4 Things I Am Thankful For Today

You know, when you decide to look on the positive, there is always something to be thankful for around us! I decided to make a list of a few things that I am thankful for today.

1. I am thankful for a loving father and husband. This picture was taken on Father's Day. What a blessing this man is in my life. I wouldn't want to even begin to go through life without him.

2. I am thankful for fresh produce from the garden. Healthy, yummy eating!

3. Blackberries that God provided in the woods! I am excited about more that are to come. I think I am going to make some kind of jam out of them.  

4. I am thankful for this growing belly, cause it means that the little one inside is growing strong. 

What are you thankful for today?

A big thank you!

Thank you so much to all of you who voted for my infinity scarf. I didn't get first place, but did get second place and some pretty sweet prizes.

These headbands were both given to me by Brown Sugar Toast. Christa was actually a fellow ed major at college. Small world?

Designed Decor sent me this great mosaic. I like it better in person! Can't wait to it to catch some rays in my window!

I also was given my choice of 5 patterns from Sew Can Do. Any guesses which 5 patterns that I picked out at The Green Hedgehog?

Thanks to Totally Green Crafts for hosting this competition. 

The Little Things

source

On Monday, I was reminded how we can find the blessings in the little things in life. 

We went to an information session at a college, On our way there, we stopped at Starbucks to get our free coffee. Unfortunately, this Starbucks did not receive the machine to give you free coffee. 

We continued on to the college. We arrived a little early, so we were able to enjoy a nice walk around a quaint little town. Unplanned nut nice exercise. 

Before the session started, Scott and I were given coupons for free coffee! God knew we didn't really need two cups that late at night!

The information session was a blessing in and of itself. It gave both of us some peace about pursuing future education. We would love your prayers as we decide whether to pursue this option or not. 

Afterwards, the director who was doing the session had a drawing. Scott won one of the prizes. He got a travel coffee mug that was stainless steel lined. We had just been talking that morning about wanting to get some of those, but that they were too expensive. 

I am amazed when we stop back and look for the blessings in a day, we can find lots. Once I start focusing on the positive, other positive things come to mind.

What is one little blessing from your day?

The Joys of Giving and Receiving

source

I had the chance to meet up with an awesome lady yesterday for a coupon class. She is the wonderful lady that we had affectionately called the bag lady. She delivers a bag to our house that includes coupons. And the best part is that it is free! I want to do a little checking into the company to see how they do what they do.

She told me that she had coupons for me when we were done. And man did she hook me up! I am going to share some of the wealth that she blessed me with with you. 

If you are interested in any of the coupons, let me know and I will send you some. If you don't know what coupons were in the paper, check out the Sunday Coupon Preview and look at the 9/9 Smart Source preview. There were two different inserts in this paper.

Electricity!!

source

The last week on our home front has been interesting to say the least. Five days without electricity made me very thankful that we have electricity! I couldn't help but think of the great power that my God has. He sure displayed that power last Friday.

Scott and I were on the way to my parent's house to celebrate my dad's birthday. Scary! I will be ok to never drive in a storm like that again. I could not help but think of the great power of my great God.

Psalm 136:4

"To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever."

source

There were several things that I had taken for granted, that I learned to be thankful for. Things that we would say are essential. I would have to say that I survived without them, but man, how much easier do they make life!

• Being able to flush the toilet without dumping water in the bowl. Yes, we learned that you do not dump the water in the tank, but in the bowl! Umm...good thing to know!
• Flipping a switch and having light. I am thankful for all the flashlights that my husband has. I also, flipped many switches wiht nothing happening!
• Having a fridge to keep food cold. How did people do it before they had fridges? I would have a hard time surviving.
• Air conditioning. It was a scorching week not to have it!
• Running water to brush your teeth, wash your hands, take a shower, and do laundry.

I was very thankful for our families that let us take showers at their house and to enjoy their air conditioning.

There was this calmness in our village as the only thing that was heard was generators. The moon provided the light for the city. It was serene.

It was also very nice to take a little break and enjoy just spending time with others. Electricity provides a lot of benefits for us, but it also makes our lives a little more busy. The trade offs in life!

What part of having electricity are you thankful for?

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

Happy Memorial Day!





I am very thankful for the men and women who have fought in order to give us the freedoms that we have today. When I think about the freedoms that we have been given, I also have to think about how often I take these freedoms for granted.

image from here

I was talking to my dentist the other day about the civil war. He was saying about how scary it would be to fear walking out your door because you don't know what you might face on the other side. 9/11 is the scariest event like this that I have faced, but I was not afraid of who was outside of my door. I don't have to fear for my life because of these brave soldiers.

The freedom that I think we take the most advantage of, is the freedom of religion.

When I was in Moldova several years ago, we were at a Bible institute. The students at the college came from a lot of the "stan" countries because they could study the Bible here without getting a visa, therefore their country didn't know what they were doing in Moldova. One girl sticks out in my mind. Gulia was in my small group that week. She spoke very little English and so we had to have one of the guy students translate, unfortunately his English wasn't the best either. Sweet girl, but with the langauge barrier, we had a hard time communicating.

Later, I found out that Gulia's father had promised her to be married to a muslim man. She did not want to marry this man because she was a Christian, but her dad didn't give her much of a choice. She found out about the Bible Institute, and her dad deciced to let her go and in doing this, she did not have to marry this man. Double blessing in her life!

She expressed to me that she was not aloud to read the Bible in her country because it was illegial. The guy who translated for me told one of the other team guys about how easy it is to be a Christian in America. We can wear a mask when it is convenient. When it isn't convenient, we can take it off and do whatever we want to do.

In their country, once they say they are a Christian, they are marked and there is not turning back. Simoly reading their Bible is enough to get them killed. What masks am I hiding behind today that make my Christian testimony null and void? I need to work on living my Christian life 100% of the time, even when it may cost me.

I am thankful for the freedoms that I have been given, but I also need to work on not taking those freedoms for granted.

The Little Things that Make a Difference



image from here

I was just talking to some coworkers today about collecting supplies for Medical Missions. I was saying how I was hoping to get some free things with coupons in order to be donate to the cause.

The one guy got to talking about going to India. He would take a suitcase of glasses in order to be able to give to the people. The people would dig through the glasses and their face would light up when they found a pair that would work for them.

It really is those little things that make a difference.

Matthew 10:42 "And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward."

Little is much when God is in it!

What little things have made a difference in your life?

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

My Husband Discovers The Joys of Free!

This picture made me a wee little jealous when my husband sent it to me and told me that he got it for free.

I am very thankful that my husband has gotten excited about the things that you can get for free. Before we got married, the coupons just hung on his refrigerator. Never to leave again! He is starting to learn the benefit of them, especially things like free subs :)
Now if I could have gotten a free sub...bummer!

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

My Great God!

image from here

Solomon was working on building the temple which the Israelites would use to worship God. He said the following verse about God.

2 Chronicles 6:18 
^"But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!"

How thankful am I that I serve a God that man cannot contain. Man also cannot describe the God that I serve. My God truly is great!

Move in Grace

image from here

Back in my college days, I did a Bible study with a few girls. We went through the book Lord, Give Me a Heart for You by Kay Arthur. There was a paragraph in that book that was a strong conviction to me. It is amazing to me how things resurface themselves, as I have found myself thinking about this paragraph a lot recently.

Kay wrote, "A heart that belongs to God always moves in grace, in graciousness, and in favor toward others....Keep your conscience clear and move in grace. You are God's representative, and He is the God of all grace."

I am always thankful for the grace that God has showed to me. I do not deserve heaven, but that is what He has given to me.
I am suppose to be an imitator of Christ.
God shows me grace. I am to imitate Him. I need to show others grace.
I should not just be doing for others what they deserve. What makes me better than them? If Jesus had thought that He was better than me and did not show me grace, where would I be?

What is a practical way that you can move in grace to those that are around you?

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

Thankful for Family

I have been greatly blessed by the two families that God has placed me in. I have two sets of parents that fear and reverence the Lord. They also greatly love their families. I have been blessed by each of the people in the pictures below and pray that I can be a blessing to them as well.

May His Face Shine upon You

image from here

I was reading through this Psalm this morning, and was encouraged by the fact that God's face will shine upon us.

He is a righteuos judge who will bless those who deserve to be blessed. We need to raise up and bless Him.

I am thankful that I know what happens in this country it because of God's hand on this country. I need to be asking for God to shine His face on my life and live my individual life the way that I should.

Psalm 67

¹God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.
²That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.
³Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
⁴O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.
⁵Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
⁶Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us.
⁷God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

God's Beautiful Creation

I have been thinking lately, how can one look at the world that is around them and not learn to appreciate the God of creation?

Seeing the huge bright sun this morning, enjoying the new daffodils, and observing the blooming trees are just a few things that have stood out to me just today.

Psalm 19:1
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

What part of God's creation have you enjoyed recently?

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers! I am just a little late!

To Encourage or To Complain?



image from here

I love how God knows what we need for the day!

We live in a world where it is very easy to complain about the circumstances around us. Isn't is a breath of fresh air when someone around you is encouraging and happy?

So, why is the tendency to be complaining?

David was running for his life when he penned this Psalm.

Ps 34:1-3

 I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

I am thankful for those people around me are looking for the positive and who are trying to give God the glory for those things that happen in their life.

What are you thankful for today?

Thankful Thursday

You know that feeling of getting stuck behind a school bus on a long road...and doesn't it seem to be on the mornings that you are already running late?

image from here

I love the bus driver that I get to follow in the mornings. The driver will pick up a child and then pull over so that you can pass them. What a blessing this is in the mornings. Things look better just because of this one selfless act.

It was also awesome to see the beautiful creation of God this morning. The fog was patchy til I hit town and it was absolutely beautiful!

I want to hear what you are thankful for today!