Thankful Thursday ~ September 24, 2009

Ever stop and count your blessings? Each Thursday, thanks to Sonya at Truth 4 The Journey, we all do just that. We link to her blog and share the things during the week that we have been the most thankful for. If you want to join, simply click on her link above and join in the fun.

1. Love ~ I am thankful that God has blessed us with a heart of love to share not only with those closest to us but with family, friends and strangers. Jesus modeled the perfect example of love, unconditionally when He chose to die for all of us for our sins so that we might be saved.

2. Faith ~ I am thankful for my faith and belief in Jesus Christ. Without faith in this world, it would be pretty hopeless and there wouldn't be a point in the future. Faith allows us to see things that we know are real yet can't see. Faith is believing in something better and with God in our life, faith is something we need to get through our difficult days and storms that life presents us.

3. Grace ~ It is only through grace offered by Jesus as a free will gift to us that we have hope for a future. One without death, sin, troubles, tears or worry. We will have a whole new world and a new heaven to enjoy forever with believers in God and our Savior Himself. We can not earn grace it is something you get when you don't deserve it. God offered that free gift to all of us through the sacrifice of His Son to die for all of us. His grace is the greatest gift God ever gave all of us. Why do we choose not to accept it.

4. Trials and Tribulations ~ It is only through tough times, that we can truly focus our eyes upward and call out to God. These keep us humble and trusting in Him for everything. It makes us better people and able to help those that are hurting. We can share those experiences with others because we too have walked in those darkened, lonely and sometimes long valleys. We all come out of it stronger in our faith in God.

5. Salvation ~ It is my ultimate passport and luggage all rolled into one for my eternal home yet to be seen, but constantly being worked on because the Lord has not come home for us yet. So whatever He has been working on for almost 2009 years has got to be something. I mean God created our heavens and Earth in 6 days, imagine what our future home is going to look like after all this time?

Thankful Thursday ~ September 17, 2009

It's the culmination of almost another week that has managed to almost sneak by us. This is Thankful Thursday meme that was created by Sonya at Truth 4 The Journey. If you haven't participated, please consider joining. Not only will it make you stop and appreciate all the blessings that have been poured out to you over the week, but you will bless others when you stop by and enjoy theirs as well.

1. I am thankful for my sight. I can see the beauty of the things created by our Heavenly Father, all packaged up nicely for us to enjoy each day. I can see my loving family and see how life has been a blessing for them as well. I can enjoy the blue skies above, the endless oceans, the towering, green pines, and the soft sands of the deserts. I can enjoy a hummingbird mid flight and see the bees at working diligently pollinating our flowers. Best of all I can enjoy reading God's diary each and every day and begin to commit each word to memory to hold in my heart.

2. I am thankful for my hearing. The best part of it is sitting in church and lifting our voices of praise and worship to God in Heaven and joining in the harmonies that must be pleasing to His ears. It is the most wonderful sound to me, and each time it happens, I cry tears of pure joy. I can picture Him sitting up in Heaven smiling down at all of us, like a proud parent would watching their children. I am thankful for the "I Love You's" I get from my hubby, Steve, my great kids, and even my amazing friends.

3. I am thankful for my voice. I can talk and sing praises to God. I can pray out loud, unashamed of my faith and love for Him. I am thankful I was able to ask for salvation and completely turn my life over to Him for His will and His glory. I am able to ask for forgiveness when I fail and thank him when I receive His blessings on my life and my family. I am thankful I can offer words of encouragement and hope to those hurting in a dark and lonely world.

4. I am thankful for my touch. I can reach out and feel the softness of a baby wrapped in a blanket, the sandy feel of the sand when I walk upon the beach, when I hold the hand of a believer and we lift up our needs in prayer, when I hug a friend who needs comfort, and kiss those that I love with all my heart. Thank you Lord for the ability to feel the love and compassion of a willing heart.

5. I am thankful for my ability to smell. Not only the smell of great food, but also the smell of tall, crisp, green, pine, trees, the saltiness of the ocean, the perfumed fragrance of Your glorious flowers, the never forgetful smell of the cleansing rain that falls from Heaven, and best of all I can smell the beauty of the world around us that you have so lovingly created for us to enjoy.

Thankful Thursday ~ September 10, 2009

We have always been told to count our blessings but it's even better to put them in words to share with others. Sonya at Truth 4 The Journey has done just that with Thankful Thursdays. It's never too late to participate, so come on and join in thanking God for all that He has done for us this week.

1. I am thankful that God allows me to sit at His feet and become closer to Him through reading my Bible, prayers, church services, reading devotionals, listening to praise and worship songs on the radio, and just encouraging my fellow believers. "He who refreshes, will himself be refreshed." Proverbs 11:25

2. I am thankful for a hubby who completes our family and does all he can to provide our family! It is so amazing watching him grow in his faith and I am hopeful that he will make a difference in his work life as well by walking in his faith.

3. I am thankful for fall weather just waiting to begin to change our leaves and usher into cooler weather. I can't wait for crisp, cold mornings, colorful leaves, pumpkin pies, caramel apples, hot apple cider, flannel sheets, sweaters, gloves, scarves, and the preparation for the winter yet to come.

4. I am thankful for my daughter Caitlyn that even though she came back from Bible camp with a sprained knee and on crutches for the next 4 weeks, she got the opportunity to get baptized by our amazing youth pastor, Casey in front of 500 teens. It was one of her life wishes! In addition to that, God spoken clearly to Caitlyn on her last day through the very last speaker of the day before heading home and confirmed not only God's hand in her life, but what she needs to do about dating. Thank you God for proving just how real you are and how much you really care for her. She has an absolute peace about it. I will be forever thankful for this entire experience for her.

5. I am thankful for God that He never fails to provide for our daily needs and answers our prayers. Thank you to some many of you that let me know that you are following and leaving me comments. Thank you as well dear friends, for the many awards you have bestowed upon this blog which is dedicated to God's glory. I am humbled and honored to receive them for Him and pass them along as well.

Thankful Thursday ~ September 3, 2009

Thursdays are always such a blessing. They remind us once a week to be grateful and give thanks for what we have received over the last 7 days. Sonya at Truth 4 the Journey has hosted Thankful Thursday for some time and I am thankful for the opportunity to contribute our blessings. If you are interested and wish to take part, click on Sonya's link and join in the weekly blessings.

1. I am thankful for a God that loves me despite all my shortcomings. That He sent His son to die for me so that I might have salvation through my belief in Him and what He did for me on that cross and rose again, that I know where my life will go once I leave this one. I will be spending that eternity with Him in heaven without a doubt. It is only by His grace that this is possible and something I don't deserve and can never earn my way into.

2. I am thankful for the many, many friends that I have met through the blogging world. I consider all of you my personal family members and that is how much I love and care for each and every one of you. You have definitely all blessed my life ten fold since I began blogging.

3. I am thankful that after today, aside for my mortgage, I am debt free and my husband still has a job. So, so many people no matter where they live are struggling with literally losing everything they own and find themselves out of work. I pray that they can all find their daily needs met through prayer and faith in God who will sustain them in all things.

4. I am thankful that my oldest daughter, Caitlyn is journeying to the mountains this weekend for her High School Bible Vacation Camp. I am praying that God uses this time in her life and he ministers to her on a personal level while she is there. I am hoping she finds her purpose through a calling of the Holy Spirit in her life and has a renewed sense of faith like never before, completely on fire and sold out to God. Please pray for her while she is gone Friday through Monday.

5. I am thankful that I have delivered all the school supplies I needed to my nephew, Josh due to a unique set of circumstances in being at the right place at the right time. Now I know that he can start school on Tuesday and have everything he needs.

Thankful Thursday ~ August 27, 2009

Each week we can sometimes get caught up in life that we forget to slow down and see just how far we have come. Today is that day. If you have never taken the time to participate, it’s not too late. Just a few clicks away to Sonya’s blog at Truth 4 the Journey will get you on the path to get started.

Here are my weekly reflections:

1. I am thankful for the daily blessing God gives us every day. Too often we take for granted the little things in life, like breathing, seeing, hearing, talking and even the ability to feel the hugs of a child or the kiss of a loved on our skin. I am thankful that God still finds a purpose for me here each day. As long as I am breathing, I am still living. As long as I am still living, God has a reason for me to be here. So I thankful for those little things in life.



2. I am thankful for my ability to have a family, a home and food to eat. As so many are currently hanging on with nothing to get them through the day. I will never take these things for granted but I will also remember a house is just four walls while a home is where love resides always no matter if it’s a house, a car or a box. It’s home.




3. I am thankful for the ability to worship freely whereas in some places people spend their time hiding just to read a Bible or to share fellowship with other believers. Where they are persecuted for their beliefs while I can attend the church of my choosing and express my faith anywhere any time.



4. I am thankful that I live in a country that for now allows me the freedoms some spend their whole life fighting for. That even now we have our own country men and women in those areas trying to restore basic human rights for so many that are deprived of them. I am thankful I can speak my mind even though I may not agree, I am thankful I can come and go as I please and I can read, write and work as a woman!



5. I am thankful for the amazing sounds that God provides daily. From the singing of the birds in the morning, to a meowing of a hungry kitten, to worship and praise songs that sound so amazing, I know I can see heaven right in the midst of it all. Nothing beats the fact that this world was created by one who knew exactly what He was doing. It did not arrive as a speck or a big bang! If it did, one question for those of you that honestly believe that, where did the speck or big bang come from, it had to have been created from the smallest atom or DNA fragment, it all began somewhere. Yup! That’s what I thought, God is amazing!



“Worshiping God in adoring embrace, celebrate in trembling awe. Blessed are all those who put their trust in HIM!” Psalm 2:11-12

Thankful Thursday ~ August 19, 2009

God is so abundant in his love and grace that sometimes it can be so overwhelming but not something I would take for granted. I started this blog with hopes of journaling my life for the next year and see what path God had taken me on. What I truly did not expect was the overwhelming amount of friendship, love and prayer support that the blogging community offered. It was like a prequel to the things to come in Heaven.

Sonya at Truth 4 The Journey came along at just the right time to allow me opportunities every Thursday to think about some of the things I was thankful for each Thursday. It's about reflection and gratitude and a way I believe to say thank you to God for these blessings that happen not only once a a week by every minute of the day. If you would love to participate, please stop by her blog and join us. It will completely change your perspective on God's power in your life.

1. I am thankful for the amount of love and prayers from all my blogging family this week when my mom called to tell me her brother had past away. I had so many emails and comments offering prayers and thoughts and even included sending my mom a card to let her know that people from all over the United States really care about one grieving soul. Thank you from my heart for your outpouring of love. It has forever changed me.

2. I am thankful for Tiffany at Tea with Tiffany. I won a book during a giveaway on her blog and just got time to sit down and begin reading it. It's called Real Moms...Real Jesus by Jill Savage. I love it so far and have only completed the first two chapters but it is already having positive effects on my family life as a mom. I can't wait to share my insights with you all in the coming weeks. Thanks again Tiffany for a well recommended book.

3. I am thankful for my daughter, Caitlyn, who proposed a wonderful idea about using her Christian Club's fundraising efforts this year to possibly help a ministry she is super passionate about. Once she gets all the details, I can share the rest with you. For now, however, she has an amazing giving heart towards helping others without thinking about herself.

4. I am thankful for my tailbone is on the mend finally after about three weeks of really taking a toll on my life as a mom. You would never believe the things you can't do when your tailbone is out of commission. At least I was able to blog and keep talking to all of you throughout my recovery. Thank you so much for all your personal prayers for healing. It went a long way.

5. I am thankful that my husband Steve continues to help me out in every way a husband can and then beyond even that. He has been a great help with my recovery and just God giving him the opportunity to be at home working, has enabled me to get better that much quicker. It has also given me new eyes to see all the unconditional love this man shares for me. I am so lucky that I have him and will continue to see all the great qualities he has for as long as I have him. I love you Steven! Thank you for picking me to marry!

So as you can see, just being specific allows you to really take the time and enjoy just how much God blesses you weekly and I thank all of you for just being part of my family. If you haven't decided to follow me, please do. You're not just becoming a follower of my blog, you are becoming part of my family, and I love you all for that.

Thankful Thursday ~ August 13, 2009

Each week I look back and have so much to be thankful for that just finding 5, makes it challenging but also keeps it real for me. I know reading long posts can be hard. I love taking part in this and if you too would love to join, please head over to Sonya's Truth 4 The Journey and come along for a great time. You are guaranteed to meet some amazing people and share in the blessings each of us receives over a weeks time.

1. I am thankful for the many prayers I received while recovering from my tailbone injury I got while roller skating. I am grateful I haven't lost the drive to pick it up again and it will serve as an example to my kids that you can't let life get you down and steal your joy. You have to take it back again and keep living.

2. I am thankful for the blessed opportunity I had last night with my oldest daughter, Caitlyn, who is in the midst of high school dating and looking for a boyfriend. I am glad I got to sit down with her last night after reading a chapter from the Noticer, about what teens can do to make sure their marriages don't end in divorce. It was so simple and written from a Christian impact, it makes parents feel at ease and it's really so simple for teens to understand.

After our talk in which I asked her three simple questions and then explained the concept of the story to her, a light came on in her head that could have only come from God and she was able to take those concepts and shine that light on all her past relationships and see where things went wrong and how she can avoid them in the future. It also helped her see that certain relationships no matter how bad you want them, just aren't for you.

3. I am thankful for being given the opportunity to review the book, The Noticer, for free thanks to Thomas Nelson publishing. After just reading half way through the book it has completely changed my entire outlook on life and would be a book that I would recommend to every parent of a teen to buy! It's just that good. Watch for my review next week. I would have finished it already but somethings just need time to marinate.

4. I am thankful for God inspiring me to not only choose this book, but allowing me the opportunity to use it to have a talk with Cait about dating. I am so confident right now with her ability to use this information, it will complete change her and her view about dating in a positive light. God provided Caitlyn to be receptive to the words and nothing else could have reached a teen on her level like this story. I didn't even have to be the one to point it out, the Holy Spirit was able to minister to her once her heart was open.

5. I am so thankful to my hubby for being my hero and taking care of most of my needs this week and all of my needs last week. Without him being here, this road to recovery would have been very long, but also super lonely. We were also able to spend some quality time with one another and really get time to just sit down and talk. We've learned something new based on that book The Noticer, that has done a 180 degree turn on the way we treat each other in our marriage and it really works!

Thankful Thursday ~ August 6, 2009

Ah the week has once again come around the corner and found it’s way to Thursday where I find myself participating with Sonya at Truth 4 The Journey’s Thankful Thursday posts. These days are amazing because it gives you a great opportunity to share what God reveals to you this day, what wonderful things have transpired during the week. If you want to join in all the fun, please make your way on over to Sonya’s blog and join in. Just in the short time of joining I have met some very beautiful friends and found some great blogs to begin following and vice versa.

This week has been a very challenging week but still blessed because I know nothing passes through God’s hands without his knowledge so I am taking account of everything He has brought my way this week. Without God this blog or my writing skills wouldn’t be possible!

1. I am thankful for being injured this week. It has given me the opportunity to rely on others to help me out and not be the do it all for you mom and wife, I try to be everyday, despite pain. In this, I have time to share my thoughts personally with each of you and leave detailed comments pertaining to your blog. I don’t have to hurry through, but I get the chance to slow down and really get to know all of you.

2. I am thankful for lap top computers. Without them I would go stir crazy with the stuff you find on TV during the day. I am not a TV watcher, so without it, I would be able to tell you how many acoustic balls are on my ceiling, as long as I didn’t lose count.

3. I am thankful for sleepovers. It keeps my kids busy and gives hubby a break from trying to keep them all occupied because they don’t have mom to drive them everywhere.

4. I am thankful for Steve being home this week. I could not, without a doubt, attempted to recover without your help. He has managed laundry, taking the kids to the malls and skating, made every meal in this house since Saturday afternoon, and waits on me hand and foot. He keeps my water full and iced, brings me ice packs and pain pills when I need them. He is my life right now. I would be in tears without him. I have learned an awful lot from him this week.

5. I am thankful for my blogging friends. From personal emails to great detailed comments, you have all managed to keep my spirits up and kept my mind busy. I haven’t realized that there is so much love and creativity out there despite being so similar in our blogs and posts. Love all the humor, the initimate stories, and the pictures you all have opened up and shared. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I take none of you for granted.

Thankful Thursday!!

Another week of blessings are here already and once more God has given me the opportunity to share them all with you. He alone makes blogging possible and taking time to reflect back on another week to find things big and small to be thankful for. If you haven't participated in a Thankful Thursday and would like to, stop by Sonya's blog, Truth 4 The Journey and read up on how to link them all together. She is an amazing woman with an inspirational blog to follow.

So without further hesitation, here are my blessings this week.

1. I am thankful for cooler temperatures this week. As of yesterday we didn't break the 100 degree mark and at night we were even able to open the windows and let the cool night air back in for a change and could turn the air off.

2. I am thankful for Steve being home. He was able to do so much for me this week, like waking up at 2:30am to drop Caitlyn, our oldest off for leadership camp for her school for 4 days, kill big, fat, green, grubs, known as horn worms off our tomato plant and we are hoping that our plant will recover and come back otherwise our summer tomato cravings are going bye bye, and for just being someone to skate with me while all the teens are zipping by us at the skate rink. Hey at least we are getting a small workout in.

3. I am thankful that Caitlyn made it to leadership camp and is seeing first hand what college like is like without all the parties. Getting up early and making it to breakfast without mom or dad waking her up. Missed it the second day. I really wanted to save her, but God gently reminded me to let her manage on her own these 4 days. Who I am to question that?

4. I am thankful that we have had the opportunity to just be together as a family for the last few months, to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries with family, and just try to reconnect after being pulled apart for so many months prior. I just hope we have lots more time til the end of the year at least.

5. I am thankful for the golden aroma of coffee in the mornings. There is just something about waking up to having that first hot cup with caramel creamer while I look over blog comments, and prepare to post my blog for the day.

Thankful Thursday!!

WOO! Hoo! Another week has come and gone and there are always blessings galore to be found. If you haven't yet participated in Thankful Thursdays and would like to, please visit Sonya at Truth 4 The Journey and sign up today! Her site is beautiful and you will meet many new blogging friends who will stop by and view all your blessings as well!

Here are just 5 of the things I am thankful for this week, and in everything I am always thankful for God and His hand in my life!

1. I am thankful that my air conditioning is still working in the midst of all this heat wave we have had for almost 2 weeks straight. I am praying that God will work on the electric company and keep us from being sticker shocked when we open the bill this month!

2. I am thankful that Caitlyn's teen party went off without any problems and everyone that she invited all showed up and were a part of something special for her 16th!

3. I am thankful that we were all able to take a roadtrip yesterday and discover some amazing things. I will be blogging about it soon, so keep a sharp eye out!

4. I am thankful for my hubby who at this time, remains at home working most days so the kids can really spend some much needed quality time with him. We have been in a deficit for a while.

5. I am thankful for all my blogging friends who remain so inspirational and motivated that I can't wait to see each and every one of your sites and postings each day. I am going to dedicate one day a week to highlight new blogs I have come across to make finding new friends even easier!

Have a most wonderful and blessed day today!