More Thanks

It is time to recognize more of the everyday things around me that I need to be rejoicing in-for we are to "count it all joy!" Even though that is a tough thing to do some days, looking for those little things in everyday life that we know we can rejoice in and be thankful for really helps to deal with the blows that come each day too!

21. a day off the farm

22. a safe time of travel-seeing areas of the countryside we have not been through for quite a while

23. a visit to the accountant-and a TAX REFUND

24. Record milk prices last year-coupled with record expenses that brought about the tax refund

25. Time with Grandma

26. The smiles of a happy 4 1/2 yr old while playing

27. The smiles of a 10 yr old while doing school work on the road

28. The smiles of an almost 10 yr old as she learns along the way

29. The gift of homeschooling my children-no matter where we are

30. March is here, and spring is COMING!! Oh Happy Dance!!

Blessings

Chris

Thankful for a SNAKE???

There always seems to be an abundance of difficulties in our life lately.

I suspect God may be trying to teach us many different things, and I confess, I have not been a completely willing pupil in His school of tough times lately. There has been much murmuring and complaining coming out of my mouth, swirling around in my thoughts, and showing in my actions.

While it seems easier to respond with negativity, anger and despair, oh, the havoc we wreak on our own lives when we do not receive the bad and ugly along with the good with a sweet spirit. My children have been witness to my ornery side, my contentious side, my despairing and having no hope side.

Yet, it is so untrue. I have a hope, and I have to rest in that hope.

Therefore, when things like plugged up dishwashers mean we wash dishes as a family every night for the last 2 months, we should rejoice.

Yet, when that plug makes its way into the line of my KITCHEN sink, then life takes on a whole new level of difficulty. Yes, I have another sink, in the basement, and we used it 3 times a day for the last several weeks.

But, finally, I said, "Enough" and we decided it was time to do something about this-probably the thought of having 19 people in the house for a meal, with ALL those dishes to wash, was the real incentive!

We bought several drain cleansers, used our own puny sewer snake, and did not get very far.

Finally, after my 3rd trip to the hardware store, we broke down and rented one of their sewer snakes-a long, 50 ft monster with a hand crank, and guess what??
I have flowing water again-Halleluia!!

It is really the little things in life that can throw our days off when they don't click-but it is truly the little things in life that can lift our eyes to Jesus, and push us closer to Him, if we let them.

Continuing my gratitude list

11. rented sewer snake

12. husband and son cleaning my drain for me

13. daughter that willingly washes dishes for me

14. dishwasher that now runs again

15. a faithful heavenly Father that loves me through all my despair and doubt

16. spring is just around the corner

17. 33 degrees today at 5am-it can only get better from here

18. thoughts of gardening-delighting in making those plans for filling our pantry

19. grocery money that filled up an empty refrigerator and cupboard

20. a wonderful time of fellowship with 3 other families on Sunday afternoon

Nick really gets into his work

watching the water drain out-photo by Kendell


water

figuring out how it all works

the beast that has eased my household duties!! AMEN

I really need to spend more time being grateful-it is such an antidote to a negative world-I have been the queen of negativity lately-here is hoping this post will bring a renewed effort towards gratefulness and thanking God for ALL OF IT!!-Even the stuff I don't like.

Blessings

Chris

Endless Gifts

It is time to take a moment, each and every day, to begin to be thankful and grateful, really appreciate what is going on in our lives, what God has ordained for us, the ordinary gifts we take for granted, that are extraordinary gifts from our heavenly Father, loving provider, and Giver of every good and perfect gift.
Thanks to Canadian Ann Voskamp @ Holy Experience, I have ventured into the realm of the gratitude community. It is something I have wanted to do for a long time, and if nothing else, it should ensure a post, with a few pictures, on a more regular basis than my hectic, fly by the seat of my pants days have allowed for in the past few months. Check out Ann's blog, and her gratitude community, and see if you can find a few things in your ordinary day that cause you to stop, ponder, and thank our Creator for His favors He has chosen to bestow upon us.

1. Salvation through the blood of Jesus-Amen and Amen


2. More than enough Bibles to choose from, in my own home, to read God's Word at any time of the day or night
3. The beauty of 4 seasons in our rural Wisconsin area



4. 3 fabulous children placed in our arms by God through the gift/miracle of international adoption
   

5. A loving, supportive, hard-working husband

6. the grandeur of Fall colors

7. the approach of snow/winter fun

8.the ability to educate my children at home

9. the ability to work at home with my husband, making a life for our family as we all work side-by-side on our dairy

10. a garden that overflowed with goodness-of which carrots was the last to be harvested, and that just completed today, on a 35 degree, wind blowing 20 mph, cloudy November afternoon

this summer's bean harvest, complete with 3 smiling children snapping beans happily

Stop on over at Ann's and join in on the gratitude parade-a grateful heart is really the stepping stone to a happier, healthier, more productive life-and I aim to be living proof of that over the next few months!

Blessings

Chris