I'm So Thankful...

It's a new day & each day prior to this I have felt the compelling urge to get a blog post done...
Time has been slipping away...
The days ever so swiftly pass by...
I, myself, am slowing down...
Making sure to savor each moment...

Today, it feels good to write...
To share...

School is in full swing here and so far each day has been a tremendous blessing. Both MaKayla & Mal are very much enjoying the curriculum that we are using, apart from one subject, that one girl, very much dislikes!?! We've talked about it and discussed it yet it has been concluded that in regard to this particular subject, "it must be done," therefore we move forward. So far, so good! :) I'm so thankful for this one I love so much who attempts to complete her daily assignments without grumbling and complaining!

Wrapping our brains around the fact that MaKayla is now a senior has been and continues to be something so very hard to fathom! Where have the years gone anyway??? Rather than go to a professional photographer, she wanted me to take her senior pictures which I was hesitant of, but agreed to. The opportunity proved to be such a fun experience! We spent the afternoon/evening hopping from place-to-place, shooting pictures here-and-there, laughing, talking and just enjoying time as a family! I think we ended up with over 800 shots to choose from! I'm so thankful for the simplicity & contentment of our children.

This week completed our third week of dog obedience training with Zeke. He has a very strong willed personality therefore when we saw the class being offered at a minimal cost, at a location near us, we decided it would be a beneficial investment. The first class Kyle & MaKayla attended alone yet Mal & I have joined them since then. We are all definitely learning how to teach Zeke and at the same time some neat acquaintances have been formed. I'm so thankful for activities we can do as a family & that Kyle chooses to invest in us, his family, rather than choosing to be "independent" of us as so many husbands and fathers do.

My very close friend that was diagnosed with cancer a little over a month ago, underwent surgery three weeks ago today. After fervent, diligent prayer, belief in a God who is all powerful, the work of a precise, skilled doctor's hands, care from daughters who love their mom and much rest for recovery, this one that I love was declared, "CANCER FREE"! I'm thankful for Jehovah Rapha, the Lord who heals!

As the weather begins to turn much cooler, jeans, sweatshirts and fleece jammies emerge from summer hibernation. The garden is silent and bare. Trees are changing. Farmers are harvesting grain from their fields. Dew is heavy on the grass each morning. Football is a frequent conversation. A morning chill greets us as we climb out of bed. We find ourselves in the kitchen more frequently...preparing soup, roast, potatoes, carrots, homemade noodles, freshly baked homemade rolls, pumpkin pie, warm cookies and many pots of "good" coffee. I'm thankful for changing seasons.

We've had the opportunity lately to spend frequent, special time with family, friends & brothers-and-sisters-in-Christ. Some we've known our whole lives... Some throughout several years... Some meeting for the first time only recently. Times of celebration... Times of prayer... Times of praise... Times of fellowship... Times of laughter... Times of tears... Times of singing... Times of breaking bread together... Times of making memories... Times of rejoicing... I'm so thankful for those who God allows us to love & those who choose to love us in return.

Although life has been busy and full, I'm purposing to mentally & emotionally slow down and savor the richest & most precious blessings that God has been affording not only myself but our family as a whole. Blessings that don't fade away. Blessings that money can't buy. Blessings that only God Himself could lavish upon us.



I'm so thankful...

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before Him with thanksgiving
and extol Him with music and song.
For the Lord is the great God,
the great King above all gods.
In His hand are the depths of the earth,
and the mountain peaks belong to Him.
The sea is His, for He made it,
and His hands formed the dry land.
Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;
for He is our God
and we are the people of His pasture,
the flock under His care.
Psalm 95:1~7

Zeke...

Life has continued to be "different" around our place. I'm not sure if it is due to the fact that we still haven't found a good schedule since the time change which means we are still getting up & starting our day at the same time but we are unfortunately falling into bed much later than normal which means we feel like left-field zombies most all the time. It could be that we have had several non-typical things going on which means that our afternoons & evenings have been sprinkled with outside activities here and there which means that things that typically get done on a regular basis have kind of fallen by the wayside. It might be that we have had numerous decisions to make lately and making decisions seems to be a weakness of mine which means that when decisions are weighing on my shoulders...they are continually mulling through my brain...which tends to wear me down and make me extra tired. You know...that survival mode... Or, it could be this little guy who joined our family almost a week ago...


This is Ezekiel Roman rather known as "Zeke"...


It amazes me how much having a new puppy is so much like having a baby to take care of. This little man is a very busy guy and we are constantly having to keep an eye on him. He loves to chew... He loves to roam... He doesn't sleep well... He's mischievous... He's ornery... He's FULL of energy... He's potty training... All those baby things aside... We love, love, love him!!!


Although the girls were excited about getting a new puppy, they were also quite hesitant as they felt like they were replacing Fletch. We reassured them that no one would ever take Fletcher's place (although we daily catch ourselves, calling Zeke, Fletcher) and that it would be a good thing for us to do with spring approaching.


Do you notice the Hawkeye collar around his neck? Kyle says he's also going to get a Mizzou one as well so that he can alternate every other week!?! When we took him in for his well vet check on Tuesday, Dr. Powell said he looked really good all except what was around his neck... :o) He said we needed to replace the Hawkeye black and gold for Mizzou black and gold. Kyle reassured him that we were working on the situation! :o)


Spring is finally arriving here and I would have to say that it seems as though with every turning of season, I spiritually, mentally and emotionally go through a turning of seasons as well. A time of of reflection and evaluation which many times results in the feeling of heaviness. It's not always the most enjoyable of experiences, yet for me, one that is necessary. It's a time for me to intently look at my life and acknowledge that which isn't fruitful or edifying to the Lord. It's a time to relinquish the old, withering and dying branches present in my life so that they can be pruned, in order for the new shoots that God has purposed for my life, to graft and grow. If I'm not careful to guard my heart through these times, discouragement, doubt and despair begin to visit and take up residency. As I look to the Lord for encouragement, He reminds me that pruning produces healthy, abundant life! The truth of that promise interspersed with unexpected phone calls from two of my closest friends, running into one of those friends only for a brief moment a few days ago, a heartfelt e-mail from another of my closest, long-distance friends and then a long visit with another precious friend/sister-in-Christ, my week has been brightened and my heart has been warmed.

I find myself so thankful today for God's presence in my life and that He chooses to love me. I am thankful for an amazingly awesome husband, MaKayla's silliness, Mallary's laugh, special friends, my Bible, fresh spring air and Zeke. I am thankful that my family is healthy, I get to spend all day, every day with our girls, My Man is on his way home to me, all my needs are provided for and that my children can learn. I am thankful for coffee, instrumental music, internet that works efficiently and pictures of those that I love strewn throughout our home.

I am thankful that because of Jesus the blessings that are mine to hold, are all the more richer because of Him!

Spring has sprung...new shoots are being grafted!