Celebrate!

Celebrating so many things!

Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”  Nehemiah 8:10

Celebrating...

• Great time with family counting our blessings
• the sense of achievement at a thorough house cleaning
• kindred sisters in God's family
• a reassuring hug after a morning of battle
• remembering that praise warriors are on the front line
• fresh baked cookies
• the way the house smells when good food is cookin'
• football... football... football and some more football!  Good games, too!
• 1st win at home for the Jags!
• giggles from tickle time
• fun at the park 
• days with blue skies, no clouds and a breeze and chill in the air
• fleece pj's
• socks
• park explores
• meeting new friends (the graciousness of Mr. Jack and his dog Tanner for answering all kinds of questions from my boys)
• sweet little boy snuggles
• bedtime talks with my elder boy love
• realizing that my elder boy love's birthday will be on the last perfect date of this century.  Pretty cool!
• fish sitting for a neighbor
• Anticipation of where God is leading for 2013!  Digging in to see more!

Overwhelmed

Overwhelmed.  I seem to use this word too often these days.  More often than not, I'm describing my schedule, my busyness and any of the other excuses I use to not be real, not be obedient, not let God mold me and teach me.

So now I return to the beauty of the multitude of gratitude humbly.  I remember how important it is to leave these pebbles of memories and thanks to keep my perspective.  My perspective isn't on the pebbles, but on the rock that gave them and made them:  My magnificent, amazing, indescribable, infinite Savior.  The list is simply to give God glory for more than the moment of the gift I've enjoyed, but to share it with others, for me to remember and ultimately to give Him glory continuously.

Christianity isn’t about growing good, it’s about growing grace-filled.  --Ann Voskamp

Continuing to count...

• texts from sisters that speak truth to me
• the sweetness of my boys.
• my elder boy love's election involvement:  "If I were President, I would cut taxes from $100 to 1 cent."
• my wee one love's snuggles
• my wee one love's potty victories and facing his fears
• my elder boy love's competitive spirit
• my husband's thoughtfulness 
• my husband's determination for us to enjoy a night away
• how God met me during that night away
• "He is with you" by Mandissa
• an acceptable 1st mammagram
• seeing the Jags fight in yet another OT
• watching a sweet couple worshipping together, while they know that his days on this earth are few
• cooler weather
• blog posts that impacted me:  www.aholyexperience.com - 11/13/12 post and 11/16/12 post; http://angiesmithonline.com/2012/11/open
• Worshipping at the Aaron Shust and Big Daddy Weave concert
• 2 Chron 20:17 "You do not have to fight this battle. Position yourselves...go out to FACE them." Not fighting it doesn't = not facing it.
  
  

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Matthew 5:3

Counting still...

• Revisiting the beatitudes (Angela Thomas calls them the "when you are's")
• Thanking Him that VJ has a signed contract and awaiting final approval!
• Hugs and snuggles from my guys
• The football player recovered a fumble! 
• The wee one's pep talks to the football player:  "stay focused!" or "are you going to be the hammer or the nail?"
• The wee one hitting some milestones - recognizing his name and wanting to go potty once and a while!
• Husband love's thoughtfulness
• A sweet sister who always gives
• Opportunities to love
• Opportunities to grow
• Opportunities to hope and be a part of what He is doing!

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Learning and Training

Learning from my kids...

• when you get knocked down, get right back up and go where the action is!
• crying can turn into laughter
• playing games is fun
• sometimes all you need is a good snuggle
• it's amazing what a quick prayer for a boo-boo will do!
• playing with neighborhood friends is important business!

Training to know Him more...

• committed to sharing my failures, so I accept the lack of perfection!
• sharing victories with and from fellow Christ followers
• savoring His gift of the Sabbath 
• Remembering He is in control
• His word meeting me right where I'm at
• Songs that appear to have been written just for me and God!
• messages that stir my heart

Enjoying

• my husband
• my boys
• my sister, who often comes to my rescue!
• vacation days

Delighting in...

Romans 15:3-4:  For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”^{[a] 4} For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

Him and Him alone...

• His Word always challenging me
• Devotions that speak to my thoughts that I've not spoken out loud, but He knows them
• Hope that can only be found in Him
• Strength that can only be found in Him
• Joy that can only be given by Him and I get to choose to receive it
• Love that surpasses my comprehension
• His sovereignty amidst the chaos and senselessness of this world
• The priviledge of praising Him.  One of my new faves:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzGAYNKDyIU
• Worship on the way home - When a teaching that I listened to, a devotion that I read and "I am redeemed" led me humbly to His throne
• Miracles - baby Hayden is making progress more than any of the doctors thought he would.

How He has blessed me...

• Washing my wedding ring and seeing how it sparkles when the light hits it.  Makes me think of marriage - when we let Him clean us (individually and as a couple) and let Him shine through, oh how it sparkles.
• with ears to hear the giggles of boys being silly just because along with the patience to just smile when those giggles have no end in sight!
• with eyes to see the joy on their faces when...
• the wee one runs through the sprinkler
• the elder gets his pads and helmet and wants to sleep in them and wear them all day long
• the wee one has his first necessary "peeing outside" experience (boys!!)
• the elder catches a great pass while playing a game of catch with his dad
• a husband who really wants to do the right and best thing
• with amazing friends who hold me accountable, don't judge me and challenge me to be more for Him. 
• a Pastor willing to speak truth and be more like the first church rather than the church building
• a sister that serves Him wholeheartedly.  Can't wait to see what His plans are for you!
• with a job and many learning opportunities

So many things to count, I am blessed.  Thank you, Jesus!

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Malachi 3:16-18 - Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name.  ¹⁷ “On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. ¹⁸ And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.

Thankfully counting...

• health of me and my family
• God's provision and protection
• sister's safe travels and Alaska mission trip adventure
• how my sister lives out loud for Jesus
• we all survived and thrived during VBS
• God uses our life walk to minister to others
• God uses others' experience to draw me nearer to Him and challenge me to be more viligant 
• That some 5th and 6th grade girls now know what they have to do to know Jesus

Trusting Him and Pursuing His Plans for...

• The Wood family and their battle against leukemia.  I so love how He has already answered specific requests and how he's transforming lives in the process.
• Upcoming challenges He has given me.  Praying for obedience and patient endurance.
• Walking through life with some very strong and brave women.  They so inspire me! (you know who you are!)
• What He has in store for me at work.

Totally enjoying...

• Ryan's conversation with me before bed one night, "Mom, do you know about the bad guys who put Jesus on the cross.  But Jesus is alive and He can live in our hearts so we can live in Heaven someday.  Do you think Spiderman has Jesus in his heart?  He has a spider over his heart, but maybe Jesus still can live there.  I really want Spiderman to have Jesus in his heart."
• Ian asking some really good quesitons:  "Mom, why don't we just give the missionaries money so they have what they need instead of it being a contest between the girls and the boys?"
• when Ian and Ryan get a case of the giggles
• putting puzzles together
• playing games together
• playground fun
• watching movies together for the trillionth time 

Jesus, thank you!  Please help me to learn and re-learn how to be content. 

Practicing...

• Laughing more.  This is quite simple when my boys have a serious case of the giggles and keep saying "Whataburger" on our way to Chick-fil-A! 
• Enjoying priceless moments - Ian says, "Man, it's hot out here!"  Ryan responds, "You got that right, brother!"  (you may have had to be there!)
• Prayer
• saying "no"
• saying "yes" to what matters
• enjoying what really matters
• digging into God's word more

Passionately Pursuing...

• Him
• His plan
• His Word
• His voice
• less legalism
• less of me and what I want
• sitting still and knowing that He is God
• His forgiveness, grace and redemption
• His answers to my questions
• Less about accomplishment and more about how I accomplish it