A Week Of Thanksgiving Days 2&3

This weekend was a bit busy...from shopping, decorating our house (for yes Christmas) and other activities I am finally sitting day to post days 2&3 of the Thanksgiving study I found for this week. (See the last post to locate it.)

Day 2

Make a list of all the material and spiritual blessings you can think of that you have received from the Lord. Thank God for them!

Spiritual Blessings (rec. to read the first Ch. of Ephesians if you need help)

1.I have confidence of my salvation from Jesus Christ.

2. I have been forgiven for my sins.

3. I will have a home in heaven when I die.

4. God has given me peace and help through the rough spots in life.

5. God continues to show me my need for more of Him in my life.

6. God has been both good and kind to me even when I didn't deserve.

7. God has a plan and purpose for my life.

8. God has blessed me with a church that loves me and loves the Lord.

Material Blessings

1. I have a family who loves me.

2. I have friends who care about me.

3. I have a church that i love.

4. I have a home that the Lord blessed us with at just the right time in our lives.

5. I have clothes...too many...and way too many shoes.

6. We have 3 cars...wanting to sell one...we are so blessed!

7. I have pretty much everything I want...doesn't that sound terribly spoiled...it's the truth!

8. I have lots of pretty things in my home...I am feeling more and more selfish!

9.I have food...we have a well stocked pantry...and if I needed more I know tons of places I could get it!

These are just a few! I am so blessed! I know most of the world's population would give anything to live my life...even for a day! Thank you Lord for these many blessings that I do not deserve!

Day 3

Today's assignment is to focus on gratitude for your family members...and write qualities that you are grateful for about each person.

My husband Kev- hardworking, so giving, so loving, loves to make me happy, loves helping others, passionate about the Lord and serving Him!

Daughter E- so funny, so loving, loves to snuggle with me, loves be right with me, I love that she has my hair, she makes my life so so much fun!

Dad- committed and giving...my dad has faithfully preached God's word every Sun. for the almost 29 years of my life (except for the 2 sun. he takes for vacation) He is faithful to study and seek the Lord...and he has never once in my life acted prideful about his knowledge or service to the Lord. He is very humble.

Mom-Giving and giving and giving...she will do anything she canyo help us girls. She always makes time to spend with her grandchildren and children..even if it is just a chat on the phone. She loves the Lord and has been a Godly example of a wife and mother to me.

Sister Joy-Compassionate...when you have a sick child joy is so understanding...(probably because one of her children have already had that sickness) She is also fun to just hang out with. We do that a lot! I ask her for lots of advice about babies and pregnancies and such.

Sister Jess- Sentimental and strong...she may not feel strong some days but I feel she is as she has gone about lots of changes this past year and continues to trust the Lord and seek His will for her life. I admire her!

This is just my immediate family. I could go on about my great brother-in-laws and others but you get the point. The Lord has truly blessed me with a wonderful family and I am so thankful for each of them.

Ephesians 1:16-19 " I have never stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you might grow in the knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the wonderful future he has promised to those he called. I want you to realize what a rich and glorious inheritance he has given to his people." (NLT)

Being Thankful

Since Thanksgiving is almost here I want to spend the next few days focusing on being thankful I found some great material that I am planning on using at http://www.reviveourhearts.com/ that I am going to be using in my personal devotion time. I really liked it because it focuses on being thankful for different areas of my life and is broken into seven days.

Day 1 the reading is from Colossians 1:3&12

2:7

3:15,17

I really like Col. 2:7 "Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with THANKSGIVING for all he has done." (NLT)

Col. 3:15 "And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members f one body you are all called to live in peace. And always be THANKFUL." (NLT)

And Col. 3:17 is def. convicting to me...."And whatever you do or say let it be as a representation of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving THANKS through him to God the Father."

Truth is we all have so much to be thankful. Hope you will join me these next 7 days in focusing on what the Lord has done for us!

A few pics for the Fam!

Riding along in my automobile...my baby beside me...


I luv she-sha!


here are a few pics of e for autie she-sha in Oregon! We love and miss you! Can't wait till Christmas to see you looking nice and prego!

Easy Crockpot Chili Soup

This recipe is from my friend Tina. I tried it last night and we loved it! The best part is that it makes a lot and is super easy! Thought I'd share! I am always looking for new, easy recipes...please feel free to share with me! I'd love them!

2 lbs ground beef browned (You can use 1 lb turkey and 1lb beef if you want)

2 cans Minestrone soup

2 cans Rotell (I used mild and it still gives it a kick..You can sub. diced tom. if you don't like the heat)

2 cans Pinto beans

One Med. log of Velveeta Cheese (there are 3 sizes of Velveeta and you need the med. one)

Add it all in your crock pot and cook for a few hours until warm. I cooked it on low for about 3 hours and it was perfect!

I also cooked Jiffy cornbread and the sweetness went well with the spicy soup! Hope you enjoy! Let me know if you try it!

Christmas Shoppping!

So the Christmas Shopping rush is right around the corner. I love Christmas shopping! Well, let me clarify...I love to go out with my mom and sisters..I love the hustle bustle, I love the Christmas music playing in stores....but I really prefer to have all my shopping done before Thanksgiving so I can "enjoy" Christmas shopping! I know I am weird! I haven't done as well this year. In fact I haven't bought one single gift for any of the guys in our family! I always have a harder time picking out gifts for them! I have done pretty good on getting a head start for the females and niece and nephews!

I was in Bath and Body...a staple shop for great gifts and I found a great little gift for just 5 Dollars! This would make a great teacher gift (teachers really prefer Bath and Body lotions over the rose floral stuff from Wal-mart...Trust ME!) I also thought these would be great to give individually if you just needed something small to add! My favorite scent right now is the Winter Candy Apple...but my mom really likes the Twisted Peppermint! It smells good too...a lot like cotton candy to me! Just thought I'd share a cheap gift idea with you! Better get them soon while they are only $5.00! Happy shopping!

Discipline

E is now 13 months and everyday I am seeing the need for more and more discipline. I really don't like to discipline. As a teacher this was always the hardest part for me. I think as the years went by I got better at consistency and having high expectations for the behavior of my students...and as the year would progress I would def. see the benefit of this. On days that I was tired or just felt like being a nice teacher...I also would see the need for consistency and rules. Now that e is growing she is challenging me more and more. Oh for the days when she would just sit and let me snuggle her. If you've seen us at church lately you've probably seen me chasing after her or seen me wrestling to hold her. I am praying for the Lord to give me wisdom as I enforce rules and expectations even at this young age....and pulling back out my parenting books!

We Survived

We survived our garage sale of 2008! WHEW...def. much easier than our garage sale of 07...I was 6 months pregnant and it was the middle of a very hot summer! I vowed that I would never do it again! But... I am one who loves to get rid of anything we are not using. I hate clutter and I find enjoyment in cleaning out closets! I know...please no hate mail! So every year I go room by room and clean out everything that is not being used or no longer needed and we have a garage sale. The best part is that whatever I make Kev lets me keep (that sounds like he never gives me money...he does I assure you) but I get to keep my cash and I don't even have to tell him what I spend it on! The joys of life on a budget. I am looking forward to heading to the mall this week. Oh, did I tell you that one of e's favorite words is Tar-get! It is too cute. She is working on Cost-Co and almost has it down. Happy Monday!