So much to be thankful for!

  

Homeschooled or not, we educate around the clock- not just at desk work time!

As the month quickly rolled by, so did our days of school.  Each day seemed to zoom right on to the next.  Most of our days lately seem to be packed tight!  They are busy and well, just full.  Then this week came; there seemed to be so much to do... yet I changed the priority list.  I am so thankful for family that knows how my house has looked.  I have a confession.... shhhh ;)  When we had one child you could lick the floors, maybe even toilet (I'm not promoting or saying its healthy)  but our home was that clean.  We moved up from the south (sniff.. sniff) and I just didn't want any more than we needed.  Boxes seemed to sit unpacked and I thought what a waste!  As more children came the home seemed less important to be "spotless".   Needless to say our home is clean, but not "hotel- like" anymore.  With a busy home and busy school days, the chores get done. ;)  Well this last month we've been doing school on Saturdays too when my hubby works. 


!Popeye Snowball Thrower!

   On Monday my hubby called and suggested taking the week off!  All the kids, but one said yay!  Needless to say, it has been a great week!  We relaxed, baked cookies, (3 kinds so far), played in the snow, played in the hay, made forts, they had a pj get comfortable & read day, and just lots of plain old had fun!  Oh, I missed that!  My kids are so sweet and special!  Please do not get me wrong, I miss working with great people and investing in other peoples lives.  Yet, the Lord has a different work for me right now.  The best investment I can make is in them!  What a blessing to be a mommy.  I love it so much and I get to see them enjoy life with their siblings! 



Friends for life includes brothers ;)

 

As most of you are family and friends, I would like to ask you to pray for our family and all that God has in store for our future!  We love you and covet your prayers. Thank you!

 

We ALL like the kitchen sweets and treats!

Thankfulness wrap up...

18. Education- we are so blessed to have freedom in education and a variety of learning styles and methods to choose from.  (At a click of a mouse it can easily be to our home within the week.)
19.  My hubby, he isn't just a husband but a man that loves the Lord.  He chooses to serve for a higher purpose.  That is a huge blessing to us.  ;-)
20. Our oldest leader.  He is so sweet and hard working.  To see him find something he strives for and to just work hard at it to do the best he can.  If he sees any need he wants to serve and help meet it; such an honor to be his mommy and see him grow. (a sniffle and tear too..)
21.  Waug- he is all boy too, but has a gentle side.  He has grown with a large desire to fill big shoes.  He seems so young to want to help so much; his heart is so sweet!
22.  B . He has been such a blessing in the kitchen lately, wanting to know how everything works.  We say he may be our scientist or inventor.  :)  Love his smile and loving heart too!
23.  Then of course mini mite!  His energy and enthusiasm is so catchy.  He loves to laugh and get others to laugh too.  So sweet to see his personality really shining the last six months or so.
24. Also for sweet Pete.  He is a tiger.  Feisty and all boy.  No mistaken he loves the outdoors too!  He is loves to sit with mommy and daddy when the other boys go to bed.  Such a sweet heart too.
25. Pastors-  I am so thankful for the men of God that have influenced my husband, myself and our boys.  We have been blessed with preachers that preach strait from the word of God!
26. Pastors wives & children- their husbands are called to preach and take a position.  Yet, they have also inherited a role to the church along with several eyes now watching their family. Yet they remain to bless so many faithfully and press on, what a bless to so many!  ;-)
27.  Nature-  If you know me I love the outdoors.  Some things have been placed on the back burner due to raising a family (with no regret); however, they still are in my heart!  I love camping (winter or summer), hiking, fishing, animals, etc.  God created so many beautiful things, I cannot get enough time in enjoying all that he's created around me.  <3

Continued Thankfulness...

10. I'm thankful for a good heritage.  My mom and dads family were amazing growing up.  There were very few memories that did not include family.  Both of our grandparents had awesome descriptions of marriage.  Standing by your spouse through thick and thin, for better or worse.  Whether or not they know the detail of their influence; they greatly influenced my life as it is today!  I praise the Lord often for a great family network growing up and description of what family should be like!  The bible speaks of heritage (29) times, I think of a verse in psalms  "yea, I have a goodly heritage"  Ps 16:6b

11. Values and skills of women and the people that taught me those things over the years.  It is a blessing to look back and see things that I was taught early.  It is amazing to think not just of hard work, labor and character skills; but also bread making, baking, sewing, canning, gardening, etc.  Those skills have helped me so much and the time of not having to learn them was such a blessing.  Our family has benefited so much because of those skills and the women that have taught me those, thank you!  The bible talks about Godly women traits; I love Proverbs 31!  Ladies in my life have helped me learn those duties and skills.  I believe as I pray in thanks the Lord will continually bless them for doing so!!

 

 

12. Technology What a blessing to "be apart" of peoples lives from a distance.  The doors of technology have blessed me in "seeing and hearing" family news and growth over the years.  Praise the Lord, I love it and love all those babies too ;)

 

13. Work  Work at home never ends, but I am referring to my husbands employer.  What a great company!  The stability of a job in our country is an asset to have.  My husbands work has proven over and over up until this point to take care of their employees, it is a huge blessing and weight off our shoulders, praise the Lord!

 

14. Luxury.  By that I don't mean just nice things, but their availability.  Hearing missionaries, travelers, and visitors from other countries makes me so thankful.  Right now we can go anywhere and pretty much "get it our way or how we want".  We are not restricted in our country and rarely limited.  If its a purchase and you can not find it, you can get it online in  a few clicks.  Or, a late night run, even out 20 miles out of town we have a late night gas station, we really are spoiled! 

15. Health  As the days go on, I notice I do not have and "order" anymore.  Anyhow, I am thankful for good health.  At anytime the Lord giveth and taketh away.  Overall I have been spoiled.  Even through the births of our children and two emergency surgeries; God has blessed me right back to health, he has been so good to me, I am so thankful for health!

16. All that I have  In general, yes family, friends, health, home, running vehicles, etc... We most definitely are not rich in monetary funds, but definitely in Gods blessings.  I have the honor and privileged to raise my family doing what I love, teaching!  He has blessed me so much!  One cannot put a $value on that.

17. A day of worship  It is a blessing to have a place to go, a solid bible church.  Not washed out by watered down truth or music, but a place to come and worship with other believers praising our wonderful Lord and savior!  It enables me for the week with pieces to meditate, search out, or just praise him for.  Praise God for the church!