Thankful 11-14

It is just hard to get my blogging shoes on sometimes. I have very real well meaning intentions to get my "write on" instead of the fast and easy facebook quickie, but as I sit down someone spills milk or just when I think everyone is asleep someone wakes up or when I think all are playing nicely in the playroom and I open up a new page, I hear "uh-oh". My head hands. My blog is neglected and my Mommy-drive kicks in. Sometimes you can't even see to the keyboard on my desk. There are water bottles, piles of jackets and change of clothes for fill in the blank. There are stacks and stacks and I mean stacks of art work these people bring home daily. Currently there is a basket I just don't know where else to put, a make up bag that hasn't found it's way back to the bathroom since Sunday, there is the remains of Mark's halloween costume, and a stack of books I keep meaning to read and a blue sock. Hmmm wonder where the mate of said sock is... hmmm...

Anyhow, I regress...

Thankfuls.
Oh mercy am I full of thankfuls today. I shall start back with the 11th: I was (and still am) thankful for God's mercy and protection. I was able to allow the Lord to lead me in a very real spiritual and physical battle. I am certain of the Father's protection and I am blessed for His mercy towards my children and myself and my friends. God is faithful.

The 12th I thanked the Father for his provision. Jamie and I were scooping out (Jamie was scooping, I was watching) pumpkin gunk and separating the seeds and we googled "how to" preserve them for planting next year and now to roast them for eating this year. We're gifting the rinds and stumps and yuck to a friend with pigs and I'm making a pie from the meat of the pumpkin... we're actually using all of our pumpkins this year instead of throwing them out. I'm thrilled with the idea of having "green" pumpkins this year and for what treasures planting these seeds will bring in the spring.  Yum.  (though I will say it's a lot of work-- makes you also thankful for a can of Libbys!)

The 13th, yesterday I was thankful for my sweet Markie-bug. Oh this man. He makes me melt. Yesterday morning, I was making his lunch and he was at the table coloring a picture, all the while singing "Oh how I love Jesus." I just stopped and listened to him, praising the Savior without hindrance or embarrassment or confusion.  May he always be able to approach the throne of the Father in such a manner. May he seek the Lord with all his whole heart and lean only on the Lord's understanding all the days of his life (Prov 3:5-6). Maybe trust in Jesus Christ as his Savior and ask the Lord into his heart and follow in believer's baptism as his big brother has done. May God guide his footsteps. May God continue to shower him with spunk. He is a blessing to me. My rain after the storm in my life. He is my joy in the morning. He is light in my life. Mr. Personality. I'm so thankful for my middle child, my Markie-bug, my doodle, my batman.


Today, the 14th.. I find myself thankful for coffee. That's what you're thankful for see, after you've stayed up until 2am the night before. I enjoyed some time with a friend last night and I'm also thankful for her in my life. May the Lord guide the relationship and lead me in it. I'm blessed to have her as a friend.

Today though I'm also reminded how precious every moment is and how I never want to take any of it for granted. I find myself thankful thankful thankful for so many things. I'm so blessed. I am so blessed.

Trust in the Lord

So the verse that's been running through my mind the last couple days has been Prov 3:5&6. However, the rest of the proverb has great volumes to say.

Proverbs 3

Guidance for the Young

¹ My son, do not forget my law,

But let your heart keep my commands;
² For length of days and long life
And peace they will add to you.
³ Let not mercy and truth forsake you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart,
⁴ And so find favor and high esteem
In the sight of God and man.
⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
⁸ It will be health to your flesh,
And strength to your bones.
⁹ Honor the LORD with your possessions,
And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
¹⁰ So your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine.
¹¹ My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD,
Nor detest His correction;
¹² For whom the LORD loves He corrects,
Just as a father the son in whom he delights.
¹³ Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
And the man who gains understanding;
¹⁴ For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver,
And her gain than fine gold.
¹⁵ She is more precious than rubies,
And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.
¹⁶ Length of days is in her right hand,
In her left hand riches and honor.
¹⁷ Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
And all her paths are peace.
¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are all who retain her.
¹⁹ The LORD by wisdom founded the earth;
By understanding He established the heavens;
²⁰ By His knowledge the depths were broken up,
And clouds drop down the dew.
²¹ My son, let them not depart from your eyes—
Keep sound wisdom and discretion;
²² So they will be life to your soul
And grace to your neck.
²³ Then you will walk safely in your way,
And your foot will not stumble.
²⁴ When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.
²⁵ Do not be afraid of sudden terror,
Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;
²⁶ For the LORD will be your confidence,
And will keep your foot from being caught.
²⁷ Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
When it is in the power of your hand to do so.
²⁸ Do not say to your neighbor,

“ Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it,”
When you have it with you.
²⁹ Do not devise evil against your neighbor,
For he dwells by you for safety’s sake.
³⁰ Do not strive with a man without cause,
If he has done you no harm.
³¹ Do not envy the oppressor,
And choose none of his ways;
³² For the perverse person is an abomination to the LORD,
But His secret counsel is with the upright.
³³ The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked,
But He blesses the home of the just.
³⁴ Surely He scorns the scornful,
But gives grace to the humble.
³⁵ The wise shall inherit glory,
But shame shall be the legacy of fools.