Thankful Thursday

Today I'm thankful for ~ Family and New Life!

Lately, I've been so blessed by FAMILY...both related by blood or related by the Spirit! :) You know if you think about how many people (around the globe) who don't have the blessing of a family...either they are orphans, or have been placed in foster care, or have no relationship with their family, or they have a fractured and broken family, or they are raised in a way that doesn't portray a family in a loving manner, or they don't experience the blessing of the family of God because they don't belong to Him.

Today I'm so thankful that I have BOTH...a wonderful and loving family (who would walk through fire for me). I know that there have been many times that I have taken it for granted that I have a Mom and Dad who love God and love me and who have raised me in a godly manner. They have "walked the walk" before me and have poured out everything within themselves for me. They have given of their love, time, resources and finances continually and without fail and they do this to this very day! I also have a sister, who is my very best friend. She wasn't always growing up but through homeschooling, it was "do or die"! :-) I am so thankful for her, she doesn't know it but she's my hero. Erinn is so many things that I want to be...not that she's perfect but I admire her in so many ways and I'm so thrilled to be her sister and friend!

My heart is filled to overflowing when I think of the love of my life, Joel. I am more than thankful for him...those words don't even come close to how I feel about him. The love I have for him doesn't seem him as perfect but as my "completor". Our love has changed, grown and matured in 7 1/2 wonderful years of married life. It doesn't look the same as it did "back then". There have been days when we have loved each other by CHOICE not by feeling...through reality and not fairy tales. True love forgives whether you deserve it or not, true love gives of itself with no "expiration date", true love tells you it will be ok when it doesn't look like it, true love has faith for you when you have lost all faith, true love finishes the laundry for the 100th time when you've forgotten it, true love gets up on it's morning off to help with the kids to let you sleep in, true love picks up your clothes and puts them away for you when you're busy, true love walks beside you in friendship, in front of you to lead, in back of you to encourage. This is what I have with my Joel...I am truly thankful for him.

I'm thankful for my children...they have shown me the meaning of family firsthand. I now know the depth of the love a Mother has for her own. It is deep, wide, faithful, sacrificial, permanent, transparent and divine (it comes from God). I love my kids with all that is within me, I'd do anything for them. God has blessed me above and beyond all I've ever thought or imagined. Now I can see a bit more clearly how deep His love is for me. They are the BEST thing I've "done" in my life!!

I also am blessed with a lovely "second" family through my hubby! Never would I have imagined that I would be so blessed with in-laws that I would call "Mom and Dad" and mean it with all my heart. They are a dear couple who has accepted me into their family...despite my being very loud, very talkative and very "different" to what they were used to. Thankfully, they consider me their true "daughter" and I know they love me warts and all. They love our kids with every fiber of their being and NOTHING gives me more joy than watching them together. I am a blessed woman!

God has blessed me as well with a beloved group of Believers that we have the privilege of fellowshipping with. Our Church family has surround my family and stood with us and has come alongside us throughout the years. Were it not for their love and support, we would not be here today. Think about how many Christians around the world have to worship in secret and without "freedom"! When I go to church, I never have to prepare myself for what may happen or listen for loud noises or shouts. I go in complete confidence and with peace...this is a blessing we cannot and should not take for granted. Today in America, we are not the persecuted church...but that is not something that all Believers can say in the world today.

Today, I'm also thankful for NEW LIFE...wow, what a blessing y'all! :) New Life in Christ...we have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of God's beloved Son and life...whipee!!!! :-) Now if that ain't reason to SHOUT I don't know what is! My life is Christ now...He lives in me and through me and darlin's...catch this, it ain't about ME anymore and it ain't about performance!! Do you know how long I lived trying to "be good" and "do the right thing"...HELLO??? Can't do it...the Christian life is NOT possible if I am trying to live it on my own. It's all about HIM...Life = Christ. Wow, I have Christ, which means I have ALL things that I need...I don't have to pray for strength...He is my perfect strength...I don't have to pray for peace...He is my perfect peace...I don't have to pray for joy...He is my joy!! I have all things because I have Christ! I am just thrilled with that today...

One more thing, y'all...I'm so thankful because in 1 hour I leave for the hospital to be present for the birth of my 2nd niece! :-) My sis-in-law, Rachel, is having her baby today via C-section at 1 EST. Would you pray for her if you read this? I'm nervous and I'm not even having the baby!!! Thanks so much! Spring is my favorite time of the year...because it reminds me of New Life...it's all around us, blooming, blossoming and giving us hope that winter is gone for a while and spring is here with a fresh clean slate...a new day, a new season.

Y'll be encouraged today...rejoice in the New Life that God's granted us, His kids! Rejoice in whatever family you have surrounding you...whether it's blood or not. I give thanks for this crazy lil' thing called the Blogging family...y'all rock! :-) Have a blessed day!