{A Week of Gratefulness}

"Pumpkin spice cake,
pumpkin rolls,
cranberry sauce,
apple pie,
set the tables,
print off Bible verses.." said the list hanging on the refrigerator. {Thankful.for.lists.} As the days before Thanksgiving passed quickly by, the more things on the list got crossed off. Excitement and pre-thanksgiving jitters filled the house. Each day we tackled a new project. I watched Diana standing over the hot stove stirring her bright red cranberry sauce. Her hair was tied up and loose strands curled around her sweaty forehead. {thankful.for.my.sister.} I can remember many years ago when Diana and I used to sit at the counter and help mom prep for Thanksgiving. We were so little back then; we didn't know the tricks of the kitchen as we do today. ;) 
Wednesday came; the busiest prep day. Dad, Diana and I were sent to purchase the final Thanksgiving meal item. "Twas the night before Thanksgiving..." I quoted on the great expedition to pick up the bird.  We drove to the great beyond {about 10 minutes} to fulfill the desired request by the most dearest of mothers; and what a ride it was. {thankful.for.my.mom.} Christmas music streamed through the speakers of our good old van as Diana and I belted out the words to our favorite Christmas songs. They were so long forgotten, we hadn't sung them for a year. {thankful.for.memorable.moments.} We embraced them like long, lost, forgotten friends; and a bit off tune I must admit. ;) We walked into the cinnamon-y smelling store and browsed past the fresh bright red apples and vibrant veggies. We casually walked down the candy isle. Glass jars of chocolate balls and candy cane sticks appealed to our eyes. There were chocolate Christmas trees, red and green M&Ms, Christmas taffy, and cute little stuffed Christmas bears. {thankful.for.m&ms.}
 "Awww!" I squealed hugging one. Diana looked at me, "Please, we don't need any more dolls." We "oooo"ed and "ahhh"ed our way past the festive arrangements. After standing in line for what seemed like eternity, we finally walked out with our great big turkey. Pilling back into the van, I burst out that we were the only ones in the store who had actually purchased a turkey uncooked; everybody in line was purchasing "cooked Thanksgiving" meals. Dad just shook his head. :P {thankful.for.homemade.food.} {and.a.mother.who.won't.buy.anything.premade.} ;)
I woke up early Thanksgiving morning; the sun streamed through my window. {thankful.for.sunrays.} Excitement drew me out of bed; I didn't care if I was the only one awake! We took a trip up to the arboretum for a nice pre-meal hike. It was beautiful. The clean crisp air did well to our souls. It was a few hours of thankfulness to our Creator for the beauty which lay around us. {thankful.for.trees.and.fresh.air.}
2pm arrived, and so did our guests.  Food, crock-pots, coats, shoes, little kids, big kids, friends, family, my nephew; the excitement in our house grew with every moment. {thankful.for.happiness.} Our kitchen was overflowing with food; pies, turkey, stuffing, potatoes, cranberry sauce. {yum} 
All day and afternoon we enjoyed the laughter streaming from each room of our home. I walked in and out smiling to myself and taking it all in. I sat at the table with one little girl on my lap. Her long thin brown hair brushed against my cheeks; she looked up at me with her bright blue eyes shining. {thankful.for.little.friends.} We whispered together and tried to predict the winners of the games. My baby nephew's giggles echoed and brought smiles to everyone as he ran around from person to person. {thankful.for.the.nephew.} 
Our Thanksgiving Day came to a close as we started our hymn sing. The kids got out their violins, violas, and cellos. A whole string ensemble joined me on the piano. In-between songs, we shared with each other our thankfulness and our prayers. We spend time in prayer not just a friends, but as family in Christ. {thankful.for.the gift.of.like-mindedness.} I believe God puts people in our lives for a specific reason. He chooses your family members for a reason, He chooses your friends for a reason; all to bring glory to His name. {thankful.for.the.ones.He.chose.for.me.}  (: 

“Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing.
 Know that the Lord Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

 Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations.”

{Psalm 100}

A Battle For Him.

I woke up that Wednesday morning with the past evenings events etched in my mind. The feeling of lose and defeat weighed heavy on my heart. The thought of staying in bed for four more years was very tempting. It couldn't be real; I was determined to imagine that it had all been a dream, and now I was waking up with the sun shining and a bright new outlook on the day. But alas, I had to face that Wednesday morning just like any other day. My Bible lay on my dresser next to me, bulging with letters from dear friends, ripped-out notebook paper crinkled with writings, bookmarks, pens and bulletins from church. I thought of that book which I loved so much; the wrinkled pages that were covered with pen markings and highlighters, the verses that were circled and underlined with pen to remind myself of God's goodness. Yes, that book gets me through life. And now {shameful to say} as I lay there in my bed I doubted the power of those words. I doubted the hand of God, the very hand that made me, the very hand that formed the universe and calmed the storm, and the very hand that was nailed to the cross and bled for me. I grabbed my Bible, wanting to be reminded once more, and opened up to the pages to where I left off the day before; Jeremiah, the weeping prophet. “For both prophet and priest are polluted; Even in My house I have found their wickedness,” declares the Lord. “Therefore their way will be like slippery paths to them, They will be driven away into the gloom and fall down in it; For I will bring calamity upon them, The year of their punishment,” declares the Lord." {Jeremiah 23:9}. "The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes." {Proverbs 21:1} How could I worry, when I have such an awesome God? Thoughts buzzed through my head all day. Depression tried to creep in, but God's voice had spoken to me and lifted me out. I'm not worried, I'm not scared. Why should we ask for the easy way out? God wants to stretch us as Christians; just like Jeremiah. We are surrounded by a nation that doesn't want God's name spoken. A nation that shuts out everything we stand for. We are to be strong in this battle; knowing that God is siding with us one hundred percent."Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in the Lord." {Psalm 31:24}