Month of Thanks: 23-30

Sadly I neglected the blog the last week of November. I didn't stop being thankful, I just got too busy enjoying my blessings. So to wrap up the month, here they are:

23: I am thankful for the Pilgrims who came over to America for religious freedom. I am thankful that they were bold enough to stand up for what they believed in.  My prayer is that I would always be bold in sharing my faith.

24: I am thankful for my extended family and that they make it an annual tradition to come to my parents' house for Thanksgiving.  This particular Thanksgiving, I am thankful they were there to help with the boys as I threw my back out that morning while rocking Oliver to sleep.

25: I am thankful for Black Friday and that I could save so much on Christmas gifts. I love giving gifts and good deals make it possible to do more. :)

26: Today I am thankful to live in the US, where I have clean water and air.  I love that I have freedom to praise God publicly. I am thankful that I can vote for my own leaders and that I can express my opinions.

27: Today I am thankful for our small group.  Though it has been a challenge at times, we have continued to work together to find a schedule that works for all.  I'm excited to finally be in a groove and studying God's word together.

28: I am thankful today that Oliver has finally gotten back into a routine and is sleeping all the way through the night again.

29: Today I am thankful for muscle relaxers that finally relieved the pain in my back.

30: I am thankful that I was able to nurse Oliver for a whole year, though honestly I'm glad to be done. :)

I hope you stuck with me through the month.  I feel like this activity really demanded me to reflect on my life.  I heard a quote somewhere (facebook, pinterest?) that said, "What if tomorrow, God only gave you what you thanked him for today?" Why the theology may not all be right, the phrase struck a nerve with me. How much to come to God for supplication instead of thanking Him for all He's done for me already? Thankfully I serve a merciful God who cannot love me anymore or any less than He does now.
 

Month of Thanks: Day 21

Today I am thankful that all the little boys in my house are happy and healthy. I am also thankful that Oliver finally slept all the way through the night for the first time in a while. :)

Month of Thanks: Day 20

Today I am thankful to finish yet another item on my long to-do list! I am glad to finally have finished our new tree skirt, therefore replacing our cheap ugly one we've had since our first Christmas. I am thankful for sweet friends who worked along side me to make making this even more fun. :)

Month of Thanks: 17,18, and 19

Whoa sickness in our house has put me way behind...

Day 17: I am thankful for a husband who unselfishly gave up his ability to get a new phone to give me one for my birthday.  After the unfortunate drop in the toilet months ago, my phone began to have some major cliches instead a touch screen that wouldn't work.  It's kind of hard to have a phone when you can't dial out or answer.  Luckily we still had our old phones so I was just going to use that until our contracts ran out in March.  When we went to the Verizon store last week to get it switched over, Jeremy found out that his phone was already up and he could get a new one. He sacrificed his own desires for a new phone to let me have one and a great one at that. :)

Day 18: I am thankful for my brother Brandon, who came to babysit Oliver, so I could go to my preschool feast.  Sadly Oliver had hand, foot, and mouth all week long and could not go back to the Y.  My brother, who owns his own business, had some flexibility in his day that he could come watch him for the morning.  Thanks BP!

Day 19:  I am thankful that I have so many thoughtful and caring friends. I thrive off of relationships, the whole being known and knowing others.  I am thankful for all the friends the Lord has blessed me with in all my different life stages. I am thankful for sweet reminders of how God cares for through His people. :)

Month of Thanks: Day 16

Today I'm thankful for girls' night! Right now at our house I have one kid with hand, foot, and mouth and husband with vertigo symptoms. The Lord knew I would need a night out of the house after dealing with a cranky baby all day. Thank you Lord for girlfriends and a loving husband who encourages me to get out of the house. :)

Month of Thanks: Day 14 and 15

Whoops..forgot yesterday's post so today you get 2 for the price of 1. :)

 Day 14: I am thankful for my Bible study fellowship study. I started in this study last year with the book of Acts and have continued this year into the book of Acts. I am thankful how much this study has taught me.  It has provided connections from the Old and New Testament that I never seen before.  It has taught me so much more about the character of Jesus and has left me in awe of our Savior. I am thankful for the growth I have seen in my own Biblical knowledge and in my appreciation for His Word.

Day 15: I am thankful for a kind, caring, and knowledgeable pediatrician.  Luck would have it that we kind of just got fell under Dr. Ankrah's care. When we first moved here we had to find a doctor quickly when we found out Owen still had fluid in his ears.  After calling all my local friends (all 3 at the time), we called Elizabeth Pediatrics to see one of their older and highly recommended doctors.  Because he was so highly recommended he was not taking new patients anymore and they suggested their new doctor.  I said, "What the heck! We'll try her." I'm so glad that we did because she has been nothing but amazing.  She is kind but doesn't just tell you what you want to hear.  She is geniuely concerned for my boys and truthfully read every thing that comes across her desk about them.  I was so impressed when she called me one night on her way home because she wasn't able to call me back in the office.  Now that we moved further south in the city, her office is a good 30 mins. away but we still drive over to see her because she is just that good.

Month of Thanks: Day 13

Last week I was at my friend Caron's house and she made us all go around and say something we were thankful. Her first answer challenged me to think outside of the box and not just say my family (which was going to be my first go-to answer).

As I thought about this year, I thought about how much we have been through especially when it comes to our health.  So today the thing I am most thankful for is that through all these tests they have all come back with positive results.  From the beginning of the year, we had the scare with Oliver's tumor and we praise the Lord that it was benign and it is now shrinking on it's own. I am thankful that through all of Owen's testing, we found that everything is fine with his brain.  What could have been a really scary situation, is now something easy that we can just monitor.  We are so thankful for clean reports and healthy children.

Month of Thanks: Day 12

Today I am thankful for weekends.  The Lord told us to take a Sabbath for reason...we need a day of rest.  I love weekends because it means time we get to spend as a family.  With the days getting shorter, Jeremy getting home later, and the boys going to bed early, there is very little time between dinner and bedtime.  Weekends give us more time to play, run errands, and just be together. I love my little family!

Month of Thanks: Day 11

Today on Veteran's Day I am thankful for the men and women past and present who serve our country. I'm thankful for their bravery, strength, and self-sacrifice so that I can feel safe. I have so much respect for our servicemen and could never thank them enough for all that they do.

Month of Thanks: Day 10

Are you bored with this yet? If so I'm sorry..I promise to interlace some cute pics of the boys to keep you interested.

Today the thing I thankful for might seem silly but I'm thankful for Facebook.  I'm thankful that it allows me to stay connected to friends from all stages of my life. When we moved to Nashville, Facebook kept me from getting depressed when I felt so isolated as a new mom. I love also that if you have a question about anything, you can get quick fast answers from hundreds of friends.

I confess though that it a time waster and I spend way too much on it.  So what is a blessing can also be a curse, uh?
 

Month of Thanks: Day 9

This 9th of November I'm thankful for our jobs. I'm thankful that Jeremy enjoys his job and that they value him for his skills.  I am thankful for my job at the Y and especially thankful that they have a FREE staff childcare program.

Month of Thanks: Day 8

Today I am thankful for my brother and sibling-in-laws. I am thankful that my brother and I have remained close over the years and we have been there for one another through all of life's milestones. I also love my in-laws and am glad to have sisters now. :)

 (Thanks family for letting me steal your Facebook pics...it was the easiest way to get a recent picture of you.) 

Month of Thanks: Day 7

Today I am thankful for our grandmothers. Jeremy and I are lucky to have all of grandmothers still living. All 4 women are a blessing in our lives and we are so glad for the relationship we share with them. I am especially for my Granny (Piner) as today is her 89th birthday!

 

Month of Thanks: Day 6

Today I am thankful for our living situation. When we first moved to Charlotte, we had to find a place to live rather quickly as Jeremy was to start his job in 2 weeks. After looking around with a realtor for a place to rent, we settled on a townhouse not far from Jeremy's work. We were there for only a few short weeks before we realized it wasn't in the greatest part of town.  Sadly we were stuck in a year lease so we made it work.

As our lease was running out, my friend Brigetta bought a house and her current house was going up again for rent.  Her current house was owned by her in-laws and they wanted to have tenants again.  We made started talking to them through email and made a visit over to the house.  After our visit, we quickly said we would take it.  The rent is cheaper, the area is super nice, it's close to our friends, and our landlords are an awesome Christian couple.  We love that we have the joys of living in a home, but not have to do all the upkeep. :)

We are also thankful how the Lord provided the opportunity to move to Charlotte.  Jeremy and I realized while  living in Nashville that we aren't cut out for small town living. We love all the things a bigger town has to offer. We love the friends we have here, Jeremy enjoys his job, and we just feel like this place is a great fit for us.

Month of Thanks: Day 5

Today I'm thankful for our church. When we first moved to Charlotte, we began the tedious task of finding a new church home. Thankfully we had a few friends here already who were plugged into churches here and we had places to start looking. A few weeks in we visited the Church at Charlotte and really felt like it was a place that we could call home.  We are thankful for a church that not only brings people to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, but also disciples those are already believers.  Personally I am thankful for their HOME club (mom's group) ministry that helped me get plugged in when we were new here.  It is here that I have met some of my closest friends here in Charlotte.  Thank you CAC for spurring us on to be more like Christ!

Month of Thanks Day 4

Today I am thankful for our parents.  I am thankful that we have two sets of loving and involved parents. I am thankful for how the encourage, support, and love on us. Their wisdom and insight are always helpful and I am thankful they are always a phone call away (also thankful they both live in the same state).

I am also thankful for who they are as grandparents and how much they love our boys.  I am thankful that they are present in their lives and how much our boys love them. 

Month of Thanks: Day 3

Today I am thankful my two little turkeys, Owen and Oliver. I love being a mommy to these two precious boys.  I am thankful that they are both different, but yet share similar qualities.  I am thankful that they are snuggly babies, who love both their mommy and daddy.  I love their smiles and how the littlest things can make them laugh.  I am thankful that the Lord is stretching and growing me through parenting them.  I have learned more about grace and sacrificial love through them than I did in the 20 some years before I had them.  So thankful for all the Lord is teaching me through them...I am blessed!

Month of Thanks: Day 2

I am thankful for my wonderful husband and best friend. God has blessed me so richly with a Godly, funny, yet sometimes quirky man, who is not only a doting husband but a terrific father.  He loves us unconditionally and serves us in so many ways. I feel truly blessed to call him mine. :)

A Month of Thanks

For the month of November, I wanted to have our family reflect on all the blessings God has given us. Like many, I tend to think of all the things we don't have or wallow in my circumstances.  So this month, giving thanks for all that we do have.

Day 1: I'm thankful for Jesus and the cross.  "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.:  I am thankful that He was the perfect.  I am thankful that God was so selfless that He gave His ONE and ONLY son to die that I may have eternal life with Him in Heaven.   I am thankful for His grace and mercy, and that they are new each day.  I am thankful for His conditional love and that He keeps no record of right or wrongs.  I am thankful to be a child of God.