{i am extremely thankful...}

this week for things that are not typically the norm such as my family, friends, health, a home....etc. but things that i have been particularly thankful for that fall outside of that box....

1. a two-week-old insurance policy that was pretty much an after thought
2. a swift and reassuring agent and adjuster
3. pain medication {all is well there, i am VERY thankful for that!}
4. friends that pray and rally
5. the fact i tend to be a night owl with my head hitting the pillow at 3:30 am and i don't even feel the effects after my coffee.  don't ask me tomorrow though ;)
6. children who seem oblivious to the stress swirling inside my brain
7. those same children who calm me down with their excitement about the upcoming week
8. a mom who is cleaning my house, doing my laundry and scrubbing my toilets for me today
9. a SIL who offers to come help me with whatever i may need 
10. a friend who offers to put up my Christmas tree when she needs and wants to get hers up
11. a puppy who seems to  finally be "getting" the whole potty training idea as that makes life so much easier 
12. my crowing rooster.  he makes me smile.  i'm sorry, it's strange, but a fact. ;)
13. friends who text and call me and don't get too terribly upset if it takes 7 days+ for me to respond.  they know me and love me anyway! 
14. and above everything, my God who loves me despite the fact i am completely insane and trusts me to handle my life as crazy as it is  

{amazing!}

hmmmm...

Last night I had about a 30 minute stretch of time in which I wanted to break away from my desk and read. So, I grabbed one of my books. {I typically read about 5-6 books at a time} This particular one I had not picked up in probably about 3-4 weeks.

I had dog-eared a page, so I turned to it. For me, that isn't a flag of a great find to go back to...but the place I left off preceded that page....it was where I was to begin next.

I promise, this is what I read...

God will always give you everything you need to do his will, including time. Don't live in a rush. Elisabeth Elliot

Do you think that maybe someone is trying to tell me something?

That was the very same quote I had read and referenced from my morning devotion. Two different books. A 'random' booked I pulled from one of my shelves with just a little time to squeeze in a quick read.

This time it was from "How to Build Your Home on Holy Ground" by Donna Otto.

Here are a few other things that I read for the first time, but had to "re-read" because they spoke out so much to me...

"Being intentional about your life goals, your purposes and your priorities is an important antidote to cultural chaos. If you set aside time to listen to God's specific call on you life and focus your energy on fulfilling that call, you'll be far less likely to waste your time on the cultural treadmill. You'll be living your life my conviction, not circumstance...and your life will be much more peaceful."

The next page contained a quote from Elizabeth Prentiss...

"If you could once make up your mind in the fear of God never to undertake more work of any sort than you can carry on calmly, quietly, without hurry or flurry, and the instant you feel yourself growing nervous, like one out of breath, would stop and take a breath, you would find this simple common sense rule doing for you what no prayers or tears could ever accomplish."

So stopped and I took that breath last night after I laid out a plan for the busy work weekend that lies ahead of me. Then, I stopped. I put a very late family dinner on the table {don't ask what it was, but it still counts!} and the conversations that I had with both boys {all three}, but especially the time spent with Noah after everyone else retreated back to the living room were priceless.

I am amazed as always. What are the mathematical odds of that happening as I own a small scale library?

No coincidence.

I'm listening.

and, learning.

{just say no}

Wow! That can be a very difficult thing.

I was challenged yesterday and today with a very enticing wedding - however, in my months of prayer {and agony} in getting to the point of resigning from the law firm - there were certain things {God and family things to be exact} that were to be placed back to their rightful place in the line of priorities.

So, I just "hit" send with a very polite decline.

And, it felt really, really great!

And, the world did not stop turning.

Amazing!

{i.am.thankful}

for so many things. alot has happened in the last few weeks to give me a new perspective.....it's that time of year to reflect.

1. i am thankful for my family. a family that forever i didn't think i would have; at least according to all of the statistics.
2. i am thankful for scott. although life has been quite difficult the last few years, again, we've beat the odds at what the physicians told us would happen to "us". another testament, that there is someone alot bigger than the medical world.
3. my precious boys. they are my heart. i truly could not ask for more.
4. my sweet, precious friends; both old and new. i know i've mentioned it before, but it's so true. (didn't mean to rhyme) i'm not sure i could have made it through so much without each of you. (oops, i did it again! that sounds terrible!!) but, seriously, each of you have given me so much in ways you have no idea. i'm very, very thankful.
5. my brother. he has been my rock. thank you for my sweet B.
6. my 'sister', angela. there simply are no words. you KNOW me; the good, the bad, the ugly... and you still love me.
7. "de cousins" and you know who you are. even though we do not get to see each often nearly enough.....i think about you constantly and miss you even more.
8. my dad. i'm thankful i had you as long as i did. on certain, random days, i miss you so much it hurts. "your truck" is hanging on several walls. :) who would have thought?
9. my sweet, sweet, precious grandpa. how did i get so lucky? you took a big piece of my heart with you. i miss you everyday.
10. my grandmother, for opening her home to me.
11. the home we have built for the boys. nothing extravagant by any stretch, but a place they feel save and loved. and, alot of room outside to run! :)
12. for a job, that as stressful as it may be at times, allows me to take care of my family from home.
13. for my church family. it's amazing how arms have been opened.
14. no kidney obstructions, tumor growth, the health of my family and friends.....

and, it goes without saying WHO i am thankful to for all of the above and so much more. YOU have given me so much.


Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.