A week of Thanksgiving

Friday November 1:  I am thankful for quiet. Given my current living situation, absolute quiet at home is rare. I get quiet time on the way to or from work any morning if I just turn the stereo off. I get quiet at work when the students aren't there. I get somewhat quiet throughout the day, but to just sit at home in quiet, because no one is here, not because they are just all sleeping, basically never happens. So when I found out that tonight I would get this opportunity, to say I was overjoyed would be an understatement. My original plan was to attend my nieces basketball game, but last minute I realized schedules didn't work out to get there in time. I needed this quiet, peaceful night. Thank you Lord.

Saturday November 2: I am thankful for our youth pastor's (and his wife's!) commitment to families. I'm thankful he chooses to give up every Saturday night to go over what he is going over with the youth. Thankful he invites us into his home and allows us time to fellowship and talk with one another. I'm thankful for all those that come together on Saturday nights and offer encouragement and prayer for one another as we are all in this parenting thing together. Raising kids is hard. Raising kids to love Jesus, to have morals, to hopefully choose right from wrong in this day, I believe, is even harder. It's so nice to know I'm not alone. Thank you Lord.

Sunrise service

Pictures taken at a recent weekend camping trip with youth, children and their families

Sunday November 3: Freedom to worship the Lord. We live in a time and place that without a doubt in my mind worship for Jesus is taken for granted. We are free to worship Jesus wherever we please. And as for corporate worship there is almost a church on every corner to choose from. We can walk in any given Sunday morning and without much thought to what or why we are doing it, worship our Lord and Savior. Worship should be a BIG deal. While I'm so very thankful that we are free to worship without really fear, I pray we don't forget the greatness of the God we are worshiping. Let's not forget just how worthy He is of our worship. Thank you Lord.

Monday November 4: I am thankful for friends who have loved me for the past, well almost 20 years. They have known me longer than they haven't known me and they still love me. Amy and Mindy you made high school one of the funnest times of my entire life. I would gladly do it all over again. You are two of the most caring individuals I know. You are both excellent mothers and I am forever grateful that I get to call you both friends. So glad we still get to spend some time together once in awhile, even if it's now cheering from the stands instead of driving to Cape ;) Thank you Lord.

Tuesday November 5: I'm thankful for the culinary program at work. I'm thankful that these students decided to fix us breakfast this morning... homemade cinnamon rolls and coffee. I'm also thankful it turned out so tasty ;) 

Wednesday November 6: I am thankful for 8th grade Algebra. I am thankful for the three hours I got to spend with Devin tonight doing 8th grade Algebra. While truth be told I'm not actually a fan of the math I'm more than ok with it forcing Devin and I to spend time together. Thank you Lord.

Thursday November 7: Today I'm thankful for the CD player in my car. I love being able to put some worship music in and singing as loud as I want and no one having to plug their ears. I know the sound of singing praises is pleasing to the Lord, but when coming from my mouth, I'm pretty sure He's the only one pleased when they are sung at a volume over whisper. Thank you Lord.

Currently worshiping to!