Thankful Reflections

I'm a few days late in getting this up. My "idea" was me sitting alone after the kids were in bed, with the house quiet on Thanksgiving evening, reflecting on all the things/people I'm thankful for. Well, by the time everyone went home and the kids were in bed I was too tired to create complete sentences, so I thought it'd be best I wait. :)

It's Sunday morning and I'm home...not at church. J3 woke up with an ear infection (I'll be taking him to a walk-in clinic this afternoon to confirm) and Blueberry/Lu-berry/Lulu (still deciding on her title) :) had a touch of croup which now is just a real phlem-ee sounding cough. We decided the other parents at church would appreciate it if we kept them home today. :)

What am I thankful for? I've been think a lot about this the past, well, close to 2 months now. Our family has had one sickness after another the past 2 months with no break of us all being healthy in-between. I must admit, in the past week, I've had many moments where I've been quite the complainer about our situation, not so much verbally, but in my heart. There have been days where I've gotten sick of myself being such a complainer. I mean, good grief, I know families going through much worse right now, and I'm sitting here complaining about having to take someone to the Dr. again for the 2nd or 3rd time in the past 2 months, when there are others who would kill to only have to take themselves or their children to the Dr. for an illness that's easily cured by antibiotics. Where am I going with this? I'm learning that each of us has our own storms or battles to go through, and for each of us these storms/battles will vary by severity. So for me, one of my storms/battles at the moment is dealing with my family being sick for an extended period of time. While I'm tired...even exhausted at times, I need to continue to pray and trust the Lord. He's still in control, He IS the great physician, and I want to learn what He's trying to teach me through all of this.

Please understand I'm not trying to make less of what anyone else I know is going through...my heart has been broken time and again for friends I know going through much worse, and I'm continuing to pray for them. This is just where I'm at in my own struggles. So what does this all have to do with being thankful? Well....

I'm thankful that I'm slowly learning that I don't want the Lord to just bring me out of a storm/battle/struggle because I'm too wet or too tired of fighting. I want Him to walk with me through the hard times, but bring me out only when I've learned what He wants me to learn. Again, this is very much a work in progress. :)

I am thankful for my wonderful husband!! He is truly the man God chose for me. Sure, we have out struggles, but I can't imagine spending my life with anyone else!

I am so thankful for our 4 beautiful children! Each one is a beautiful treasure that the Lord has entrusted us with. So often I feel so unworthy, but their lives are daily another opportunity to trust the Lord and cry out for His wisdom and direction!

I am thankful for our home! It is beyond anything I could ever have asked for, the Lord has blessed us above and beyond!

I am so thankful for our church body! I can't express how blessed we are to be a part of the church we attend. To have pastors who love God first and place Him first, is such a treasure!

I'm so thankful for my extended family! I married into a wonderful family!! I do miss my mother-in-law at times, but I'm so thankful I will see her again one day....her and my Grandma! :)

I'm thankful for my immediate family! My parents are wonderful! Are they perfect? No. But who's parents are? I'm so thankful for them and how they raised us!

I am thankful for my friends! My dearest friends I don't get to see as often as I'd like. My friends I see weekly. My newer friends who are becoming very dear to my heart. My internet friends that I've never met in person, but are thankful for them just the same. :)

I also, cannot begin to express how thankful I am for Jesus! For dying for me, for loving me, for being so patient with me, for being so faithful to me, for saving me! One day, I will see my Savior face to face....what a day that will be!

I have much to be thankful for! Now that we are entering into the season of celebrating Christmas, I want to keep a thankful heart and encourage my children to be thankful, especially for the "little things" that are so often over-looked!

I hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving!