Thankful

As I was reflecting yesterday (Thanksgiving) about all I have to be thankful for, the one thing I found myself most thankful for is probably the thing that people would expect me to be least thankful for. In fact, if you were to ask my better half (hubby) about this, he would probably highly disagree with my thankfulness for this one thing. But still . . . it is what I am SOOOOO thankful for.

Seven months ago, my incredibly talented and gifted husband was unexpectedly layed off from his job. He LOVED his job . . . the work, the team, the clients, everything! He was blessed to be working with other people who shared his beliefs, morals and values and he was doing work that mattered. He had a job that he loved going to and where he left at the end of the day feeling satisfied and content. His being let go came as a complete surprise.

What we thought would be a brief season of unemployment has stretched into a long one. Like I said previously, I don’t think he would necessarily agree with my thankfulness of this season in his life. It is not what either of us had planned and it has made life quite interesting . . . but I’ve loved it! Sure, it’s taken a lot of adjusting and flexibility figuring out to do life together daily and how to come up with a routine/rhythm that doesn’t make the other person crazy, but I think we’ve done okay.

I am thankful for day after day of waking up next to my husband. I am thankful that I get to come home to him still awake! (Prior to this season, he’d be asleep when I got home and gone before I’d wake up.) I am SO thankful that he was with us for my daughter’s first day of Kindergarten, for her harvest carnival, for her parent/teacher conference, and that he’s been able to volunteer in her classroom. I am SO thankful for how he engages our kid’s imaginations in fun adventures and playtimes where the ordinary becomes extraordinary! I am beyond thankful for the bond that both of my kids have with their Daddy that wouldn’t have been so strong had he been at work every day instead of with them.

I know the past 7 months have been hard and frustrating for him, but he has taken each day in stride. He has been fully present and engaged with each of us and has loved us and served us with his whole heart. I’m guessing most days he’d probably be at work rather than changing diapers or watching Frozen for the zillionth time . . . but he doesn’t complain. He embraces the craziness that comes with each day and makes the most of each moment.

This year, I am so thankful for the blessings that God has poured out on us through my amazing husband and the quality time we have gotten to spend with him. I know this season won’t last forever and I know we will never get these moments back, so today I am thankful. I am thankful for 7 months of extra time with Daddy, for 7 months of getting to talk face-to-face with my better-half, for 7 months filled with fun memories and time spent together.

Thank you Lord for provisions and for blessing our family with an incredible Man of God! Thank you for his servant’s heart, his character and integrity, his hard-work ethic and his deep deep love for each of us! Thank you for this blessing that wasn’t anything we would every ask for or want, but yet You have made it SO sweet and SO good! You truly are good, ALL THE TIME!

Five Minute Friday: Give

Sometimes in our lives we are put into close contact with people who make us a little crazy. They could be family, a friend, a co-worker, your kids, or a complete stranger. You know the people . . . the ones who get on your every last nerve, who stand a little too close, talk a little too loud, whine a little too much, or expect way too much of you. It's these people who are so hard to love. It's these people who when you see them, every part of you screams "RUN!".

But it is these people who we are called to GIVE grace to. It is these people we are called to GIVE love to. It is these people who we are called to GIVE a second chance to. This person, the one who makes you crazy, they are human too. They have feelings that get hurt, a heart that aches and longs for connection, a stomach that churns with anxiety. That person may be struggling with something we can never understand or fathom.

I've been reminded lately of the love that was so freely GIVEN to me by Jesus when He died on the cross. He GAVE His life for me. He GAVE me hope and a future. It is my job to GIVE to others, just as he GAVE to me! It is my job to GIVE understanding, to GIVE grace, to GIVE encouragement, to GIVE hope and acceptance. No matter how difficult a person may be or how hard it is to love them, we must GIVE all we have into showing them that they matter, that they are important, that Jesus died for them to.

Who is God calling you to GIVE love and grace to today? Who can you GIVE a second chance to this holiday season?

Five Minute Friday: Notice

When was the last time you really took time to NOTICE the things around you?

Did you notice the brilliant colors of the sunset? Did you notice the the tiny flower growing amidst the weeds? Did you notice the snow decorating the mountain peaks?

What about in your home? Did you notice the way your daughter copied your every  move? Did you notice the way your husband did the dishes with a servant's heart? Did you notice when your littlest one learned a new skill?

So often we get consumed with social media, with TV, movies and games that we miss the things around us. I'll be the first to admit that I spent way too much time staring at my phone and not nearly enough time staring at my amazing family that God has blessed me with. There are days where it is way easier to tune out and zone out then to pay attention to what is right in front of me.

In the Bible, Jesus tells us to NOTICE the lilies of the field. He urges us to look to the ants, to notice the mustard seed, to see the star shining bright in the night sky. He brings our attention to the small rudder that steers a giant ship. In order to see these things, we have to be aware & attentive. They are things that are small and seemingly insignificant yet contain great lessons to be learned if we'd truly stop and notice what is before us.

What is it that He is trying to draw your attention towards? What is He wanting you to NOTICE that may be right in front of you? Rather than focus on the big things, on the meaningless things, turn your focus towards HIM this week. NOTICE the way He is working and moving in your life. NOTICE the ways in which He has blessed you abundantly. NOTICE how much HE loves you by looking at the incredible people He has placed in your life.

Take time to NOTICE this week.

Five Minute Friday: Still

7 months later we are STILL waiting for a job for my hubby. We are still unsure of what God has up His sleeve for our family. The past 7 months have not looked at all like we planned. Somehow, in the midst of all the uncertainty and the unplanned, we've had peace.

"Be STILL and KNOW that I am God." -Psalm 46:10

He was faithful to His promises all the way back to Noah and Abraham and I still believe with all my heart that He will do the same today. Over the past 7 months He has provided for our every need and then some. He has blessed us with so many fun moments together and so many memories have been made as a result of the 4 of us being together. My kids have had their Daddy around almost every day and as a result, they have connected with him in ways that they otherwise wouldn't.

Not to say its always easy but we are learning to be still and wait for HIS timing...there are weeks that go by with no prospects, no e-mails, no interviews, no nothing...and yet we still know that He is in control. I know without a shadow of a doubt that HE has a plan for our family and that He has a great job out there for my incredible husband. I know this time together is a gift, a blessing in disguise. 

So even though we are STILL waiting, we are able to be STILL and rest in the assurance that HE IS GOD.

Five Minute Friday: Turn

"Is it my turn yet?"

"But he already had a turn!!"

"Please share and take turns."

Welcome to the world of siblings and just kids in general! Everyone wants a turn to be first, a turn to play with the newest and greatest toy, a turn to say the prayer, a turn to help Mom at the store, a turn to pick a movie, etc. When you're a kid, the world is all about YOU. Heaven forbid you should have to wait your turn or wait to get chosen . . . and so the tears ensue or the tantrum begins. These are to be expected with kids.

But what about grown-ups? When's the last time you just wanted to sit down and cry because it was supposed to be your turn for good news? Have you ever just wanted to throw yourself to the ground and kick your feet and flail your arms because it was supposed to be your turn for a job, your turn to have a baby, your turn to sleep in, your turn to have a night off, your turn to choose where you wanted to go for dinner, etc.?! As grown-ups we're supposed to be creatures who can think logically, reason, and wait our turn. But sometimes its hard. Its hard to watch everyone else get their turn around you while you are still left waiting. It's hard to watch others find success after success while you feel like the only think you're good at finding is failure.

Taking turns is hard, even as grown-ups. But it's part of life. And so we must learn to wait . . . wait our turn, wait for our moment in the spotlight, wait for our fate to change. And in turn, it will . . . we won't stay stuck forever. Eventually our turn will come and we will get a chance to shine, to succeed, to feel like a million bucks! 

Five Minute Friday: Leave

Leaving is hard. Leaving home. Leaving a job. Leaving friends. Leaving your hometown town. Leaving a loved one. Leaving dreams. Leaving plans. Leaving in general . . . it sucks.

Often times it seems that leaving means letting go of the familiar, leaving behind what is safe and known, and venturing into the unknown. Two particular instances of leaving come to mind when I think back. The first, a person. I had met an amazing man and we were several months into dating when I was scheduled to lead a team to Africa for 4 weeks. Up  until that trip, we spent time together several times each week, talked on the phone daily, and just couldn't get enough of each other. The day I left for that trip, I knew that he was the one I wanted to spend forever with. And so I left . . . leaving behind this man that I had come to love and venturing off into so many unknowns. We had no clue what we'd be doing, what it would be like where we were staying, etc. I had to leave behind the one who I felt so safe and secure with and dare to trust in God's timing and His plan as we ventured into this place of so many unknowns. It ended up being a hard trip for me, but still a good trip. I learned so much about God's faithfulness and His perfect plan and couldn't wait to bring home all that I had learned and experienced. On that trip, I decided that I never wanted to travel overseas without him again. Never wanted to leave him here while I went there. 9 years later, I still feel the same way!

The second, a job. It was a job that I loved, one that was definitely a God thing in how it came to be. I had come to love the people, the team, the location, almost everything about it . . . and yet I felt God calling me to leave. Pieces of the puzzle kept adding up and it was clear that my time there was done. Leaving that place, that job, was one of the hardest things I had done. When I gave my notice I wasn't really sure what I would do next but knew that God would provide. After taking that step of faith, after leaving that place I loved so much, God opened doors for the next place. He ushered me into a job that I now LOVE and where I am able to use the gifts and talents He has given me on a daily basis. I've met some of my favorite people at my current job and consider a few of them to be some of my dearest friends.

Leaving is hard. Leaving involves letting go of what is safe and familiar and choosing to trust that God is there, even when we have no clue what comes next. He may call us to leave one place and it may make no sense at all and may be the scariest thing we've ever done, but He promises to go with us. He promises that He will never leave us or forsake us.

Lockdown

Yesterday as I was waiting to pick up my daughter from school I heard over the loud-speaker, "teachers, we are now beginning our lock-down drill. Please follow protocol." What a crazy and sad world we live in that our kids now have lock-down drills in addition to fire drills and earthquake drills. I couldn't help but pray over my kid's school and their teachers/staff and pray protection over all of them.

When I asked my daughter about her day, she told me that had a drill where they had to get under a desk and then hide behind a chair to protect themselves. She told me that if someone bad came to their school they were supposed to close the curtains and hide. I hate that this is now a part of her world. When did our world become so topsy-turvy? When did people stop using coping skills and seeking help and instead turn to guns and violence and going after innocent people?

It would be so easy as a parent to pull her from school, to keep her at home & shelter her from all possible danger! I see the allure of home-schooling, of keeping her close and filtering all she is exposed to. (Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with home-schooling, I just know it is not the best option for our family.) I work in an Emergency Department for kids. I see too many crazy-sad stories to be ignorant. Kids get shot, kids get hurt thanks to poor choices from the grown-ups around them. They make poor choices themselves and are sometimes never the same after a simple crash on their bike or scooter. Some of these kids, they even die. In my 6 years in the ED, I think I've seen a little bit of everything.

It would be SO easy to live my life in fear and to not let my kids out of my sight. It would be so much easier to keep them with me, to trust no-one and to hover over their every move. But I can't. These amazing kids I have, they're not mine. They have been entrusted to me and to my husband. God has handed us these precious gifts, wrapped up in flesh and full of laughter. He has entrusted them to us. He has trusted us to guide them, to raise them, to teach them of His truth, to do the best we can to show them HIS love every single day.

With both of our kids, we chose to have them dedicated before they ever turned 1. By having them dedicated we were publicly telling those around us that we were committed to raising them in God's Word and to doing all we could to guide them in His truths. We gave them back to God as was done with Samuel in the Bible. We committed our children to God, to His care, to His plan, to His will for them. And we committed to walk with Christ as to set an example for them to follow.

As scary as this world can be and as much as I hate all the things she has to learn about "bad guys" and "danger" and "disaster",  I believe with all my heart that God is with her. I believe with all my heart that He is with her each day, that He goes before her and guides her every step. And so I choose to trust Him. I trust that He loves her even more than I can ever fathom and that He has big plans for her. And so each day, I send her through the gates and into school and I linger there just a little longer until I can see that she is off and running. And each day I eagerly wait to see her smiling face, to hear about her day, and to shower her with love and affirmation of what an incredible kid she is turning out to be! Go get em kid!