Gratitude 95 Delightful Sister in law

Giving thanks today for an awesome sister in law and celebrating her life today!  So thankful to be a part of this family

GRATITUDE 94 Cozy Afternoon

Thankful for a couple quiet hours with coffee, PJs, a hard rain, and happy kiddos.

GRATITUDE 93 Orange Blossoms

The smell is amazing!!  We pass one tree on our way to school and Andy took a long bike ride this week through orange groves and we both commented on the sweet smell.

Thankful for orange blossoms and the sense of smell that God gave us!  How amazing!!

GRATITUDE 92 Good job!!!

I got a really kind text from my Father-in-law this week.  And I've been replaying it over and over in my mind.  "Good job, my child" is the essence of what he said.  Why do I keep coming back to it?  Why do I relish those words so much?

Andy and I have been talking recently about this deep need in us to hear our Father's say "I'm proud of you." This earthly need is tied to our deeper need to hear our heavenly Father say, "Good job, my child!!!  You did it!"

But because of our deep sin, we don't do a good job.  Until Christ comes and begins his transforming work in us.  And we put on his "good job"  and we work that out each day, striving with all that is in us to please our Father.  And we strive with all that he is working in us.  But still I don't do a good job.  I do in Christ, but I don't in me.  But the me in Christ really does please him.  Oh we do. It's a mystery really how it all works together. But somehow it's true.  My heavenly Father will speak a "good job, EA" over me, when I see him.

So today, by faith, I am believing that in Christ I, (me!!!) do please my heavenly Father.  And that my Father-in-law's text message is just a taste of the delight my heavenly Father has in me.  I want to replay his approval of me over and over in my mind today.

Thankful today:

For a wonderful Father in law                 who sent
A Text message                              that helped me see
My heavenly Father's delight in me.

GRATITUDE 91 A conversation

My new friend Laura and I stood out in the parking lot after we dropped our kiddos off at school and chatted for an hour and a half !  She and I share a common struggle and our conversation was so encouraging.  So so encouraging.

Today thankful that God provides people who are walking similar roads to travel with me!  And for the way she and I have a special connection of encouraging each other in Christ.  What a gift.

GRATITUDE 90 A post about lent

This blog post about lent really encouraged me today.  I am thankful for running across this blog and for her encouragement.



Hope it encourages you as we walk through this lenten season!!!  There's also a link to a guide for lent at the end of the article that I am excited to read



from the nato's: numbering my days:



As a side note, there is an amazing video about their family's struggles here What an incredible picture of the gospel.  Moved to tears.

GRATITUDE 83 Locks of Love

After my day on Saturday leaving the Wilhoits, something cathartic was in order.  I called Brooke today and told her that since she dumped me, I decided to do something drastic and get all my hair cut off.   I already got my nose pierced this year and I am waiting to get a tattoo until Laura comes to visit, so hair was it.

Having your closest friend move away feels just about as stinky as having your high school boyfriend dump you.

The haircut was really unrelated but I thought the sentiment fit.  HEHE

Today I am thankful that Brooke and I can talk by phone (well, we are broken up but we're still talking, you see) and that I get to see her on Thursday when she comes up for an appointment and then again on Friday when I go down there to help her decorate.  (Ok, so maybe we never really broke up.  You know how wishy washy high school love is.)

Anyway, the hair....back to the hair.  Thankful that I got my hair cut today.  And that Andy really likes short hair on me.  And that it's just hair. Most of all I reflected on how much freedom God has brought me over the years from worrying about what I look like.  I have a long way to go but I'm miles from the prison I was locked in.... He's slowly killing my pride and healing my insecurities with his love.   And that is a lot to be thankful for.

And I am thankful that our break-up only lasted 48 hours! wink wink.

GRATITUDE 82 My pastor's words

My pastor spoke from the pulpit today about a situation that really hits home for our family.  And he spoke with such grace and love that I am encouraged all the more in my walk on a difficult road.  It was like water to my soul.

I love my pastor.  I love his understanding of how good and kind our God is.  And how broken and needy we his people are.  And how God loves to minister to his people through his people.  I love my church today and I love my God.

Thankful.

GRATITUDE 81 The God who sees

Moving the Wilhoits was a lot harder for me than I anticipated.  A lot harder.  I cried so hard that my face was all red and my eyes were so blood shot that I was embarassed to go into McDonald's for ice cream on the way home....that's really called sobbing, not crying.  (And yes, we were teaching our kids to self medicate their sadness with ice cream) 

I could write a years worth of gratitude posts about this family.  Today I am thankful for them.  But I am also thankful for the way God tenderly cared for me in my sadness.  

Our God is a good who sees.  I love the story of Hagar totally out in the wilderness.  She felt totally alone and thought she was.  She felt that no one saw her misery under her mistresses harsh hand and she was sure no one could see her in the wilderness.  .  But God saw her out there and he came to her.  The angel of the Lord came to her and told her that God heard her misery.   She says to the Lord, “‘You are the God who sees me,’ for she said, ‘I have now seen the One who sees me.’” (Genesis 16:13). With this, Hagar decides to name the well she was at Beer Lahoi Roi, which means well of the Living One who sees me. (Genesis 16:14).

For a while now, I loved to think on this name of God.  The God who sees me.  Today was a day when I was reminded again that my God sees me.  

Back to my sobbing...so there I was driving home, indulging in my comfort ice cream.  And when we pulled into the driveway, I saw a lady at the house two doors down.  This house has been empty for years, tied up in a very complicated, prolonged sales process.    Offers have gone on the house multiple times and been retracted. Offers have sat pending on the house for years, actually.  And I have been praying about this house and asking God to bring the right neighbors.  (I got pretty specific in my asking cause he tells us to make our desires known to him)  

And of all the days for the house to FINALLY close and the new neighbor be in the front yard for me to meet her for the first time it was TODAY.  On a day when I was feeling a very significant loss, God reminded me that he sees me, and he KNOWS how to provide for me. 

We met our new neighbor and helped with some of the yard work right away.  This sweet Joanne, my new neighbor, wanted to know all about me, asked about where I grew up and what my hobbies were. She cried after we talked and asked if she could give me a hug.

God has provided a new friend, a stay at home mom, who thinks similarly to me, and likes hummus, sewing and coffee.  

Though I don't have a well to name or an altar to set up in remembrance of his seeing of me on this day, I am certainly setting up one in my heart, for I have seen the One who sees me.  

GRATITUDE 80 The come back kid

You know that point in the game when you're so far behind that a come back is basically impossible?  Anyone whose ever played on a losing team knows what I mean.  My basketball team in high school was once 0-20, so I know that point in the game all too well.

And at that point you have two choices:  You can give up and really get creamed or you can dig deeper and play your heart out because that's the kind of player you are.

Well, that's the point in the game we are at with my house right now.  The mess is so big and so out of control that a comeback is next to impossible. I blame spring break, kids who pee in the bed a lot, and low energy.  Whatever the reason, the game is on the verge of being totally lost.

Sad to admit it, but I am the kind of player who faces a deficit like this, gets paralyzed and makes the loss all the worse.

But my teammate happened to win the blood sweat and tears award in high school football because he's the kind of player who will. not. quit.

My man does housework with the same tenacity he brought to football.  Today I am thankful to be on his team.

I think there's gonna be a comeback.

GRATITUDE 79 The Beach

Thankful today for a beach day with Jack, Judah and Nathan.  Just boys and me.  Lots of swimming. burying each other in the sand, and the like.  A great day.  Thankful

Gratitude 78 Kaelin and Leah

My Wilhoit week continues...they are moving on Saturday so we're getting extra time with them, eating meals together since they are too busy to cook, keeping their kids since they are packing.  It's gonna make Saturday much harder for me, but I am thankful for the time.

Like I said yesterday, God's faithfulness to my kids is seen clearly in his provision of friends.  And I've never loved these girls more than I do today!

We had a great time at the park today.  Leah is like my little friend.  I mean, 10 year olds seriously rock my world.  And sweet Kaelin has a heart of gold and has been Emma Grace's best friend for some time now.

Soaking up time with them before they move!  So grateful.

GRATITUDE 77 A best friend for Jack

God is faithful...long before I started to discover his faithfulness, it was there.    I am just on the beginning of this amazing journey to understanding and seeing how faithful God has been in my past.  I am discovering more and more the ways his sovereign loving hand has been my guide when I didn't even know he existed (and especially when I didn't really care)

One of the ways his faithfulness has been seen in my life is through the friends he has provided for me.    I love looking back and seeing how he provided just the right friend for the right season...and how some of those people are life long friends.

As I look for God's faithfulness in my past, I am also expectantly looking for his faithfulness to me and my children in the present.  

One of the delightful gifts of God's faithfulness to my son Jack is Nathan Wilhoit  

Just like I couldn't have picked better friends for myself, the same is true for my Jack.   These past few years, I've grown to adore this little guy as much as Jack does.  We are having a great week together.

Nathan, we love you!!!   I pray you and Jack will be life long friends and that your friendship will grow deeper as you both run after Christ together.  But even if it doesn't, I will look back on the "Nathan years" with joy and gratefulness!

GRATITUDE 76 A week of Wilhoits

This is our last week with the Wilhoits living just around the corner and it happens to be my kids spring break so we are taking advantage of the time we have with them!

Today it was snail races and scarecrow making, along with their favorite new game....fashion show contest.

Thankful today for the joy kids bring to life.  Thankful for the joy God has given us through this family.  Thankful for his faithfulness to provide so abundantly in friendship for us and our kiddos.  Thankful for our last week of extra time together!

GRATITUDE 75 Spring and Spring Break

It's Spring Break here for my kiddos and we are enjoying AMAZING spring weather.  It's been such a refreshing season of seeing colors, picking flowers, playing outside in gorgeous weather.

 So today I am thankful that the maker of the seasons, the one who holds the universe together by the word of his power, created this delightful season.

GRATITUDE 74 My Momma

Picked these this morning on my walk and I wish I could give these to you in person.  So thankful for you Mom.  For a thousand reasons.  Here are a few:

For your humor.
For the way you steady me.
For all the times you pick up the phone!!!
For all your sacrifice over the years.
For your love of gardening, and all of God's good creation.
For the way you love my kiddos.
For your fried chicken tenders.  yum.
For your Mary Poppins bag. Are you bringing that in April?
For your style.
For all your comments on my blog.
For expressing love to me on holidays and birthdays.
FOR
BEING
YOU.

GRATITUDE 73 Strawberries

Strawberry Season.  Whipped Cream. Friends.  Kaelin loving her dessert so much that she said, "This is so good, it must be a dream."  A last minute dinner with our friends who are moving soon.  Outdoor dining.  Kid swap. Excitement over packs of gum.  

GRATITUDE 72 A backyard for Emma Grace

A backyard...a place to dig holes, make mud,  find flowers, bury treasures.  A place to just be.

GRATITUDE 71 Love note in my shoe

Found this folded up and tucked into my shoe.  My kids are currently in love with their parents and we get showered with love notes.   So thankful for this little stage in my children's lives.

GRATITUDE 70 Help

My dear friend Chloe has started coming over on Tuesdays to help me clean and keep my kids so Andy and I can have a date.  What a kind, much needed gift to our family.  So thankful

Chloe and her husband working on a tower during marriage olympics this past week

GRATITUDE 69 Strength for the Day

Today I am grateful for the strength to get a ton of laundry done, the kitchen clean, and the living room picked up.

GRATITUDE 68 Sunday Morning Worship

Judah has a nasty cold, so he and I stayed home from church...but we still worshiped...

This is the day that the Lord has made!  Let us rejoice and be glad in it! 

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. 

 And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.  And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.

And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.

 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible

 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

 God thunders wondrously with his voice; he does great things that we cannot comprehend

 “But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?

 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

 He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.

Look how the wild flowers grow. They don't work hard to make their clothes

 The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein

 You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you

 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world

And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him! How then can we understand the thunder of his power?

 How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number-living things both large and small

 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made

 Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and everything that moveth therein

 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

  Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding, you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds.

 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them

 Do you give the horse his might? Do you clothe his neck with a mane? Do you make him leap like the locust? 

Before the mountains were brought forth, Or every you had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.   

 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, bless his holy name.  

GRATITUDE 67 Ungrateful

Today I was mostly ungrateful.

Thankful that when I have an ungrateful heart and a bad attitude that my God is always faithful, always good, always merciful, continuing, despite me, to use all of his infinite power and love to do me good.

GRATITUDE 66 Dr D

We have a family counselor.  And she rocks.  Andy and I have spent hours on her couch working through the challenging dynamics we face as a family. She is part expert/part mentor/part friend/part co-journer with our family on the road God has called us to.  If you know our family well, you know that this is an incredible gift to us.  So today, I am thankful for logging another hour on her couch, under her tutelage, with her tissues, better equipped to walk the path God has laid before me.  Thankful Thankful for another hour with Dr. D.  

GRATITUDE 65 Thursday Thanks

Puddles ...a little boy's delight in jumping over them
Two horses on our walk
A struggle that makes me dependent on Christ
Growth...in me and in our garden
What God is doing in students lives
Books
Stories
My kids love of stories
A free library...what an incredible gift

GRATITUDE 64 Answered Prayers

Learning more and more that God loves to hear our prayers.  I've seen him answer prayers for this little guy in incredible ways this week.  Thankful for answered prayers.  Thankful for my friends and family who are battling with me in prayer for my precious children.

GRATITUDE 63 Teamwork

GRATITUDE 62 Xiao Li

When we talk on the phone, we always both say at some point, "it's so good to hear your voice."  There is something so familiar and comforting about hearing my dear friend Xaio Li's voice.  Maybe because it's the voice I heard the most, other than my husband's, while living in China.  Maybe it's because her voice is so gentle and brings feelings of comfort and memories of a deep friendship formed over pots of bubbling soup and hours of managing my home with her help.  Her friendship, her voice, her love for our family is a gift I am recounting again today after talking with her on the phone.  Sweet Xaio Li.  What a gift.  

GRATITUDE 61 Rainbows and Sprinklers

Sunday afternoons outside
Rainbows
Kids in  our homemade sprinkler
Wind
The faithful preaching of God's word
Kissing friends babies
Sharing a mutual hardship with a friend
Forgiveness
Cilantro Sprouts

GRATITUDE 60 Beauty

Thankful today for the beauty of this little one...her freckled nose, her hair, her skin...God is a creator of beauty and I see that every time I look at her.  And she has an eye for God's beauty, always stopping for flowers.  Thankful today that God details his work so intricately..from freckles to lacey flower petals.