.thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving was well over a week ago and fittingly so I have been thinking of all the things for which I am thankful.

*My God

*My Love

*My Family & soon-to-be family  :)

*My June-bug

*Spending too much time searching cute wedding things on the web

*Teaching

*Enjoying wonderful plays and concerts

*Making time for friends

*Bible study time with my teacher friends

There are times when I feel so disconnected from everything except those things staring me in the face.  And it's these times that I have to re-evaluate and become connected again with my Lord.  The more I grow and get older, the more I come to know how much I need the love, kindness, grace, mercy, and strength only He can give.  I can visibly see and physically feel the difference in my life when I'm connected with Him, compared to those times when I'm not as connected.  When I'm connected to Him, I'm more connected to everyone and everything else important in my life, and when I draw away from Him, that's when everything else becomes dull and gray.  It's pretty incredible to think of how much He really does desire us to come to him and how deep His love for us if we're there to take it in.

"Now therefore, listen to me, my children, For blessed are those who keep my ways.  Hear instruction and be wise, And do not disdain it.  Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.  For whoever finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the LORD" Proverbs 8: 32-35

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sadness and gladness.

This last week was one I'd almost rather forget.  Completely erase, actually.  But, the fact of the matter is that life continues to move and the circumstances and happenstances of life that are less than enjoyable still stand to exist. 

I was bogged down by such emotions as frustration, irritation, anger, and sadness.  Complete sadness.  The ways of the world continue to depress me and leave me wondering what kind of a world into which I will bring my future kids.  My only hope is knowing that with the wisdom of the Lord on my side, and with support of truly good-hearted family and friends, my children won't know the kind of sadness and toxicity that all too many children face in their own homes today. 

"Every good and perfect gift is from above"  James 1:17

This week was one I said a quick prayer thanking Him for all the amazing parents (and parents-to-be) I know.  The world can never have too many people whose hearts desire is to raise their children with love, kindness, safety, and support. 


I couldn't have said it better:

If one feels the need of something grand, something infinite, something that makes one feel aware of God, one need not go far to find it. I think that I see something deeper, more infinite, more eternal than the ocean in the expression of the eyes of a little baby when it wakes in the morning and coos or laughs because it sees the sun shining on its cradle.
--Vincent van Gogh

...first time blogger

Here I am.  I've just made...designed, whatever you call it, my first blog.  I've been admiring those of you bloggers out there for some time and have always wanted to blog myself.  At first, I refrained because I was (and quite honestly, still am) afraid I had nothing of great importance to say and people would then wonder why in the world I was even blogging (which you probably are now).  However, I've decided to overcome this fear and go forward with my blog.  Now that I've jumped head first into this new world of blogging, I sit, staring at my computer, not quite sure what I'm going to blog about.  So, I'm just giving you my honest-to-goodness true feelings about it all.  I'm nervous and self-conscious but here I am anyway.  Maybe tomorrow or later this week I'll have something better to say, but tonight, I think I should just say good night.

I'll end with this verse, "Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10.  While I'm unsure of where this blog will go past tonight, how my day will turn out tomorrow, or what I'm even going to wear to school tomorrow, I know that my God is good and that all I need to do is be and He will be my God.  It's a comforting thought to know that no matter where I am, no matter who I am, and no matter what is happening in the world, that God is the great I AM.