and again and again

120.  new chore charts (not sure that anyone else is excited about that one with me!)

Sunday Gratitude – January 31, 2010

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Gratitude

81.  a great first Sunday for this year's Confirmation class

82.  a sushi chef and sushi-making lessons to kick Confirmation off

83.  an afternoon of friends and fun for the kids

83.  the right to choose how best to educate my children

84.  a freezer full of food

85.  Tom's tortilla factory on Friday

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86.  a tax return that is just enough for a much needed new computer and the kid's next set of curriculum

87.  funny errors in the bulletin at church this morning

88.  Spirit-filled worship

89.  help…much needed help

90.  writing curriculum guidance

91.  lesson plans all filled out and ready to go for the week

92.  a new homemaking binder to plan and fill

93.  hot tea on a cold day

94.  homemade almond milk

Picture 039

95.  new packs of pencils and highlighters

96.  a surprise cold day (I should watch the news more often)

97.  big kids talking about little kid things they still love

98.  plane tickets

99.  impromptu sword/light saber fights

Picture 041

100.  knowing the month's bills are all paid in full and that once again, God has provided

I'm one-tenth of the way to my goal!

A Year of Gratitude

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Gratitude

As I started pondering my goals for 2010, I kept coming back to gratitude.  It seems like the next logical step – I spent a year simply trying to be conscious of my actions and words and then a year being more intentional.  The more consciously and intentionally I live, the more I find to be grateful for.

So for 2010, I'm focusing on gratitude – the state of being thankful.

And I really do have so much to be thankful for.  Inspired by Ann Voskamp's Gratitude Community, my goal for 2010 is to blog 1000 things I'm grateful for.  I'm not going to promise not to repeat…because I'm pretty sure I will.   Some will be broad, others will be more specific. 

My plan for right now is pretty simple.  Jot down notes and list at least 20 things each Sunday that I'm grateful for.  20 things over 52 weeks…I should make my 1000.  And I admit going into this that I'm a little nervous. 

I have a few other goals for this year – to continue to regain my health and explore more natural foods, live within our budget,  plan for the holidays, continue to learn and grow as we homeschool – but I'm choosing to make my focus gratitude.

Let's get started….

1. That I am adopted into the family of God through my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

2.  My husband.

3.  Two wonderful children.

4.  The roof over my head.

5.  Getting to see my nephews and sister via Skype this week.

6.  God's provision every single day.

7.  A never-ending thirst for knowledge.

8.  A good night's sleep.

9.  A simple holiday season.

10.  My returning health.

11.  New books to read.

12.  Inspiration.

13.  Getting back to normal schedules.

14.  All in All, Come Thou Fount and It Is Well on Moody Radio this morning.

15.  Two weeks of TTapping down.

16.  5 weeks of no/little white sugar/flour/pasta/potatoes.

17.  A little December upswing in business.

18.  A home with a heater.

19.  A meal plan for the next week.

20.   Organic co-op on Tuesday.

Gratituesday: It Clicked!

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SSI 6

Yesterday, it all clicked.

My morning time, school, my creative time, dinner…it was the most productive day I've had in a long time and for that I am truly grateful.

I've struggled with my daily schedule since starting homeschooling a few months ago.  I've intended to get up an hour before the kids so I can have some quiet time and spend a little time on the computer.  I've intended for school to flow, for the kids to be engaged and not fighting me every step of the way.  I've intended to spend the afternoons in the studio, creating new layouts to list.  I've intended to have healthy, complete dinners on the table each night for dinner.

For the last month or so, I've been blessed if I actually reached one of my intentions.  Two was a long shot.

Yesterday, it all clicked.

The time change has been kind to me and I'm easily awake at 5:45 am.   Yesterday, I spent a little time in prayer and then took care of some business on the computer…all before the kids were awake.

That freed up time for me to oversee their chores and spend the time with them during breakfast.  That paid off in an easier school time.  There were still the little quibbles, but our school day went far more smoothly than it ever has.  Everything in my lesson plans was completed.  We began new units on sharks (Caleb), the plague (Hanna), ancient China (history/geography), planted Fall tomatoes and continued all of our other studies.

We were done by noon, ate lunch and the kids went to their rooms for quiet time…again with no arguments.  Afterward, they both started working on projects to give as  Christmas gifts and I headed into the studio.  I was able to complete two layouts (and get them scanned and listed) and start on my class for Wednesday night before Tom even got home for dinner…which was crock pot chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, fresh bread and broccoli. 

Yesterday, it all just clicked. 

It wasn't perfect by any means (nor do I expect it to happen again every day), but it was a day I will give thanks to the Lord for and as a reminder of what is possible when we all work together.

Want to view more Gratituesdays?  Head on over to Heavenly Homemakers!  

Gratituesday

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I have been reading the Heavenly Homemakers blog for over a year now, and have always been blessed by the Gratituesdays posts in particular…but I've never felt the need to add my own moment of gratitude until this morning.

It's 7:45, and it's been a rough morning.

Caleb was up at 5.  I'm not sure why – possibly sleep walking, possibly because his fever broke.  Let's just say the whole circumstances are a little fuzzy right now.

Tom had planned to get up earlier than normal anyway, so after a bit he got showered and ready to leave for work…which is when chaos broke out.  In his sleepiness and sickness, Caleb…well, Caleb flipped out. 

He didn't want Daddy to leave. 

He needed Daddy to stay.

Daddy did his best to get Caleb calmed down and attempted to leave.  Caleb ran out into the dark morning after him.  Tom brought him back in, got him calmed down and left again.

Caleb continued to flip out.  I tried for 15 minutes to pull him away from the door, with no success.  He really is an abnormally strong 7 year old.  I hated to call Tom, but I did…I honestly didn't know what else to do. 

Daddy came home.

Caleb crawled under his  bed, thinking he was probably in a whole lot of trouble.

Here's the part I'm grateful for.  Tom told Caleb he wasn't in trouble.  He got Caleb to come out from underneath the bed, sat with him on the couch and snuggled him.  When I finally came out from getting ready for the day half an hour later, they were asleep together on the couch.

I am so grateful for a husband who loves our kids so wildly.  More than that, I'm so grateful for that little vision of God this crazy morning has given me.  We're not in trouble with Him, even though we spend so much time hiding under the bed.  God wants snuggle time – he wants to get in our hearts and heads.   He wants to spend time with us on the couch, at the table, in every moment of our lives.

I pray today that my need for God can be like Caleb's need for his Daddy. 

And on a more shallow note – I'm rather grateful Caleb got in a little more sleep.  He woke up in a much better mood and I think Daddy needed that little bit of extra sleep too.

Want to read more blessings?  Head on over to Heavenly Homemakers for Gratituesday!.