Thankful Thursday

I am clearly not so dedicated to this meme as I had hoped, though every Thursday I think of many things for which I am thankful. This day:

• I am thankful for the Smokey Blue Cheese that my husband brought home from the Tillamook Cheese Factory in Portland! Yum!
• I am thankful for each of the women in my group with whom I have the privilege of spending my Thursday nights. They are such a blessing to me: going back to blessing meaning things that draw us nearer to our Lord!
• I am thankful that I came upon some thank you notes written by the hands of some of the most precious little people in the world. I am overwhelmed with the love I feel for my N&N's!
• I am thankful for the path I am taking in this world and how it has been so incredibly not what I would have imagined.
• I am thankful for a husband who is growing deeper in his walk with Jesus and I have the joy of being his wife (and I do mean joy: this man can make you laugh and just feel amazing!)!
  

Thank You Thursday

I had planned on posting more often this year. It will probably happen, though apparently not a regular as I had hoped!

I was just talking to my sister the other night and shared that my husband and I seemed to be bickering a bit more than usual. We did discover the likely reasons why the patience levels were low and emotional levels were high. First, January is never our "high" month: it's dark, I'm home a lot, the holiday high is over. These are things that happen every year. In addition to these "usual" stresses, the puppies are not selling, my husband is unemployed, and we decided that we need to prepare our home for selling. Not little additions, if you ask me. In a way, it made us feel better that our marriage wasn't going downhill or that we were headed for real trouble. It's pretty normal for those stresses to spill over. After we discovered these little tidbits, we seem to have been refilled with grace for each other. Thank you, Jesus!

In light of our move situation, we have begun some of our home spiffies. We fixed a couple doors that the previous owner just stuck on and didn't fit the jams. I also painted a bit in our bedroom (I had painted some stripes that I have never liked, but never fixed!). Today I plan on walking through each room, making a list of all the little things that I can fix or need to purchase. For some reason, the previous owner put white outlet covers over cream outlets/switches. Really? Why would you do that? Now I have to redo it all. Annoying. But doable! Some larger items will have to wait til it gets warmer. We still need to put siding on our garage and have decided what to do, but can't until we have an income. There are several little paint spots that need to be touched up that I can do, nails to fill, holes to patch.

We also plan on contacting some realtors and beginning the interview process. Yes, we interview them. We found that to be a very good way of letting them know you are aware of the situation and they can't just take you for a spin. It is also a way of getting a lower commission rate, finding someone you click with, and discovering several ideas of how to stage a house for sale.

I have to admit, I'm having a tougher time finding as many things to be thankful for than things to request. I'm feeling extra guilty about this right now as the crisis in Haiti has happened. I should be much more thankful that I have a home above me, money in the bank to pay for it for quite a while if necessary, family and friends who are living and praying for us. These are things these other people don't have. They may not even have a Savior who gives us that eternal hope that doesn't disappoint, regardless of our circumstances. Maybe I need to put the news on today to keep me reminded of all I have. It may seem depressing, but in all my perceived need, I truly have more than most of those. They are the ones who need prayer. They are the ones who need a home, friends, help, the true Savior.

Does this mean that I won't ask for puppy families, a good realtor, or a job for my husband? Of course not. It just means that I will choose to DWELL on the blessings that I DO have. God has richly blessed us and I don't want to be ungrateful. Even in this time, we have come closer to His leadership, learned to rely on His provisions (which have been abundant), and are still learning how to rest in Him, not on ourselves. Character building! Blessings in not-so-hard-to-see disguise! Thank you, Jesus.

Thankful Thursday

I'm choosing a new "meme" if you will. I've seen it done on several blogs, and though I am not the one to follow fads (another post issue!), this one is worthy to repeat!

Today specifically, I am thankful for:

• A husband who prayed with me this morning.
• A God who wants to communicate with me over major life issues as well as minor ones.
• Extended family who extend my vision for God's purpose in my life
• Silly N&N's (nieces and nephews)
• Puppies who make me smile (though we need to find homes!)
• A washing machine that works perfectly
• Air freshener and candles
• Daily Bread: a.k.a. bits of work for my husband that have paid for groceries and mortgage
• Gorgeous creation and that I live in the middle of it
• A fresh vision to "need less & give more"
• Fleece
• A freezer full of meat (sorry vegetarians!)
• Supportive Friends and Family
• My relationship with my sister: something so sweet that I don't take for granted
• Airline miles that will make it a free trip to see family soon

Wow. I could go on and on. And I will next week! That is a good perspective refresher if you ever feel the blahs, and even when you don't! And for a glimpse of one of those super cute puppies:

Tonight, Tonight!

Tonight is my debut as a Bible Study Leader! Am I ready? Why not? The study that I ordered did not come in. I had planned for it, so I don't have much of a backup plan, though I knew I should have made a plan B! Plan, plan, plan...
I know the plans I have for you...
Oh, I'm not in the least worried. God knows what we need for tonight, so I don't have to do ALL the planning. It may just be that this week is a week to specifically pray for particular people each day. I think I just lied a little. I WAS worried, but I have been calmed! Last night I was in a huge worry and panic trying to come up with a perfect week-long study. Just one week. I was thinking up questions and even trying to gather cross-references. Then I realized God's timing is perfect, and for His reasons, the study will start next week. No panic necessary!
I would ask for anyone to pray for me tonight. I will be giving my testimony. I want the focus to be wholly on God's transforming power in my life, not on "my" story. I don't want to lead anyone to think that they can continue in sin since God will forgive them until they feel that they can get back on track. I want to convey the freedom I have in living in Christ. I hope to share the fulfillment I receive from Him alone. My story isn't earth-shattering, and I think it will resonate with many. My life is far from perfect, either in my living it or in the blessings I receive. Life is still hard, but with Christ it is LIFE!
I did find the verse in Proverbs about the value of close friends. It is Proverbs 27:10 "Do not forsake your own friend or your father's friend, And do not go to your brother's house in the day of calamity; Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away."
I hope to be a better neighbor to these women. Many of us are far away from our families, and we need to gather together and support each other. I hope to be an example of Godly friendship!