November 8,9,10,11

Month of Thanksgiving 2013

Ok, so I am a little behind. It's all good, just because I wasn't posting didn't mean I stopped being thankful. Bear with my long list:

-Compelling 2013: a wonderful, God honoring conference with 850 students and staff from around Michigan, learning what it means to tear down walls and glorify God. Students were trained, met with God, grew in community and were sent back to their  campuses. I am so so so grateful to be a part of it.

-In the Gap: Compelling was broken down into several different tracks/seminars that students could take. I was a part of In the Gap, training 60 students all weekend how to lead through intercession. So grateful to be among people who value intercession, so much so, that it is seen as a way to lead.

-Tina: It has been a few years since I have seen Tina. We were on staff together, and she has left staff to pursue her teaching career. It was so good to hug her, catch up, and pray with her. I have missed her so much! And it was so good to see how God has been working in her life, and bringing sweet, sweet redemption to her ministry.

-Michigan State: It's a cool campus. Just sayin.

-My own hotel: Most years, I room in the same hotel as students during Compelling. This year, we had a couple hotels booked, and staff were moved off site. I was grateful to sleep at another hotel. It was much quieter:) I had good sleep, and a very comfortable bed.

-FSB: My supervisor. One of the most faithful, steady, pastoral man that I have ever met. And I could probably come up with a lot more adjectives.

-Photos texted to me from my husband: While I am away, it is so fun to receive pictures from home to see how things are going.

-Sweet goodbyes

-InterVarsity staff

-Scripture, it is so so so good. Nothing is as life giving.

-A plan to grow in teaching: I am so excited for the next step that my friend Diana and I are going to take. We both love to teach scripture--stay tuned for what this will look like.

-A conversation filled with grace: I don't talk on the phone with my aunt a lot, but Sunday night's conversation was needed and so good. Thanks Ang! I feel loved and cared for!

-God saying no: God has closed the doors on a few things in our life. It is bittersweet, but I am thankful for God's voice, even if it isn't what I always want to hear.

-Hulu: It helps my photo editing time go by faster

-Pumpkin spice coffee, from Biggby, brewed at home. Just as delicious, but cheaper.

-Uncle Jason: While I was gone this weekend, Uncle Jason came to visit his nephew. Should I take offense that he waited till I was gone? :) Just kidding! I know Caleb had a great time, and it is so fun to hear all about their time together. The sword fought all night. Jason's sword was a pillow. Pretty dangerous, huh?  

November 7, 2013

Month of Thanksgiving 2013 

Today I am thankful for:

LECTIO DEVINA. Tonight at InterVarsity's Large Group, we practiced the discipline of Lectio Devina. It has been a few years since I have done it, and boy oh boy did I miss it. And God spoke.

Lectio Devina is the process of reading and listening to God's word very slowly, and over and over, and listening to the Lord.

It was so good tonight. And so refreshing.

Sometime you should ask me what God said. And then we should practice it together:)

November 5 and 6

Month of Thanksgiving 2013

I am a little late posting these, but thankful none the less.

Thankful for:

- Nov. 5: A  God honoring memorial service celebrating the life of a man who loved his God and his family. It wasn't fun to see the family in pain and grieving, but there was such hope, hope from Jesus. I am grateful that pain and sorrow is not forever, that cancer is gone in heaven, and Jesus can be the peace that we all need.

-Nov 6: I am thankful that someday, I will be free from depression and anxiety. That day is not yet, and may not happen here on earth, but I am so grateful that this is not my home, in heaven I will be made complete, and sin will be conquered!

November 4, 2013

Month of Thanksgiving November 2013  

Today I am thankful for:
- a nap. I know I said that the other days this month, sheesh. It's been a hard month already, lots of stuff going on externally and internally, along with kids who are giving up sleep.
-"Caught being a big boy." We are having crazy issues with C. He is being N A U G H T Y. This morning I made a chart, titled, "Caught Being a Big Boy." Every time he did something "big", he could put a star sticker on his chart. Stickers were filling up as he ate well, took a nap, washed hands after going potty, picked up his toys, helped with Chicky, etc. When the chart is filled up, we have a big treat he can pick out.
-Diana, her support friendship and prayers. I am thankful for friends who get me.
-Affirming "circumstances."
-Taking the next steps of obedience, and being blessed.
-He got in the pool! Last year, we signed Caleb up for swimming lessons, but it was torture to get him near the pool. When this year's registrations were up, I was scared. Tonight, was the first night, but he did it.
-Kristy's boot camp....---Started today, working on losing weight....again. I am thankful that today was so easy. Granted, I would have loved to have a gallon of icecream instead of what I ate today, but I was surprised on how good everything tasted today. And I even liked working out:)
-Texting: It just  makes everything easier.

November 3, 2013

Month of Thanksgiving 2013 

Today I am thankful for:

-Daylight savings doesn't happen with kids, they just wake up an hour earlier. So, even though there wasn't much sleep, I am thankful for cheerful kids this morning.
-A pink bow in my girlies curly hair.
-Anita, the nursery worker who passionately loves this kids in her nursery.
-Doing ministry with my husband each Sunday as we serve the youthgroup
-Junior high students...ah, they make me laugh!
-God's still small voice, peace and assurance. I am resting in that tonight.

November 2, 2013

Month of Thanksgiving 2013 

Today I am thankful for:
-A great coffee date with Esther at Biggby. Let''s do it more often.
-A free latte at Biggby today.
-A long nap WITH Caleb.
-A husband who made a french toast dinner and cleaned the bathroom.
-Caleb's imagination, as I watch him build with legos.
- The crazy song, "What does the fox say?" We play it, and an immediate dance party errupts at our house.
- A successful and productive photo editing day.

November 1, 2013

Month of Thanksgiving 2013 

Today, I am thankful for:
-a dependent, caring, patient babysitter
-Melatonin
-great conversations with students on campus today
-Photoshop
-My husband for having a hilarious photo editing idea
-coffee
-God's word and work
-a late Friday nap
 -It's now my birthday month!