Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful everyday. But, I like to devote Thursday as the day I share with you what I'm thankful for. However, if there is one thing I could say to you that is more important than anything else, it is this: DO NOT save a particular day each week, month, or year to tell the ones you love how thankful you are for them and the things they do for you. We are never promised tomorrow and they deserve to know that you love them and are thankful for them! Ok, I'm done. **steps down from soap box**

Here is a short list of what I'm thankful for this week:

• Jesus. Always. Forever.
• Prayer
• Grace
• Mercy
• Forgiveness
• My hubby. He has my heart - always. forever.
• Family - immediate and extended
• The ability to change my schedule at a moments notice. If I worked outside the home I would not have been able to go with my mom (with only a few hours notice) to visit my uncle who had been admitted to the hospital in a town a couple of hours from here.
• Embroidery. We bought a used embroidery machine. I've been keeping that thing plenty busy! Looking forward to earning some cash for our family!
• My baby boy. He turned 9 yesterday. Not sure how he got so big/grown so fast. I miss the days when he was my cherub faced baby!
• Sleep. I got some last night. It was good!
• Habitat for Humanity's ReStore. Mom and I went to our local (2 hours away) ReStore this past weekend and got a small set of cabinets for $150!!! Small reno in the kitchen coming very soon!
• New beginnings. More on this later - hopefully.
• Cool weather.
• Leaves changing.
• Etsy
• Internet
• This blog

Be happy today. Spread your joy. Let your light shine!

Thankful Thursday

Hey! I missed you last week. I don't remember what I was doing, but I remember that I was busy.
We've had a lot going on. I will share more about that later. But I wanted to stop in and share some things that I am truly thankful for.

• Jesus. Always. Forever.
• Mercy
• Grace
• Prayer
• Forgiveness
• Love
• Family
• Fall - It's finally here!
• Cooler temps - see above
• My pastor.
• Work. I have added a new "craft" to my repertoire and have been working from home and earning a few (very few, lol) dollars for my family.
• Homeschool. Every time I see something else about this new Common Core curriculum, I praise Jesus that we pulled our kids out of public school when we did!
• Fewer bugs. Did I mention it's finally Fall?
• My husband. I am truly, truly thankful for him. I love him more now than I ever knew that I could. When I look at him, he makes my heart skip a beat. In his arms is my favorite place to be.
• My mom. She is the best mom ever - for me. I know your mom may be awesome too, but my mom is the perfect mom for me. She is a gift from God.
• My sister and my baby nephew, W. I get to see them both next month and I can't wait! It's been too long.
• PUPPIES! We have a new puppy! Her name is Sadie. I will give her her own post later.
• My teenager. Have I ever told you that I'm short? My hubs is tall. Working on big projects with him is not easy and is downright hilarious at times. We've got several big projects going on around here. The teenager is BIG. VERY BIG. Bigger than his dad. They work better together than the hubs and I. I am VERY thankful for my teenager.
• Friends. So very blessed to have a great group of people I can call friends.
• Fall
• Pinterest - I am ashamed to say I tried a GREAT new recipe last week and didn't document it for you. But, you should look it up. It sounded scary difficult, but wasn't hard at all. Cajun Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo. You can thank me later.
• Sleeping with the windows open.
• Country living. It's so peaceful.
• Fall
• You

There's more. There's always a lot more. But, I'll stop here for today. Love and hugs to you, my blog reading friend. Happy Thursday. I hope you find lots to be thankful for.

Sweet Lucy

 

Lucy

Lucy became a member of our family in 2009. She was a stray kitty that my sister-in-law found. I've always been a "dog person", but I couldn't resist this sweet kitty. She was so loving and cute. We took her home and she has been a great pet and friend to my children.

Lucy passed away on Monday. It was not expected and very hard on all of us.

Lucy was an excellent mole hunter and loved to bring her kills to the doorstep to show us. Lucy was a protector for our chickens, weird, but true. She would try to run off dogs that came up in the yard and got near the chicken's pen. Hilarious AND so sweet. And so un-catlike. Lucy had quite a few names. We often called her Lucy Lu, Fat Lu (she had gained a bit of weight), Fatness Caterdeen (Hunger Games poke at her weight gain), and a few others. Lucy was a best friend to our little Z. He is crushed by this loss. Lucy was a good pet and sweet friend for the teenager. He is equally crushed by the loss of our sweet kitty.

We are all feeling the loss. She spent a lot of time in certain places and it's hard to not see her there.

We love you and miss you Lucy.



Thankful Thursday

It has been a doozy of a week. It is very easy to be consumed with your situation or surroundings. We are in the middle of a life storm. Things don't look very bright right now. It would be very easy for me to say "Woe is me. My life is so hard. Why? Why? Why?". I could get down and depressed and roll up into the fetal position in bed and not leave until the storm had passed. I could bury my head and choose not to see the life all around me that is not affected by the storm I'm in.

Satan is a master of his craft. He has had thousands of years to practice on us humans and preys on our weaknesses. When bad things come your way, he is right there whispering doubts into your ear. He spends his time trying to convince you that your situation is worse than dismal. He might even try to convince you that this is the end of everything and your life is ruined. I know, because he's tried that one with me before. But.......I've got news for him. He shall not conquer me or my family. My faith stands strong. I know God is in control.

So, while the winds of this storm whip around me, I will remember that I have so much to be thankful for and I will say those things out loud. Satan does not like that. It makes him nervous. God IS good. God is my salvation. God is my protector. God is my strength. God is for me. And if He is for me, then it doesn't matter who is against me.

I am thankful for:

• Jesus. Always. Forever.
• Salvation
• Mercy
• Grace
• Forgiveness
• Prayer
• The finished work of the cross. (Take a hike, Satan. You have no power over me.)
• My husband. He is my rock. He helps strengthen my faith. He is always right here.
• My Mom. She is my rock. She is comforting. She has ALWAYS been right here.
• My children. I love them ALL!!! I love them more than they will ever understand. More than words can express.
• Friends. Really good friends. The kind who are always there for you. The kind that bolster your faith. The kind that encourage you and when you just need to vent, they are right there listening. Love you, K!
• Life. I'm so thankful that everyone that I love woke up this morning!!!
• My pastor. Another rock for me to lean on. He has always been there for us. He is a prayer warrior.
• Tomorrow. Though we are never promised tomorrow here on earth, I have an eternity of tomorrows to look forward to.

I could list so many more things that I am thankful for, but these are the "big" things.

Hugs to you, blog reader, friend. I hope this Thankful Thursday has encouraged you in some way.