Being Thankful - Day Thirty

On this last day of the month of gratitude, I want to think about the very act of being grateful.

A couple of weeks ago, I was rocking the little squirt to sleep (ahhh, the benefits of being the "baby"), and I felt such gratitude for having this child, all my children, in my life.  I did nothing right so as to deserve them.  I am not the "world's best mom" by any means.  Yet, here I am with the blessing of three children.  And then, it occurred to me that the very act of being grateful for something like this points directly to a Creator.

If you're walking down the street, and you accidentally drop your keys out of your purse and a kind stranger picks them up and hands them back to you, it's normal to feel gratitude towards that particular person for doing a kind deed.

But, for the really huge things like family, children, etc, to whom does that gratitude go?  If you are holding a child or a grandchild and you feel so thankful to have them, why are you thankful?  Don't dismiss it as simple happiness.  You know it's more than that.  You can't simply be grateful to "the universe", because you are still implying that there is a life force bigger than you that had a part in this life you are holding.  As Psalm 19:1 expresses, the very heavens speak to a Creator.  The very earth and its inhabitants speak to a Creator.  The gratitude or thankfulness or the feeling of being overwhelmed with gifts speaks to a Creator.  Because if there wasn't a Creator to whom your gratitude was due, then you would simply care for your child as an animal cares for its child.  By instinct.  Without long-lasting emotion.  Dogs don't cry when they see their puppy.  They take it as a matter of fact, then go about licking the puppy clean.  But, we cry from the overwhelming emotion of holding this gift.  Why?  Because our very souls recognize our Creator, even if our minds refuse to acknowledge Him.

Sometimes, taking the first step of saying "yes, I acknowledge the absolute fact that there must be a Creator.  This world is here by Intelligent Design" is the hardest for some people.  But as my pastor always says, "it's amazing what unbelievers have to believe to be an unbeliever".  Getting yourself out of your own way and giving your gratitude to its proper Recipient creates a sense of peace in your heart, and it will allow you to feel the work that the Holy Spirit has already begun to do in you.

Gratitude itself is not just due to the Lord, but it is a gift from Him at the very same time.  ALL good things are of the Lord.  Praise isn't due to a person for being good; give thanks to God for the goodness He has put in that person.  And when you are sitting alone with your thoughts and feeling thankful for some good thing in your life, recognize the Creator in that.

Thank you, Father, for this past month of focusing on the gifts you've given to me and to my family.  Thank you for the good things that others have done for us and through us.  Today, Lord Jesus, I am thankful to You for all things!!!

Being Thankful - Day Twenty-Nine

Tonight, I'm grateful for this past month of focused gratitude.  Knowing each day that I needed to post something also made me realize that it was hard to pick just one thing.  It took a month, it seemed, to just get through the "big stuff".  Yeah, I broke down and expressed gratefulness for rotisserie chicken one day.  I did.  But, for the most past, I realized that the "big stuff" encompasses SO much of my life.  I have an abundance of gifts that, truly, a lot of us have.  But until you get to thinking about them, it's easy to forget how important, and how many, they all are.

Today has been one of those days where I've felt a lot of stress coming at me from a number of places, and I've felt a bit out of sorts.  I can't really explain it.  Maybe it's as simple as I need a quiet, peaceful day at home, and I don't see one of those on the horizon for awhile.  Maybe I'm feeling the typical stress of the "holiday season", where all the multitudes feel the pressure to put on an event to celebrate the Season, regardless of the fact that we all have SO many of these events to go to already.  Maybe I'm just cranky today.  WhatEVER the problem is, as I sit here and type, I realize that our gratitude is necessary when we're feeling good, when we're feeling cranky, when we're feeling downtrodden.  Even when we're feeling lost.  The hardest time to feel gratitude can be when the world gets all over and up in your business.  Yet, that's the time when we have to figure out how to let go of the stuff that is pestering our peace and focus on the Giver of the peace in the first place.  It's not easy, and the Lord never promised an easy path.  In fact, He pretty much assured us of difficulties.

Yet, we are to praise Him continually for He is good.  And we should be grateful for all the blessings we have at all times.  Good, the actual living entity that is the opposite of bad, is what God is.  If there is good in this world, then it is because God is there.  So, even on a weirdo day like I'm having today, I think of the good things, the blessings, in my life, and I thank Him.  I praise Him.  I remember that this life isn't about me in the first place.

And I will go to bed and shake this off (hopefully) and will rise to remember from Whom this past month's worth of blessings came.  Lord willing, this little pep talk to myself will do some good.  :-)

Being Thankful - Day Twenty-Eight

Today (yesterday), I'm so thankful for a van full of giggling 9 year old girls on their way to Nutcracker rehearsal, playing concentration and falling out in laughter when someone can't think of another food.  I'm so grateful for the sweet moms who have been faithful in the carpool so that we ALL don't have to make the trek across the Rez for every rehearsal.  And I'm grateful that the Lord has put all these lovely things in my path.

Just lovely and fun and sweet.  Thank you, Lord, for protecting these girls so that they still have so much of their naivete!

Being Thankful - Day Twenty-Seven

Tonight, I'm thankful for a family full of All-In!  It's a long story, so ask me about it sometime.  The short version is we all decided we were All-In after talking about Matthew 6:22-23 tonight.  Even widdle Lollypop said she was, although she really didn't know what she was saying.  But it was pretty cute nonetheless.

Thank you Lord for some precious family time and for reaching the hearts of our children in their youth.  That is a blessing for them, but it's also one for us.  And, You make them alive in You!

Being Thankful - Day Twenty-Six

Today, I'm very grateful for a good checkup with the thyroid doctor.  My levels all look good and he felt like the gland had possibly decreased in size a little bit.  Praise the Lord, it looks as though I'm responding to the drug therapy in a textbook fashion!

I'll go back in six months for a follow up ultrasound, and if, Lord willing, that looks good, then I'll hopefully only have to check in with him once a year!

I haven't talked about the whole "thyroid thing" as I call it, but I'll post an update on that soon.  It's no big secret; I just haven't gotten around to blogging about it.  The blessing of it all is that through the hand of God, a problem was caught before it caused any major problems!  Thank you, Lord Jesus, for sending healing through the expertise of the good doctors who treat me!  And thank you, Lord, for the good chiropractor who found this in the first place!

Being Thankful - Day Twenty-Five

Today, I'm thankful for all the experiences my parents provided for me as I was growing up that have allowed me to be able to do the things that I do today.  Ballet mom, soccer/baseball mom, homeschooling mom, photography mom, Mary Kay mom - all the odd variety of things that I do can be traced back to something that fed either my mind or my soul as I was growing up.  And, without my parents hard work to earn the money to pay for it and to physically get me to those activities, I'd not have those experiences to draw from.  (Mom, avert your eyes from the preposition that ends the sentence.  It sounds best like that).  ;-)

Thank you, Lord, for giving me parents that loved their kids and always did their best for us.  Please guide our actions with these three kids you've given us so that they will grow to honor you in all they do!

Being Thankful - Day Twenty-Four

Today (yesterday), I am thankful for a husband who understands me enough to know how much I love having the whole family help with decorating for Christmas, who also loves that himself, and who cares enough to cut short his day in the woods in order to help make that happen!

You're a good man, Jmk.  Thank you for making yesterday so fun and productive!!

Being Thankful - Day Twenty-Three

Tonight, I'm so thankful for Thanksgiving Part Two and for loving parents who are so gracious about not caring about which day they celebrate with family.  Thanksgiving on Friday?  Sure!  Why not?

It was a lovely day.  Poodle made the brownies and decorated the tables.  We collected leaves from Cascades and from the Trace and from our front yard to use on the tables.  I even wandered around the house and located our wedding china and crystal!  As a homeschooling family, we have had to give up things like china cabinets and buffets and... well, and the dining room!  ha!  We need the space for bookshelves and craft drawers and just plain move around space.  So, finding the "play-pretties" for holidays requires finding china stored under sinks in various bathrooms and finding serving pieces stored somewhere else and trying to remember where in the world that other bowl is now.  You can imagine, right?  It's like a treasure hunt, because I never can remember where it all is!  :-)

We had SO much food, because my mom did most of the heavy lifting with regard to the cooking.  (I had my list of food to prepare, but she only left me with the easy stuff!)  It was all soooo good, and we very happily ate way too stinkin' much.  :-)  Hands down, Mom makes the best pecan pie evah.  My local brother and his family was there (minus one sweetheart) and Jmk's dad.  And, we also had a lovely visit with my college roommate and her family as they were coming through the area on their way back home.  So, the kids had a BALL playing with everyone.  And it was a house full of people, and I loved it.  Loved it!  Holidays are getting a little easier as the kids get a little older.  (Even the Little Squirt wandered around with Uncle Ken yesterday.  Last year, she wouldn't wander two feet away from me).  And I used to almost steel myself for holidays, worrying about the kids' behavior and that kind of thing.  Now, I can see that I can look forward to being with family.  Sure, the kids' behavior still matters, but I'm not as worried about it.  Sure, they still need me, but not in the same "every needs" kind of way.  There is some sadness in that, but at the same time, I'm so thankful, so VERY thankful, that the Lord has allowed me to get to this point.  It's an undeserved blessing, and I'm so grateful.

Thank you, Lord, for the gift of family and for allowing me to be a part of one that loves me back!  It's no small thing to have a family that works to stay together.  And to have a DNA family AND a by-marriage family that make those efforts...  well, I have been given a lifelong gift!

Being Thankful - Day Twenty-Two

Today (yesterday), on a beautiful Thanksgiving Day, I am thankful for the efforts of a beautiful woman who loves the work that it takes to get her family together.  She plans and works and thinks and accommodates for weeks and weeks in order to be sure that her family stays close and we are able to connect with each other, face-to-face, on a regular basis.

We had a beautiful afternoon, eating lots of really good food, and we enjoyed being with family!  Aunt Jen, THANK YOU for the work that you put in.  And to the other sisters, thank you for all you did to help get the food there and out and for always being a part of the joy and laughter and LOVE that surrounds the family.  I sure lucked out to have married into such joy.

I give God the glory for the good days like yesterday!  Thank you, Father, for blessing us with a precious afternoon together.

Being Thankful - Day Twenty-One

Today (yesterday), I am so thankful for the giant sized blessing of the possibilities of "On Kackley Pond".  We don't know God's timing, but we are so, so grateful for the chance that we may be having new home adventures in the future.

Thank you Lord for guiding us through the process so far, and I pray that You will keep us in Your will as the process continues.  Please deliver us from bad decisions and things that will not be honoring to You.

Being Thankful - Day Twenty

Today, I am so, so grateful for the life of one little boy.  This little boy who has the world's best, biggest hugs.  Who has the sparkliest blue eyes.  Who tries so, SO hard at everything and has his mother's tendency (unfortunately) to get mad at himself when he can't do something just right.  Who loves his sisters and plays with them, but who is ALL boy, ALL the time, a fact which is becoming more apparent to me as time goes by.  Who is so smart, even if he can't always find all the words he needs to explain some of his thoughts to you.   Who struggles with eczema all over his sweet body.  Who has the challenge of a weaker immune system than his sisters, but who is a Tough Guy about everything.  Who loves so fiercely, and so loyally.  Who, after I had a particularly bad coughing spasm after swallowing some food the wrong way, asks me with very intense sincerity "Mommy, are you okay?  What can I do that is nice for you to make you feel better?"

I love him so much.  He is such a blessing to me and Jmk.  Of all the boys in the whole world, I would pick him every single day.  Thank you, Lord Jesus, for blessing us with him, our little Turkey Baby Tooter.

Happy Birthday little man!!  We wouldn't trade you for a gold monkey!

Being Thankful - Day Nineteen

Tonight, I'm so thankful that I have a sweet husband who makes it possible for me to go and pursue hobbies as often as I can.

I had the opportunity to take headshots of some fantastic Mary Kay directors and consultants this evening.  But, to do that, Jmk had to feed the kids supper, get 3 kids in the bath and ready for bed, and put them all to bed single handedly.  Of course, he's totally capable of that.  He always has been.  But, frankly, it's a big job and it's a lot to take on at the end of what was already a long day.  But he never ever complains and he always supports me when I step out of my comfort zone to do something that is really just for me.

Thank you, honey, for being such a great dad and such a great husband and an even better friend to me. I love you and I'm so grateful to God for putting us together!

Being Thankful - Day Eighteen

Today I am so grateful for the loving family that celebrated Tooter turning 7 with us.  They took their Sunday afternoon to be with us, even though it might not have been the most convenient thing for them.  And they played and braved the VERY bright setting sun at the park and laughed and gave the birthday boy copious hugs and smiles.

I'm so grateful to have these people around us.  I'm so thankful for the love they have for the kids and for the big, huge love that the kids have for them!

Thank you all for being there yesterday!  And, thank you, Father, for blessing me with family.

Being Thankful - Day Seventeen

Today, I'm thankful for that stranger in Hobby Lobby who complimented me on my mothering skills while I was in the "breaky breaky" section with a 3 year old and an almost 7 year old.

The aforementioned wee ones were being particularly wonderful at that moment in time, for which I have no one but God to praise.  But, I really appreciate that nice lady for saying those precious words "you're a good mom".  Those are words that can produce tears in almost any mother out there.

Hey, not for nothing, but MooMoo?  SueSue?  You're a good mom.  Truth.

Being Thankful - Day Sixteen

Today, I am thankful that someone is HOME.

After a raging MRSA infection, 1 in 5 chances of survival, 102 days in the hospital, and countless hours of PT and OT (that will be ongoing), my Uncle John walked into his own home today!  His left leg isn't yet what he wants it to be, and he still has a long way to go to get back to "fine", but he is home.  And my dear aunt who has been by his side this whole time gets to have her husband back home where he belongs.

We give God all the praise for this, because we know that His will intended for Uncle John to beat this infection, and He answered our prayers for John's survival in such a glorious way.

Uncle John, we love you!  Keep getting better each and every day and take time to look back to remember how far you've come already!

Being Thankful - Day Fourteen And Fifteen

Today, I'm thankful for two things:  my home state and the freedom it affords us with regard to homeschooling and homeschooling in general.  In the admittedly silly effort to maintain some anonymity (when am I going to give that up?), I won't list the state.  But, thankfully, there are enough responsible, freedom-loving people in our state government that feel strongly about homeschooling freedom.  We may not be Texas, but we are awfully close with regard to the openness of our homeschooling laws.  It's simple to express intent to do it.  There aren't cumbersome tests to take that prohibit parents from choosing the best curriculum for their kids.  There aren't pesky requirements about paperwork and the like, which means I don't have to spend precious time filling out forms or turning in information that no one is really going to look at anyway.  It frees me up to educate the way I need to without burdening me with rules that accomplish nothing.  We have a wonderful state!

And I'm grateful that we are on this homeschooling journey.  It's hard, it's confusing, it's overwhelming at times.  Many days I wonder if I'm doing the best I can for the kids.  Many days I look in the future years and Flat Out Panic.  But, I see the development in the kids that inspires me to keep going.  I know there is a connection between us that is just different.  I know that none of the kids are going to get labeled in order to explain their personality.  It's a blessing that we are able to do this thing for them.  It's not for every family.  Some days, I wish I could take a break from it so I could think a coherent thought.  But, when I have breakthrough moments with the kids, it lifts me up and reminds me that this is good for them.  Not perfect; it's good.  No school will be perfect.  No school has all the answers, including the one at our home.  But it's good, and any good in it is because the Lord has shown us mercy and given us grace.

Tonight, I'm thankful!

Being Thankful - Day Thirteen

Today, I am grateful for the $4 rotisserie chicken that you can walk into the grocery store and pick up at a moment's notice.

Oh, I know this is so not anywhere near the same "important things" list that I have been listing thus far.  But, tonight, it was this very thing that made our family life so easy.  And, truly, I'm thankful that I live in a place where I can walk into a small grocery store, go grab this really, really good chicken, feed everyone, and still have chicken left over for meals tomorrow.

We get home in shifts on Tuesday because of Poodle's ballet and a late co-op class for Tooter.  And, there was an additional hiccup in the schedule today which necessitated me making an extra trip to deliver a forgotten item that ultimately resulted in my getting home an hour later than expected.  I cut up a quick salad, made some pasta for the kids, heated up some hot dogs for the Boy who is still the world's pickiest eater Ev-AH and says he doesn't like chicken even though he likes the smell of it, make some garlic toast, and BAM.  Everyone has something to go with the chicken that they like, it's easy for me, and it's cheap.

I'm thankful to have it!

And, Mom, I saved the bones this time.  :-)  There will be homemade stock in the future, for sure.

Being Thankful - Day Twelve

Today I am so thankful for the times when the whole family is sitting at the table talking about things of God.  When Jmk reads from the Word and the children talk to him about it, I become so grateful that God allows us this time and that He blesses it.  We are nothing that He should give us anything, so when He blesses us for taking that time together, it's extraordinary.

No, we don't have family scripture study nearly as often as we should.  But, we are attempting to make this more of a habit and less of a novelty.  And nights like this evening remind me of the importance of that.  The fact is that there is a God who created the world.  The fact is that He communicated with His creation via what we call the Bible.  Having access to our Creator in this manner and through prayer is humbling.

Thank you, Lord, for being with our family!

Being Thankful - Day Eleven

Today (yesterday, actually), I am thankful for men and women who make a decision to do a big, huge thing.  Who make a decision to alter their thinking and change their bodies and leave their families and commit to something bigger than they are and risk everything they have.  Sometimes it is out of necessity.  Sometimes it is out of love for country.  But it always results in the same thing.  People who make sacrifices that result in our country being safer, our liberties being protected, and our sense of security given a foundation.

I am so grateful for our veterans, their families, our current members of our military, and their families for doing what they do.  For doing the hard stuff.  For doing something much harder than talking about freedom.  They defend it.  They do something oh-so-much harder than complaining about the other side of the political aisle.  They prevent others from coming here and taking away the freedom to complain.

And some give all, right down to their last breath on this earth, as they fulfill their commitment to their nation.  Their family lives with that heartbreaking honor.  For those men and women, simple gratitude is not enough.  It is our duty to continue to be a strong, hard-working people to honor those who defend with their lives our ability to work hard.  We are not "workers".  We are citizens.  This is our country, built on principles of honor and freedom and submission to our Creator.  And this nation was created because people gave their fortunes and their lives.  Live bravely and be strong and be humble to God for His blessings of this country of honor!

Being Thankful - Day Ten

Today, I am thankful for my friends.

They are everywhere!  From California to Florida.  From Connecticut to Texas.  England.  Africa.  Holland.  Germany.  The Lord has put so many people in my life that bless me in so many different ways.  I have friends who have known me for oh so long; they even knew me back when I was skinny!  (ha!)  And I have new friends who have only recently come into my life who have become practically family to me.

I've heard it say that friends are the family that you get to choose.  :-)  I'd start naming names, but you know I'd miss someone important.  I'm just so grateful for those relationships that nurture me, that teach me, that love me, and that encourage me.  Thank you, my friends, for loving me even when it's not easy to do so.  And thank you, Lord, for giving me the blessing of those friends.