2010 Giving Thanks Challenge

I am thankful for...

1. the beginning of a new month 2. freedom to vote 3. warm fuzzy socks 4. the people who bought our old house 5. our free mobile-to-mobile minutes 6. my wonderful husband 7. my sweet son 8. that the "joy of the Lord is my strength" 9. fall leaves 10. being a stay at home Mom 11. those who have served our country 12. walking in the cold around ACU with my husband and son 13. my coat 14. God's love 15. yummy leftovers 16. memories 17. cooking supper for my hubby 18. schools and teachers 19. food to eat 20. getting to move this week! 21. watching the sun set with my boy 22. God's plan, even when I can't see 23. a place to live and school for Caleb to attend 24. help loading our truck to move 25. blessing of family 26. audio books 27.to wake up in our new city...a dream come true! 28. our vehicles 29. my boy had a great first day at school. 30. sweaters, coats, and my warm robe.

Have a day of blessings!

Thankful Thursday

This week I'm thankful for so many things. We made a thankful list as a family and it was neat to see how our perception of our blessings has changed this year from last year. We are truly blessed, and I am thankful for what God has done for our family.

Today I am thankful for...
~ my husband and his friendship. I love that we are such good friends! I appreciate our time together so much after our days apart.

~ my boy and how well he has done through all the adjustments he's been through this year.

~ inspection! Because of the inspection we found out that house #2 would not be a wise purchase. I'm so glad we found this out and did not have to deal with all those problems.

~ getting loaded up to move! Several people from our church came to help us. It didn't take that long to get it all loaded. And it barely fit in the 26 foot truck....my clothesline poles did not but my husband will pick those up when he goes back to town for a meeting.

~ our Thanksgiving traditions and being with family for this special time.

We will be moving on Friday to a rental house. Our Realtor is letting us rent it for now as we decide what to do. I'm thankful for how all of this worked out on Tuesday because Monday night I wasn't really sure what would happen. We don't know how long we'll be at this house as we wait to buy a house (possibly house #1, but we don't know yet). I will post as I am able because we aren't connecting the phone line there yet. I will probably go to the library to check email and blog over the next few weeks.

Have a day of blessings!

Update on our house...

Hello everyone. I am very busy today but wanted to stop and ask for you to please pray for us. My husband went to the inspection on House #2 yesterday, and we were surprised to find it has some major issues. It is a new house so apparently it was a builder who did poor quality work. It looks fine on the outside, but the inspectors found termite damage, rotting wood, and foundation issues. We do not want to go into a house with these major problems.

Now we are trying to decide what to do. We are still planning to be out of our duplex tomorrow. One option is to use a rental our realtor has and just wait on House #1. I was so excited about the school Caleb would attend if we lived in House #2. I think the school at House #1 is a good one too, I just liked the other one better.

Thank you for your prayers.

Have a day of blessings!

Prayers & Promises Week #47

It's Thanksgiving week! We are totally excited that we get to move this week! And I'm excited to share that new with you today as so many of you have been praying for us through this entire process. It's hard to believe that in a couple months it will be a year that my husband and I have been praying, planning, and anticipating this move.

This year as we made our thankful list together as a family, I noticed how are list was so different this year from last year. I'm thankful for the lessons we have all learned through this process....trusting God, appreciating the time we have together and not taking for granted eating supper as a family (even without a kitchen table cause I sold it on Craigslist!!).

On Saturday we found out that the offer we made on a house we saw last weekend was accepted. We are excited about this house and it's location. Caleb is excited to be able to watch the deer. When we looked at the house, he found deer tracks. Since the house is empty they are letting us do a short term lease so we can move on Friday! Then when the paperwork is ready in December we will sign the papers to buy it. I love how this worked out!

This week's verse is Psalm 47:6--
"Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises."

Let's remember the following people in prayer:
~ Denise (Shortybear)

~ all those traveling this week.

~ our military and their families, especially those who are away this week. I was excited to read on Facebook that one of the soldiers from our church came home for a couple weeks today, surprising his wife and meeting their newborn son for the first time.

~ everything to work out regarding our move....from fitting everything into the rented truck to loading and unloading that it will all go well for everyone.

I hope you have a wonderful week this week whatever you may be doing and wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!

Have a day of blessings!

Flashback Friday: Thanksgiving

This week our Flashback Friday is about Thanksgiving.

My Flashback:

I've always enjoyed Thanksgiving. As a child I remember many times that the TV would be on for the Macy's parade. Many years we went to my aunt/uncle's house for Thanksgiving. Sometimes we would go to Peepaw's house. He always wanted oyster dressing so there was always a separate little pan for his own dressing. I don't remember football being that important; I remember playing with my cousins and of course lots of eating and then eating some more! We had a tradition for a long time that my cousin would always come home with us after our Thanksgiving meal to spend the night at our house.

One tradition that I had was to make a thankful picture. I think I did this every year. Now I continue this tradition and make a thankful picture with Caleb. When he was little I would cut pictures out of magazines of things he liked and help him glue them on. Now he can write the words and draw the pictures himself. I continue to make one of my own too.

I've always loved the variety of foods served at Thanksgiving. One thing I like to make is broccoli salad. I made this the first time as part of a 4-H Food Show and then continued to make it for years at Thanksgiving. I don't make it every year now but still enjoy making it (besides it feeling like it takes so long to cut all the broccoli!). Pecan pie is a must for Thanksgiving with lots of cool whip! I also like to have pistachio pudding. Only a couple years ago I tried sweet potatoes for the first time. I always thought I wouldn't like them I guess, but I really do enjoy them and look forward to having them at Thanksgiving. Or maybe it's the yummy marshmallows on top I really love so much. When we have leftovers, Mom will put them in a pan and add new marshmallows to the top. I've also recently started liking cranberry sauce....this is something else I never really tried, but now I love it. I'm going to try a recipe this year I saw in Taste of Home for cranberry-apple chutney. I hope it turns out as yummy as it looks in the picture!

Now we go to my Mom's house for Thanksgiving. We normally go on Tuesday evening. She cooks a ton of food, I always tease her it's enough for the whole town to show up. Usually various family members show up at some point through the day. I always make a point to take a family picture on Thanksgiving as well. Usually in the early evening my husband leaves to go to the deer lease for the weekend with his Dad and brothers.

This year is going to be a very different Thanksgiving. We are P O S S I B L Y moving. We'll know for sure soon!

Have a day of blessings!

Thankful Thursday:

Wednesday morning this song came to me and I started humming it. I thought it would be great to share on Thankful Thursday. Here are the lyrics and a video of it. I also found a great link to hear just the song. It's called "How Could I Ask For More" by Cindy Morgan. The lyrics match how my heart feels.

We are so blessed, and I'm so thankful for all the blessings of our family. Through the past 11 months, God has taught me so many lessons (which I hope to share here some day). There has been so much waiting and unknown, and through it I've known God has had a plan and purpose. I'm thankful for those lessons, truth, love, and answered prayers.




This week for Thankful Thursday I am thankful for...

~ having my husband home with us. He got to stay the night with us because he was doing some traveling so he stayed here instead of a hotel somewhere! I'm glad how that worked out! It was the best thing to cook supper for him tonight and have him pull up at 5.

~ having my sweet boy help me make supper.

~ the fun we had over the weekend looking at houses and bowling. Caleb made us laugh with his comments about the houses he didn't like!

~ Caleb's school and the relationship I have with the people there.

~ knowing that God hears and answers our prayers.

Have a day of blessings!

Coupon

Do you ever eat Hamburger Helper at your house? What's your favorite one? We eat the crunchy taco or the Italian shells and cheese.

As part of MyBlogSpark, I was given a coupon for a Hamburger Helper meal and you can get your own coupon as well. Just click here to get this coupon for a limited time.

Also, I'd like to invite you to visit Pssst.GeneralMills.com for information on how you can host a MyGetTogether, receive the inside scoop from your favorite brands, and enjoy valuable savings.

Have a day of blessings!

Song: I Will Follow

Have you heard this new song called "I Will Follow" by Chris Tomlin? I love the tune and the message.



During this time we are seeking to follow the Lord as He is leading us to a new area and new chapter of our lives. It is hard not to know the plan right now but we trust and follow His leading.

Have a day of blessings!

2010 Book #34: Hatteras Girl

I would like to recommend the book Hatteras Girl by Alice J. Wisler.

Jackie Donovan's two dreams are to find a wonderful man to marry and to own a bed-and-breakfast. She lives with her childhood friend Minnie and Minnie's son Zane. Jackie and Minnie have dreamed together of having a bed-and-breakfast since their days spent as young girls at The Bailey House. Jackie feels her dream might be close to coming true when she begins dating Davis Erickson.

This book is full of interesting characters and has a great story line. I love how the author weaves the characters' lives together. It is interesting to read, and I didn't really want the book to end. This is a story of friendship, family, dreams, and loss. Also I must say I just love the cover too. I think it really captures the setting of this story.

I look forward to more books by this wonderful author, Alice J. Wisler.

This book was provided to me by Bethany House Publishers for my honest review.

Have a day of blessings!

Prayers & Promises Week #46

This week's verse is Psalm 113:3--

"From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised."

I ask a special request that you pray we have wisdom this week when it comes to how to handle our housing situation. Thank you.

Have a day of blessings!

Flashback Friday

Today for our Flashback Friday we are talking about how veterans have impacted our lives.

My Flashback:
The closest military family member I have had is my grandfather. He was in the Air Force and he served in the Korean War. He never spoke of his war experiences. I have seen pictures of him with his buddies in their uniforms on a video made after his death.

I also had an uncle who served in the Air Force. My Mom told me she would write letters to him and one of his friends and had a contest with another lady to see who could write the most letters. He was stationed in Thailand.

Have a day of blessings!

Thankful Thursday

Time for Thankful Thursday! I have really enjoyed participating in the giving of thanks daily in the month of November. You can see the list I've made at the top of my blog!

For those of you who have followed my blog you know we are in the middle of moving. We don't know what is going to happen or where we will end up living. We are praying for wisdom about this and ask you to join us in prayer. We feel like we are at a closed door and so we will be looking at other options this weekend. Even in these unknowns it has been such a blessing to find so many things for which to be thankful. We appreciate your prayers on this matter.

Today I am thankful for...

~ safe travel for my husband. He's traveling a lot these days and I always pray for his safety. And I love it when he's home (like the next few days!!).

~ fun I have with my boy. He had a book parade at school on Wednesday and I was glad to get to go watch. Also Wednesday was our traditional "snack day" where we go for a snack after school (he usually picks Chick Fil A, today he made me laugh because he was so hungry he wanted chicken nuggets along with his brownie and water). Then we go to the library. I love doing this together each week!

~ our veterans. Growing up I don't really think I fully grasped what this day was about. I am thankful for those who have served and continue to serve our country. We don't need to take their service for granted.

~ the beauty of watching the leaves change colors.

~ finding some good stuff on sale at Walgreens.

Join us today in giving thanks! Thank you for visiting.

Have a day of blessings!

Prayers & Promises Week #45

This week's verse is Psalm 34:1--

"I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips."

There are so many prayer requests that I have heard about this week with people's health and finances. Let me know if I can pray for you.

Have a day of blessings!

Laced with Grace and Flashback Friday

Today I am sharing a devotional over at Laced With Grace. I hope you will go there to read the rest of it, it's called "Today and tomorrow." Here is the beginning....

Lately I have been thinking about our new house and about what I’ll do when we get moved there, what we need to repair or change, and how we’ll decorate for the holidays.

Also today is Flashback Friday.

Today we are sharing memories about politics and voting. I did not have any memories when I first read the prompt. I thought of one, and when I told my Mom, she reminded me of one more though.

My Flashback:
I do remember going with my parents to vote a few times. I don't think they made a big deal of it, but I know they did vote. I remember they didn't tell me who was getting their vote and I always wanted to know!

My Mom reminded me about an election we had at school. I think I was in middle school. We were having our own election and students got to play the role of the candidates and give speeches. Well I dressed up as the Vice Presidential Candidate Dan Quayle. I have no clue what I said but I do remember the assembly we had and dressing in a suit.

The first year I voted was in 2000 when it was George W Bush against Al Gore. I remember standing in line at a family life center of a church waiting for my turn. That night it started snowing. My husband was an RA in the dorm and I remember him telling me how the boys on his hall were acting about the snow plus the election coverage on the TV. I remember watching the election results and how they were going back and forth about who had won.

I'm thankful we live in a country where we can vote and that women are allowed to vote.

Have a day of blessings!

Thankful Thursday

Join us for Thankful Thursday in November at Women Taking a Stand. Laurie has a great post today comparing being grateful vs. being gratified.

The unknowns about our house and when we will get to move have made me feel frustrated. But I have found many things for which I am thankful. I have enjoyed participating in the Giving Thanks Challenge also (it's not too late for you to join in too!).

This week I am thankful for...

~ my husband and all he does for us. I really miss him when he's gone.

~ having a good week with my sweet boy and how he makes me laugh with his silly dances and songs.

~ having my warm fuzzy socks to wear as it has gotten rather chilly the past couple of days.

~ having medical insurance. We got the benefits list of Caleb's recent visit to the ER and it made me so thankful for that.

~ God's Word and the ability to read it.

Thanks for visiting today!

Have a day of blessings!

2010 Book #33: Love Finds You in Humble Texas

Last week when we went to the library, I wanted to get a fiction book for myself. We went upstairs and I found some choices written by some of my favorite authors. Caleb pulled a book off the shelf and said how about this one? Well it was Love Finds You in Humble Texas. I've never read one in this series before, but I wanted to. I checked it out with the others and quickly read it.

Trudie Abernathy's sister, Lane, tries to play matchmaker by inviting a male friend, Mason Wimberley, along for Trudie's birthday lunch. Trudie with her low self-esteem doubts that Mason, who seems perfect, would be interested in her. Trudie is put in an awkward situation though when her sister reveals her own feelings about Mason.

Mason is having trouble in his own life as he deals with his father's declining health as well as a decision regarding the family business.

This was a fun, enjoyable fiction book. Thank you Caleb for picking it out for your Mommy!

Have a day of blessings!

2010 Book #32: The Next Christians

I had the privilege of listening to the audio version of a book called The Next Christians by Gabe Lyons. It was provided through the reviewer's program at christianaudio.

In this book Lyons shares about Christians in our generation and how we've seen a change through time in how Christians are viewed by their culture. He points out many Christians just live in their own little worlds instead of actively reaching out to those in the world around them. He gives examples of people who are changing the world through the way they live and their actions, people who aren't afraid to take a stand for Christ in their lives. He gives six characteristics of the next generation of Christians.

The book is read by the author, and he was enjoyable to hear as he read his book. It was an enjoyable book.

Have a day of blessings!

The audio version was provided through christianaudio Reviewers Program.

Shoe box time!

It is time to start packing those shoe boxes again for Operation Christmas Child. I saw Susan's recent post about this and knew it was that time of year to do a post myself!

If you have never participated before, I encourage you to go to the Samaritan's Purse website for all the information you need. They make it really easy with their step-by-step directions. National Collection Week is November 15-22 so you still have a couple of weeks to gather items and get your shoe boxes ready to ship to a child. You can find a drop off location in your area on the website as well.

We have found that this is a great activity to do as a family. We let Caleb chose items appropriate for a boy his age.

Have a day of blessings!

Marriage Monday: Our Holiday Spending Plan

Today it's time for Marriage Monday. This month we are sharing about financial contentment in marriage. The topic I've chosen is "Our Holiday Spending Plan."

The holidays will be here soon. It is a good idea to make a plan when it comes to your holiday spending. Otherwise it will get way out of hand! Decide who is on your list and how much you have available to spend. Also consider other extra expenses that will come up this month like special food/snacks, travel, etc.

Since we have done Dave Ramsey's FPU I have had an envelope labeled "Christmas." Each pay period we put the same amount of money into the envelope. Whenever I buy gifts, I use the money from this envelope. It has come in so handy as I've already ordered and purchased some gifts. Since the money is designated for Christmas gifts, I don't feel bad using it or thinking that I'm taking money away from somewhere else where it might be needed.

Also when it comes to gift giving, I think it's important to consider making donations in the names of family members instead of just buying a gift for the sake of buying something. There are certain people that are harder to buy for than others, so instead of buying them something they don't want or need, why not make a donation in their name to a charity?

Have a day of blessings!