Blessings

I seem to have come out of that funk that hung over me these last couple months. It seems that when I was bothered before by my house guest that it was the only thing that I talked about.... and sadly the only thing that I thought about. I think I need to focus more on the good things in my life. I need to remind myself of the things that make me smile.

Counting my blessings...

Well, first of all I have a husband who loves me. He thinks of me first; and goes out of his way to make me happy. Take today, I made a passing comment of how a certain thing sounded good for lunch and he found a whole different reason to go out right away and come back with my favorite lunch.

I have two lovely daughters. I love them so, they are the reason I get out of bed each day. They fill me with their questions, wishes and desires. They come to me with their stories and ideas. They look for me to celebrate with them with each of their successes; whether it is climbing to the top bunk by themselves or making up a new dance. They are my sunshine each day. And both for their own reason.

I have been provided a nice house to live in. It is more than just a shelter from the cold. It is fully equipped. No repairs seem to be needed, at least as of now. (I should knock on wood here.) It is a small house but even that is a blessing, no one gets lost in my home... I am aware of what is happening in each room. And we have a space all our own, no noisy neighbors above us or sharing a wall.

I have a working car. More than just working, it is nice. Yes, it is something we have had to pay for and make sacrifices for but it is here when we need it.

I have been adopted into a great family that loves me vary much. They instilled in me a good work ethic. They have tried to teach me the value of family, even if it is not what you were first born to.

I am also so thankful for the family that I have married into. They have been their for me as I transitioned into living far away from my family. I am not sure how many evenings they allowed me to just sit in their living room, so that I did not have to be home alone.

My mother-in-law has become one of my best friends, without her I am not sure that I would have made it here. In her I have a shopping buddy, an advice giver, a listening ear and a helping hand.

I have a loving church family here. At first I was not interested in going to this church. I hated it, resented going because I didn't like the way they did things. But in the last five years I have come to learn about why they do things the way that they do. I have come to get to know each of these people. Not only just a passing hi, but a friendship, this is more than I ever had with some of the people from my church growing up.

I have a needed place in the church. I have a role to help bring our youth to Christ. It isn't always clear cut where I should be helping, but I think with time my role will be more clearly defined. It is just a matter of both Andrew and I growing in Christ and our ministry.

We always have enough food. I remember being hungry as a child but in my married life that has yet to be a struggle. There are times that I feel we are not going to have enough to eat or that there is nothing left in our cupboards. But just when I have decided that there is no way, that is when God steps in and provides.

I am a blessed woman. I have a full life. Yes, it is hard to be the full time parent, wife and servant of God. But I would not want another role. I could not imagine doing anything else with my life; not after knowing what I know now, or after having done what I fill my days with now.

I have a rewarding life. Just in the results that I see with each passing day. Even though there are days that I forget just how much I love my life and how rewarding it is to live it.