Thankful Thursdays

Nope, you're not going crazy. I'll just be busy tomorrow and Thanksgiving, so I'm posting this week's Thankful Thursday early.

41. That Janae actually sat through church. She's good about sitting through church, it's just doing so quietly that gets to her. It was nice to enjoy a full sermon with minimal distractions!

42. Relief in the mornings after being the one on 'night watch' with Jasmine. It is so nice to be able to get a little more sleep after waking up several times to give her the bottle during the night!

43. Yahweh's unchanging nature. We will lose friends, have family members move away, and experience changes in curcumstances. Yet Yahweh is always there, unchanging and in control of it all. He is the same, yesterday, today, and forever.

44. My mother. She is just utterly amazing. She does such an amazing job at raising kids and always has an answer for any kind of issue I'm having with my younger siblings. I want to be like her!

45. Christmas lights. I enjoy Christmas lights, and am in the process of decorating our front yard. Here's a seceret - I actually have some strung around the baker's rack in the kitchen that I leave up year round. But don't tell anyone. ;-)

46. Being able to be together with my family for Thanksgiving. As us kids get older, I wonder at every big holiday or birthday, if perhaps this will be the last time we'll be able to celebrate together like this. We don't know from one year to the next what our family gatherings will look like, and I know that it won't be long before we are all pulled in different directions and will be able to celebrate together less and less. Thus I cherish these precious times we can spend as a family.

47. Rainy days. If nothing else, it helps us appreciate our sunny days all the more.

48. Cold weather. Though it often makes it a hassle with the younger kids to have to bundle them up more, this is the time of year where I get to make all my favorite soups and drink lots of herbal tea.

49. Yahweh's provision. It may not be until the moment we need it, but Yahweh always provides it. We don't have to worry about tomorrow or the future, He has it all under control.

50. My dear friends who actually take the time to read and comment about my scattered musings on my blog. :-)

Being Molded by Him,

Thankful Thursdays

Yes, I'm late in posting this. But I have a good excuse reason. I had it all typed up on my phone, pushed "send"...and never saw it again. However, since this post is on thankfulness, I'm not going to go on about my phone troubles, but reminisce on those things in life for which I am grateful.

31. Rise-only cycles on dishwashers. Call me crazy, but I have this preference for washing dishes by hand and sticking 'em in the dishwasher to rinse. To me, it seems to most economical use of water, but I could be wrong. The only downside is no heat-dry. ;-)

32. The CHEA choir concerts. Twice a year, it gives me opportunities to see friends I wouldn't get to see otherwise, and enjoy some delightful music.

33. Access to clean water. Not everyone has this luxury, and I am thankful for the easiness we have in America of being able to satisfy our thirst with clean, fresh water.

34. My own, personal Bible. I can only imagine what it must be like to only be able to have a page or two of this precious book, knowing that I could be arrested if authorities found it in my possession. I pray for these brothers and sisters in Christ who daily experience such suffering as us American can often only imagine.

35. Internet access. When our connection was down for most of the day, it was easy to see how it can be taken for granted (esp. with important emails and documents coming through!). It is a blessing, indeed, to be able to have such a resource at our fingertips where we can so easily share information.

36. Thanksgiving. I enjoy Thanksgiving Day. For several years at least, I have been in charge of the Thanksgiving meals. I love to bake and cook food for my family to enjoy. To me, Thanksgiving hasn't had that sickening commercialism that has been directed at Christmas and Easter (well, at least not as much...). It is a time to spend in enjoying my family's company and good food. Not that we aren't to be thankful year-round, but having a specific day helps remind us to take nothing for granted.

37. Sewing machines. I can't imagine the hours that must have been spent in previous centuries slaving away with needle and thread!

38. Debates and discussions. Listening to 'em is almost as fun as being a part of one. I usually have some sort of opinion on most things (someone usually starts laughing when I say I don't have an opinion on the matter ;-), so I like to discuss different topics with my family and those of my friends who have a mutual appreciation for such things.

39. Online copies of sermons. Yes, I enjoy listening to sermons. Depending on the mood I'm in or what I'm doing, I tend to listen to a fifty-fifty mix of sermons and music. My favorite pastor, unfortunately, hasn't had his sermon page updated in quite a while. But, several of his sermons were uploaded the other day so I've been immensely enjoying some more recent sermons of his. Hopefully more will follow.

40. Normal days. Those days where nothing out of the ordinary seems to happen. Why? Because it makes those extraordinary days that much more special. If something amazing and awesome (in the true sense of the word) happened everyday, would we not be dulled to a sense of wonder? It is out of those plain, ordinary days that our special days, the holy days, stick out. Sundays, Christmases, Thanksgivings...they are that much more special for not happening everyday.

There's my ten for the week. Your turn! :-)

Shalom,

Thankful Thursdays

Yep, it's Thursday again! I have a few posts in my head that I haven't been able to put to paper (or keyboard ;-) yet. Hopefully I'll be able to actually post something instead of Thursdays taking over my blog!

21. Practically unlimited access to a wealth of information. Though it's easy for us to be on information overload, I am so thankful for the ease and accessability at just a few clicks of a button to answers I'm looking for - from how many tablespoons is in an ounce, to a list of scriptures support Calvinism. 

22. Those sweet times when I'm holding Janae and Jasmine. It is so sweet to be able to cuddle with a baby and toddler. Makes me look forward to having children of my own someday, Lord willing.

23. Yahweh's sovereignty over the weather. Come rain, snow, or sunshine, Yahweh is in control of the weather, we have nothing to worry about!

24. My life. I am especially thankful for all the opportunities and training I've been able to receive at home that I know not every young lady has the pleasure of receiving.

25. My home. I recognize that not everyone is blessed with the abundance of room as my family has.

26. A washer and dryer that works. May sound silly at first, but think about the times when either a washer or dryer breaks! With larger families especially, it is not a pretty sight. ;-)

27. All my brothers and sisters. I can't imagine being an only child. I love my siblings, they assure me of never a quiet moment around here.

28. Books. I love books. Online copies can never replace wandering through a bookstore, permeated with the smell of books.

29. Loving parents who have raised me in the fear of the Lord.

30. Our ability to taste. Don't know what I'm talking about? Go burn your tongue and you'll see what I mean. ;-)

By Yahweh's Grace,

Thankful Thursdays

11. Nineteen years of life.
12. The opportunity for a dear friend to visit us in NC.
13. Sneaky little sisters. ;-)
14. The opportunity to vacation on an empty beach during some lovely weather.
15. My simply awesome family.
16. Yahweh's never-ending mercy.
17. Janae learning to sit through church. (Still working on the 'quietly' part!)
18. Good surprises.
19. My mobility. I can walk, run, and dance without thinking twice about it.
20. Safe travels while we've been on the road.

With a thankful heart,

Thankful Thursdays

That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.

LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.

- Psalm 26: 6-7

No, Thursdays aren't the only days we should be thankful, but it is the day I've decided to post each week ten things for which I am thankful. What better way to harbour thankfulness than to have a list of specific items? Feel free to join me by posting your own set of thanks on your blog!

I am thankful for:

1. Christ living the perfect life for me, and died for my sins.
2. The precious little bundle I am holding in my arms.
3. Sweet fellowship with dear friends.
4. Hospitality - both being and receiving.
5. The amazingly wonderful family Yahweh has given me.
6. The ability to walk.
7. Being able to meet and fellowship with all my "online friends" (except for one!).
8. Safety and protection over my family.
9. The freedom to read God's Word without fear of being arrested.
10. All the hands-on childrearing/training I've been able to experience.

With a Grateful Heart,