Let’s Give Thanks

Yet again, it’s been a really long time since I’ve made a post. I haven’t been feeling the words coming to me lately even though I wanted to write again. I know God wants me to “write about my life,” but I’m so busy living it, I don’t tend to stop and think that it doesn’t take a major life event to have inspiration to write. Today I felt like God was just telling me to consider what I’m thankful for.

Right now I’m sitting outside on our back patio listening to the lawn mower as my husband cuts the grass. My boys are out here playing and enjoying the sunshine. There are so many things to be thankful for just in this moment. Our bellies are full. We are all healthy. Our finances are stable and secure, even in these uncertain times. I’ve spent the last year of my life being a stay at home mom, never missing a special moment with either of my boys. If I counted the number of hours I’ve been away from them this past year, I may not even need to use some of my toes 🙂 For some that may sound like I have no freedom, but in reality I have what I’ve wanted for so many years. I have a hard working husband who fully supports me in my role as a homemaker. I could write a whole post just about the joys of my role at home. Maybe I will someday soon. I live in a wonderful small town, the place of my elementary years. So many Hallmark movies could be made just from the events that have happened in our small town. They’re all the same anyway, right? Just a different part of the country.

I’m thankful for my faith in Jesus and that He helps that faith grow with every trial and triumph. I’m thankful for my church and the leadership in the church. We’ve come to know our pastor and his family very well in the past few years and they are just amazing people. I’m thankful for our family and the closeness we have. My boys get to see my parents every week for a family dinner and church. I know my boys love it and their Grammy and Pop do too. I’m thankful for my two sons. Man, what a blessing they are. Even on the hardest days I can look into their faces and remember the goodness of God. I’m thankful for their love for each other. It brings me to tears when I see how much Bradley loves his little brother. Josh loves him right back, but sometimes he shows it with a loving whack to the face. He’s only 13 months old anyway.

I’m thankful for my husband. He works SO HARD. He has a pretty physical job doing a variety of different things. Many times he’s working outside in the heat or the cold. Many times he comes home and gets right to work fixing a vehicle or a broken appliance, building a chicken coop, or chopping wood for the next season. Sometimes he’s working until dark. There are days that I’m tempted to be frustrated with him, and some of those days I give in to that temptation. It’s out of my selfishness that I want him to be in the house so I can have a moment to take a break after taking care of the kids all day. Lately God has been reminding me that while I’m not getting a break, my husband is choosing to put in extra work after a long day. He’s not taking a break either. That encourages me and motivates me to keep doing my job with patience and grace.

I’m thankful for our garden. Every time I harvest something, whether it is a tomato, an herb, or a cucumber at this point in the season, I thank God for the harvest. I’m no experienced gardener so He truly gets the credit and the glory. I’m thankful to live in a beautiful place where we get the best of all of the seasons. Our summers are mild, our winters are snowy and cold, and our spring and fall are beautiful and refreshingly cool.

Earlier I mentioned that I’m thankful for my small town. Well recently this small town grew by one tiny, precious baby girl. Her name is Fletcher Layne. She was born with a rare, congenital brain tumor. The tumor takes up most of her head and doctors say there’s nothing they can do. When I heard this I was devastated. I don’t even know the family, but as a mother I was so heartbroken. I can’t even speak about it without crying. I can barely think about it without tears filling my eyes. The situation breaks me, but I know that God still does miracles. I have seen Him work! I am asking all who are reading this right now to pray in faith for a healing for baby Fletcher. This is truly a moment where only God can change the outcome. Let’s boldly approach the throne of heaven and ask God for a miraculous event to save this beautiful baby girl.