Happy Anniversary

In a few more days and nine years ago...........

I married my dear husband.

Never once did he promise me the moon, even though he still looks at me like I hung it.

This last year has been one of the most difficult we have faced......even so, we faced it together.

We are learning that our marriage is more than I love yous, and holding hands.  It is steadily learning each other and the investment of time.  It is a commitment to God that far outweighs the hurts that people can inflict on one another.  It is the act of choosing love and forgiveness above all else.

Thank you honey for all the ways you show me (and the kids) you love me (us): for loving God more than me, for fixing cars, changing light bulbs and killing all the spiders; for fixing skinned knees, and hugging away broken hearts; for carrying little bed bugs into their OWN bed, and for your special brand of tuckin' time; and for being quick to forgive.

Happy Anniversary Hon...

God loves you, and so do I.

Don't forget to share your gratituesday story at Heavenly Homemakers

Gratituesday

I am a slow learner.

I learn lessons by crashing cars, breaking bones, and the beating of my head against a wall.

One life lesson that I keep bashing my head against, is forgiveness.

I'll be honest, I thought I had this one licked.  I knew how to do this one.  I have lived through a divorce and all the particular pains that were associated with it, and I have forgiven.

Got it covered.  Lesson learned.....  time to move on....  Right?

Wrong.

Here I am, years later....  visiting the same lesson.  Only now it seems harder.  circumstances are not the same.... but in thinking I have learned the lesson... I have resented and resisted the trials that have been placed in my life to help me more fully understand the meaning of forgiveness.

This time the lesson isn't so much in learning how to say "I forgive you."  The lesson is standing READY to forgive.

I am learning how to live out  Luke 6:27-36
But if you are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. (Do What???)   Pray for the happiness of those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. (Pray?  Really?  Do you know what they did to me?)  If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn the other cheek. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also.  Give what you have to anyone who asks you for it; and when things are taken away from you, don't try to get them back. Do for others as you would like them to do for you.   Do you think you deserve credit merely for loving those who love you? ( Yes, yes I do.....)  Even the sinners do that!  (oh...) And if you do good only to those who do good to you, is that so wonderful? Even sinners do that much!  And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, what good is that? Even sinners will lend to their own kind for a full return.  Love your enemies! Do good to them! Lend to them! And don't be concerned that they might not repay. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to the unthankful and to those who are wicked. ( I have lots of work to do.  It is hard to be kind to people who are mean to me.) You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.

I am grateful that God is compassionate. 
 
Grateful for his compassion shown to me as I wrestle with learning how to be ready to forgive someone, who has hurt me, even if they never acknowledge that hurt.
 
Slowly I am learning how to say, "Father, forgive them, for they know what what they do..."  (Luke 23:34)

Gratituesday: On Wednesday

A day late... but I am not a dollar short...and that's good right?

I am most thankful that I have my oven back.  Three weeks ago the control board on it popped, spit sparks at me and made me scream...  Everyone came running....  'cuz well, mom doesn't scream often.

Hubby spent a few hours checking everything and fixed it so I could at least use the cook top.  The new control board arrived on Monday.... and by the end of the night, it was all fixed.

I am so very thankful for a husband that knows how to fix things....  the part was way cheaper than a whole new unit.

Now I must go make scones........

A List of Little Things

Today, just a list. A list of some of the many things I am thankful for:

The sound of the alarm clock going off, it means my husband has a job, and is able to provide for his family.

The sound of his groan, cover flip, shuffle, exhale, scratch, scratch, and return shuffle back to bed for another 5 min.... It says his wife is more inviting than the office.

The pitter patter, or sort of a thump shuffle of Jeremiahs feet, as he travels from his own room to ours at an inhuman hour of the morning.

The silent stare of a sleepy child, 2 centimeters from your face, patiently waiting for you to crack an eyelid and ask them "What..?"

Quiet whispers, spoken to a soft kitty, that is somehow much more tolerant of a 3 year old at 6 am.

Those little icy toes, as they search for a warm spot in the small of your back.

A husband who braves the cold of the house before me, to turn on the heater, make coffee, bring it to me in bed...... and best of all, to pray with me and start our day.



I'm linking up to Heavenly Homemakers.

Gratituesday: Coffeetalk

Last Week I talked about how thankful I was that my husband could fix my truck and make the heater work.  I should have followed up that Tuesday post with one called Warm Wednesday...  because the very next day, after a few coughs and gurgles, the heater started blowing some seriously hot air.  It is wonderful!

On Saturday, I went over to a friends house.  I don't do that often, I usually am the entertainer, not the entertainee.  But earlier that week she mentioned something about stopping by for coffee, and when the boys were all away at men's breakfast on Saturday, I thought it the perfect opportunity to visit.
I rolled in about 8:30, and I left after 1:00.  I could have moved in.  We sat and drank coffee, and just chatted, about stuff, and about nothing.....girl talk.  Her family members drifted in and out of the house, some came over for the afternoon.  It was a great time getting to know them.

Thanks friend, for the invitation.  Let's do it again soon!