30 Days of Thanks -- Day 19

As we wrap up another work week, I thank God for…our jobs.

My hubby & I are so blessed to have jobs we love.  We were talking the other night about Thanksgiving, and Matt said that if we go around the room to say what we are thankful for, he would say that he is thankful for all our families’ jobs.  And so am I.  In this scary time where almost 1 out of every 10 people are unemployed (9.6% unemployment per the November jobs report) and in a recession the worst since the Great Depression, we are SO BLESSED to have these opportunities and their financial support.  They can be busy and crazy and stressful, but at the end of the day, we are SO HAPPY where we are and with what we are doing.  I know they don’t bring eternal happiness or even absolute security in this world, but I am so thankful for these blessings and for God’s providing love.  (On a related note, please see “Tax Returns for Jesus” and “The Girl Who Drove Down the Freeway & Went Up the Elevator”.)

Me & my sweet co-worker, Wanda.
She is such a sweet inspiration and Godly example to me!

Everything we do is His! May we do well but also DO GOOD in each position and opportunity given! :0)

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed,

do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving THANKS to God the Father through Him.”

--Colossians 3:17

30 Days of Thanks -- Day 18

I thank God for…inspiring people of faith in my life.

For Beth Moore, my absolutely FAVORITE Bible teacher. Her words speak of God’s Word and speak right to my heart. On occasions more numerous to ever count, I have been brought to tears by her words of God, of encouragement, of faith, of love. She is such an amazing women of faith, has taught me to LOVE God’s Word, has shown me that the Bible is SO EXCITING, has given me “strength and dignity” “for such a time as this”, and has been such an awesome example of a woman after God’s heart.

For Max Lucado and his amazing books. Reading them always makes God’s Word and love and saving grace so alive, it takes my breath away.

For Gail M, our church’s women's minister. Her love of God is so overwhelming, and she is always so welcoming, so encouraging, and such a loving example of a Godly woman of faith.

For the ladies of (in)courage. Every morning they sprinkle my day with sparkles of Godly (in)couragement, strength, grace, and love. They are each such a blessing to me and inspire me in ways I could never describe. Most especially I am so thankful for Holley Gerth and her amazing, awe-inspiring, tears-in-my-eyes-everyday words that always speak right to my heart, for Emily’s “30 Days of Grace” series, for Annie’s “Twirling” encouragement, and for Angie & Jessica’s ever-inspiring and so-much-fun Bloom Book Club. These women are uber-amazing, ridiculously loving, incredible examples, remarkably talented with words, and always, always, ALWAYS so inspiring to me in my walk with Jesus.

Words can’t even describe the blessing these amazing individuals (and so many more!) are in my life. They are doing such amazing, amazing things for God’s Kingdom and for His glory, and I am SO THANKFUL for them and their blessing in my life. They make me be / want to be a better Godly woman. Their example inspires me. Their words feed my soul and put my focus back on God. In this world where internet and literature can be so negative or questionable, they are the shining stars, not shining for themselves, but for God…and that is the most amazing shine because it allows others (like me!) to see God more clearly. :0)

They are so talented, and I am so blessed. May God bless each of them for their amazing work and gift.

"But THANKS be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin,

you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching

that has now claimed your allegiance.
You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness."

--Romans 6:17-18

30 Days of Thanks -- Day 17

I thank God for…our grandparents.

I am so blessed to have known all four of my grandparents AND great-grandparents in my lifetime, and Matthew is blessed to have known three of his. Their overwhelming love, endless support, yummy food, amazing stories, funny jokes, sweet hugs and snuggles, warm quilts and smiles, and awe-inspiring legacy will be with us always.

 With God’s help, may we as their grandchildren bring honor to Him and them with our lives. We are so blessed.  :0)

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us
as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession

and uses us to spread the aroma of the
knowledge of Him everywhere.”

--2 Corinthians 2:14

30 Days of Thanks -- Day 16

I thank God for…Christmas decorating!!!

As most of you know, my hubby and I are MADLY in love with Christmas.

And each other.  :0)

Both of our families have traditions of putting up the Christmas tree and decorations the day AFTER Thanksgiving, so when we got married, we figured we’d follow that “rule” too.  Then one day many years ago when we were sitting around chatting, and Matt said, “You know…this is OUR house.  And you know…we really can make up our OWN rules here…if we want to.”  I remember being so shocked at first.  What?  Go against the way we’ve always done it?  I mean…I am the MASTER rule-follower.  (Just look at what I do for a living…it’s complex and crazy and lots of math, but it’s essentially “following rules”.)  Then, I got excited in a teenager I-really-want-to-do-it-but-are-we-going-to-get-in-trouble sort of way.  There I was…back in high school…sitting up on a branch of a tree fixing to jump/fall who knows how many feet into the river.  But we talked it over, and it was just too exciting NOT to do!  We RIDICULOUSLY LOVE Christmas, so why not put up our decorations whenever we get that Christmas-calling each year…to enjoy the decorations, to enjoy each other while working together, and to start our own family tradition.  :0)

Some of our friends think we are crazy, and I’m not even allowed to speak of such blatant Christmas violations to a certain brother-in-law (hee hee!), but my hubby and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it…and it’s that time of year again!  Yay!!!  Two weekends ago we got all our trees down from the attic and put them in their places, and this past weekend, we started DECORATING!!!  It has been SO MUCH FUN!  I love the music…I love the sparkle…and, being the sentimental goof that I am, I LOVE the memories and nostalgia behind each ornament, each song, each decoration.

And, I love my hubby for loving it too.

“Jesus, Lord at Thy birth.  Jesus, Lord at Thy birth!”

We still have more decorating to do, but “it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas” at our house. Yay!!!

"We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will

through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,

so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord

and please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work,

growing in the knowledge of God,

being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might

so that you may have great endurance and patience,

and giving joyful THANKS to the Father,

who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of His holy people

in the kingdom of light.

For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness

and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves,

in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

--Colossians 1:9-14

30 Days of Thanks -- Day 15

I thank God for...my brother-in-laws.

Today is a very special day to my family…today is my baby sister and her hubby’s anniversary!  Yay!  Happy Anniversary K & B!!!

photo by the uber-awesome and talented k|d loftis photography

Their wedding two years ago was simply amazing…not only because of its beauty and elegance, but because of all the love that day. <3

It got me thinking how thankful I am for my amazing brother-in-laws.  They are simply two of the greatest guys EVER, and we are SO BLESSED (along with my sweet hubby) that they decided to put up with all of our crazy and join our family.  (Hee hee!) 

They are respectful and smart,

helpful and caring,

giving and loving,

and ridiculously funny. 

I know they always have an appetite for fun, football, and for my raw pie crust dough.  (Seriously, if their wives let them, they will eat handfuls of the stuff!) 

They teach my hubby country-boy things like shooting and hunting and hanging out at “The Shack”. 

Our manly men...my sweet hubby, B and L.

They are wonderful and amazing men, and I’m so glad my sisters have them to love and love them in return.

“...we know that the One Who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead
will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to Himself.
All this is for your benefit,
so that the grace that is reaching more and more people
may cause THANKSgiving to overflow to the glory of God.”

--2 Corinthians 4:14-15

30 Days of Thanks -- Day 14

I thank God for…my Mom & Dad.

I love them so very, very much and am so amazingly blessed to have them as my mom and dad.

In our house, they raised three girls while raising up the Lord.

They taught me to talk, to laugh, to play, to be respectful. They taught me to learn, to read, to write, and to love Jesus. They taught me how to tie my shoe, how to laugh with reckless abandon, and how to drive a tractor.

In our house, there was ALWAYS encouragement, ALWAYS understanding, ALWAYS support, ALWAYS laughter, ALWAYS two-hour family dinners talking around the table, and ALWAYS infinite amounts of love.

They are my nourishing roots, my backbone of strength, my pillar to lean on, and my ultimate cheerleaders.

They gave me life, love, laughter, huge pancakes for breakfast, and two wonderful sisters.

They are absolutely the greatest parents in the world, and I am SO THANKFUL for them, for ALL they have selflessly and generously done for me, and for their amazing, wonderful, and never-ending “I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, as long as your living, my baby you’ll be” love.

Me & Daddy dancing at my wedding  :0)

“THANKS be to God for His indescribable gift!”

--2 Corinthians 9:15

30 Days of Thanks -- Day 13

I thank God for…time spent with family.

Just got home from a quick trip down home to see my parents, sisters, and sweet niece. Time with them is full of love, filled with laughter, comforting to my soul, and such an amazing blessing.

J and yesterday's beautiful sunset...so pretty!!!  :0)

"I will praise God’s name in song and glorify Him with THANKSgiving.”

--Psalm 69:30