November 7

"Yes, yes yes. I would do things differently, but yes, if I had to do it all over I would ask you again."

Seeing those words on the bathroom mirror from my husband this morning is leaving me simply speechless. And in love.

I am thankful for that note on the mirror. Total gratitude/

November 6

I am thankful that I woke up today in America.


Grateful that I could go to church without worry of persecution.

Grateful that I have a home, heat, a bed, food, clothes, 2 cars, 2 computers, 2 tv's, and the list goes on.

Grateful that I have my Bachelor's Degree, and that my dream of getting my MDiv. could actually happen because I live in a country, where education is more than a possibility.

November 5

Today I am grateful for photography.

For the means to be able to afford some photography equipment.

For the trust that people give me to photograph their precious moments in their lives.

For the small income coming into our house as a result of the photo shoots and weddings. 

I am grateful that I can worship God through photos.

November 4

I am thankful for my super hardworking, sometimes exhausted husband. I am thankful that he has a job that pay our bills so that I can work part time and stay home with Caleb A LOT. I had so much fun with my boy today. We had lots of snuggles and book reading. My heart melts around that boy, especially when he says, "Mumma!!!!" I respond, "Yes, Caleb?" He says: "Mumma, hug. Mumma snuggle." Don't mind if I do baby boy, don't mind if I do.

I am grateful for the nice weather. I sat outside on my porch today doing some prep work and watching Caleb pray.

I am thankful for my husband, the rec league soccer coach, even though he does not have kids on the team, he desires to be a part of the community and of course be a part of soccer.

I am so grateful that I found out I could eat pumpkin cookies during my Daniel Fast:) (Don't ask me how MANY I ate).

I am grateful for the men and women who have paved the way so that women can be in ministry.

And tonight, I am grateful that I will be in bed by 11pm.

I had to leave you with a picture of the cutest Thomas you have ever seen:)

November 3

Jon works during the day, I work at night. Jon has the weekends off, and I have been working most weekends, all weekend. Needless to say, we don't see each other much.

Tonight, we had a Family Night. I had nothing scheduled after 5:15. We loaded up Caleb and went to Kids N Stuff, our awesome local kids museum. Caleb LOVES it. He has so much fun playing that he usually wears himself out and comes right home and wants to go to bed. Tonight was no different. We quickly had some dinner, Jon went to bed early, and I put Caleb to bed as well... right now, my boys are sleeping peacefully upstairs and in just under and hour, I will be joining them:)

There was no romance, nothing special, just a time to be together.

Novemeber 2

IBS. No, not the bowel kind, the Bible kind.

Today I am very thankful for inductive Bible Study. I love learning the scriptures in a deep way.

I am part of InterVarsity, and by nature, we are scripture study-ers, studying scripture by manuscripting it. It is not uncommon for me to carry markers and colored pencils with me all the time, because I might just start studying the Bible, and would need markers and colored pencils.

The manuscript process...
1. Observe. What is the text saying? Act like a reporter, look for themes, repeated ideas and words, who are the characters, etc

2. Interpret. What did the text mean to the original audience?

3. Apply. What does the text mean to me today?

4. Integrate. How does this stand with the rest of scripture?

I am thankful that I have been taught how to study the Word of God. Though pastors and teachers are good, and needed, I don't need to wait until Sunday morning to learn on my own. I know that God has given me a brain and I can use it to study His word well. I am so grateful for that.

I am grateful that I get to teach students how to study the word. I am even grateful that I might be able to do more teaching of the Word at church (maybe).

Thank you Lord, for the study of Your word!

November 1

It's that time of the year!!!

Fall......hello pumpkin! I love fall, love the colors, love the flavors and smell and love the weather.

But no, that's not what I am talking about.

It is officially "Holiday Season." ---Thanksgiving and Christmas are getting closer day by day.

And as excited as I am for the holidays, that is still not what I am talking about.

What about the fact that Compelling is so very close?

Oh, it is close...and so much work to  do. But still not what I am talking about.

Do you know?

It is NOVEMBER----meaning the month of thankfulness. I will be joining with several others in the blogging world sharing each day about something I am thankful for.


Today....I am thankful for the students I work with. I am so excited to see their heart for the Lord,  their desire to be grounded in the Word of God, to live a life of prayer, and wanting to share their faith with others. I get to be a part of what they are doing! So glad that God has sent me here to work among these students.

I am grateful for the sacrifice they make in order to make God's name glorified on campus.

I am grateful for the way that we are all bonding together in prayer and fasting for the next 10 days. I am grateful that at 7am, 6 college students gathered in my living room, snuggled up in blankets, praying to the Lord.

Thank you Lord. Thank you for the amazing group of students that you have given me.