I pray that all of you had a yummy Thanksgiving as well as a day that was full of remembrances of things and people to be thankful for.  As I reflect upon this last year and begin to prepare for the new year, I am humbled by the many things I have to be thankful for.   I could bore you with my list, but instead I want to encourage you to think about your own list.  God wants us to see Him present in our lives everyday.  We tend to rush through life, not bothering to look around to see Him very often.  We also tend to get bogged down in our own personal struggles and convince ourselves that He isn't there for us.  He is there, ever present and ever loving.  He may not manifest Himself in our lives the way we want him to, but He is there none the less.  He may show up in the sunset, in our child's laughter, in the smile of a stranger, in an unexpected phone call, in a simple thank you, in a warm embrace, in a dream come true and in an eternity spent with Him. 

My husband, children and I have experienced so much loss in the last 5-7 years.  Whether it is the loss of loved ones, children, a home, our financial stability, a familiar community, or a friend, the pain is heart's core deep and sticks with you the rest of your life.  However, I won't hide my joy and excitement over the things that the Lord has chosen to turn around in our lives.  I am so thankful every time I look into the face of one of my 7 children, to know that God loves them and has plans for them.  I'm thankful that God  is finally beginning to walk us down the road of financial recovery.  It has been a long and scary road for us, but God will be victorious in the end.   I am so thankful for our being able to purchase a home while the world tries to convince us that it's impossible.  I'm thankful for the love of family and friends and the people the are committed to being in our lives despite distance and life's circumstances.  I am thankful that God is stronger that he that is in the world.   I'm thankful that in submission to God, I have found true freedom.

We are safely home from our journey and I have much to reflect upon.  The snow is falling, most of the children are napping and we are warm and together.  I"m thankful that my husband has a job and is beginning to be truly hopeful about our future.   Seeing my old friends warmed my heart.  I miss them so much, but am thankful that our relationships are weathering the test of distance.  I enjoyed seeing family and pray that the broken relationships begin to mend and thrive.  After a slippery and scary start, our journey home was filled with sunshine and happy kids.  However, Satan was willing to try and steal our joy and hubby and I ended up having a stupid argument part of the way home.   Our lives are far from perfect.  We are far from perfect, but we are forgiven.  Jesus' gift has given us so much freedom in Him and I'm thankful for my learning to be free.  As I've gotten older, I begun to realize that so much time is wasted in our struggle to be perfect and have perfect lives.  Our focus needs to be on what God is wanting our lives to look like and who He is wanting us to become.  We need to let go of the wheel and let Jesus drive.  Then we can enjoy the ride and He gets the glory.  That is freedom to me. 

I want to thank those of you who have been praying for us.  I also want to thank those whom have always believed in us, in God in us and who have loved us without ceasing.  Our lives are truly richer because of you.  God bless all of you.

I'm off to start packing---I think.  I could possibly get sidetracked with a cup of coffee, a book and a blanket.  Hmmm.  That sounds pretty good. 

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