November 1

It's November already! Can't believe it, can you?
Last year, I did a Thankful Challenge for the month of November.  I am in a pretty thankful mood today - just thinking about all of my blessings.  I'd like to start the month counting my blessings.

I am blessed with a loving husband who works hard to provide for our family.  He leads our family spiritually and would do anything to protect us. He would give the shirt off his back to anyone in need and he sets a good example of generosity and compassion.  Love him!

I am blessed with beautiful step-daughters who let me love them and love me more than they have to.

I am blessed with parents who have always shown unconditional love to me.  There's nothing I can do to make them stop loving me - of this I'm sure!

I am blessed with the best girl friends I could ask for.  I don't know what I would do without them!

I am blessed with a sweet church family who loves and supports and welcomes without ceasing.

I am blessed with knowing what it means to serve.  I wouldn't trade anything for my experiences in Honduras.  I am thankful for Mission Lazarus and my friends in Honduras.

I am blessed with a group of children that I get to spend time with weekly.  I am especially thankful for getting to go trick-or-treating with them last night and being part of their joy!

My list could go on and on!  

What are you blessed with?

November Thankful Challenge, the 20th

God chooses you.  For that, I am thankful.

He can be as selective as he pleases, but he chooses each one of us.  He loves us all, He created us all, He pursues us all.  He doesn't have to.  He wants to.

There were years that I didn't choose Him.

He kept choosing me.

There are moments of everyday when I don't choose Him.

But He keeps choosing me.

He will never give up on me, but He won't ever give up on you, our friends, our families, our enemies. He does not give up.

Thank you, Lord, not only for choosing me, but for never counting anyone out.  Everyone has hope in YOU!

 

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November Thankful Challenge, the 18th

Today I am thankful for Missions.  I never thought of myself as a missionary.  I thought that would require living in a foreign country and baptizing people.  And I just didn't see myself doing that.

Now I am a missionary.

I don't live in a foreign country and I have never baptized anyone, but I am on a Mission none-the-less!

Since joining my current church over 8 years ago, I have traveled to Honduras several times, worked at boxing events, cleaned out horse stalls, sat in tense meetings, and decorated an auditorium - all for the purpose of doing the Lord's work.

Everyone how knows the Lord can be a missionary.  All it requires is a willingness to answer His call.  Is there a neighbor who needs their lawn mowed?  A stranger who needs a door opened for them?  A family member who seems to be searching for God?

If you see a need and meet it, in the name of the Lord, you are a missionary!

John 13:35 "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Just love each other, people.  That's what it's all about.  Love the un-loveable because that's what Jesus did for us.

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November Thankful Challenge, the 17th

Today I am thankful for the Bible.
I am thankful that God speaks to each of us every moment of the day through His Word.
I am thankful that I don't have to be fearful of owning my Bible.  I have the freedom to learn from the Word any time I want.

I was in the market for a Bible as a gift and I was getting frustrated in the store while trying to choose the perfect one.  Then I thought how silly it was to be frustrated by that.  It is amazing that there were 7 shelves FULL of bibles available for anyone to choose from.  Then I got to the register and was asked to donate a $5 Bible to a homeless shelter.  That got me thinking about how many people work tirelessly to translate the Bible into languages that it has never been translated into.  And I thought about how many people risk their lives just to own a Bible.

We are so blessed in this country.  I pray that our freedom of religion will remain and that this freedom will spread throughout the world.

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November Thankful Challenge, the 16th

Today I am thankful for creative outlets!
I seriously love to craft and decorate.  I am so thankful that I have the time to create.
I am thankful for sites like Pinterest that give me so many ideas that I won't ever have time to try them all.
I am thankful for stores like Michael's and Hobby Lobby where I can find the items I need to create.
Today I'll be working on an order from my Etsy page.  It is an Auburn necklace that I make with ribbon.  I love knowing that my creativity is appreciated!

I'll also be working on some sewing projects for our upcoming Disney trip!  I've gotten super creative with that stuff - can't wait to see what happens there!  I dont' know what's coming :)

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November Thankful Challenge, the 15th

Today I am thankful for laundry, dirty dishes, and unmade beds.
I know you've all read something similar before, but it is extra meaningful to me right now.

The laundry I need to do (and ironing - curse you, ironing!) means that we have plenty to wear and keep us warm.  My stinky running clothes remind me that I am working hard to reach a goal.  The dress shirts that need to be ironed remind me that my husband works hard to support our family.  I'm so proud of him.

The dirty dishes mean that we have plenty to eat.  They remind me that I enjoy cooking and serving my husband and family in this way.  They remind me that I am doing what I've always wanted to do - take care of my family.

The unmade bed means that we had a warm place to sleep last night and we will have it to sleep in again tonight.  It tells me that we got up to another beautiful day.

I am thankful for a Mom who took care of our home when I was child so that I could learn to do the same.

I am thankful that, as a woman, I have a choice to work hard outside of the home, but that I can be fulfilled and have a purpose being a homemaker as well.

I can't quite say that I'm thankful that I get to spend the rest of the morning taking care of these things, but my attitude is a little better than usual this morning!

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November Thankful Challenge, the 13th

I am thankful for in-laws!  Sound weird?  People really do love their in-laws!
Let me list them for you:
-My SIL, Kelli was my first in-law.  She has been around since I was about 10 or 11 and put up with me through puberty - enough said!
-Next was my BIL, Jim (aka Big Red).  He and I could not be more opposite, but I love him the purpleist.
-When I got married I got 2 sets of parents-in-law.  They have all been loving and accepting of me.  I love spending time with each of them!  I am so thankful to know them all.
-I have 2 more SILS now: Karen and Amy.  They are both so sweet!  I've gotten to really know Karen in the last few years.  I have come to the conclusion that we would get in a whole lot of trouble together if we lived in the same city.
My family keeps getting bigger and bigger and I LOVE it!
Her are a few of the ILS for a birthday lunch today!

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November Thankful Challenge, the 12th

I am thankful for road trips with my hubby.  It isn't often that we have time to talk at length.  And it isn't often that we aren't with other people or busy doing something.
We are headed to a few hours from home to visit with family and we will be headed back tomorrow.  It is nice to have time to get into a deep conversation!  He actually has some pretty good things to say.

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November Thankful Challenge, the 10th

Today I'm thankful for serendipity (not the movie, although I do enjoy it).  I had a horrible experience with some TSA agents at the airport today - won't go into it right now because I'm NOT thankful for it.

What I am thankful for is the nice older couple who got up on the tram and let a pregnant lady holding a toddler have their seats.  I am thankful for the precious little girl who opened her bag of Hershey Kisses on her own exclaiming, "I did it!" as they flew all over the waiting area at our gate.  After I helped her pick them up, she gave me a piece of her candy and sat in her seat across from me smiling while I ate it.  I am thankful for the strange, but very friendly man who sat near me on the plane and talked to me the whole flight.  I didn't have a moment to sit and brood about how mad I was at those TSA agents. I am thankful for a sweet hubby who parked the car at the airport so he could come in to welcome me home.
Each of those little moments were a gift from God.  Reminders that there is good in this world and that He never takes his eyes off of me.
I am thankful for those little happy moments in every day of my life!

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November Thankful Challenge, the 9th

I'm so thankful for my parents.  After every health complication they have both been through, they are still here!
I am thankful for the hard work they put into my raising.  I am thankful for the Christian foundation they provided for me.  I am thankful for the financial commitments they made to make sure I got an excellent education.  I am thankful that they are so forgiving.  I am thankful for their unconditional love.
I am thankful for all of the ways that they prove their love to me and my family.
I am thankful that they have been married for over 47 years!

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