Thankful Thursday

So, apparently I've been away for a while! lol For some reason, I just had the desire to blog today. Perhaps it's because I'm sick of the drama and the dirty laundry all over facebook. The jealousy, the bitterness, the resentment, the anger, the spewing of words for the whole world to see because someone's in a moment of unhappiness....sheesh...I'm depressed already! I love facebook, and there are so many wonderful things about it, but I guess I just wanted a safe, calm, soothing place to express myself today. So, I've been absent from the blog world for so long, that the host doesn't do Thankful Thursday's anymore. Surely there is another link up somewhere for it, but for today, I'm just going to be thankful on my own...perhaps you might join me??

Today, I am deeply thankful for God's longsuffering..His patience..His willingness to put up with me in all my failures. They say the definition of insanity is making the same decisions an choices over and over again expecting different results. That's me! I wouldn't even say I expect different results. Perhaps I hope for, or wish there were going to be different results. Sometimes I'm not even thinking far enough ahead to the results stage...just the "what makes me happy now stage." :( Yet God, in all His goodness, doesn't leave me in this continuing state of insanity. He looks beyond my sin, beyond my self-destructive habits and choices, and shows me not just mercy, but also grace. He lovingly teaches me new things. Sometimes through trials, and sometimes through just delightful revelation of His Word. He keeps growing me, and molding me to be more like Him. I'm so thankful for that.

My prayer for today, is that I will grow to be less and less stubborn and resistant to His "pruning of my branches" and that I will resist the lies of the Enemy, which work against the glory of the Lord and His purposes. Praying for you too...

Thankful Thursday

Oh, goodness...where does one even begin?! I am so thankful for God's mercy. I am thankful that even though I battle my flesh so much, and succom to tempation from the world, God stays with me. He never gives up on me, and He speaks do the depths of my heart. He gives me the chance to repent and learn from His word, that I might not sin against Him again!

I am so thankful for His provision! I just can't hardly grasp the fact that 4 months ago, hubby's company shut down, and we were without income, and our lives changed forever. It was such a deep, dark place at that moment, and God has brought us through, and is leading us back up the mountain again. Even though we lost our house, and had to move back to Kansas, God was with us, every step of the way. We never felt alone, and God orchestrated it all just perfectly! We were never without food, shelter, or warmth. We were only without each other for a short time, while hubby worked his new job, and the kids and I packed the house. What we now lack, being in a different home, and state, God has made up for with new blessings, that we didn't have before!

I have had to go through many valleys in my life, between standing on the mountain tops, and they have made me a better person. I am a better mother, wife, friend, daughter, sister, neighbor, and most importantly, Christian! Without the valleys, I know that wouldn't be the case. God has used them to shape and mold me into who He wants me to be. I know I'm still not there yet, and will need many, many more valleys, but I know God will always be with me, and will be there on the mountain tops with me too, to rejoice with me! He has blessed me in the hard times, just as much as in the good. I thank God today, and everyday for who He is, what He has done, and what He has promised to continue to do!

All the Bible studies I have done and am doing lately, all have one main theme...keeping my eyes upon the LORD. I am so thankful today, that I have a LORD worth keeping my eyes upon! Thank you God, thank you Jesus, thank you Holy Spirit! My life would be nothing without You!

Thankful Thursday is Hosted at Women Taking a Stand this month!

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for Jesus! Of course I am every day, but today I read something that renewed my thankfulness for Him, and one of the many reasons why. I want to share with you what I posted today on my bible reading blog....

"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink." John 7: 37

This was one of the first verses I was shown when being convicted by the Holy Spirit about salvation. What's so neat, is that today, it means something completely different. I am already saved, I already have that living water, Praise God! But there are so many times that I still thirst. I thirst for peace when I am troubled. I thirst for understanding when I'm lost and confused. I search for grace when I am broken. I search for mercy when I am convicted and burdened with sin. This verse speaks to me, and shows me exactly where I can go, no matter what I am thirsting for. I can come to Jesus, and drink and gain all these things that I search for. He is my best friend, my comforter, my intercessor. Praise God for giving us His Son, and the constant living well, that I have to draw from!

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What are you thankful for today? To read more Thankful Thursday post, or link up one of your own, head over to "Women Taking A Stand!"

Thankful Thursday

This month, Thankful Thursday's are being hosted by, Laurie, at Women Taking A Stand!

What a wonderful day today! I am certainly in a thankful mood, there's no way I couldn't be. The love, compassion and kindness that we have be shown in the last 3 weeks is just amazing! I have been brought to tears several times in the last few weeks, from the willingness to give by the people around us. We have had gift cards given to us, food, money, prayers, cards, compassion. We've had strangers stop what they were doing when they heard our recent story, and try all they could do to find jobs, or think of something they could offer to help us. You just don't find that anywhere you go. People who have little for themselves, have given to us, to help. You can't help but be humbled by God's grace and provision, and the love that many people have. I am so thankful for them, and I pray that I will be faithful enough to pay it forward when God allows that opportunity!

What God has done in such a short amount of time for us, is just amazing. We were in such a dark, confusing place, with no answers of any kind...just many, many questions. God has taught us patience, trust, humility, thankfulness, love, and how to be completely surrendered to His will and timing. From the moment hubby lost his job, I have been amazed at how well he has handled it, and how quickly he turned the situation over to God. It's just not his personality type AT ALL! He prays, and he seeks God's will, but he's so quick to take blame and responsibility and try to fix things in his own strength. I am truly blown away by how fast he handed this situation over to God, and well he's done at leaving it in God's hands, and not tried to manipulate things. I have done my best to do the same thing, and God is really showing us His infinite capabilities to handle anything and everything in perfect order!

All of our needs have been met. Our hearts have been touched like never before. Our spirits are soaring and we are definitely closer to the Lord. God has moved in ways that are truly above our ways and understanding. He has revealed His plans for us in His timing, and opened doors that He wants us to walk through. He has kept doors closed that He doesn't want us to walk through! I just can't even put into words how beautifully and perfectly He has timed each detail of our lives in the last 3 weeks. Money is certainly in tight order, and it's very important that what money we do have, is spent in the right place. God has seen to it, that we didn't have any money until we knew where He wanted us to spend it. He has not allowed us to waste a single dollar!

I am so thankful today and I look forward to the rest of this journey. I know it won't be easy, but I know we are safe in God's hands! Pray with us today, as we get the parts to fix the motor in our Suburban. I pray that what God has provided us with, is exactly what it takes to fix it!

Thankful Thursday

This morning I am thankful for God's provisions. Not that I'm not thankful all the time, but today I want to share about His most recent provision for us! It tickles my heart, that God knows what we need before we even need it. More than that, I really get touched when God shows His desire for us to have wants, and not just needs. It's amazing how when I focus on the needs, and try to forget about the wants, and put it all in the Lord's hands, where they belong...He shows once again, that He is better at finances than we are! (Why must I constantly forget this, and think that I can do better?!)

Hubby came home with an unexpected $400 on Tuesday. Praise God! That was the day that I was doing so lousy and couldn't even get the strength and energy to cook dinner. So, we went out to dinner. He had to drive, because I couldn't even focus enough to feel safe behind the wheel. We had a wonderful meal, and I was beginning to get some energy back after we ate. (I think my blood pressure was really low amongst other things, so salt picked it back up a bit) Anyhow, then we went to Walmart since I was feeling a bit better, and he picked out a few things he needed for deer season which opens this weekend. I looked around while I was waiting for him, and look what the Lord took me to...

Sorry about the fuzzy picture, I had to take it from behind the front door glass to get it all in the picture! These chairs were marked down on clearance, plus you got an extra 25% off at the register. Same thing with the table. I asked hubby if it was okay if I got them, and he said, "YES, absolutely!" So, they were originally $85 for the set and I got them for $42.75! I just knew the Lord brought them to me because they serve a very special purpose. Do you know what that is?

My quiet bible time with the Lord in the morning! Due to my health, I just can't wake up before the kids. We are all night owls, and can't to sleep early. I can't go to bed before hubby and the kids, I've tried. I have to get a good amount of sleep, or it makes my condition worse. So, finding quiet time to read God's Word in the morning, has been such a struggle! And we all know what happens when we don't read daily, it leaves us unprepared for the trials and events of the day. It lets the enemy in to do even more damage in our christian walk and testimony to others. So now, the kids quietly watch cartoons and I go out onto the porch and drink my coffee or juice and meditate on God's Holy, special Word! It is so quiet out there in the morning, and so beautiful! It's been such a blessing these past two days to be out there!

Thank you, God. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for making a place for us to meet one on one!

Now if that isn't enough...hubby and I decided to leave the rest in the account for extra groceries, or whatever. We just didn't feel comfortable spending it. Thankfully, we listened to the Holy Spirit's leading, because I found out last night, that somehow, a bill got overlooked, which has NEVER happened to me before, and it was for $98. So, I had the money left over to pay it right away, no damage done! God is so good. He knew. He knew our needs before we even did, and He met them!

So, how did we get the money? It was so unexpected. The Pastor in Wichita that hubby did the install for on our trip, found out that the install didn't cost as much as he was quoted, and he wanted hubby to have the difference! Praise God! Completely unexpected. God used one of His children...a shepherd none-the-less, to bless and answer the unknown need of another child! God is so wonderful, and His ways are truly above our own! May He have all the honor and glory!

This month, Thankful Thursday is being held at Grace Alone. Please take a moment, and link up a post. We have so much to be thankful for. If we don't share, we don't do our part in giving God the glory He deserves!

Thankful Thursday

Today, I am thankful for my husband! I know, I post about that a lot...but he gives me so much to be thankful for! He got home late last night from his two day install in Alabama. I know he was tired, and I was getting his dinner heated up for him. He instantly read his girls one of their library books they checked out that day and gave them lots of hugs and kisses! After scarfing down his BBQ chicken sandwich, he was off to the laundry room to try and get my dryer going again. He did it too! It was just like we thought..it wasn't the dryer, it was the outlet. He checked the breaker first, tested the amps in it, but it was fine, so he then tore into the outlet. What he found was that a spiders nest has fried the wires in the outlet. I smelled something burning in the living room the other day, but he said he couldn't smell it. Now, he says it was probably that web in the outlet. He was able to repair it, and I have a working dryer today! Yay! I was about ready to go to a coin laundry, so I am so, so thankful! We have way to many clothes around here to dry them inside, and because of all of our allergies, I can't dry them outside either. I'm once again finding myself so thankful that God gave me a husband who is EXTREMELY handy around the house, garage, car, etc!

This month, Thankful Thursday is being held at Grace Alone. Head over to read more thankful posts, or link up one of your own!

Thankful Thursday

I just can't seem to get enough done fast enough! I can't believe we are leaving in two days...I really need to get with it. There is still so much to be done. Of course though, for today's post....I would have to say that I am thankful that we are going on this trip! We haven't been back to Kansas since the day we moved out of it, 2 years and 11 months ago. I will get to see my 5 nieces who have to be SOOO big by now. I haven't even seen a picture of them in all this time. Grandma will get to see her grand kids that she adores so much, and misses terribly. She started tearing up when I finally told her that we were coming for sure! We will get to see old church family and what I am excited the most for.....NO TRAFFIC and being able to look up in the sky and seeing as far as the eye can see! I know that may seem silly to you, but when you move from corn fields to a city like Atlanta, it's quite an adjustment. Plus, we live just outside Atlanta and there are sooooo many REALLY TALL trees here, that you are lucky if you get to see down the street, much less far away. In Kansas, you can see the horizon from almost anywhere you may be standing. I miss that! Just a never ending blue sky, fields of sunflowers, cows, and green, green pastures! And if that isn't good enough, then we get to go over to God's country....

My Rocky Mountains! I haven't seen them in over 6 years and I haven't seen my entire family on my dads side in that long either. What a blessing! I couldn't be much more thankful than I am right now! God has worked EVERYTHING out and has shown his majesty and power! Where we failed, or couldn't go any further, He carried things through, and provided us with the many things we needed to make this trip. Hallelujah, Praise His Name! I probably won't post again for a while, but I'll have the camera and computer with me on the trip and will post pictures periodically as I can! Thank you all for your prayers for us and this trip...THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

Thankful Thursday is being hosted by Women Taking A Stand this month. Hop over to read more thankful posts, or link up one of your own!

Thankful Thursday

Well, I try to always focus on the non-material things to be thankful for, but today will have to be an exception. We have been blessed with a new vehicle, and I am certainly thankful for it! It came at the right time, and it's just perfect for our current needs and it's beautiful in my eyes!

I still can't believe we got it. I just kept thinking in my mind, about how cramped we were in the van when we went to Texas last year. Plus, most of you know the issues my van has, and what we went through with the engine a couple months ago. I really worried about whether it we be okay all the way across the country and back. It's so new of a vehicle, that if it broke down on us, hubby couldn't fix it. We'd have to have the dealership and their computers and we don't have the money for that. I started thinking about how great it would be to have another Suburban. SO much room for the trip, and hubby's already completely rebuilt one before, so we know he can work on it, if it breaks down somewhere out of state. I just didn't know how I would sell my van, and find one in time. Then I saw this beauty, and it's in my FAVORITE color for a vehicle! I've been dreaming of a midnight blue SUV for quite some time. I called the banker to see what he could loan on one so I would know how much we needed to sell the van for, and within two hours, I had the money in hand to buy this truck, and hubby just happened to have enough time between service jobs to go look at it, and say that we wanted it! For now, we don't have to sell the van, unless his work hours decrease majorly. How nice it is to have two vehicles for the first time since we've been here in Georgia! I ran the battery dead on accident, and when we got in "Big Blue" as we call it, to go to church, no start! Normally, that would mean that we miss church, but last night we were able to just get in the van and go! What a blessing two vehicles are!

So, I praise God for supplying our needs and I am so thankful for this beautiful vehicle. Did I mention that it has matching navy blue leather interior?! I was wishy washy about going to the gym the other night, because I still didn't feel good, and I decided to go. Hubby looked at me and said, "you're just going to the gym so you can drive your truck, aren't you?!" I smiled and had to admit "yes!" I do, I love it. I'm not a complete flowery girl. My dad was very active in teaching me about cars, and motorcycles and building things. I learned to enjoy those things because I loved spending time with him, and having common interests. So, I love my truck that just barrels down the road, and I love the loud sound of the exhaust when I stomp on the accelerator! Most of all, I love that this trip to Kansas seems to really be falling into place. 5 more weeks to go, and what a joy it will be!

Thankful Thursday

Grace Alone is hosting Thankful Thurday this month. Stop by to read more thankful posts, or join in the thanksgiving yourself!

Today's post has been on my heart for a couple days now. There are so many things in my life to be thankful for. My kids, my home, my family, my still semi-good health, my friends, my church, my freedom, and most importantly, my salvation! But for the last few days one thing has really stuck out to me. I am thankful for working hands. That's the title of this picture...

More specifically, I am thankful for MY husbands working hands. They keep us fed. They keep a roof over our heads, clothes on our backs, toys in our chests, books on our shelves, jewelry in our boxes, and vehicles in our driveway...ones that will move out of the driveway when you want them to! And every chance the Lord gives him, he uses those hands to bless others as well. He will work all day long in the heat or cold, and then spend his whole evening working on someone's heating or air conditioning unit for little to no cost for those who can't afford it. This week, he installed an entire new outdoor unit for a family who has 5 kids. They had been without air conditioning for days, and had to spend their days out in the sun because it was almost 100 degrees in their house. The dad doesn't work, and doesn't even want to work. The mom is uneducated and works hard at a minimum wage job. They can barely afford to put food on the table, much less a new air conditioning unit. One could stand there and judge and say that they don't deserve help, because they won't work for it or take care of their own kids...but God says to show love to your neighbor and to love them as you love yourself. Now those kids, are playing happily inside a cool house and the mom can be at rest. As for the dad, we pray he will put down the beer can, and pick up an application somewhere, but in the mean time, he has seen the mercy that God provides, and the blessings that come from working hands! I'm proud of my husband for caring for others, and reaching out when he can, to help them. I praise God for his working hands, and ask God to help me to do all I can to take care of my husband as he takes care of us!

Thankful Thursday

I don't have much time for today's post, but I just wanted to take a moment and say how thankful I am for God's Word. I know I've said this before, but I don't always think about it, and I often take it for granted.

I can turn to it whenever I want, I have that freedom. It's always there waiting for me. When I open that Divine book, I always find wisdom, knowledge, peace, comfort, love and long suffering. No matter what I am facing, if I have a need, and I read long enough, God WILL give me an answer...even if the answer is just to wait for His timing or give me assurance that He is always there with me. How thankful I am that He is forgiving, patient, and long-suffering with me. I am so unworthy of all He does and will do for me. Often, I'm not even thankful for it, because my mind is too occupied with worldly things to even think of what all He's done for me. May God continue to forgive me, and bless me through His Word that I am so thankful to have!

Grace Alone is hosting Thankful Thursday this week!

Thankful Thursday

It's hard to pick something to focus on today for Thankful Thursday. I am just thankful today...thankful for so many things. I love days where I have a thankful heart and attitude. I need to try to be that way everyday. God has given us everything just in salvation. That alone is worth being thankful everyday. But, I will narrow it down a little to 2 things I'm thankful for today.

1)I am so thankful for my gym membership. Even if all we can do is this one free month, I am going to take advantage of it and get all I can get out of it! I went today to do my machine orientation. They have newer equipment that I've never used before. Some of their stuff is fascinating! Like they have stationary bikes that have screens in front of them, and you actually bike through these different trails. And you have to steer the bike, just like you would a real one, and switch gears. It keeps track of all the races or trails that you have done so you can keep an eye on your progress. If you have two people at the same time, you can even chose to race each other! How cool. There was also a bunch of machines that target specific areas on the body, so I can do many of them without hurting my back. They have two abdominal machines that don't touch the lower back, so I can actually work on my baby belly without straining my lower back! I'm so excited! Their elliptical have low stationary bars as well as the high mobile ones, so if I chose, I could probably use it as well. I'm just so thankful for this opportunity and I can't wait until I get to go tonight for my first full workout!

2)I'm thankful for God's provision for my children! My oldest son's room is done, and we were able to do it for no extra cost! We couldn't stand the thought of putting our oldest son, our firstborn child into a pink room! But I had bought a whole gallon of miss-tinted paint for Mr. Pure at Hearts' room for only $5. It was cheaper than buying a quart of new paint and picking our own color. I used so little of it, that we still had pretty much the whole gallon left. So, I asked hubby if he thought we should use that for Mr. Know it All's room. I figured brown would be better than pink, and we could paint it again when we got the money. He thought it was a great idea. The color actually came out better than expected. Then, I realized that I had a tiny bit of blue paint left from the walls in the other room and I had some painters tape from when I did stripes in our old dining room over a year ago. So, I painted some blue stripes to break up some of the brown, and add some color for him. It made his bedding match the room, since his bedding is blue. I had just enough painters tape left to make a few stripes on 3 of the walls! It looks so wonderful, and Mr. Know it All is so happy with it, so we won't have to repaint later now. God is soooo good. Now, I just have to hang his magnetic dry-erase board back up over his desk and get him some storage baskets for the bookshelves....guess what...I have those for free too! I have several of them in my room and they aren't holding anything important, so I'm emptying them out and giving them to him. AND THE COLOR MATCHES PERFECTLY! They are the very same blue. So, you can see why I am so thankful today! I posted some pictures below of his room. It's about 90% done in the pictures, but you get the idea.

Head over to Women Taking A Stand for more Thankful Thursday Posts!

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for specific answered prayer! God answered my prayer today, and we found out some of the things that my son is allergic to! The appointment went very well. We found out that he is allergic to dogs, cats, dust mites and alternaria, which is a type of mold. So, our dogs have to go outside now, which is heartbreaking, but, we'll live. I had to buy him allergen matress and pillow protectors, and his comforter has to go, or be washed in hot water twice a week. Plus, the curtains had to come down and be replaced with blinds. When he's old enough to do a more in-depth test, we'll know if we need to replace the carpet with wood or vinyl flooring, or treat the carpet with an allergen spray. The good news is...no food allergies! YAY!

The doctor said that he's too young for shots if we can avoid it, so for now he just put him on a stronger daily medicine and kept the nasal spray. He also believes he has more going on than just allergies, but he's still too young to find out exactly what. Possibly asthma, or something else. He'll have another appoinment in 4 months. I'm just so happy and thankful to know exactly what he's allergic to so far! And what he's not allergic to! We'll be starting his supplements tomorrow.

Thankful Thursday

For More Thankful Thursday Posts Click On The Link Below!

Thankful Thursday at Women Taking A Stand

Today I have a very, very special post for you. Today I am especially thankful for my God, and my Husband. You know why? Because they fixed my van! It may only run for a day, it may run for a year, but it's running! We made it to Sonic Tuesday night for free ice cream cones and it made it to church last night. We visited a friends church last night, and it was even farther than our church is, so I was pretty nervous. But it made it, and I'm so excited, and so happy. I'm thankful for my husbands working hands. Every callus, every splinter, every stain on his hands, reminds me of the physical labor that he does every day just for us. And this time his hands, along with his brains, and a GREAT GOD, got our only vehicle running again. Now we have to decide if we sell it, or keep it. I love the van and want to keep it at least until we pay it off, but there's just no telling how long this will last. We will need to do a full rebuild of the motor soon if we do keep it, and that will cost more money. Plus more labor for my dear hubby. Right now, we will just enjoy being able to go places as a family, and he is grateful to not be doing the grocery shopping anymore!

Thankful Thursday-A Tribute To All of You!

This month Thankful Thursday will be hosted at Women Taking A Stand

I just wanted to say how thankful I am for all of you! Ever since I first started reading blogs, and then participating in one myself, I have just been amazed by the thoughtfulness of others. Bloggers are praying for people they've never even met. Every day, people are sharing their life stories, their fears, their hopes, their dreams, their tears. They are sharing some of the greatest moments in their lives, and some of the worst. I am so impressed by how compassionate we can be with others that we've only met through typed words. I can't tell you how much of a blessing it has been for me to be able to learn about you all, and share in your lives. Learning about how you think as an individual, and how you interact with your friends and family. I love the tips and honest flops, that you share about your attempts at homemaking, mothering, being a wife and friend. Thank you for letting me be a part of that! I visit you all often, even when I don't have time to comment, and I so enjoy every post you write!

And most of all, I want to thank you for taking the time to come over and share in my life! Thank you for listening to me, and talking with me. Thank you for your prayers and thoughts when things aren't going well, and joining me in thankfulness and joyfulness when they are! It really strengthens me when you leave me wonderful comments of encouragement and support! I know the Lord hears your prayers that you petition on my behalf, and as He answers those prayers, I pray that He would bless you in return for your love and thoughtfulness!

So today's post goes out to all of you! And I hope you will continue to visit when you find the time!

Thankful Thursdays

Go to Grace Alone for more wonderfully thankful posts!

Oh, I am so thankful this morning! We have wonderful friends who are concerned for us, and care about us. Many have been praying for us and I really appreciate that. Yesterday we were blessed by some of our friends, with a vehicle to drive for a while. We were able to be in church last night, and that was just wonderful. I will be able to run errands today and get some FOOD in this house! My husband has been doing a great job at picking up groceries for us, but I didn't want to overload him, so I had only been having him pick up the "staples." Now I need to go get all the rest. I am so thankful for friends who care so much and do all they can to help us in our time of need. We have a lot of friends like that here, who help in any way they are able to, and that is just so uplifting, and touching. I hope they all realize how special they are...even the phone calls, to check on us, and let us know that they are thinking of us!


So today I am thankful for temporary relief and I can't wait to see what the Lord has in mind for a permanent solution! Everything in His timing!

Thankful Thursday

For more Thankful posts, head over to Grace Alone!

Late Tuesday afternoon my husband called me and said that he would be coming home late. I asked why because I knew that he wanted to come home as soon as possible, and work on his shop some before dark. He said that "we are just now leaving Atlanta." I asked, "who's we?" He replied, "me and the tow truck driver." So then came the sudden gulp and the rise in blood pressure and my many questions about what had happened. The ball joint went out on the front end of his work van causing the front right tire to crash into the fender and sent the front of the van crashing to the ground and the back of the van came off the ground. That's all he told me until he came home and got the van off the tow truck into the driveway. When he came inside, he told me that he thanked God that he was alive and able to come home. This all happened in the parking lot as he was leaving the job site. Had it of happened on I-85 just a few minutes later, he would have been dead. He had all his tools in the front of the van with him, because the back was full of supplies. Anyone who knows what a cargo van looks like, knows that there is a metal cage that separates the front two seats from the rest of the van. This keeps people from being able to brake the front window and steal tools, and also to keep the driver and passenger safe from flying tools and etc. One would also know that these vans are very top heavy especially when loaded with ladders, such as my husbands van is. If the ball joint would have gone out on the highway, the van would have flipped and rolled, and if the impact of the crash wouldn't have killed him, the tool boxes he had up front would have repeatedly crushed him each time the van rolled.

I don't mean to over dramatize, or be too descriptive, but it just shows how wonderful God's protection is. That's what He saved us from Tuesday. We pray so often for traveling mercies, sometimes not realizing just how important those prayers can be. What's more, I didn't even pray for his traveling mercies that morning, like I usually do. But God was there. Even though I wasn't faithful, God was, and always is! Our anniversary is in two days, and thanks to God's protection, I don't have to spend it a widow! My children have their daddy still! This is the second time God has protected hubby from a horrific accident on the road. Some of you may remember the post I had, (before I deleted them all) where hubby was one car away from being side swiped and he watched the truck in front of him flip and roll across 6 lanes of traffic. If he wouldn't have already started pushing on the brake, allowing him to slow down a little before the car came into their lane, it would have been him instead. He was watching that car and saw that it was driving a little wreck less. Something told him, we know it was God, that he should slow down and get space from it. Just at that instant, it jerked into their lane, and he slammed the brake down quickly as his foot was already lightly pushing on it, and the car hit the truck in front of him flipping and rolling it across 6 whole lanes of traffic. Since he had already started to brake, the vehicles behind him started to slow down as well and were able to stop in time to keep from hitting him from behind and causing a pile-up.

I find it to be so amazing, the way God can work the most minute details that we just look over, to accomplish His will! God's providence is amazing and beyond comprehension sometimes. If you want to quit reading here, I understand, but I'm so excited about all this that I have to continue with the story of my van today.

So, hubby's boss paid him to stay home today and work on fixing the work van. Since my husband is mechanically inclined, his boss would rather pay him to work on the van than pay a mechanic shop to do it. Hubby was using my...scratch that...our family van to run to the parts stores to get what he needed to fix the work van. On his second trip, as he pulled into the driveway, the oil pressure light came on, and when he got out of the van, he saw an oil trail from the street to under the van. He opened the hood and found that a seal had come out from the side of the engine and the oil was leaking out. God saved us twice here. He waited until the van was feet from home for the seal to pop out, and he made sure hubby was home. If it happened far away from the house while he was driving, the oil would have come out blown the motor up. If hubby wouldn't have been home, it would have been me and the kids in the van. I had errands to run today and wouldn't of had my cell phone because it was dead this morning...forgot to charge it. So the kids and I would've been stuck on the side of the road with a blown motor and no way to call anyone. My errands were much farther away than just where he went today.

So on the downside, we had two broke down vehicles in the driveway and no way to go get parts for them! But we are so thankful to the provisions and protection that God gave us within the last two days! They don't make a repair manual for Kia Sedona's and you can only get parts through the dealership, so we had to tow it to the service department at the dealership. Without a book, my husband has no way to fix it. It's nothing like a Chevy, or Ford, and most of it's computerized since it's so new. We have very little money, so I'm praying that God will work another miracle and provide us with a way to get it fixed. This is the last thing we wanted or needed now, financially, but how can you complain, after what God has just protected us from? The last thing I would want or need right now would be to loose my husband, so I'll take a van in the shop!

Thankful Thursday

Today we are linking up at Grace Alone. Go over and check out some more thankful posts!

Today I wanted to share with you what my wonderful husband got me for my birthday. First let me start by saying that he's not the romantic, touchy-feely kind of guy. I can count on one hand how many times he has bought me flowers in the last 11 years. I'm okay with that because he's faithful and an incredible provider. He loves me more than life, and I know that. I don't need flowers or chocolates to know just how much he loves and cares for me. When he gets up in the morning, sick, and works outside in the cold all day, installing heating units while being sick, just to make money to provide for us...that shows love! When he puts his paycheck in the bank and doesn't ask for a penny for himself...that shows love. When he spends his evenings and weekends with myself and our children instead of his friends, or elsewhere...that shows love.

I have been trying hard lately to be a good "help meet" for my husband. I want to do this out of love and respect for him as well as my respect for God and desire to follow his will. I'm not expecting anything out of it, although I'm not against reaping what I sow! Well, I am already reaping good things because not only did he let us go to the aquarium for my birthday, but this is what he brought me home after he worked a half day and before we left...

I must say, he has always been wonderful with cards! He's always wrote his own little sweet things on the inside too. I keep these cards and cherish them because it's the only time during the year that I hear these kinds of things. He always jokes and says that he told me he loved me when we got married, and he'll let me know if anything changes! But seriously, he tells me he loves me all the time, but in these cards he tells me how much I mean to him, how much he appreciates what I do for the family, and how wonderful of a mother I am. Things I need to hear on days when everything seems to be going wrong. I love having these cards to pull out and read on those days!

I was so astonished when he had my youngest daughter hand me these! He said he wanted to get me roses that didn't die in a week. I have always wanted these little miniature roses, so I was on cloud 9! I had an old spider plant in this pot, and I was happy to dump it out and plant these in it. I have had this pot for years, and had several different plants in it...it looks like it was made for these roses! I wish I could have gotten a better picture of it, but with the light in the background..well you know. This is going to be stunning when the roses fill out some more! I am so thankful for my husbands thoughtfulness and gifts. I am thankful for God letting me see immediate results from my trying to be faithful to His Word, as far as my role as a help meet for my husband.

Thankful Thursday

Today we are linking up at Grace Alone. Go over and check out some more thankful posts!

It's so hard to pick something to focus on for today's post. I am thankful for so many things right now! From material blessings to spiritual blessings and beyond! I guess today I will focus on being thankful for my children and the relationship my husband and I have with them.

I had to make a late run to Walmart tonight because we were out of essential things and the kids are sick, so I couldn't take them with me. I waited until my husband came home from church and I intended to go to the local 24 hour grocery store, but it had closed overnight for some reason. Anyhow, when I got home it was after 10:00pm and the kids were supposed to be in bed. However, when I came in the door, my oldest son carried my youngest daughter down the stairs and brought her to me. He said she was crying and was really upset and that she wanted me. I held her in my arms and she instantly stopped crying as she wrapped her arms tightly around my neck and buried her face in my shoulder. I almost wanted to tear up! How wonderful that my daughter can be so comforted by my presence! She often climbs into my lap during the day and just wants to sit there...even if I don't talk to her and am busy with something else. She just wants to be close to me and be comforted by being in my arms or my lap. Since she's my baby and she's now 4 months away from being 3 years old, I'm very glad to have her still be so clingy!

Then there's her sister, who will be 5 next month. She's my little princess! She loves everything girly and pink and wants to help mommy with everything! I try to take time to let her help me cook and do other things she takes interest in. When she goes to bed at night, she wants to be tucked in by me. Daddy just won't do, and I can't skip a night either. Sometimes when I'm busy at the time their daddy wants them to go to bed, I'll ask her to go up and get in her bed, and I'll tell her I'll be up later to tuck her in. She will leave her light on, open her door all the way and leave her covers on the floor before she falls asleep. This way, when she wakes up, she knows if I've tucked her in or not...because her covers will be on, the lights will be off, and the door will be closed halfway. If she wakes up in the night and doesn't find these things done, she will come downstairs, into my room, and ask to sleep with me. When I let her in my bed, she says, "will you tuck me in?" So I can either tuck her into her bed, or I can tuck her into mine! At first I found it to be an inconvenience that she wouldn't just go to bed when she was told, but after the first time she went through all that trouble to know if I had come up eventually or not, I find it so sweet that she cares that much! The only thing she wants at the end of the day, is her mother tucking her into bed, kissing her forehead and telling her she loves her! How sweet is that! I try very hard to always tuck her in before she goes to sleep since it means that much to her.

On to my 6 year old son. He loves me so much, and he's so honest and pure at heart. He has a wonderful sense of humor, and he's very much like his father, but gentler. When my husband is frustrated, upset or sad about something, he always says, "where's A___, he'll make me feel better!" A couple weeks ago, my husband had to work quite a bit of overtime so he wasn't home as much as he normally is. I could tell it was getting to my son because he kept asking me when daddy was going to be home, and he was lingering in the living room with us after we had told him to go to bed one night. We told him again to go to bed, and he left the room, but I saw him standing in the stairwell with his head hung down. I called him back in to ask him what was the matter, and he immediately started crying and said, "I just want to spend time with daddy." My husband looked at me and smiled, and called our son over to him and they lay together on the couch for almost an hour! It was a sweet moment for both of them, because sometimes my hubby feels like the kids don't have a preference of whether they spend time with him or not. It's not true of course, and he knows it, but I think dad's can feel that way often times, especially when the mom stays home with the kids and gets to spend more time with them.

My oldest child loves his daddy so much and wants to be just like him. I see him watching his father quite often and studying him. It really shows you how important it is to be a good role model and teacher, and not just hope that you can "tell them what to do" and have that be good enough. He is very intelligent, but lacks all common sense. "Like father, like son" (sorry honey, you know it's true.) But it's so fun to teach him and watch him catch on to things so quickly and just run with them. I'm amazed at how fast and well he's picking up piano. He is by far my most difficult child as well though. Maybe it's his intelligence that works against us, but he can be so trying and challenging at times. It frustrates me because he also has a HUGE heart, and can be such a wonderful child and person. All his Sunday School teachers have always just fell in love with him. I'm so thankful though that all my children are different and unique.

So today, this long post is just a glimpse of why I am thankful for my children and the special relationship that God has given us with them. I'm thankful that I get to be home with them and spend every minute that I can with them, before they grow up and move on to their own families! My heart is full and cup overfloweth with the joy and love that come from my children!

Thankful Thurday

Today I am hooking up with "Spiritually Unequal Marriage" for Thankful Thursday. Head on over there to see what more bloggers are thankful for today!

Well, I just want to say how thankful I am for God's Word. We often take it for granted that we have full access to it, and can read it whenever we want. Many people were killed for just trying to get it into print for the English speaking world, and for trying to share it and read it themselves. Most of us have several Bibles in our homes, and many of us still don't even get one out until it's time to go to church on Sunday. I heard a great sermon from one of the preachers at our church about the King James Bible, and it really touched me. (By the way, you can visit our church website and there is a list of sermon archives there that you can listen to...great preaching and teaching!) He talked about how the Bible came to be, and how we do take it for granted. This inspired me to make sure that I stay in the Word every single day. I joined a blogging group that is going through the Bible in a year chronologically. It has been a real blessing for me and keeps me accountable to read every day. It gives me the extra encouragement I need when I just don't feel like I have time to read that day.

God's Word is such a blessing to me. It gives me answers when I need them, and even when I don't (or don't think I do). It gives me comfort and peace in difficult times. It leads me down the right path and tells me how to avoid going down the wrong one. It does more things for me than I can list, and I can't imagine not having it. I'm so thankful to God for making it available to me. My prayer is that I don't ever take it for granted again! I hope soon to have a scripture memory verse posted on my blog every week. We do memory verses for Sunday School at church, and I want to start sharing mine with you. If one day we ever come to the point that our Bibles are taken away, I want to have the Word hid in my heart so that I will still have it!