Gifts

The ability to purchase and download
ebooks for my daughter to read!
This is wonderful since it's extremely expensive
to ship books from Amazon.com to Madagascar.

Last week I purposed to write down 7 gifts I received throughout my day each day, and I can't believe what a blessing it was when I reflected back on it at the end of the week. This idea was inspired by Ann Voskamp over at aholyexperience.com, and I printed out her free little booklet you can find here to help me. Suddenly I was seeing normal, everyday things with new eyes. God has blessed me richly! I am so thankful.


More gifts this week
 - being called a cool lego builder by my 3-year-old son
 - being asked to cuddle in bed before lights-out
 - coffee out with ladies
 - leftovers to create a new meal with
 - email from a friend in Canada
 - opportunities to Skype with friends and loved-ones
 - watching my children play together and love one another

Faith finished Kindergarten math today!

Rejoice In All Good Things the Lord Has Given to You

You shall rejoice in all the good things the Lord Your God has given to you and your household. --Deuteronomy 26:11

Now I am not claiming to be an expert on this subject. Honestly, I think God has yet to take me down some difficult roads, but He has been using small things in my life as training grounds to remind me to rejoice in His goodness and to dwell on His statutes.

Rejoicing and being thankful is not an option in Scripture. It's not something that we feel like doing when things are going fantastic in our life. It's not just our reaction to answered prayers or gifts. Thankfulness is an attitude that makes us as followers of Christ different. I have been trying to focus on the eternal lately. Gaining an eternal perspective in our lives often has an enormous effect on our attitude toward situations. Suddenly small irritations and frustrations become just that! Small! Insignificant. As Christians what ultimately matters? Our position in Christ and what's in store for us at the end of this race. With this in mind, how can we not be thankful and rejoice?

Another verse that came to mind when I was reading this morning was Proverbs 17:22, "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."

My Kids' Father

I have neglected my Thursday Thanksgivings for too long! And tonight, as I sat down to try and figure out what I was supposed to blog about, only one thing seemed to trump every other possibility.

My kids' father. First of all, I am so thankful that my husband had two beautiful children with me. I don't affirm his amazing fatherly ways with them as often as I should! He is so patient and steady. When I am about to throw in the towel in regards to another need to implement discipline, he's right there, stepping up to the plate himself.

I am so thankful for his handyness. Our daughter is too young to really help him with anything, but during the sunnier months, he loved having her by his side in the yard or the garage, just toodling around him and watching him work. I would often look outside to find her standing near him holding out a wrench or trying to stick a screw into a hole herself.

I am so thankful that my husband enjoys me throwing the children into bed with him in the mornings after he's slept in. They lie there under the covers and cuddle together until the kids become restless and start squirming too much. Usually, it ends with someone getting a tickle attack.

I am so thankful my husband spends time talking; talking with me, and talking with our daughter. Dear son isn't quite there yet. Hubby and I have had many late night conversations about our children and how they're doing. Times of reflection and examination. I am equally thankful my husband spends time thinking. He isn't quick to answer sometimes; and I know, at those times he is thinking it through.

Thursday's Thanksgivings

The first half of the week has been so nice and sunny and warm! I am so thankful for this weather! My DD loves playing outside, and it's so nice to be able to play under sunny skies.

I am also thankful for traveling safety. My husband came back from a 10-day hunting trip with 10 other guys, and it involved traveling across the province. I am thankful the group was kept safe and especially that they were SUCCESSFUL :) He is away again this weekend for men's retreat with our church, and I am thankful he gets so excited about this time of year EVERY year! As much as I don't really like him gone, I am thankful God has put so many godly role models in his life, and he has this chance to spend time with them.