Thanksgiving

We had a nice Thanksgiving yesterday. It was nice to see my mom in a good mood and not stressed out. I've seen so much God has done for her and its really a blessing. I'm so thankful she moved here last year because she has grown so much! We had an intimate dinner, just my mom, my gramma, my fiancée, Isaac, and I. It was relaxing and Isaac had a lot of fun playing with gramma and chasing the dogs. He looks like we threw him down the stairs though LOL.

I'm so thankful for God's participation in my life. The biggest changes in me are not worrying, and finding love for ME. I'm thankful for our needs always being taken care of, and a nice home to live in. I'm thankful for a hard-working husband-to-be, and the bright light that is my son! I couldn't ask for more. My fiancée asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I had a really hard time thinking of something I really want. I already have everything I want! God has really contented my heart with what I have :) I told him I could use some new clothes, so I got to pick some stuff out from Old Navy today.

I read another blog today about the money we waste on things we don't need- things that end up in bags for donation that were never used. Its true, many of us waste so much money impulsively on things we don't need, or ever end up using. This past year, having a child and living on one income without the benefits of WIC, we have managed to do really well, and learn a lot about acting impulsively! I'm very happy with the progress we've made, and am very excited to see the changes we make in the next year. Most everything we have for Isaac were gifts or hand-me-downs, and being blessed that way, I have been able to give the clothes and toys he's outgrown to others in need. It takes a village, right? Its such a blessing to all be able to take care of each other this way! When we do our Christmas shopping this year, I will be buying things to make gifts (food, and knits), and we are only planning to get just a few new toys for Isaac- toys that will last, and that will be used for years (building blocks, cars).

Most of all, I'm thankful its been possible to stay home. I know that some judge stay-at-home mom's harshly, thinking they are lazy and only use their brains "for changing diapers", and in all honestly- this has never been something I ever thought I would do, but I am incredibly happy with this as my job. It is sometimes thankless, its definitely 24 hr, 7 days a week ON CALL, it can be exhausting and overwhelming at times, and other times can be boring and give me cabin-fever, but I've learned so much, and I have such a huge opportunity to really make a difference in Isaac's life by being sure to enrich it and work with him on new things. It can be tempting to sit on the computer or watch tv all day some days, but we have so much more fun if we get outside or read together, or learning a new healthy recipe to share with my family. Its definitely not a job for everyone, but surprisingly, I seem to do okay.

Its been a great year, and I look forward to the next one!

Answers

My small group left me to answer this question: Have there been things that have caused tension in your prayers?

At first I couldn't answer it. Its been a week and a half since I first pondered the question. I finally believe I have an answer though.

While I was still pregnant with Isaac, I decided I needed to take my prayer life more seriously, and got a notebook to start writing prayers and bible studies in. My parents considered themselves Christian, but never took us to church regularly, and didn't teach us to pray or read our bibles (actually I don't even think I got a bible until I was like 12 after I asked for one). I don't hold it against them or anything... but obviously, if you are taught those things from a young age, they come more naturally. Prayer has always been really hard for me to do. Its never been my go-to when a problem comes up or I'm stressed out about something. I saw I needed to change this in my life if I wanted to seek a closer relationship with God, hence the notebook.

Since we had spoken about prayer in my group, I decided to go back and read my prayers and requests and check off the ones that had been answered. As I read, I saw periods of time in my life where I was really being tried and praying every day. I remembered the tension I felt in those prayers... I remember thinking ever single day that TODAY would be the day it would be better, and it wasn't. Well, those prayers were answered, but it took a lot more time than I could have anticipated... And being able to look back and see this is truly a blessing. It encourages me to keep praying on those things that I'm praying for NOW, and gives me even more trust in God's plan for my life.

Every single time I come to an issue in my life that is hard, that I don't really want to deal with... that I want to find an answer to quickly and FIX, I start trying to put pegs in holes, ignoring the fact that they are not the right shape. Time has taught me this year to trust God more, and to step back, chill out, LISTEN, and obey. I learn over and over again that when I think I've got it down, I DON'T. Hahaha...

Thank you, Father, for being my parent. Thank you for teaching me to walk. The longer I live this life of a parent myself, I see more how You really are my Father. I love you. I pray you continue to guide me and show me new things, and enrich my life in ways not of this world. Thank you for this life of PLENTY! Oh how we all take for granted this amazing life we've been given! To live in a country where even the poorest of poor are better off than most in the world! Such a gift! Thank you for showing me how to share again, Lord... and to appreciate the life you've gifted me with. You are so generous. I pray that you touch the lives of my friends and family, and bless them with this knowledge. I pray I can live as an example that others will desire You through. I continue to lift my life up to You, Father, and obey your will. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen.