A Grateful Heart

Looking back over each week and thanking the Lord for the blessings He has given me has really changed me.  I am learning to be more grateful for the small things in life, and worry less about the little things that seem to get in my way.  Reminds me of Francesca Battistelli’s song, “This is the Stuff”….  “In the middle of my little mess, I forget how big I’m blessed”… SO TRUE!  I enjoy my time of reflection because it makes me refocus my life on HIS blessings, which are the things that bring me joy and carry me through every second of every day. 

This past week has been different, to say the least.  But, in the highs and lows, I know the Lord is sustaining me and training me for what lies just around the corner… that is both scary and exciting!!!!

• Monday night I got to spend some quality time with my girls, parents, brother and niece cleaning up the camper and boat from our last camping trip.  It was a good reminder of fun times I had when I was a kid.  I had some good chats with my brother about his move to Texas, and really soaked in the reality of the move.  With each event and conversation God is preparing me for the move, and for the work that must be done here after they leave.
• Tuesday my mother sat at our house for several hours waiting for our new washer to be delivered and installed.  She is such a blessing!  She gives all she has, even to the point of exhaustion.  She thinks of others first and does everything she can to make life better and easier for those around her.  I have watched her give of herself until she is literally sick in bed.  Though I try to stop her from doing so much, I see her heart and desire to serve.  Who am I to take that away from her?  I pray that I grow older I have a heart of service like she does.  We all have our faults, but faults aside, she is an amazing woman and such a blessing to me. 
• Wednesday morning I took my youngest daughter to her post-op neurosurgeon appointment.  The surgeon was amazed at her healing and discharged us from his care.  He was pleased with how the surgery went, with how she is recovering, and with the very minimal risk of her venous malformation returning.  She was just as excited as I was to know that she is now “officially” a “normal” kid again.  She is such a precious blessing to me. 
• The same morning we got good news about my youngest daughter, my oldest daughter broke out in a rash from head to toe, had a low grade fever and a nasty case of Swimmer’s Ear.  I am happy to report that she is now better and back to being herself. 
• Between doctor appointments and rashes that keep little girls from daycare, I managed to stay home Wednesday so my husband could go to work.  I did some work from home, but while the girls rested and watched movies, I did some MAJOR house cleaning.  I cannot begin to tell you how great it feels to clean out closets and throw away the junk that accumulates.  I don’t need that clutter in my life and was happy to get rid of it!
• Thursday I was able to celebrate a small victory!  I have been struggling with my weight my entire life!  I lost 85 pounds after my second daughter was born, kept it off for 2 years, then it started creeping back up!  I gained 25 of those ugly pounds back and have struggle for almost 2 years now to get it off.  I finally started in the right direction on my scale, after doctor visits, long talks with my WW leader and encouragement from my dearest friend.  .4 pounds is not a lot, but when you are constantly gaining or staying the same, it is HUGE!
• Friday I learned that a dear friend of mine had an incredibly tough week.  Actually, she has had a tough year.  But, in the midst of all she has faced, she has been an amazing example of God’s strength and dignity poured out in flesh.  Even when she is struggling and wants to throw a pity party, she continues to look to the Lord and praise Him.  She speaks with wisdom and acts with honor.  She is my mentor and such a blessing to me.  I love this dear woman and her husband as though they are my own family, flesh and bone.
• Saturday was one of the best days of the week!  We worked so hard inside and outside of the house, finishing up projects that have been on our “to-do” list for months!  At the end of the day we had a very clean house, freshly painted posts on our front porch, a yard cleared of a dead tree, and a completely planted raised garden.  I am so grateful for the health the Lord has given me to be able to work so hard, for so long. 
• After a long day of work, we treated ourselves to ice cream and just relaxed, cuddles up on the couch, and fresh pedicures!  This time I got brave.... teal toesnails!  GOOD STUFF!
• Sunday service was amazing, a true celebration of our Independence Day and the service men and women who fight for our freedom!  We are so blessed her in America!  The sermon really called me to the carpet on a few things the Lord has been dealing on me with.  It is time to stop sitting on the back pew, wising I was doing what He has called me to do, and get on my feet and start working.  I am super excited to see what is just around the corner!!!!
• Sunday afternoon while my family relaxed I reflected on my week, the sermon, and my future.  I began working out the details of a few things the Lord had laid on my heart, and really just say and listened to Him.  It was refreshing!
• Sunday night I found myself almost in tears as I watch the joy and wonder on my daughter’s faces as we watched fireworks go off in our neighborhood.  We saw a storm coming in, so we went in the house and got ready for bed.  Before we tucked the girls in, I took them upstairs, sat them on the bed with me, and we watched more fireworks form my daughter’s bedroom window.  We snuggled, talked about the pretty colors, and about the fun-filled Fourth of July we were going to celebrate the next day.  They were both so excited they had a hard time going to bed.  I was reminded of those times I shared with my brother.  The nights we were so excited about the events of the following day that we could not sleep.  And the nights that we stayed up all night long just being silly.  Those are memories that I will always keep tucked away in my heart.
• Monday we celebrated our Independence Day.  I had a little talk with the girls about the importance of the holiday and the importance of the military that keeps protecting the freedoms we have here in America.  I am so blessed to have several service men and women in my family.  They make me very proud!
• This marked the last time I would celebrate Independence Day with my brother, sister-in-love and niece here in Kentucky.  As I enjoyed the day, that thought kept creeping up.  So I soaked in every second and enjoyed the time I had with my family.  My sweet husband was so sick he could not enjoy the celebrations with us, which really took some of the fun of the day away, but he did what he could. 

After some fun times at a carnival, eating ice cream, playing with sparklers and watching fireworks, we all crawled in bed… completely exhausted.  All I could think about as I laid in bed that night was how truly blessed I am.  I deserve nothing good, yet God continues to pour out His love and blessing on me.  I pray that I never take them for granted and always have a grateful heart.