Sunday, December 19, 2010

So Thankful


It seems that God has constantly been reminding me lately how much I have to be thankful for.

When I complained about how tight it is in our garage after we put both vehicles in for the winter, I stopped short and reminded myself, "you have two working vehicles and an attached garage; you are wealthier than much of the world!"  How many people would like to have my "problem"?

I got frustrated trying to figure out our new printer/scanner/copier. Poor me, another luxury to complain about?

After blood tests confirmed I am border-line hypothyroid, my chiropractor/nutritionist started me on some new supplements to support my thyroid, which are not cheap.  On the way home, I starting feeling sorry for myself about how much money we spend trying to keep me healthy. I began to pray that God would provide the money needed. Again, God quickly reminded me, "I do provide for you!" I should be thanking Him, not asking again! Although it means we have to sacrifice in other areas, like vacations, or replacing old windows in our house, we are able to pay for my health costs.

I'm still fighting a cold that's had me home and doing pretty much nothing for 4 days now. Besides feeling crummy, we're also due to travel for the holidays on Thursday and I'm quite behind in Christmas preparations. But I've had all the comforts of home in the meantime, for which I am thankful. And I am also grateful I'm sick now and not over the Christmas weekend.

Anyone who reads this post has electricity, a computer, internet connection, and knows how to read. We are so blessed!

We have trials, but they are temporary, and we are not alone.

I wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas as we celebrate the birth of the Savior of the world, born in a common stable - accommodations for which I doubt Mary grumbled and complained!

Friday, December 3, 2010

Tis The Season

The season for Birthdays around our house!  Both Isaac and Aaron have birthdays at the end of November, right after Thanksgiving.  It's tricky planning what presents to give for birthdays and what to give for Christmas. And then plan celebrations at this busy time of year.

We had a party for Isaac on his actual birthday, the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  We've gotten fairly creative with birthdays over the years. One year we did a treasure hunt which the kids loved, and ever since then it doesn't seem a birthday party without one.  Each year we have to try to out-do ourselves!

We also did a photo game this year for the second time.  We came up with 10 different situations that the kids have to do, which then have to be photographed.  Thank goodness for digital cameras!  We used to do this type of game in our youth group when I was young, except then it was called a Polaroid Relay, and we competed in teams.

This year's highlights:

everybody on the roof of the shed


everybody stuffed into the trunk of the car  
duct tape Isaac to the wall
Monday our family went out for dinner to Steak 'N Shake on Aaron's birthday (his restaurant choice, because he loves their mini hamburgers and "the best strawberry shakes"!)

He had a small treasure hunt around the house to get his present; his first own Wii game!

can you tell that he was a little happy?!
And then tomorrow is Aaron's party at Chuck E Cheese, with just 2 best friends. This will be his first "real" party, not shared with Isaac, so he's super excited!  And then birthday week will officially be over and we can start to concentrate on Christmas!