A Simple Thanksgiving

Together, we gathered and gave thanks.

Oh, give thanks to the Lord!

Call upon His name; 

Make known His deeds among the peoples!

Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;

Talk of all His wondrous works!

Glory in His holy name;

Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!

Psalm 105:1-3

It was a simple, relaxing Thanksgiving this year - from the quiet, cold morning to the gorgeous, outdoor afternoon to the chilly, fireside night.

I have so much to be thankful for.  A Savior, Jesus, who gives me peace and hope and joy in a chaotic world; a husband who is my dearest and best and most faithful friend; children who add sparkle to our world and who are growing in their faith; a family who lovingly shares life with us; a small but sweet, supportive circle of friends; a caring church family and the freedom to worship; a cozy, comfortable home full of love; provision after provision; blessing upon blessing; gift after gift; grace upon grace.

Even the difficult things are reason to give thanks when I really stop to consider.  Yes, there have been circumstances that have been challenging and people who have been hurtful and personal failures and painful moments.  No, I wouldn't choose every trial, but I must acknowledge that they draw me closer to the heart of God and make me passionate for truth and driven to seek God's wisdom.  They make me stronger and more resolute in my relationship with Christ and with Christ-following friends.  They make me long for Heaven.  And I have full assurance of my home in Heaven, which alone is such a reason for gratitude.  Hope eternal.  Peace everlasting.  Glory awaiting!

Yes, we gave thanks on a beautiful November day.

And still we give thanks. Our hearts seek the Lord, and we rejoice!

Thankfulness Breakfast

Every family has traditions that are special to them.  Special breakfasts have become important traditions in our family.  I think it is refreshing to share breakfast with someone...maybe because it isn't typically the meal that we share.  There is something unique about beginning the day together, especially at home with a beautifully set table and celebration.  It starts the day off in a wonderful way! 

The past several years I have prepared a Thankfulness Breakfast for our family during the month of November.  It is a time for food and togetherness, and also to intentionally give thanks for how God has blessed us.  

The Saturday before last we began the day with our Thankfulness Breakfast and it was a sweet time together.  We laughed and ate and lingered around the table.  We gave thanks.  God was honored.  A memory was made.

This year, Madi helped me the night before with some of the decorations.  She colored and decorated "Thanks" cards with each person in mind, thoughtfully adding colors and details that would be special to each person.  She also helped me make little foam turkeys to set at each place.  It is neat to involve her in these preparations!  Children feel important when they can contribute and help!

On the menu was Sparkling Grape Juice, Orange Juice, Pumpkin Bread, S'mores Pancakes, Rotel Grits, Blueberry Peach Crisp, and Sausage Squares.

I set out a Thankfulness Tree with tag ornaments I made a couple years ago.

As I placed these tags on the tree, I couldn't help but give thanks for what the Lord has done in our lives.  He is so faithful and generous!

"Together is my favorite place to be."

When I plan special breakfasts I try to set the table the night before, after the kids go to bed.  It is always a treat for me to see the excitement and joy in my children's eyes when they see it for the first time in the morning!

I am so grateful for my parents.  God uses them on a daily basis to bless and enrich our lives.  They help us so much, and add to the family fun!

After we ate, I had everyone write down specific things they are thankful for on little strips of paper.  Then Madi and Trev took turns reading them outloud.  This time was filled with laughter and smiles and also pure tenderness.  God, I pray you will give our children thankful hearts.  Help us to live out gratitude.

I am grateful for this sweet time of thanksgiving we had as a family.  Intentional thanks is vitally important.  We so easily forget.  Remind us, God.  And thank You for all Your gifts!  May we gratefully acknowledge them each day!

Enter His gates with thanksgiving

and His courts with praise;

give thanks to Him and praise His name.

For the Lord is good and His love endures forever;

His faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100:4-5

Good Gifts

We have a surprise planned for our children this weekend.  An opportunity caught my eye, I looked into the details, and God provided.  Jimmy and I were talking earlier today about how excited we are to surprise them tomorrow.  Why?  Because they are our children and we love them!  And it's a joy to spend time with them and do something special for them, because they are special to us!

This morning's Bible study took me to Matthew 7:11 where Jesus says, 

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!"

The other afternoon I was driving to school to pick up Madi and Trev and my heart felt full to overflowing.  I was talking to God out loud in the van, just thanking Him for all the gifts He has blessed us with.  I was struck by so many little details that reflect His love and intimate concern for us.  When I read that passage from Matthew this morning, I realized that He delights in blessing us, just as we get so much joy from blessing our children.  Why?  Because we are His children and He loves us!

One of the passages I put around my relationship with Jimmy when we first started dating was James 1:17...

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning."

I am so thankful for the good and perfect gifts from my Father in heaven.  I am blessed to know He delights in giving good gifts to His children.  I delight in blessing my own children, hopefully being a reflection to them of His love and care.  I look forward to this weekend, knowing the surprise we have for them is ultimately from Him.  He is the giver of all good things.  And oh, how I thank Him!

So Much More {Gifts 141-165}

I recently watched an old interview with Ann Voskamp.  It was brought up that many view her as a modern day Pollyanna.  She smiled at the sweet reference, but responded that this life of giving thanks is so much more than that.  

She spoke of how we long for God's presence, how we are able enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise (Psalm 100:4).  How praise and thanksgiving draw us into the very presence of God.  How this choice for thanks literally transforms minds and changes lives.  So she counts on, and has inspired many others to do the same.  


#141- strength to make it through that song

#142 - my husband teaching on faith

#143 - a healing conversation

#144 - how Coke and crushed ice can help settle an upset tummy

#145 - rest when under the weather

#146 - courage

#147 - that God blew the clouds away when we asked

#148 - the most perfect beach weather

#149 - sweet little friends celebrating

#150 - a visit from the eagle that sometimes hangs out in the trees outside our home

#151 - seeing photos of my parents having a wonderful visit with my brother and his family

#152 - my friend telling me that the waves now make her think of grace upon grace

#153 - a cooperative Monday morning

#154 - that God's truths are truths to transform

#155 - Kay Warren's willingness to share truth

#156 - sunbeams

#157 - His perfect, unexplainable peace

#158 - watching growth happen

#159 - getting to do life with my very best friend

#160 - sweet, tender spirits

#161 - little arms wrapped around my neck

#162 - that we don't have to be paralyzed by fear

#163 - access to the Father

#164 - the power of prayer for those who suffer

#165 - the hope of what is ultimately to come {and HE shall reign forever and ever}

For these and more, I am grateful...

{Gifts 96-140}

"A watching world needs to hear from us that God personifies joy."

"Joy is rooted in gratitude.  You cannot have a joyful heart without having a grateful heart.  And you cannot be a grateful person and not experience joy.  Those who can praise God will experience joy.  And those who are joyful will thank God.  Joy and gratitude always go together....Joy simply cannot grow in the presence of ingratitude." 

Kay Warren

Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

Colossians 2:7

#96 - wisdom from God's Word

#97 - new adventures

#98 - young people who love Jesus

#99 - bike rides in the orange blossom air

#100 - longer days 

#101 - backyard baseball

#102 - my mom

#103 - Jesus loving people who take time to love my kids

#104 - healthy homemade smoothies

#105 - hearing my husband teach God's Word to teenagers (never grow tired of it)

#106 - morning sunlight

#107 - eyeliner

#108 - God's creative and on time provision

#109 - that song you just want to keep on repeat

#110 - grace to cover all my messy imperfections

#111 - weekly small group time (my heart beats for those girls)

#112 - the sound of quiet

#113 - sitting outside in the sunshine

#114 - when unexpected and wonderful plans come together

#115 - childhood simplicity

#116 - perfect harmony

#117 - when someone just knows you and what you like

#118 - endurance

#119 - how forgiveness sets free

#120 - Psalm 1

#121 - the cross (may I never forget)

#122 - four generations of women on Easter Sunday

#123 - Kashi cookies

#124 - margin

#125 - stamina

#126 - the ability to get out and enjoy life with my family (never want to take this for granted)

#127 - 87th birthday celebrations

#128 - discipleship

#129 - fun and laughter on a bowling date night

#130 - creative spaces

#131 - innocence

#132 - continuing to learn not to worry what others think but what God thinks

#133 - people who live out their faith and set tremendous examples for me to follow

#132 - birthday breakfasts

#133 - those last minute plans that ended up being the best

#134 - finding exactly what you were looking for and knowing God cares about even the smallest details of your life

#135 - our wonderful school

#136 - their fabulous teachers (can't say this enough)

#137 - clean water

#138 - His peace in my heart despite this world's troubles

#139 - hymns and verses that come to mind that were tucked away in childhood

#140 - that I was his exception

For these and more I am grateful...