Gratitude...

"You are forgiving and good, Oh Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you!"
-Psalm 86:5


41. We live in the United States of America!
42. Many soldiers have given their lives to protect us here at home!
43. A day off for David, Mom, and Caleb!
44. Family time at the pool this afternoon!
45. Summer is here!
46. Time for corn on the cob, watermelon, and tomato sandwiches!
47. A great school year has come to an end for Mary Woods!
48. Looking forward to teaching preschool in the Fall.
49. Looking forward to Hardy going to preschool in the Fall.
50. I already know Mary Woods' teacher for Kindergarten, and we love her!
51. So many fun things planned for the summer!
52. Lindsay is here for the summer!
53. I got to see the Gentino's at church yesterday.
54. God is taking good care of them in South Asia!
55. A new little pool for the kids to splash in!
56. God is good!

A Quote from M&M

God wants to change us into people who are truly noble; people who reflect an unswerving confidence in who He is that equips us to face all of life and still remain faithful. God wants us to be courageous people, who are deeply bothered by the horrors of living as part of a fallen race, people who look honestly at every struggle, who feel overwhelmed by what we see, yet emerge prepared to live. Scarred, still troubled, but deeply loving...When the fact is faced that life is profoundly disappointing, the only way to make it is to learn to love. And only those who are no longer consumed with finding satisfaction now, are able to love. Only when we commit our yearnings for perfect joy to a Father we have learned to deeply trust, are we free to live for others, despite the reality of a perpetual ache.

Larry Crabb

More Gratitude...

27. Dad and Vicky who kept the kids last weekend so that David and I could run our first race together.

28. Good friends that allow us to use their condo for vacation.

29. Forming a new miniflock at church

30. Gym memberships for me and David

31. The childcare workers at the gym who know my children by name, and take good care of them while we work out

32. A nice pool at the gym where the kids LOVE to swim

33. Old friends that come back into your life... how you get to enjoy them in a new way

34. Teresa's (David's mother) surgery went well today!

35. Disney on Ice is this week, and my kids are so excited!

36. A new "boy" bike for Hardy that we got by trading MW's old "girl" bike

37. A culdesac with good neighbors and great kids

38. Sleeping children

39. Spring flowers

40. Luke's baseball games

Gratitude continued....

14. "Hand-me-down" clothes from sweet friends for my kids

15. A husband that works 2 jobs so that I can stay at home every day with our children

16. A new Publix grocery store right down the road from my house

17. M&M (Memorize and Meditate) Bible verse study with Barb Bindewald on Wednesday mornings

18. Flowers from David, just because he loves me

19. Easter decorations from Mom

20. Riverbanks Zoo Membership from Gigi, so I can take Mary Woods and Hardy any time we want to go!

21. Dawn, Caleb, Luke, and Jack living in Lexington again

22. Getting to watch Luke, Mary Woods, Hardy, and Jack grow up together!

23. Lexington Presbyterian Church

24. Mary Woods' first loose tooth

25. The smile on Hardy's face when he drives his jeep from Nana, Grandaddy, and Grandmama

26. 6 Grandparents and 3 Great-grandparents that LOVE my kids: Mimi, Papa, Grandmama, Grandaddy, Nana, Grandpa, Gigi, Grandpa Mac, and Mema

Gratitude

Recently, I have been watching some episodes of Vegi-tales with the kids. We stream these videos through Netflix. Yesterday, I was watching one with Mary Woods about a Blueberry that wants to buy more stuff! She just can't seem to be happy with what she already has... she wants more. In the end, she realizes that money can't buy true happiness and that contentment can't be found in material things. There is this sweet song at the end. I wrote down the words so that Mary Woods, Hardy, and I can sing it together as we thank God for all that the He provides for us!

"I thank God for this day, for the sun in the sky,

For the friends that we have, and my piece of apple pie!

For the love that He shares, cause He listens to our prayers,

That's why we say thanks everyday!

Because a thankful heart is a happy heart,

We're glad for what we have, that's an easy way to start.

For the love that He shares, cause He listens to our prayers,

That's why we say thanks everyday!"

In addition to Vegi-tales videos, God has been teaching me about gratitude through a very special person. My friend, Julie Gentino does this thing on Mondays called "Multitude Monday" where she lists all the things she is thankful for. Julie, her husband, and her two children are a family just like ours, except the Lord has called them to be missionaries in South Asia. It is so amazing for me to read her blog and see how she can always find so many things to be grateful for even when she finds herself in a very different and uncomfortable environment. She has inspired me to start my own list of the things I am grateful for. So, I thought I would share what I am grateful for today...

1. Half days of school for Mary Woods

2. Two Beautiful and healthy children

3. Hope- because Jesus died for my sins and promises me eternal life with Him

4. A nice home to shelter our family

5. Trips to the mountains

6. A husband that loves Jesus and our family

7. One little girl and one little boy

8. Mary Woods loves to help her Mama

9. Time alone with Hardy while Mary Woods is at school

10. Ben Lippen School

11. My new friend, Trina and her boys: Charlie, Henry, and Max

12. Sunshine

13. $5 Hot and Ready Pizza from Little Ceazer's

Snow Pictures for Mema