30 Days of Thanksgiving {Day 16}

Thank You, God, for bills.

I'm just sitting down to pay our bills (because it's payday! Yay!) and it occurs to me that I'm not only crazy grateful that we have money in our account, but that we have a house, electricity, internet, phones. I'm not crazy about school loans but I'm so thankful for my education and a diploma for both of us! I'm thankful that we have all these blessings that result in bills.

So while I don't love bills, I'm so grateful for what they represent.

I'm also so thankful that God has grown us in how to manage our money (at least a little!) and we haven't seen red in awhile! Beautiful thing. He's got us covered.

Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Psalm 34:9-10

(Read Psalm 34! Chocked full of goodness!)

30 Days of Thanksgiving {Day 15}

Thank You, Father, for my Marie Love.

My first born. Oh, how I adore her.

Supposedly female first children have the tendency to butt heads with their mommas. It might have something to do with the fact that we are exactly alike. Armed with this knowledge, I've been praying since her birth that we would develop a close, trusting, lasting relationship.

She is so infuriating and so wonderful. She is obsessed with her little sibs, even the future sister she is sure will come "when Kempy is bigger."

The blessing that is my daughter is immeasurable.

30 Days of Thanksgiving {Days 13&14}

I just cannot seem to keep up. Every day I think of something great I want to write about. But then suddenly it's the next day and I think of something else and totally forget what I thought of the day before...

Anyway, here's me trying to catch up again. I have so much I am thankful for, and each thing deserves at least a little attention.

Day 13:

Thank You, Savior, for worship.

It is just such a blessing to be able to worship the Creator any time anywhere. I was listening to praise and worship on Pandora while in the shower and before I even realized what I was doing, I had my hands raised and tears in my eyes. My daily (well... almost daily) super mini vacation (aka a shower) turned into an impromptu worship session.

But one of the coolest things about worship is it doesn't just mean singing.

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

Everything we do can, and should be, a form of worship. How amazing is it that we can worship our Savior right where we are? We don't need to be perfect, have it all together,  have a good voice, or be gifted at all. We simply come.

Day 14:

Thank You, omniscient Father, for the Word of God.

Can I just tell you, the Bible has COME ALIVE in my life lately?? Since I started getting up early with Derek I've had a lot more time to study it. I have no trouble spending the whole hour+ before the kids wake up just enjoying the Word.

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

There is no limit to what Scripture can do in a person's life; for a person's soul. Read it. Know it. Love it. Share it. I will never cease to do all four of those things because even if someone doesn't believe in the inerrant Truth of God's Word,  it is still true and ALIVE! Nothing I say can out-say/out-convince/outdo the Bible.

And I am so thankful that we have free access to the living Word here in the US for at least a little longer!

30 Days of Thanksgiving {Days 11&12}

Day 11:

Thank You, Great Physician, for our health.

We have been so blessed with great health. Our extended families have suffered from the dreaded cancer, but the 5 of us have not had anything out of the ordinary. We know that we live in a fallen world and are never guaranteed great health, so for now I will praise the Lord for the blessing of an illness-free little family!

Day 12:

Thank You, Jehovah Jireh, for our garden and freezer.

We tripled our garden the 2nd year, and in prep for next year, we tripled it again! Not only do we both love to garden, the harvest is fantastic! And we were super blessed with a freezer from the inlaws for Christmas! We're a few days away from payday which means the cupboards are getting bare, but we have plenty of veggies, a whole drawer full of beef, and cans of potatoes at my disposal.

I think gardening is a form of worship. I cannot look at a garden full of fresh veggies and not be in awe of God's provision. I'm so excited to teach my kids about gardening, so that no matter what, they have access to food.

Geesh, we are a spoiled little family. Thank You, Father, for being such an amazing Dad!

30 Days of Thanksgiving {Day 10}

Thank You, Abba, for my parents.

Skipping over the whole part about how they raised me, I'm so thankful for how much they love their grandkids, how they are always willing and desire to take care of them and their grown-up kids, how they love the Lord and how they love each other. I love all the wisdom that they possess but never force it on us. They cherish family above all else.

Thank you, Momma and Dadda, for my growing up years, the many years to come, and the handful in between. Love you!