A list of thankfulness

I am definitely stealing this idea from someone else, but I read it and loved it so here goes my version:

1. I am thankful for hearing "No, that's my toy, Don't touch that, I was playing with that, stop touching me" one thousand times a day because it means I have more than one child and they are healthy enough to interact and play with one another even if they are bickering 3/4s of the time.

2. I am thankful that figuring out what we are doing on Christmas was a crazy mess because it means we have so many people to love and spend time with.

3. I am thankful that I have to make a grocery list tonight even though I am exhausted because it means I can afford to buy food for my family.

4. I am thankful that I am so tired today from working and caring for kids because it means I am blessed with a great job where I can work and still be with my children all day.

5. I am thankful that I have so little clothing to choose from because I have lost
56lbs.

6. I am thankful that I have to wake up tomorrow and spend the day with my kids without my husband because it means he has work and can provide for our family.

7. I am thankful that I have so much wrapping left to do because it means we were able to buy presents for the people we love.

8. I am thankful that my house is too small because it means I have a place to live and a growing family.

I have so much to be thankful for and this list just scratches the surface, but I want to remember and be thankful in everything. What are you thankful for?

Sing praises

So the past couple of days have just felt so blah. It seems like I have not heard any good news in so long. Every where I turn another friend is losing a job, getting sick. I know that this too shall pass, but in the moment it seems so long. I just felt broken yesterday by all the hurt and sadness.
Yesterday I was just feeling so sad and I remembered a phrase I have heard from the bible. "A sacrifice of praise" I am not sure if that applies here, but in the moment I just started to sing praises to God. Out loud, which Claire found to be hilarious. I do not always remember to do that, but it helped. I am so utterly greatful for the blessings I have. We have been given so much. We have jobs, and vehicles and food and a warm house. I know there are so many who have so little, so in the midst of my sadness I remembered Jesus and how good he still was despite all I see going on around me and I think that is what I am always supposed to do. He still is good and he still reigns despite the economy, despite illness, despite death. He is God.