Blessings

I feel the Lord leading me to write down my blessings so what better place to do so than here on my {almost extinct / needing to be resurrected} blog? :)

A few days ago we were in a financial panic. Well, I was. No one else seemed to be concerned about it. Back story - we've been through and taught Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University so we know what works. We just end up back at square one so many times.

Anyway, as I was scheduling all the bills for the month, I was right at $1,000.00 short in order to NOT pay interest on the one credit card we use for all monthly expenses such as food, gasoline, etc. I posted on Facebook the need and the next day (after being sad all that day - even lying on the couch and being all moody - funny how whiny we can become when things don't go our way) I felt the Lord lead me to sell some stuff. (Dave Ramsey would be proud to hear me say that.) So I did. I sold a few items. My son had owed me some money for auto insurance and rent and he paid that. My daughter bought supper for the family. The mailman delivered a $400 check from Costco. I deposited my work income. All of that left us $150 short. God was so good to provide this much. I didn't think He would care to provide the rest but boy was I wrong. One of our daughters had enough money left over from her expenses to pay the remaining $150. (She had owed us for past car expenses we had covered for her.) Now, for the month of March, all of my bills will be paid.

I cannot tell you how happy I am. God has ALWAYS provided for us. He has ALWAYS been with us. And get this - HE CARES! Not that working gains us favor with Him, but I did as He led and I even went and picked up an application for an additional part-time job. Since then, I've received a lead on a better job opportunity so I applied there instead. We'll see if anything comes from it. However, even if it doesn't, I know He is going to provide.

I leave you with 1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Barn Swallows

For the last couple of years we have had a couple of barn swallows raising their new families on our back porch. This year was no exception. Mama and Daddy had 5 baby birds. Very cute little things, although a bit messy. Anyway, all but 2 babies had flown away before we went camping this past week so when we came home, we knew they would all be gone and sure enough they were. Well, imagine our surprise when one fat baby bird came back to the nest today. :) Not only did it come back, but the parents are still feeding it! I have never seen this happen before so I'm not sure if he's just the "runt" or lazy. lol But, I'm glad I got to see him at least for one more day. They really are pretty birds. Just beware as they will dive bomb you when you go out the back door. :)

The Difference One Day Makes

Gracious. I am glad I wrote down what I was thankful for because yesterday could have been a total downer for me. I found out that a friend of mine, well, her marriage is shaky at best. Seems that her husband has not been faithful and she just found out over the weekend. Breaks my heart. I am thankful that I can pray for them and that regardless of our human emotions, God IS in control and can turn this around.

I have another friend who is going through in-vitro. I cannot grasp the emotional roller coaster that in itself is. To want a baby so much and not be able to get pregnant has got to be one of the worst feelings emotionally that there is. I know before I had my last baby that I wanted to be pregnant and it took eight months of trying to conceive, which for me was odd. I usually was pregnant right after my youngest one's first birthday. The longest I had to wait was 4 months. Praying for God's will with this family for sure.

Courtney went to work fine but called me about an hour and a half later as she was pretty sick. She thinks she ate something that didn't agree with her. I hope that was all it was. I sure don't want a bug going through our home. I am thankful she kept her cookies down on the car ride home. :)

Three of the kids got to play with friends for a while yesterday. Wesley got to play with Andrew, Marcee played with Hailey, and Bethany went to Micah's. I am thankful for my kids' friends. I grew up in the country (no comment Wedaa!!!) and my playmates were either my awesome neighbors (Tammy, Christy, Kim, and Debra) or my brothers friends. Since I was the little brat sister, I didn't get included very often with "the boys". I am thankful for having friends to play with when I was growing up, and most especially, Tammy. I've known her since we were 4 years old and today, she is still one who I can call at any moment and we reconnect immediately. :)

I do have some amazing news. The young man we've been praying for that was ran over by a car and was in ICU is actually in a regular room now, is off the ventilator, and is communicating. Only by God's grace is he still alive. Praising Jesus!!

Thanks for reading my novel. lol I have a lot to be thankful for. Speaking of being thankful, I need to get that turkey in the roaster. I'm ready to cook!!!!

Thankfulness

I am thankful for many things and I decided that I needed to write them down and share them with you. If you're thankful for something, please leave a comment about it. :)

I am thankful for:

• Rain. Even if the day looks dreary, we need the rain.
• Cool weather. Even though I hate being cold, it needs to be here for the holidays. Makes it more cozy. :)
• Color. I love color. We recently painted my dining room. I am going to do touch ups today. The green, although it should have been more sage is more mint, but it's soft enough that I'm beginning to like it. :)
• Family & Friends of course. That goes without saying. :) And Jesus. :) He ROCKS!
• Cleanliness. The kids and I are going to clean house today then we will cook for Thanksgiving tomorrow. 
• Love. Where would I be without the love of my God, family, friends, church, etc. ? I don't even want to know.

Have a blessed day. Find the small things in your life that you are thankful for. :)