Years ago when we had an American boarder in our house she and her American boyfriend introduced us to Thanksgiving. For a number of years we kept the tradition going but it has become harder and harder with the family getting older and moving away. Perhaps if Thanksgiving was a holiday here it would be easier but it's not.
Son#5 will still be in the middle of exams this coming Thanksgiving, Son#1 will have classes, I haven't even checked to see if Son#2 is working or not but I will be (until 6.30 that night anyway), and Son#3 may or may not be home.
So it's not looking as if it's going to happen this year. However, I still think it's a good idea to pause and think of all the things we are thankful for. So here begins my list (I may add to it as the week goes on):
I'm thankful for this country's national anthem which is really a prayer. It's made me wonder about the original writer/s of the anthem and what they believed. I'll be certainly searching that out in the near future.
I'm thankful for a husband who thinks I'm beautiful even when I turn up to church with barely any makeup on (running late because I tried on three different skirts before settling on the one I'd had on first).
I'm thankful for four beautiful granddaughters who bring so much joy into my life.
I'm thankful for my family and that they come home even if Son#2 says we're all crazy and Son#3 only comes when he can tear himself away from a certain young lady.
I'm thankful that God's grace is sufficient. Whether it's dealing with chronic pain ... disappointment ... uncertainty about the future ... His grace is always sufficient.
I'm thankful for work in these days of unemployment and economic recession.
I'm thankful for my wonderful brand new kitchen which is almost - almost! - completed. I like it even if the taste of some members of the family varies greatly from my own.
I'm thankful that Son#4 starts a job tomorrow and that even though it may not be paying - or may not pay much - it will help him fulfil the requirements of his engineering degree.
I'm thankful that we've had a glimpse of sunshine this past week and can only hope that we will see more of it soon. (Considering it will officially be summer in just over ten days' time, it's about time we saw some sunshine and I stopped thinking about lighting the fire at night).
I'm thankful for the great team I have at work. We're still trying to find our feet after all the recent changes but each teacher has such incredible gifts that they bring to the job.
I'm thankful that I can write and that God has given me this desire. For a child whom doctors predicted would never be able to function outside institutionalised care, I'm so thankful that God in His mercy and grace healed me and blessed me with such a wonderful desire and gift.
I'm thankful for my readers and especially all those who ask when the next book will be out. (Hopefully I'll have something to report soon.)
I'm thankful for my vegetable garden in pots. It's a lot less back-breaking than my old vegetable plot and a lot less work. I don't know if it will be as productive but at the moment it's fulfilling my need to grow vegetables.
I'm thankful for my roses which are looking amazing at the moment - thanks I'm sure to all the tea leaves I've been feeding them in recent months. (DH says it's due to his expert pruning but I'm sure it's the tea leaves.)
I'm thankful for the wonderful ladies on the prayer board online who pray with and for me. I will probably never meet any of these ladies in this life, but they are truly my sisters in Christ and I will always be grateful for them.
I'm thankful that DH and I have until next winter before we have to make a decision on curtains for our dining and kitchen since we can't decide/agree on ordinary drapes, Roman blinds, venetian blinds, or shutters. Actually shutters aren't even a consideration given the expense but they would certainly look amazing.
I'm thankful for a DH who works hard and who likes to do a good job and while sometimes I think he's too fussy, I do really appreciate the time and effort and patience that he puts into making things right.
I'm thankful that DH made me buy that blue silk blouse that I'd fallen in love with and which I love wearing. The first time I put it on Son#5 told me it was a nice top: I almost had to be peeled off the floor! It makes me feel good every time I put it on.
I'm thankful that I now have batteries in my scales and they no long tell me I'm a "bat" every time I climb on them. And even better, even though they haven't been working for several weeks, I've not put any weight on!
I'm thankful for God's many blessings - some which I have listed - but there are more not listed. I'm especially thankful for His goodness to me and for the gift of salvation.
I'm thankful for the studies we've been doing on Christmas with our teens and preteens. Even though our numbers in the class are dwindling, I've learnt so much just from preparing the lessons and have looked at a familiar story from a new perspective.
I'm thankful ... that I have so much to be thankful for.
Son#5 will still be in the middle of exams this coming Thanksgiving, Son#1 will have classes, I haven't even checked to see if Son#2 is working or not but I will be (until 6.30 that night anyway), and Son#3 may or may not be home.
So it's not looking as if it's going to happen this year. However, I still think it's a good idea to pause and think of all the things we are thankful for. So here begins my list (I may add to it as the week goes on):
I'm thankful for this country's national anthem which is really a prayer. It's made me wonder about the original writer/s of the anthem and what they believed. I'll be certainly searching that out in the near future.
I'm thankful for a husband who thinks I'm beautiful even when I turn up to church with barely any makeup on (running late because I tried on three different skirts before settling on the one I'd had on first).
I'm thankful for four beautiful granddaughters who bring so much joy into my life.
I'm thankful for my family and that they come home even if Son#2 says we're all crazy and Son#3 only comes when he can tear himself away from a certain young lady.
I'm thankful that God's grace is sufficient. Whether it's dealing with chronic pain ... disappointment ... uncertainty about the future ... His grace is always sufficient.
I'm thankful for work in these days of unemployment and economic recession.
I'm thankful for my wonderful brand new kitchen which is almost - almost! - completed. I like it even if the taste of some members of the family varies greatly from my own.
I'm thankful that Son#4 starts a job tomorrow and that even though it may not be paying - or may not pay much - it will help him fulfil the requirements of his engineering degree.
I'm thankful that we've had a glimpse of sunshine this past week and can only hope that we will see more of it soon. (Considering it will officially be summer in just over ten days' time, it's about time we saw some sunshine and I stopped thinking about lighting the fire at night).
I'm thankful for the great team I have at work. We're still trying to find our feet after all the recent changes but each teacher has such incredible gifts that they bring to the job.
I'm thankful that I can write and that God has given me this desire. For a child whom doctors predicted would never be able to function outside institutionalised care, I'm so thankful that God in His mercy and grace healed me and blessed me with such a wonderful desire and gift.
I'm thankful for my readers and especially all those who ask when the next book will be out. (Hopefully I'll have something to report soon.)
I'm thankful for my vegetable garden in pots. It's a lot less back-breaking than my old vegetable plot and a lot less work. I don't know if it will be as productive but at the moment it's fulfilling my need to grow vegetables.
I'm thankful for my roses which are looking amazing at the moment - thanks I'm sure to all the tea leaves I've been feeding them in recent months. (DH says it's due to his expert pruning but I'm sure it's the tea leaves.)
I'm thankful for the wonderful ladies on the prayer board online who pray with and for me. I will probably never meet any of these ladies in this life, but they are truly my sisters in Christ and I will always be grateful for them.
I'm thankful that DH and I have until next winter before we have to make a decision on curtains for our dining and kitchen since we can't decide/agree on ordinary drapes, Roman blinds, venetian blinds, or shutters. Actually shutters aren't even a consideration given the expense but they would certainly look amazing.
I'm thankful for a DH who works hard and who likes to do a good job and while sometimes I think he's too fussy, I do really appreciate the time and effort and patience that he puts into making things right.
I'm thankful that DH made me buy that blue silk blouse that I'd fallen in love with and which I love wearing. The first time I put it on Son#5 told me it was a nice top: I almost had to be peeled off the floor! It makes me feel good every time I put it on.
I'm thankful that I now have batteries in my scales and they no long tell me I'm a "bat" every time I climb on them. And even better, even though they haven't been working for several weeks, I've not put any weight on!
I'm thankful for God's many blessings - some which I have listed - but there are more not listed. I'm especially thankful for His goodness to me and for the gift of salvation.
I'm thankful for the studies we've been doing on Christmas with our teens and preteens. Even though our numbers in the class are dwindling, I've learnt so much just from preparing the lessons and have looked at a familiar story from a new perspective.
I'm thankful ... that I have so much to be thankful for.
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