GRATITUDE 31 Eyes to See

1 Thessalonians 5:18  Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

On our ride to school the other day, Jack and I talked about how our eyes work and I taught him about peripheral vision.  As we were driving, I started giving thanks for eyes.  Since my venture into trying to name my gifts each day, giving thanks for things I would ordinarily take for granted has become more of a habit.  Lord, thank you for eyes.  For how complicated and perfect they are.  Thank you for peripheral vision.  Thank you that our family has five sets of eyes that work perfectly!  Thank you for how beautiful my family members eyes are.  

Thank you Lord, for the gift of being able to see!  It's a grace gift I don't deserve.

And as I end this first month of trying to live out 1 Thessalonians 5:18 I have thought a lot about the gift of seeing...By God's grace, this month I have been able to SEE more than ever before how much he loves me, how good he is, and how abundant and lavish his provision for me really is.  Not only are the gifts themselves a grace, but the ability to see them is a grace as well.   

God has given me gift upon gift....from a fridge full of food, colorful and healthy, to a relationships that encourage and refine, to my most eternal and lasting gifts, Christ himself...my life is so full...But my eyes have been closed to these gifts.  In some ways they are so ordinary and my heart is so full of greed and ungratefulness that I don't even SEE these gifts for what they are....lavish provisions from my heavenly Father who loves me dearly.  So by God's grace, he is opening my eyes to see more clearly.  

And the result?  Gratitude.  More confidence in his heart for me.  More contentment in what I already have.  (not to say I am perfect in this area, by any means)  MORE JOY in HIM!!  Which is exactly what I was praying for as I entered this year of naming my gifts!  

In wrapping up my first month of GRATITUDE I am thankful for the ways God is answering my prayers for joy in him.  I am thankful for the gift of EYES to SEE him and his gifts more clearly.  In my own nature, I am greedy, selfish, and discontent.  But by his grace, I can SEE, and be transformed.  Thankful Thankful for this month. 

Psalm 103:1-5

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
    and all that is within me,
    bless his holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits,
3 who forgives all your iniquity,
    who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit,
    who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's

GRATITUDE 30 Grandparent Gardens

My Emma Grace loves gardening.  Loves it.  Always trying to plant seeds from peppers, oranges, apples or anything else she can find in my kitchen.  She actually grew a pepper plant from a seed she harvested and it has continued to produce!

Both my mom and Andy's Dad, Tim and really embraced and encouraged this passion in EG.  She has received many packs of seeds from my mom, a seed catalog from Tim (we're working on picking out seeds for the spring currently!) and she has a pizza garden on the way from Tim...lots of seeds to grow herbs and veggies for homemade pizza.  That will be fun!

Today I gave thanks for lots of things.  But one of them is grandparents who really love our children and encourage their passions and gifts.  What a blessing you are...to me and to my children!

Thankful Thankful for grandparents.

GRATITUDE 29 She did it!

Thankful for our little girl's big accomplishment today!  

GRATITUDE 28 Journal Entry

In my Gratitude Journal, I recorded these things for today:

My boys digging in sand together.
My boys!
Really fun family night last night.  Kids singing and dancing.
Time with Alex and Erin-deep, honest friendship
Beautiful sky
Quiet moment with birds singing, noises of children playing, a light breeze.

GRATITUDE 27 This moment

While most of America is enjoying snow, we enjoyed sprinkler fun this afternoon. The kids love to rig our hose so it shoots out into the cul de sac.  Then they run/bike/scooter through it.  We're supposed to have cold weather again this week, but this was a treat and I am thankful for this moment of childhood bliss!

GRATITUDE 26 A promise

Thankful for this promise today:

That he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6


1.  HE (God) began it.

2.  It's a good work.  The complete salvation of my soul.

3.  HE will bring it to completion....it doesn't rest on me.  He will purify me.  He make me into the image of his son!

4.  He WILL do it.  It's for certain.

5.  To completion on the day of Jesus Christ.  When I see him, I will be like him. Whole.  Restored.  Holy.  No spot or blemish.


What encouragement for me on this journey of becoming more like Christ.

GRATITUDE 25 Raking Venture

Thankful today for a big backyard

For a space for Judah to roam....he loves it out there!  

For a Dad who wants to teach our kiddos about money management: earning, saving, spending, and giving.

For two kids who eagerly took on this money making venture:  raking the WHOLE back yard, and bagging all the leaves!  They worked super hard!  

For a GORGEOUS day after a week of cold.

For time in the kitchen quietly cooking while all of these people worked outside.  

For potatoes. And celery and so many vegetables the Lord made.  

For they joy and excitement these kids had over spending part of their earnings on a treat.  

For a really fun family Saturday.  

GRATITUDE 24 100 days

Today was the 100th day of school for Emma Grace.  Her class celebrated today with lots of fun activities.  I got to help in the class and snapped a few photos. They did things like make a 100 treats snack mix, lace necklaces with 100 fruit loops on them,  and number 100 treasure hunt.  

Thankful thankful for the first 100 days of kindergarten for our Emma Grace.  For 100 days of learning to read.  For 100 days of safety.  For 100 days of health (mostly).  For 100 days of Ms. Norman faithfully teaching these kiddos.  For 100 days of my little one truly thriving at school.  So much to be thankful for....

On this 100th day of school I want to celebrate too. Maybe I'll go eat 100 M n M's? Or sneak a few of EG's fruit loops off her necklace?  OK, I won't.  But I do feel so thankful for this 100th day!  

GRATITUDE 23 My BFF and her babies

A couple years back, Sheryl and I were sitting at the Gaylord Palms on her visit, chatting about their upcoming trip to China to meet their soon-to-be adopted little one.  I remember the excitement of their gotcha day and the tears I shed seeing pictures of her first holding Lucy.  What a day.

Here we are, two years later, hanging out again, at the same hotel.  Tonight Lucy called me Aunt Erin, ate mac n cheese from room service and watched Curious George, while Sheryl and I chatted away.   And on top of the blessing of little Lucy, who is PRECIOUS and a half, Sheryl also has her newest little one, Hudson, here with her.

  

We dreamed and prayed for these babies....and they are here.  Thankful for these two little ones.

And thankful for this friend who has walked miles upon miles with me.  From our instant friendship in first grade, she has been the funniest, kindest, most faithful gem of a friend I could've ever asked for.

When we were little, people would sometimes ask if we were sisters.  And last night, the man serving our dinner asked!  We laughed.

So grateful for this special special person, her friendship, her babies, and the chance to visit with her!

GRATITUDE 22 Pairs

While this pair is being silly or making bracelets, 

 this pair might be found hanging out.  

 And while this pair is up to no good, 

 this pair will likely be talking deep theology, 

all the while.... this pair is talking, laughing, referring kids, praying, crying, encouraging,  keeping Judah alive, talking, relating, listening, talking, and you know, talking.  

Our friendship with this family is so dear to our hearts.  And though they are moving sometime soon-ish, we treasure our time with them!  From boys being boys together to our girls playing Indian princesses or "missionary defeats the darkness"  (that's one of the books they wrote!!!)  my kids are so blessed to  have these great friends.  But I am pretty sure the biggest blessing has been mine.  My friendship with this gal is a source of so much joy and encouragement.  Just spent the afternoon with them today, kids riding scooters and making pine straw forts, while we walked and talked.  Reminded once again how very good God is to me in picking the right friend to walk out this season of life with me.  And he does that each step of the way.

Thankful.  Thankful.

GRATITUDE 21 7:30 AM DETERMINATION

Anyone who has ever parented a very determined child (ahem, my momma) knows the joys and the challenges that come in that package.  The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, I'm sure you believe it when I say we have one very determined child on our hands.  And I want to give thanks for this gift.  To be honest, there are times when I feel I can't keep up with her determination.  That's honest.  But it's also her God-given strength.  How fiercely determined is our God and she bears his image in this way.   So today, I am giving thanks for the gift of getting to parent a person who mirrors our God's fierce determination. These pictures were both taken at 7:30....up and early working on site words and raking the yard....both by her own choosing!  

She's determined to become an AR reader and she's almost there!  Only two lists of site words to learn!  And she's also VERY determined to earn her five dollars for raking the whole back yard....she's half way finished and she can't be stopped!  Where will that determination take you little one?

God, thank you that you are determined, most of all to bring glory to your name by redeeming sinners and loving them lavishly.

 Give me grace to shape and mold this child into one who uses her gifts to run hard after you!

GRATITUDE 20 Sacrifice, Courage, Conviction

Thankful today for those whose sacrifice, courage, and biblical conviction has given African Americans the rights and dignity they deserve as God's precious, unique image-bearers!

Some of the richest blessings in my life have come through this amazing family!  So thankful to have the honor of being called their friend!!!

My Diva friend and college roomie, Carmen, and her crew!  

GRATITUDE 19 My pastor, giving thanks in all things

Last week, my pastor spoke on 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.  The verses exhorts us to:

 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

This week, our beloved pastor lost his firstborn son.  And on Sunday, I watched this man I deeply respect and love, get up in front of our congregation and do just that, to "give thanks in all circumstances."  In this midst of raw emotion and deep grief, I watched him, a man sorrowful yet always rejoicing, choose to give thanks in this extremely difficult providence.  He listed off many things he is thankful for in this midst of his loss.  

He is able to give thanks because he trusts in God's absolute control and in his perfect goodness.  He posted last night that "the anchor holds."  His faith in the goodness of God in all things is his anchor.  

Praying for deep comfort and peace for my pastor and his wife.  And thanking God that I get to follow a man who is living out, right before my eyes, this command to "give thanks in all circumstances."  Thankful that God has given my pastor an anchor that holds in the fiercest storm.  Thankful that this anchor, God's goodness and perfect control, are my anchor as well.  Lord, grant me grace to follow in his footsteps when my storms come.  

GRATITUDE 18 Picnic and Bonfire

We had a big picnic and bonfire with international students tonight.  Thankful to see my kids enjoying all the fun games like dizzy bat and the egg toss.  Thankful that God has given us a job that is such a good fit for our whole family.  Thankful that our job is to influence lives for eternity.  Thankful Thankful for this great mercy.  Thankful for A HUGE bonfire and  introducing our friends to the goodness of a roasted marshmallow!

GRATITUDE 17 Delightful and Hard Moments

Cold-ISH weather, a hot cocoa stand with our kids and friends, a free pizza for dinner, my favorite preacher, John Piper, and his sermon series on Job, God's determination to purify me, an amazing sky full of airplane contrails.  By faith, the really difficult moments of the day with my kids.  There were lots.   Thankful for the ways God uses those moments to humble me, make me dependent on him, and to change me.  Knowing that my BBINTWWSFG (Sheryl) arrived in my neck of the woods today and that I get to see her soon!  Delightful things.  Hard things.  Both ways God shows his love for me.

We consumed almost as much as we sold!  

kids getting out of school=eager customers!  

Many of our patrons were friends we know!

Lots to give thanks for today.

GRATITUDE 16 The School Hill

Most days after school we stop at "the hill" before getting in our van.  Moms line the top of the hill chatting while kids roll and wrestle and run.  

 Jenny and I were trying to take a selfie, but somehow I only managed to get her cute face.  Oh well.  I get to have some great conversations with other moms on this hill.  I like the hill as much as Jack does.

 There's plenty of space for Jack to get out some energy after school.  He's in the red on the other side of the hill.  (Man made, of course...since we basically live in a swamp there are tons of little hills, i.e. drainage ditches...this just happens to be a rather large one and it's usually dry.  Big dry drainage ditch=hill)

 Today was pajama day.  These are some of Jack's favorite friends.  He's blessed with lots of friends.  Check out Judah on the hill....

Thankful for this little spot. For the moms that I get to chat with.  For friends for Jackie Boya.  For kids happily getting lots of energy out.  We've spent hours playing here.  Thankful.

GRATITUDE 15 A full fridge

Thankful for a full fridge!  (In terms of food, it's pretty empty...tomorrow is my grocery store day!) But it's currently full of these!!!

Finally got around to putting up our Christmas cards yesterday!  Thankful for all these precious friends and family God has given us.  Family and friends from childhood, from China, from our hometowns, from college, from our new home here.  We love looking at these pictures and remembering the blessing each person is to us!  It'll be a while before these come down!  How faithful he is to provide friends on each step of our journey!

GRATITUDE 14 God's generous people

Thankful today for using one of the 20ish gift cards collected anonymously for us by a local church that supports our family. We received a big box of gift cards as a Christmas surprise from them!  Along with the cards were many prayers lifted on our behalf. Thankful for this local body of believers who loved us in such a practical and generous way. (my huge cart of groceries last week was almost free after sliding 7 or so cards from my stash!)

Thankful for the way God's people show us God's heart.  

They were generous. He is generous.  

They were humble in their giving.  He is humble in his giving.  

They gave with joy. He gives with joy.  

They provided for our needs. God provides for our needs.  

GRATITUDE 13 Andy

Thankful for this father who, today,

faithfully led our kids in God's word
patiently worked on reading with a child who is just beginning
humbly apologized when he messed up
joyfully built legos with our early riser
servant-heartedly fed our youngest so I could enjoy dinner

GRATITUDE 12 Minds and Machines

Thankful today for...

Jack's excitement over making his very own "peppermint coffee machine".  This idea has been brewing (hehe) in his mind for a few weeks now and today I finally took the time to make it with him.  (It was a very simple machine and it worked, though it actually ended up making lemonade, as I convinced him the coffee brewing part might be a little tough)  He was jumping with excitement when lemonade poured out of our machine.  He excitedly served everyone a glass of his very first peppermint coffee machine lemonade!  

Thankful for the mind God has given my children.  I love watching those wheels turn.  

For the mind God gave Rube Goldberg.  After making our coffee machine, Andy introduced me and the kids to videos showing the mind blowing machines Rube Goldberg has made using household items.  Amazing that someone can think like that. Praising God for a mind created in his image.

My kids deciding to pull out household items to try their hand at making their own simple machines.  Marbles and cans, pool noodles, cups and race tracks...some of the machine ideas worked.  Some....well, they tried. 

My kids working well together on machine ideas.

Taking a short walk with Andy and Judah while the kids worked on machines.

Thankful today for minds created in God's image.  Thankful for the way God created a world that works on principles like gravity and that we, his creation get to explore it and even master parts of it. 

Thankful for pulleys, marbles, minds, and Rube Goldberg. Go GOD!!!

Check out this video of Rube Goldberg machines.  And enjoy the funky Japanese music!  

GRATITUDE 11 Saturday Fun

While Jack and Andy were reeling in a couple fish (and fighting seasickness) on their deep sea fishing trip, Emma Grace and I were practicing sight words (her idea of fun), buying pillow pets, enjoying frozen yogurt and making beef curry (her fave).  Thankful for a Daddy-Jack adventure and a Mommy-Grapes day!

GRATITUDE 10 THRIVING

Had conversations with both Jack and EG's teachers this week...they both expressed that our kiddos are THRIVING in the classroom.  I am so grateful for this.  Grateful for teachers who love their jobs and who love my kiddos. Grateful that God has made my kids able to learn and given them a fun, safe environment to develop both academically and socially.  What a blessing.  Thankful.  Thankful.

GRATITUDE 9 Walking and Talking Judah

So grateful for this little man.  His walking and his talking have simultaneously taken off...he discovered this week that he knows how to walk backwards and twirl in circles.  His vocab includes the basics...mama, dada, cheese (his favorite food) and a few other words like "bellbut" (bellybutton) and "Dack" (Jack).  So grateful for these developmental milestones!

GRATITUDE 8 Promises

Today brought a few difficult things my way and God's promises really kept my little boat afloat when I thought it might sink.  So today I gave thanks for these promises:

For the promise that God is our provider...that he loves to take care of his children.

For the promise that "he who began a good work in me will complete it."  Saw again today of how far I am from the person he wants me to be, but so thankful that he will continue to grow me and that I can rest in that promise and in his perfect grace that covers all my sin.  That's good news.  

Promise that he is a good Father who has a perfect plan for my life.  

Promise that he will not withhold any good thing from me.  If it's best for me, I can be certain he will give it to me. 

The promise of perfect joy in heaven.

Meditating on his promises and his character and giving thanks for them=ballast for my boat

GRATITUDE 7: A Heap of Gifts

So much on my list today, seriously.

Phone call with my delightful friend Brooke, who calls for no reason.  It's rare that I call without an agenda.  What time is this thing?  Can I borrow that?  But close sisters, they call just because.  That's what Brooke is to me and her phone calls make me feel like coming home.

Phone call with Marianne.  My soul friend.  Go deeper with this friend than anyone on earth besides Andy. And talking with her is like free counseling.  I've got issues and she's got wisdom and she's free! She's one of the wisest, most grounded people I know.

An hour in the waiting room at the doctor to read the last chapter of the book that spurred me to focus on the practice of gratitude, A Thousand Gifts.

Modern medicine.  Seriously.

A doctor who really takes time with each patient.  (thus the waiting.  but so worth it when it's my turn!)

First day of kids back in school.  Kids were happy to go back and I was happy for time for phone calls with my friends.  Much needed.

A teacher who was beaming when she saw Jack walk into the room this morning.  A teacher who loves my boy.

Sunshine on a cold day.  A cold day...that's rare!  Warm clothes.  We don't have heat so I'm truly thankful for warm clothes, piles of blankets and hot water bottles!

Chloe keeping Judah for me while I had a break and went to the doctor
Arriving to pick up a happy Judah and a home cooked meal from Chloe. So kind.

The happiness a pack of gum brought my kids this afternoon.  GUM!

Kids delightfully sharing gum with their friends.

A big brother who loves well.


















A little brother who delights in his big brother.

Today naming gifts was so easy for me.  I know there will be days I will have to fight for thanksgiving and there will be days when I have to choose to thank God for the hard things he allows.  But for today, he allowed a day full of delightful moments.  My heart is overflowing.  Truly.

GRATITUDE 6: Neighbors

Today we're thankful for one last day before school starts.  At some points in the day, I meant that in the "yay, I'm so glad we have this day to spend together before school starts back" way.  At other points, I meant that in the "yay, our last day til school starts back and I get a break" kind of way.  Just keepin' in real.

We are VERY thankful for these neighbors who spent the day with us!  We've spent countless hours playing with them over the past two years and our love for them really keeps growing.  Thankful for precious Christina, who loves to talk, loves Judah, and is a GREAT help to me.  Thankful for spunky Alexandra who is always excited about ideas like these....

Making a Boxcar...pretending to be the Boxcar children 

Making boats...that turned out not to float?!

GRATITUDE 5 Sunday thanks

No pictures today.  Just a few things I'm thankful for...

Being back at our church as a whole family
A pastor who loves to teach God's word
A big Sunday lunch with friends and fancy napkins
Seeing both my big kids conquer the monkey bars

GRATITUDE 4: Christmas with my family

So thankful to be able to spend Christmas with my family! It's been five years since we've been with them on Christmas.  So I'm super thankful for these precious memories!  

My Brother and Chayton

Cousins

Happiness!!!

All together...this rarely happens

Extended Family on Christmas Eve

Gratitude 3...A wedding!

Since Andy works with international students, we get to meet some really fun people from all over the world!  Today we got to attend the wedding of two of our favorite students!  Zeno and Liu Yi love our kids like they are their own.  They are constantly bringing over gifts for them and spending HOURS playing and laughing with our kids.  We are so grateful for these two precious friends and we're thankful we got to celebrate with them today!

Zeno and Liu Yi, We pray God's richest blessings on your marriage and that you will grow in love for each other as you grow deeper in love with Christ.  May he sustain and give wings to your marriage!

Gratitude 2

A yard that's starting to take shape

A man who works hard

Cold weather!  

Chicken Chili on the stove

Gratitude: A Year of Naming My Gifts

After Andy returned from a week-long work trip he gave me a 24 hour retreat.  After a week of almost non-stop childcare, I really needed a break.  My plan was to spend the evening reading and journaling.  Instead I fell asleep at 6:30 and slept a whopping 13 hours.  I guess I really was exhausted.  I did manage to spend some time reflecting and praying in the morning.  I wanted to come up with a word for the year.  A year that would set the tone for the year and give me a goal to reach for.  I have been praying a lot for joy lately, a joy that is apart from circumstances.  So I really thought about choosing the word JOY for the year.  But as I reflected further, I realized that the root of joy is GRATITUDE...As I SEE all that the Lord has given,  and I thank him for it, joy naturally arises in my heart.  So I am choosing the word GRATITUDE this year.  I am praying God would give me eyes to SEE his gifts, small and large, and that as I pronounce thanks,  joy would naturally overflow!  From things like 3 kids happily banging pots and pans in my kitchen (currently) to a husband who continually shows me the love and acceptance of Christ, God's gifts in my life are abundant.  I am praying 2014 would be a year of seeing God's gifts to me, small and large, those delightful and those hard.

One of the ways I want to count his gifts is to post a pictures regularly that capture a moment I am thankful for (or write a full post about it)..  So here's to a year of GRATITUDE, that overflows into JOY!

3 kids happily banging pots