So, just when you think things are going blissfully great Satan comes along and messes things up! He loves to taunt, confuse and create fear and doubt, doesn't he? That is why continual thanks is so important!!

Let me back up...

Last week was rough. After getting sassy with someone I love I realized I needed to pull the plank out of my own eye before I start "fixing" anyone else! The plank in my eye was fear. Fear is not of God and if it motivates our actions it is wrong. I think I blindly had a fear that if life and relationships are not perfect that they are bound to fall apart. My blind pursuit of perfection will always leave me disillusioned, defeated and disappointed.

But, the God of hope and freedom and our future never leaves us without revealing His love and good purpose. He called to mind two verses to guide and encourage me (side note...scripture memory is sooooooo important!).

Phil 2:12 "Not that I have already obtained all this or have already been made perfect, but I press to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it, but one thing I do. Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

1 John 4:18 "There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear."

So, how does love drive out fear? God reminded me that seeing and receiving His perfect love is what will change me and drive out fears. That is why seeing Him in all things and giving thanks is so important.

So, I resolve to keep counting my blessings. I recommit to seeing Him in all things and choosing to walk in the light of his love.

I was also challenged to give God thanks for the people in my life and let them know about it! I have decided to send a text a day for 365 days to Ryan telling him all the countless reasons I am so thankful that God placed him in my life.

This giving thanks stuff is really great!!

821. That You made a way out of fear with gratitude and love

822. Crafts with Zac

823. Jacob playing the harmonica

824. Rubbing Jacob's neck at bedtime.

825. Jacob asking, "Mommy will you snuggle with me."

826. Hallie's eye mask at bedtime

827. Ryan reading Hallie Shakespeare

828. Zac's hourly hugs and kisses.

829. Zac blowing a kiss before he bats at the baseball game

830. Hannah living with us.

831. Dreaming with my husband about our future

832. Holding my neighbor's baby

833. Excitement about Harmonicas in the mail

834. Relaxed moments

835. Bravery in our boy as he got his Kindergarten shots today

We were on vacation...

Last week was Spring Break for our kids. Wow! I have SOOOOO much to be thankful for.

801. My parents graciously took all five grandkids for the whole week and celebrated Cousins Camp.

802. A camp theme song about sticking together as cousins.

803. A camp flag and fun themes for the kids to enjoy every day of camp.

804. Happy smiles and content hearts when we returned to pick them up.

805. Energy supplied by the Heavenly Father to my parents. They did not even look exasperated when we arrived after a week with five kids!

806. A fort in the basement to sleep in every night.

807. My kids teaching me about sandhill cranes.

808. If that were not enough...my parents sent my sister, brother-in-law, Ryan and I to Las Vegas to visit my brother!

809. A hug from my brother.

810. His thoughtfulness to us while we were there.

811. Going to his church...AMAZING SERVICE!

812. Laughing with Shawn and Lisa over Coca-Cola.

813. Time with my husband. It is ALWAYS a blessing to our marriage and to my heart.

814. A trip to the Morman Temple to ask questions and learn about that faith. It was so good to challenge our faith in Christ and His Word with others' ideas. It provides us with great conversation and directs us to the Word of God more intentionally to find Truth.

815. Back to our routine today...it is good to be home.

816. Open windows and fresh breeze.

817. Snuggles with my kids.

818. A strong run with my friends...always great conversation.

819. Sunday night dinner with the best of friends.

820. Parents vs. Kids "epic" kickball game!

All Grace...

786. Middle of the night snuggles with my sweet boy, Jacob.

787. Pizza and Movie Night with our bestest friends!

788. Clean countertops.

789. The smell of brownies.

790. Anticipating my mom coming for a visit. I just love her so much.

791. The kids excitement about Cousins Camp.

792. A challenge to my heart from Sunday's service.

793. Singing praise songs.

794. Hallie's belting, singing voice.

795. The kids playing piano for their great Aunt.

796. A phone call from Ryan mid-day.

797. Hannah's tender heart.

798. The kids enjoying math problems before school.

799. Getting my hair wet and really playing withe kids at the pool.

800. Reciting God's Word.

It really is true...

...giving thanks to God in all things and at all times is where our peace is found. It is what God means when he says that He gives us life to the fullest. We just need eyes, ears and a disposition of thanks to see it is all a gift from Him.

This last Sunday was an all worship service at church, We started off with some great hymns. As I sang these age old verses I was struck by the theme of thankfulness that runs through all these songs. This idea of giving thanks, seeing God in all things is nothing new. I am just beginning to really see Him and the peace from Him and the trust in Him is like nothing I can even begin to describe. It is sooooooooooooooo good!

Remember this hymn...

Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest;
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness lost in His love.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior all the day long.

As I was recently reading Ann Voskamp's book, One thousand Gifts, I was convicted. This life is surely not all roses and perfection and the moment heartache strikes we are compelled to react with anger to God for, "letting this happen" and all the while asking Him for help. Read the words of Caussade:

You would be very ashamed if you knew what the experiences you call setbacks, upheaveals, pointless disturbances and tedious annoyances really are. You would realize that your complaints about them are nothing more nor less than blasphemies-though that never occurs to you. Nothing happens to you except by the will of God, and yet (God's) beloved children curse it because they do not know it for what it is.

Ouch! In the midst of my counting blessings at home, I have been counting complaints in other areas of my life. I tell my kids to, "do everything without complaining or arguing" (Phil 2:14) but they listen to my complaints and learn their habits from me.

Oh, how thankful I am for new mercies every day. I am recommiting myself to give thanks in ALL things and trusting God with the results and expecting the promised peace that comes from giving thanks. He is good all the time!

771. A forgiving Father that never gives up on me

772. My fingers running through my boys' hair that is too long

773. In-laws that I adore talking to

774. Time to read a book

775. Just the right amount of cream in my coffee...that my husband brings to me upstairs while I get ready in the morning

776. My mom and dad listening to me talk and talk and talk.

777. Cousins laughter

778. Homemade donuts

779. A new recipe

780. Swinging on the front porch swing with Hannah on the first day of Spring

781. Privelege to pray for a friend

782. Groceries and a little five year old helper putting them away.

783. Sneaking spinach into Zac's smoothie and the look of surprise when he found out (and still liked it)

784. Adoption stories

785. Hugs from Hallie

Thanks for today...

743. Looking down at my little foot next to his bigger foot.

744. Fingertips rubbing my back.

745. Fingers interlaced as we pray together.

746. Being like-minded.

747. Corporate Worship.

748. Getting to know my 97 year old Aunt.

749. Kids comfortable with the elderly.

750. Talking for 3 hours with old friends.

751. Hallie teaching her brothers a lesson on how to share God's love.

752. Sunshine in the backyard.

753. The kids marveling at ants.

754. Restful sleep.

755. Vacuumed carpet.

756. Swimming with my kids.

757. Jacob's boisterous laugh.

758. Laundry to fold...I said it and I mean it!

759. Ryan shopping...I asked for potatoes and he bought two! ~Smile~

760. We drove all the way to the Children's Museum and it was closed. The kids did not complain at all!

761. Scripture memory. The Lord empowering me to hide it in my heart.

762. Knowing I am loved by God, my husband, my parents...always and forever no matter what.

763. Homemade pizza with friends.

764. Wanting to submit to, respect and honor my husband.

765. Singing karaoke with Hallie and Jacob.

766. The boys found sleeping together in the same sleeping bag.

767. The boys both saying about the other, "He is my best friend."

768. Scotcheroos. Mmmm.

769. The kids anticipating Cousins Camp in Kearney every day! (it's two weeks away)

770. Seeing our church grow. God moving in our midst.

Counting My Favorite Things...

...makes the soul sing. Remember this...

Lunch Today

I had lunch today with one of my dear friends. She is going through unthinkable difficulty in her life. As she walks alongside her child who is battling and defeating (yea!) brain cancer she is also dealing with the loss of her marriage. As she talked honestly about her anger and sadness she was able to supernaturally count her blessings and see God' goodness too. I marveled at how Jesus shined through her as she told me about her son's giving spirit, her family's support and love and how she is pressing in to God through prayer every day.

I realized that this list of thanks I am making is God's way of helping me to see His goodness always and in everything. Days will come when my heart will ache and tragedy will hit and I pray that the training I am in right now will open my eyes to God's grace and goodness always.

It doesn't mean we don't bear the scars of hurts in our past. We most certainly carry that with us, but Jesus still has His scars too. He bears the scars of sacrifice in a perfect place where there is no pain, no tears, no heartache. Is this what scripture is talking about in Philippines 3:10 when it says, "I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death" ? To be like Him is to be, "content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. We can do all things through Christ who gives us the strength." Phil 4:12-13.

The Lord tells us that thankfulness precedes the blessing. Thankfulness precedes the miracle. Thankfulness precedes the deliverance. Maybe it's because when I am fixed on Him and His abundant provision in all things, I am less concerned with myself and more in awe of Him. Maybe the thankful heart is the deliverance from anxiety, worry and pain. After all He tells us in Phil 4:4-7 to, "Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS. Again I say, Rejoice...Do not be anxious about anything, but in EVERYTHING, with Thanksgiving, make your requests known to God and the peace of God which transcends understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus."

The peace of God...that is the blessing, the miracle and the deliverance! It comes from a thankful heart no matter our circumstances!!

So, I will continue to "press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Phil 3:14

Let the "sacrifice of praise" continue... (read Psalm 116)

731. My friend answering the phone with a happy, "Hi friend, how are you?"

732. The tone of Zac's sweet five year old voice.

733. Kissing Zac's cheeks

734. Reading the Storybook Bible with Zac on our days together.

735. Watching Ryan swim, his long, strong strokes in the water.

736. Kids coming in at night needing Mommy

737. Rubbing Hallie's back as her breath slows and she drifts off to sleep.

738. Jacob's school report at the end of the day

739. Sharing burdens and joys with a good friend

740. A clean toilet!

741. Window marker designs on the window.

742. The daily coloring pages from Zac and him saying, "Here mommy, these are for you. I love you so much."