Thankful Thursday

It's Thursday and time to join up with Sonya over at Truth 4 the Journey for Thankful Thursday. It's a time we set aside to list five things that we are truly thankful for.

It is such a blessing to be able to share what I am thankful for and rejoice with you in how God has blessed you as well.

Click here to join us in sharing the faithfulness of God!!!

Here are my thankfuls for this week......

1) I am so thankful for what God has shown me during my blogging break. The enemy had such tight blinders on me and I had allowed him to pull them tighter and tighter. But God, as always, saw me drowning and extended His big, strong hand. I grabbed it and held on tightly because I was so afraid of what He would expose. What He showed me was painful and somewhat embarrassing, but He did it with such gentleness and love that I found myself thankful.

2) I am so thankful for each of my cyber friends/sisters who took the time to share their stories and extend their prayers and encouragement during my break. I truly never realized that others struggled with the very same things I have!!

3) I am so thankful for my wonderful family. I've been a bit under the weather this week with a head cold..or something, and I've not been my busy, somewhat perky self. They have all been so kind and understanding when the things that are normally done have gone undone. Even DS has been extra gentle with dear ole' mom!!

4) I am so thankful for the blessings that God showed me over the Thanksgiving holiday. I saw first hand how truly wonderfully He has blessed this family and all I can do is praise Him because I surely don't deserve any of it.

5) I am so thankful for the ability to see. This time of year brings out the Christmas lights and I turn into a 5 year old child all wide-eyed trying to take in the shear beauty of it all.

"He alone is your God, the only One Who is worthy of your praise, the One who has done these mighty miracles that you have seen with your own eyes."
Deuteronomy 10:21, NLT

Thank You & Random Dozen

Let me take a moment to say thanks to all of you wonderful, beautiful people who took the time to e-mail or comment. Your love, prayers and encouragement have made my cup run over!!! (BIG hugs!!!)

Now it's time to join up with Linda over at 2nd Cup of Coffee for Random Dozen.
Click here to join in on the fun!

1. Which Wizard of Oz character are you most like?

Depends on the day. Some days I can honestly sing.."If I only had a brain!!". Other days I need heart and courage depending on what's going on.

2. When you're deciding what you're going to wear each morning, which item do you select first? Why?

I'm a SAHM so it's a question first of if I'm even leaving the house!!

3. What kind of animal do you think the world could live without?

Ants. Well, maybe the world couldn't live without them, but I'd like to give it a try when I find them in my house!!

4. How many Christmas trees are in your home?

6 inside, 2 outside

5. Would you prefer to be emotionless if it mean you didn't have to feel a heartbreak?

No thanks.

6. Do you ever experience holiday let-down or depression?

Sometimes let down. All of that effort to be over so quickly...

7. Do you like Michael Jackson's music?

Not much of it.

8. Why is it that we never judge people who have their teeth fixed for cosmetic reasons, but every other cosmetic procedure has a stigma?

Actually, I don't judge if there is a true need..be it teeth, breasts, skin grafts...whatever. It's when you've got women (and men) who can't deal with the fact that they're staring down the barrel of 50 and still want to look 20. Let's face it. The older a barn gets, the more coats of paint it takes to cover up the wear and tear!!

9. Enjoy horseback riding?

Yes I did...haven't been on one in years.

10. Shoes--practical or stylish?

Flat feet, size 11......isn't practical all they sell???????

11. What was the name of your first pet? Feel free to post a pic.

Herman. He was a tiny little turtle that I had way back when we lived in an apartment in Cicero, Illinois

12. What percentage of your Christmas shopping is done?

65%

I'm Back and, Oh, the Things I've Learned..

I find it amazing what God can do when I am just quiet and undistracted and able to listen. I've heard it said that God gave you two ears and one mouth for a reason...I'm sure this applies to more than the physical ears and mouth as well!

During my 'blogging rest', I learned a few things.

I learned that I stress way too much about my blog.

Ouch. Hard one for me to confess, but it's true. I find myself wondering how others can have hundreds (or even one hundred) followers, and I can't get past fifty. I find myself wondering why my stat counter only goes up 2 or 3 hits a day sometimes. I wonder why what began as a way to learn to be a better writer, somehow minister and just have a little fun has become something that dictates how my day goes.

When that happens, I've learned that I open the door and allow the enemy to attack me. He tells me I don't write well enough, I'm not funny enough...too boring...not godly enough....what makes me think that anyone would want to read what I write...and I found myself believing him!!

I put way too much pressure on myself to post everyday just so I could keep the readers I have.

Wow....

Meanwhile I realized how much was falling by the wayside here at home while I was busy worrying about blog world. Again, wow.

I realized how much this blog.....this computer period...had become a god and was getting in the way of my relationship with the real God.

When I first began my break, I found myself frustrated and irritated, but as the days went by, I found that I had to admit that blogging was running my life instead of the other way around.

Do I want God to use my writing to serve Him? You bet.

Do I want to share and laugh and cry and minister with this blog? You bet.

Do I want to continue blogging? You bet.

I've just got to change some things. So, at least for now, here's where I'm at:

I'm only going to post as God directs. Doesn't mean that everything I post will be about my Father or a relationship with Him..could be something informative, fun or something I just feel led to share, but my steps will be directed by Him. So there may be times when I post everyday or even more than once a day, and there may be times I only post a couple of times a week...but no matter, when I do post, it will be because God has given me the okay.

"The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives."
Psalm 37:23, NLT

I'm going to be finishing our study on Created to be His Help Meet because I feel that is truly something that God has His hand on, so we will be picking back up where we left off this Friday.

"And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him."
Genesis 2:18, KJV

If I gain followers...YEAH!!!!!!!! ....if I lose them, then I'm trusting God knows and if it's something I need to change, then He'll show me that as well.

I want God to dictate every area of my life and I don't want to be in charge of any of it. I want everything I do to honor Him and I want it to always be done the way He wants it done..in other words, I want to be in line with HIS will, not mine.

So, I'm rested, my mind is clearer and I'm back in a different way. Prayerfully I will remain in the way God wants me because that is what is most important to me.

With that...........

I do hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We were so blessed and even more so because we were able, with the help of our church, to provide a Thanksgiving dinner to a family who is living in a hotel at this point with their five children. Circumstance beyond their control brought them to this place and God put them in path of DD and DS at their job. Our church provided the meal, DD, DS and I prepared it while DH did all the extras that I couldn't while preparing two meals. We were able to deliver it by noon. While we sat down to our meal here at home, we were all even more thankful for the abundant blessings that God has given to us.

We put our Christmas tree up last night and I have to tell you, it was an emotional time for us. Our tree doesn't have a theme or a particular color scheme, it tells a story. The ornaments on our tree tell of the past 26 years of our lives. The good times and the not so good. Handmade ornaments, passed down ornaments and expensive, delicate ornaments. I could look at each one and tell you what was going on in our lives at that time. The emotion that came with each one. Our tree is a smorgasbord of everything, but I wouldn't do anything different.



Finally, I won a give-a-way that Larie hosted over at her blog My Heart Speaks!!! I won a magazine subscription to a magazine called In Her Heart. I've never heard of it before, but it sounds so good and I can't wait until I receive it and can sit down and soak it up! Thanks Lari!!!
I love you all so much and many of you have touched my life in a way that I am eternally thankful.

"Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God."
Philippians 1:3, NLT

A Blessed Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving blessings from our home to yours. May your hearts be full with love, contentment and peace.
In Him,
Philip, Deb, Beth and Zack

"The joyful voices of bridegrooms and brides will be heard again, along with the joyous songs of people bringing thanksgiving offerings to the Lord. They will sing, ‘Give thanks to the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, for the Lord is good. His faithful love endures forever!’ "
Jeremiah 33:11, NLT

Making a Difference

I came across this most wonderful idea in a magazine I was looking through just the other day.

Technology has brought us to a place where the written note is becoming obsolete. We, myself included, find it easier to zap and e-mail or dial a number rather than to write a letter or send a card. With that revelation, I have determined to make a conscious effort to actually, physically write to folks...be it a letter or a card or a small note.

Now, that doesn't mean that I'm signing off from tech world, just want to make things a bit more personal.

Anyway...back to this great idea!!....

Seems like you can recycle your old Christmas, birthday, thank-you...any-kind-of cards and make a huge difference in the lives of abused, abandoned and neglected children.

These kids remove the front of the donated cards and make new ones sold in packets of 10.
You have until February 28, 2010 to send in your old cards.

Click on the link below to go to the site that will give you all the information you need.


http://www.stjudesranch.org/help_card.php


What a wonderful way to recycle and make a difference in someone's life!!!!

Random Dozen

DH and I spent a wonderful weekend talking and just reconnecting. We spoke about priorities and how we'd both like to see things happen within our family unit.

While I'm still not going back to regular posting until mid-next week, I did want to join up with Linda for Random Dozen.

Click here to join in on the fun!

1. Are you sticking to traditional Thanksgiving foods this year, or are you being culinary adventurous?

I always ask the family what they'd like for Thanksgiving dinner and they are very much the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it' folks. We're going traditional.

2. Tell me something concrete that you're thankful for. (Something you can literally touch, see, etc., not a concept like "hope.")

Easy. Philip, Beth and Zack.

3. You knew the flip side was coming: Share about something intangible that you're thankful for.

Salvation, hope and a home in Heaven.

4. Share one vivid Thanksgiving memory. It doesn't have to be deep or meaningful, just something that remains etched in your memory.

Several years ago, we hosted a family for Thanksgiving that had no family in the area to share the day with. It was an older gentleman and his wife and we had probably one of the best days listening to his stories and their adventures. We tried to bless, but ended up being blessed.

5. What is one thing that you know beyond a shadow of a doubt is going to happen this Thanksgiving because it always does, year after year?

Watching the Macy's Day Parade!!

6. Do your pets get any left-overs?

Of course!! Everyone in our family gets to enjoy the special things.

7. Does your family pray before the big meal? If so, do you join hands while seated, stand, repeat a formal prayer or offer a spontaneous prayer? Who does the praying?

Yes, we hold hands and DH leads our prayer. Before that though, we each go around the table and tell about what we are thankful for. I can't remember ever getting through that dry-eyed. There are always many happy tears.....even from my teenage son!..

8. Will you be watching football in the afternoon? If not, what will you be doing?

No, we don't do football. ( I know, I know, living where we live and we're not big on football!!) but it's true. We usually watch a movie, play games and catch naps!!

9. There are two distinct camps of people on this issue: How do you feel about oysters in the dressing/stuffing?

Nope...not going to happen..no way. Nada.

10. Do you consider yourself informed about the first Thanksgiving?

Fairly well. Being a homeschooling family of 12 years, we've studied pretty in depth!

11. Which variety of pie will you be enjoying?

Sweet potato!!!!!!

12. Do you feel for the turkey?? (This is a humorous throw back question related to the 12th question in another Random Dozen!)

Sure. I feel for the breast meat, then I feel it as I pick it up and shove it in my mouth. Ole' Tom usually feels pretty good!!!