I know. I'm behind. Insert deep, gutteral sigh right here. I've had my hands full the past few days. Full of good things!
So today it's time to catch up. I have so much to be thankful for!
GIVING THANKS | Day 14: This was another wonderful Wednesday at Bible study. Afterwards I went grocery shopping and spent $275. First of all, I haven't spent that much in one trip to the grocery store in a long time! I bought two weeks worth of food, including what I needed for our Thanksgiving meal. I also did not buy any meat this trip so it really could've been a lot more! And second of all, I might be tempted to complain about the cost of our grocery bills lately. But I am so thankful for the privilege of going to the grocery store and spending $275 to prepare healthy meals for my family. I was even more thankful as I drove out of the grocery store parking lot and noticed a gentleman sitting on the curb with his face down in his hands. It was quite obvious that he didn't have $275 to spend on groceries, probably didn't even have $5 to spend on groceries and probably hadn't had a good meal in a very long time. We have truly been blessed with plenty!
GIVING THANKS | Day 15: I am thankful for the opportunity Hannah Kate has to take ballet and tap lessons. I am thankful for Miss Machita and those she has mentored and trained to teach at her studio. It was parent observation week so I got to sit in and watch Hannah Kate's class. I was so very impressed! Hannah Kate did an outstanding job! The girls have come such a long way and learned so much. Miss Courtney is really doing a super job. They knew all of their positions and the name of each position. They kept their balance so well. And I noticed that Hannah Kate is becoming more graceful in her movements. She loves loves LOVES her dance class, and I loved watching her!
GIVING THANKS | Day 16: Today was Ellie's 4 month birthday! I'll do her post tomorrow. But today I was especially thankful for a healthy baby and healthy children. I am thankful that the Lord, in His perfect timing and His perfect way, brought Ellie into our family. She is just . . . well, I can't find the right word right now! Today I was full of thanks not only for Ellie but Mason and Hannah Kate as well. I absolutely LOVE my little family and look forward to extra time with them during the holiday break.
GIVING THANKS | Day 17: I am thankful for football Saturdays. I am thankful that Kansas State and Oregon lost today. I know that's extremely shallow, but I'm loving being two games away from Miami! For those of you not in the know, if Georgia beats GA Tech this week and then Alabama in the SEC Championship game, we are going to the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME! Yes, I know. But please just keep your thoughts to yourself. Thank you. I may possibly address this issue again at a later date, but right now I can not. My husband is one of those LSU fans who thinks it's all a scam unless LSU is in the National Championship Game, who thinks LSU can and/or should beat everyone and who, frankly, thinks it's unbelievable that Georgia is so close and LSU is so far away (after all, Georgia didn't have to play them or Alabama or A&M in the west; they got off with the "easy" teams) . . . yet, if Alabama loses to Auburn and then Georgia loses to Alabama and then Florida loses to Florida State then LSU would be on their way to Miama, not to mention is Notre Dame really going to go undefeated, and do they really deserve to be at the top anyway since they haven't really played anyone, and the SEC could easily mop the floor with them any day. Do you see what I mean?!?
GIVING THANKS | Day 18: I am thankful for my church! We are just a little ole country church . . . not a whole lot of "programs" and things, definitely not the best worship leader, not the most contemporary of services. But I felt such a sweet moving of the Holy Spirit on Sunday. God was there! No doubt! The worship was especially meaningful to me. Ellie woke up just before 5am to nurse. I put her back down and normally would've slept another 30 minutes or so, but the Lord just started talking to me so I spent some extra time in His Word before everyone else got up to begin our Sunday morning routine. And I have to share this verse that He gave me:
Blessed be the Lord,
who DAILY LOADS US WITH BENEFITS,
the God of our salvation!
~Psalm 68:19
So that was already on my mind and in my heart as I went to church, and I just couldn't bless the Lord enough!
I also had such a great time with the four boys who were in my Sunday School class. We studied Daniel and the lions' den. For the review, I wrote the answers on two sets of cards and placed a set in a "den" I made with some chairs and tablecloths. I divided the boys up into two teams, and they had to race to their den to find the right answer to each question. It was just a lot of fun, and they really enjoyed it.
Sunday night was a wonderful time of praise and fellowship as we participated in the 26th annual Interfaith Thanksgiving service at another church in our community. Choirs from all of the area churches get together the Sunday before Thanksgiving to sing and read Scripture. It's something I look forward to every year.
GIVING THANKS | Day 19: I am thankful for Christian radio, Christian songs, the artists who've written the songs and hymns. Some days, that's the most encouraging part of my day, and this was one of those days!
GIVING THANKS | Day 20: I am thankful for my father-in-law. He took Mason fishing again in Cocodrie this week. I am thankful for my mother-in-law. She spent some girl time with Hannah Kate and Abbie this week. Our children are blessed with wonderful grandparents on both sides!