Thankful

We've had a lot to be thankful for this year.

When I think about all of the changes, decisions, illnesses and uncertainties that our family has gone through this year it exhausts me. I've often joked with my husband about having this be the year I'd like to forget.

But truly, this is the year I hope to remember. I have seen the Lord's provision in so many ways. Most of the time it wasn't how I wanted it. Some of the times I'm not even sure I prayed for it. It didn't come in the pretty, wrapped package I had envisioned...but it came.

"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you." Psalm 143:8

Every day I am reminded that God provides for His people.

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” John 9: 2-3

This weekend was one of the best we've had in a long time. We focused on relaxing, hanging out with our children and just enjoying each other.

We enjoyed watching the children's eyes grow bigger as the tree lights were turned on, and placed delicate ornaments in little hands to put on the tree.

Our Christmas books were unpacked and brought out for the month of December, ready for days of being flipped through on the couch and read from at bedtime.

Yes. I'm pretty sure this isn't truly the year I want to forget, but one I want to remember for a long time. And as we enter into the Christmas season, and I look at my nativity scene that sits atop our armoire, I am reminded again of God's provision and how He sent His Son for us, so that someday we could spend eternity with Him.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

And for that, I am thankful.

These are the days

When I read the title of this post, I automatically start singing this song in my head. Sometimes when I'm frustrated with how something has been going this day and that day, it can become very hard to see beyond the present and realize that these are the days. The days I want to remember. The days I won't get back. The days that will soon fly by and I'll be wondering where my little kids went that will probably grow taller than I am.

I have a continually growing mound of parenting books on my nightstand that I'm anxious to get read, and I find myself praying throughout the day for God to please give me the answers to reach my children's hearts and turn them toward Him.

The truth is, I have really sweet kids and one of them just happens to be 3. And the other just happens to be an almost 2-year old who likes to mimic everything her older brother does. It's a season of life, and we'll survive.

One day this week I asked my son to pick out a book during reading time. This is what he chose. Oh the irony.