An Overabundance of Thanks November 5th

The amount of laundry in this house is insane! I will spend the entire day just putting a new load in the washer, switching it to the dryer, folding the clothes and starting the process over and over again. Not to mention the fact that I still actually have to put the clothes away at some point so that we are not rummaging for clothes in the laundry baskets every morning. Yesterday as I was putting clothes away, I was once again overwhelmed with the amount of clothing we have for each girl. No wonder the laundry is never ending!

The dishes continually pile up. I will work hard to keep the kitchen clean and allow myself to relax because of it. I can honestly feel the tension leave my neck and shoulders and as I sit to enjoy my clean kitchen. That's when I realize there are dishes all over the counters again! How exactly does this happen?

It's easy to get frustrated with the amount of housework I face each day. There are always messes to pick up. I will find myself focusing on cleaning one room, happy the kids are playing nicely in another. Once I feel that satisfied feeling of a job well done, it is quickly deflated by finding the girls and realizing the hurricane has hit! I get to clean up after the kids numerous times every day.

It's difficult to remember that there are many people out there longing for warm enough clothes for the season. There is the population who longs for a nutritious meal not caring what it is served on. And there are many people who cry to God just to have one child to call their own. I need to remember that I am truly blessed.

Thank you, Lord, for an overabundance of everything. Thank you that we are not in need or even in want. Thank you that you have surrounded us with so many people who shower us with gifts. Thank you for so many clothes it doesn't matter if I skip out on doing laundry for the week. Thank you that we have ample food to eat and the dishes to eat them off of. Thank you for the blessing of three little girls to take care of, even when I am losing my mind. Thank you, Lord, that I really have no idea what it is like to be in need or in want. I am truly grateful for all of your blessings.

Thankful for my parents 11-4-09

The girls are asking me how many more days until Christmas. More than ever, I just want them to enjoy today. If we jump to Christmas we miss so much. Thanksgiving is overlooked. And yet, that honestly isn’t even my biggest problem with the question they raise.

I was dreading the start of November this year. I suppose it is partly because I am not allowed the distraction of a newborn this year. This year, the holidays are just creating heartache within me. The holidays make me think of my dad. I miss him terribly. His absence is always evident in my life. Starting with the harvest, however, there has just been a blaring reminder that he is gone.

So, what do I do with this gloomy cloud that hangs over my head? Can I just pretend everything is hunky dory? Can I choose to just ignore them? I’d probably just crawl back into bed and stay there if I didn‘t have three little girls relying on me. Rather than allow depression to take over my life, I have to find things to be thankful for. Gratitude can carry my heart a long way.

I am so blessed to have been given parents who raised me to know God at an early age. My parents gave me many childhood memories that I am able to cherish and recall with fondness. Family was a priority to my parents. And I can point out many scenarios which remind me that my parents not only loved God, they loved one another. I am grateful that I was raised with protection and innocence. I was taught a strong work ethic. I was taught that this world is not all there is. I am able to look much further than the here and now. At the same time, I was taught to enjoy the day we are given. My parents taught me so much. Most of all, how very much God loves me, how very much I was (am) loved and how important it is to love in return.

Thank you, Mom, for raising me to love God. Thank you, God, for a mom and dad who I can give thanks for. And Lord, let my dad know I’m thankful for him, too. I miss him, in particular, this time of year.

Thankful for the Sunshine 11/3/09

It seems so easy to get down and discouraged these days. There is a lot we could be negative about. So many people are sick. There is trouble all over the world. That's why November is a great month! We are reminded to give thanks. Something we should do every day but especially in November. We have an abundance to be thankful for!!

Lord, thank you so much for the sunshine. I really enjoy the rain and cloudy days as well. The sunshine these past two days has really lifted my spirit. Thank you!

November 2nd Thankful for

I love the beautiful colors of Autumn. As I look at the colorful leaves in the trees and on the ground, it reminds me that the earth is God’s canvas. I am simply amazed at the beauty God places all around us. From my beautiful little girls to the numerous colors of the changing season. I am in awe over our Creator.

Lord, thank you for opening my eyes to the beauty all around me. Thank you for giving us so much to be in awe of.

Giving Thanks - November 1st

This morning, my baby girl decided that she no longer will sit in the baby seat for the bath tub. With each day, she is deciding that she wants a little more freedom. My baby isn't a baby anymore.

For Jaycie's birthday this past month, my mom bought her a book entitled "Llama Llama misses Momma". It's a story about a little llama who goes to school and doesn't want to play because he misses his momma. Bottom line is that Llama Llama can love his Momma and school, too. After we read the book to Jaycie, she responded, "I don't miss you."

I watched out the window the other day as Nikelle got home from school. She exited the bus and stood at the corner waving to her friends until the bus pulled away. Then she turned toward the house and began to walk home. Prior to this moment, the bus had come early and I wasn't out there to meet her. She simply walked down the street by herself and let herself in with the garage code. Since then, she has informed me that she likes to get off the bus by herself unless it is raining.

When did my girls grow up so fast?

This morning I was reading through an old prayer journal of mine where I asked God for a memory that would last a lifetime. It was the Reindeer Run in December of 2006 that my dad ran with me. In that moment, I had no idea that two short months later, my dad would be diagnosed with cancer that took his life.

Thank you, Lord, for memories. Thank you that as my girls grow up as quickly as I blink, I can cherish moments in my heart from the past. Thank you that although my dad may no longer be here with me on this earth, you allowed me moments to treasure for a lifetime.