Happy Thanksgiving 2014
Where to begin?
My heart is so full.
This year- a year of so much change.
A year of so much testing and trials.
A year full of plans changing and going ways I never thought.
A year that should have, in the world's eyes, made me bitter and angry.
A year where God has taught me more about joy than in all the years I have been on the earth combined.
A year for which I am the most thankful in my 41 years walking this earth.
I have learned more and cried more. I have prayed more and read my Bible more. I have shared more and gained friendships with some of the most wonderful, encouraging, awesome ladies in the whole world.
They have prayed with me and for me. They have fed me when I could not get out of bed due to overwhelming sorrow and physical pain. They have cried with me and grieved the loss of our precious Asa. They have shared with me their stories of victory and also their insecurities. I have cried with them at the waywardness of one of their children. I have prayed for them in return and tried to lift them up. I feel I have failed miserably in this but I am still learning. I spent so many years hiding away from other women out of fear of them judging me and condemning me. What I found was the direct opposite. In my darkest hour I cried out for help to one woman and she in return shared with other women who came and literally surrounded me and uplifted me. The strength and love I saw in these women have opened new doors to me as I have slowly started to open up and share more and pray more and encourage more. I have learned so much from these ladies but I know each one of them would say that it is not anything about them but the awesome God we all serve who gives us strength.
So- I am thankful for ladies who have meant so much to me this year.
A true friend is one who points you to Christ. These ladies do and I count them among my dearest friends.
You all know who you are. I love you.
Now that I just finished wiping the tears from my eyes I will go on praising God for all he has done this year.
One year ago this week was Carl's last day at work. If you told me then where we would be today I would have told you you were crazy. God does things that are crazy sometimes just to show us how much he loves us.
I have seen God provide financially with Army work for Carl. It made Carl reexamine some things in his life and make some needed changes. He stepped out of his comfort zone and God is using him more and more. I have watched him grow in his relationship with Christ. He has made some hard decisions this year and I am so thankful for the sacrifices he has made for our family. I truly can say that my love for him grows every day, especially when he gives me hugs when I think dinner is ruined. I am so excited to be serving the Lord with this man that God has allowed me to marry. I love you sweetie.
I have seen him work in the loves of my children in that I see them maturing and making a relationship with Christ their own. PRAISE THE LORD.
I have seen him teach us so much through the loss of beloved Asa. Even though this thanksgiving looks so much different than what I pictured in my head when I found out I was pregnant, I can still find joy. Joy that only comes from God.
He has taught me so much in this year.
Words are just not sufficient.
My heart is full.
There is nothing that I would change.
He has been working so much in my life to mold me and make me into a woman who is joyful and praising him in all things. I still have such a long way to go. I get frustrated most every day and literally have to fight to not let that frustration out on my precious family. I fail sometimes but other times he gives such great victory. Through the failures and the victories he gives such grace.
Oh, SUCH GRACE.
And JOY.
Joy that I am still learning to find every day.
Joy that is a choice.
Joy that can only come by walking so close to God.
I am so excited at the changes he is causing in our family. I am seeing change in us all. We all have a long way to go and we will never get there this side of heaven. But I choose to keep striving and running toward the goal.
The goal of more JESUS.
More PEACE.
More THANKFULNESS.
More LOVE.
More JOY.
I pray that next thanksgiving I will find myself further along in my maturity in Christ.
I pray that my children will see in me more Jesus and that it would draw them closer to him.
I pray that Carl and I would be closer to each other and more in love than ever. I think he is a pretty awesome guy, especially when he is praying with me in the morning, even if we have to hold hands over two children in between us.
I pray that we will have touched many lives on our journey to joy.
I pray most of all that in it all that God will get the all the GLORY and that his name will be PRAISED.
Keep counting his goodnesses.
His benefits.
Not just in November but all year round.
Don't ever stop.
EVER.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING, 2014.
My heart is so full.
This year- a year of so much change.
A year of so much testing and trials.
A year full of plans changing and going ways I never thought.
A year that should have, in the world's eyes, made me bitter and angry.
A year where God has taught me more about joy than in all the years I have been on the earth combined.
A year for which I am the most thankful in my 41 years walking this earth.
I have learned more and cried more. I have prayed more and read my Bible more. I have shared more and gained friendships with some of the most wonderful, encouraging, awesome ladies in the whole world.
They have prayed with me and for me. They have fed me when I could not get out of bed due to overwhelming sorrow and physical pain. They have cried with me and grieved the loss of our precious Asa. They have shared with me their stories of victory and also their insecurities. I have cried with them at the waywardness of one of their children. I have prayed for them in return and tried to lift them up. I feel I have failed miserably in this but I am still learning. I spent so many years hiding away from other women out of fear of them judging me and condemning me. What I found was the direct opposite. In my darkest hour I cried out for help to one woman and she in return shared with other women who came and literally surrounded me and uplifted me. The strength and love I saw in these women have opened new doors to me as I have slowly started to open up and share more and pray more and encourage more. I have learned so much from these ladies but I know each one of them would say that it is not anything about them but the awesome God we all serve who gives us strength.
So- I am thankful for ladies who have meant so much to me this year.
A true friend is one who points you to Christ. These ladies do and I count them among my dearest friends.
You all know who you are. I love you.
Now that I just finished wiping the tears from my eyes I will go on praising God for all he has done this year.
One year ago this week was Carl's last day at work. If you told me then where we would be today I would have told you you were crazy. God does things that are crazy sometimes just to show us how much he loves us.
I have seen God provide financially with Army work for Carl. It made Carl reexamine some things in his life and make some needed changes. He stepped out of his comfort zone and God is using him more and more. I have watched him grow in his relationship with Christ. He has made some hard decisions this year and I am so thankful for the sacrifices he has made for our family. I truly can say that my love for him grows every day, especially when he gives me hugs when I think dinner is ruined. I am so excited to be serving the Lord with this man that God has allowed me to marry. I love you sweetie.
I have seen him work in the loves of my children in that I see them maturing and making a relationship with Christ their own. PRAISE THE LORD.
I have seen him teach us so much through the loss of beloved Asa. Even though this thanksgiving looks so much different than what I pictured in my head when I found out I was pregnant, I can still find joy. Joy that only comes from God.
He has taught me so much in this year.
Words are just not sufficient.
My heart is full.
There is nothing that I would change.
He has been working so much in my life to mold me and make me into a woman who is joyful and praising him in all things. I still have such a long way to go. I get frustrated most every day and literally have to fight to not let that frustration out on my precious family. I fail sometimes but other times he gives such great victory. Through the failures and the victories he gives such grace.
Oh, SUCH GRACE.
And JOY.
Joy that I am still learning to find every day.
Joy that is a choice.
Joy that can only come by walking so close to God.
I am so excited at the changes he is causing in our family. I am seeing change in us all. We all have a long way to go and we will never get there this side of heaven. But I choose to keep striving and running toward the goal.
The goal of more JESUS.
More PEACE.
More THANKFULNESS.
More LOVE.
More JOY.
I pray that next thanksgiving I will find myself further along in my maturity in Christ.
I pray that my children will see in me more Jesus and that it would draw them closer to him.
I pray that Carl and I would be closer to each other and more in love than ever. I think he is a pretty awesome guy, especially when he is praying with me in the morning, even if we have to hold hands over two children in between us.
I pray that we will have touched many lives on our journey to joy.
I pray most of all that in it all that God will get the all the GLORY and that his name will be PRAISED.
Keep counting his goodnesses.
His benefits.
Not just in November but all year round.
Don't ever stop.
EVER.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING, 2014.
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