1. I am thankful for my salvation through Jesus Christ my Lord. It amazes me every day that He laid down his life for me.
2. I am thankful for my sweet husband. First and most importantly he is a man after God's own heart. His desire to serve and honor God is humbling to me. He is an amazing father and his children worship the ground he walks on. They eagerly await spending time with him. He is also an amazing husband. I thank God every day for him!
3. I am thankful for my first born son Jake. He is such a sweet compassionate child. He definitely is "all boy" but he is very compassionate as well. I am thankful that this year he asked Jesus to be the Lord of his life. I have no doubt that God will use his tender heart to minister to others around him.
4. I am also thankful for my baby boy (not really a baby anymore though) Jared. He is so much fun to be around. He is compassionate as well, but doesn't really want you to know it. :) Jared is one of those people that can capture the attention of a room. He is very intelligent and soaks up information like a sponge. I am certain that God will use him in a mighty way as well one day. It melts my heart when he crawls in the bed with me, plants a kiss on my cheek, and drifts back to sleep.
5. I feel thankful and VERY blessed that God has seen fit to bless us with another baby, a baby girl who will be born in March. We didn't "try" for a girl, we just trusted God to place the baby in our family he had created for us. We look forward to all the new experiences having a girl will bring. The boys are so excited about having a baby sister. It is what they have been praying for. In their minds, since they prayed for it, it was a "done" deal. :)
6. I am thankful for a Godly mother and father. Without their guidance and direction I would not be who I am today. I am thankful that they still serve God with all of their hearts and seek to do his will. I love spending time with them and am constantly looking for "excuses" for them to come visit. :)
7. I am also thankful for Godly in laws. They are such a blessing to us and our children. They have been an amazing encouragement and help to us in our lives and in our ministry.
8. I am thankful to be a part of an AMAZING church. God is really moving in our midst and I am so glad that we get to be a part of it.
9. I am so very thankful that I get to help lead in worship every Sunday with my sweet hubby. It is such a blessing to get to help lead worship every Sunday with my sweet hubby. How many wives get to serve along side their hubbies, doing something they love and feel called to do?
10. I am very thankful for my best friend, Diedra Chavers. We have been friends since we were toddlers. In fact she is more of a sister than a friend. I am thankful that through thick and thin we can depend on each other for love, support, and an honest Godly perspective.
11. I am thankful for all of my other friends as well. It is amazing to know that God sends the right people into you life at just the right time.
12. I am thankful that God has blessed me with opportunity to home-educate my children. What a privilege! It is not always easy but what a blessing to be given the chance to mold your children and watch the light bulb go off as they learn. We are not "anti" school, we just wanted to be obedient to what God called us to do. We have not regretted that choice for one minute.
13. I am also thankful for the environment God has provided for us through CHA (our Christian Homeschool Association) and CO-OP. What a great Godly group of friends! I'm so thankful to know these sweet families.
14. I'm thankful that God blessed me with the ability to play the piano. (Well God and my parents who took me to lessons every week!) My dad wanted me to take so that I could play in church. I thought he was crazy because I had NO intentions of getting up in front of people to play. However...I have played the piano in EVERY church in which we have served!
15. Along those same thoughts, I'm thankful for my piano students. I'm thankful for the chance to mold them and their gifts into something they can use for God's glory. I love teaching them to play Christmas songs and hymns!
16. I am thankful for our Young Ladies Share Group which meets once a month. This is a great time to hear from God, learn about him, and learn about yourself. I can't wait to see what he will teach us in our new Bible study about parenting.
17. I am thankful for modern technology like the Internet and the iPhone. I can communicate with my family who doesn't live here. I can send pictures and videos of the things my children are doing and feel like we are right next door.
18. I am thankful for sweet neighbors. Our neighbors go above and beyond their "neighborly" duties. One week this summer our lawn mower was on the fritz. When we got home from being out of town our sweet neighbor had finished mowing the rest of our yard! I look forward to getting to know them better and developing a better friendship with them.
19. I am thankful for weekends and holidays that we get to spend with our family. I can hardly wait until we pack up the car to head to visit our family for Thanksgiving.
20. I am thankful for the opportunities we are given to serve with our children. We have the privilege of participating in ministries like Second Helpings (a food ministry), Signs of Life (a construction ministry), and Little Lambs (a prison ministry). I think it is SO very important to teach your children to serve at a young age and learn how to put others first.
21. I am thankful for AWANA. My children have learned so much scripture since our church has started this program. They love it and look forward to it every week. I love the fact that they are hiding God's word in their hearts at such a young age. Jake has already memorized the New Testament Books and very soon he will start working on memorizing the Old Testament books.
22. I am thankful for God's grace and mercy. I mess up daily and am so thankful that He does not hold my sin against me. I could do NOTHING apart from HIM! "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23
23. I am thankful for the quiet time I get to spend alone with God daily. I look forward to the time each day that I can sit and read His word. How amazing is it the creator of the world desires to spend time with me?
24. I am thankful that we have the gift of prayer. I honestly can say I don't know where I would be today if it weren't for prayer. I am thankful that God is always near and all I have to do is call on Him. I love that I can intercede on behalf of my friends and family.
25. I am thankful that God provides for my every need. I have truly never had a need that he did not meet.
26. I am thankful that my sweet hubby helps me do things around the house. Sometimes I just get tired and overwhelmed and he is always there to lend a hand.
27. I am thankful for dinner with friends. I love eating and visiting with friends who share the same love of God you do!
28. I am thankful for facebook. (I know it's silly.) Facebook enables me to interact with friends and family that I don't ordinarily see. I still feel like that are a vital part of my life and can share stories and pictures with them.
29.I am thankful that Raymond loves doing things with his boys. He actually seeks out things to do with them. He and Jake have started hunting together. It's more about guy bonding time than killing a deer. Love my guys. Can't wait to see Raymond with a baby girl. :)
30. Last (BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST) I am so very thankful for the Word of God. I would be lost with out it! It's my instruction manual.
