{Thirty Days of Thanks~Day 8}

Today's post may seem a bit silly to some of you, but I believe it was what God used to pull me out of the darker places I was in early in the year. Christmas had been especially hard for me and it wasn't long afterward that I saw this blog post by Becky Higgins. It was instructions on how to use her Project Life scrapbooking system. This is a system that ends the idea of the 12 hour scrapbook page---instead you get everything in a box to complete a scrapbook for an entire year except your pictures and words. WHAT? AND you don't just capture the "big events" in life---birthdays, holidays, graduations, etc. You document YOUR LIFE----you take a picture a day and document it. So, I purchased the entire kit for $54 (I think) and I began. For that money I received a binder, page protectors, journaling cards, a stamp for the day, month & year, truly everything I needed to get started except for pictures. I have actually kept up with this during the year and it really has been an amazing blessing. Many of the photos are just from my phone---a dated blackberry, but I let go of that perfectionism and realized that sometimes a memory is worth capturing even if the picture is bad!

With all of the sadness going on in my life this year, as I mentioned before, I began to change my perspective on my life and look for God's beauty in everyday. In a way, this system forced me to look at all the blessings in my life---the little ones and the big---and capture them for this book. I have been so encouraged as I've looked back through the pages and been able to smile at how great my life is ~even in 2011~

Below are just a few pictures of some of my pages--I really don't have a way to photograph them well to do them justice, but I think you'll be able to "get the picture". Becky has revamped her kits this year. I have a bunch of stuff already in my cart on Amazon----soon I'll hit the "Checkout" button and I'll be starting another year of remembering God's blessings in a tangible way. If you are a scrapbooker who feels like you can never get it done, why don't you check this out? It has changed my crafty life! Many great scrapbookers use this system now. For me, it was what it took to take my eyes off of myself and put them on the blessings from the Lord's hand. For this reason alone, it was worth every penny.

I have added pages in for special events---this is Joshua's class Valentine's Party this year.

I took just a FEW pictures of Eve's birth----I have enjoyed adding in extra pages as the event warrants. I ended up buying another binder and have almost filled it. So, for 2012, I'm going to purchase 2 binders from the beginning.

Here's an example of a more "everyday" page---not such a momentous occasion---even though it was my first ceiling to scrape!

One week in the summer---

random pictures from a week in April

another page with 5x7 inserts added~

That's it! Again, I'm sure some of you are thinking, "a scrapbook changed your life"---and I can truly say---YES---GOD used this crafty project to change my perspective on my life and for this I'm SO grateful~

{Thirty Days of Thanks~Day 7}

WOW! I was working on another post for today, but something interrupted me and now this HAS to be today's post! That one can wait for another day!

One of the saddest parts to me about all the changes in my family is not my own personal sadness, but grieving for my children. I have amazing children, who all seem to be "Okay"---as one of them recently told me, "whatever that means now.....you have a new 'Okay' now". But, I know this affects them---obviously I'm with my son more than my daughters, so I see the affects on him more than they. He has a lot of trouble sleeping these days. There are likely several reasons for this, but suffice it to say, it's a major struggle for him to get to sleep at night.

Tonight (Sunday, 11/6) was another such night and he came into my room very anxious. As we began to talk about things I just felt prompted to ask him again about his relationship with Christ. He "said a prayer to ask Jesus into his heart" at a camp one time, but I know he didn't understand even the basics of what that meant. I'm not in his head or heart, but I just felt like he needed to trust Christ. As we began to talk it out it was one of those beautiful moments in parenting when you wish it was being recorded so you'd never forget any of it, but recording it would just be wrong---you know what I mean? We had a sweet conversation about his heart and where he was with Christ. As he began to talk through it all, I could see him resisting and the LORD was pursuing him so hard. Finally, I asked what was keeping him from trusting Christ tonight;  He said he KNEW he would just weep and lose control and this pride was keeping him from coming to the LORD. He finally said he wanted to trust Christ and give his life to him. We went into his room and knelt at his bed and he prayed the most beautiful prayer---honestly---just beautiful---full of his desire to KNOW God and walk with him. He was thoughtful and purposeful in his prayer and I was convicted that my prayers are not this thoughtful most days. OUCH~

There is NO GREATER PRIVILEGE than leading your child to Christ---I have been fortunate to be with all my children at this sweet time and I am SO grateful. SO, now, my entire family is sealed in Christ. This day, uh, yesterday for you!---November 6, 2011 is a blessed day. Praise the LORD with me!

{Thirty Days of Thanks~Day 6}

I'm thankful for a day to rest. Now, I don't mean sleep----just to NOT WORK! This school year, I am working long days and spending quite a bit of time working at night---I think most teachers probably do this. It is exhausting---and you never feel like you can catch up, so it's just depressing! (dramatic, much?) Yesterday I was home alone for much of the day and I just played with my paper! If you have visited this blog very often, you know I like to create things with paper and stamps and ink. That's what I did yesterday. I have had very little time to do this---and when I have had time, I didn't have the creative energy. I didn't do much stamping, but I began some special things for my kids for Advent---what fun that was. I'll show them to you later in the month when I finish them. I think it's healthy to have a hobby--even if you don't get to do it very often. Whatever yours is, you should take the time to do it every now and then. I hope you have some time to play today. Thanks so much for stopping by~

{Thirty Days of Thanks~Day 5}

I have so much to be thankful for---and this is SUCH an obvious one---but it's not JUST Joshua---even though I'm SO thankful for him. BUT, what I'm really thankful for today is the true privilege I have to be such an intimate part of his life. Stay with me, now---when both parents are in the home they share the duties/privileges of parenting-one parent will take the kids out to play, another will do something else--then vice versa. And, of course, you do lots together as a family, too, but you don't do EVERYTHING together. But when you are alone, you "have" to do it all---hanging out, throwing the ball, doing the homework, running him around to activities, etc. For awhile after "the craziness" started I was so overwhelmed with doing everything with Joshua----I didn't really mind, it was just so, well, ALL THE TIME.  And here's the grateful part: I have just turned those weary, frustrated, scared thoughts on their heads. I began to look at the entire situation as a blessing---not that I had the "duty" to be with my son 24/7, but that I GOT THE PRIVILEGE to be with this amazing boy 24/7. Now, I am not naive; I know there will be plenty of times in my future that I will be wishing for a moment alone---BUT, I have also raised two daughters already and realized that the time went by TOO fast. So I am capturing those rogue pity party thoughts and remembering how blessed I am to be able to be this sweet companion to this amazing 10 year old.

In early 2011 I began to realize that I had to be more engaged in Joshua's life. I was trying to come up with things to do together that we both enjoyed. We read all 7 of the Harry Potter books together while he was in 4th grade---his first time! After we finished each book we'd watch the movie---(this was a VERY BIG DEAL because we Nelson's are just a little bit freaky about Harry Potter. If you don't believe me, see this post, and this post, and this one. You get the point.) He taught me how to play chess (I'm really awful---which is quite fun for him), we play a lot of Uno or Go Fish, etc. But, thanks to the Madden 2011 game for PSP, my son is now a HUGE----dare I say, OBSESSED NFL fan.

Now, I grew up watching Staubach, Ed Too Tall Jones, Tony Dorsett, Drew Pearson, Randy White---yep, I watched football EVERY Sunday---I KNEW football, I knew Professional football. I hated the Steelers. And the Redskins---I was die hard. THEN came Jerry Jones---he fired my coach and it was ALL OVER. I'm serious---I probably hadn't watched an entire pro game that wasn't the Super Bowl (commercials---you know?) since that fateful day in February of '89. We filled our football void with a much more satisfying football scene---college ball. SO exciting---fun, more unpredictable--did I say FUN....Vince Young's amazing performance at the Rose Bowl in 2006---you get the picture. So, it happened to be a pretty bitter pill to swallow when my son became obsessed with the NFL---I was over them---I was DONE---Sundays are nap days.....but there was this little thing called "engaging".

I had printed out a free printable from one of my favorite bloggers, Becky Higgins that says this: The purpose of the task is to strengthen the relationship. SO, whatever the task---homework, lego building, reading together, yard work, the PURPOSE is to STRENGTHEN the relationship. This was a little quote that just stuck in my head. And whenever I found myself wanting to run to my room and hide when my boy wanted to go throw the ball or play chess, I would remind myself of this. It began to change me--It changed the way I looked at each "task"---not just with Joshua, but with my girls, my friends, my co-workers. This quiet little quote became a screaming mantra.

SOOOOOOO-(I warned you I was a rambler) two weeks ago, I found myself driving up to Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC and hiking up to our seats at my first NFL football game.

We were 3 rows from the top---NEVER AGAIN will we sit so high---I nearly had a heart attack the third time we went up----but, Joshua and I went to a Panthers game....we were there.

 We saw Cam Newton's dance upclose and PERSONAL---well, not really "close", but you know what I mean---LIVE, in person! We spent 6 hours in the car together---what a privilege!

 We picked up Hannah for dinner and had such fun----we got to see her new ink (I feel so cool just typing that---HA!) We made a memory that will NOT be forgotten (except the 32nd row part---I'm trying to forget that!)

SO, my grateful heart today is so glad to have the opportunity to develop a deep relationship with my son. I would LOVE to have his sisters back at home and have that much time with them. That's not possible---so I will appreciate the unique opportunity before me and be thankful.

{Thirty Days of Thanks~Day 4}

Today I must say, I am most grateful for peace. It has been remarkable how the LORD has given me such peace in 2011. I can truly say this has been a year full of anxiety---and yet the peace of God which surpasses all understanding has guarded my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Isn't it interesting that this peace OF GOD guards our HEARTS and our MINDS in Christ Jesus. These are the TWO PLACES anxiety loves to live---in our hearts and in our minds.  I think in my circumstances this is EXACTLY where anxiety lives---now, don't get me wrong--I've had my share of anxiety this year---just ask some of my confidants! ---but I'm so grateful that I can walk in peace; that I can be FREE of anxiety.

I remember watching my sister go through cancer and marveling at her ability to be at peace. Now, my head knew that she was at peace because the Father GAVE her that peace, but I think somewhere in my mind-----way back in the back----I thought she MUST be "conjuring up" this peace. Well, now I know---that it's just THERE for you---and it's amazing. Why don't I walk in his peace ALL THE TIME? Why do I fret over every little thing---things that just don't matter?

In my class at school I teach a hymn of the month---I choose them all in the summer. Our hymn for November is Like a River Glorious. As I was introducing it to them this week, I was reminded that God's peace is a gift freely given in Christ and I should NEVER take that for granted. I love the refrain of this hymn--"Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blessed. Finding as he promised, perfect peace and rest." I hope I can learn to live in peace in all of life's circumstances---not just those that overwhelm me. This is a daily exercise for me---to trust EVERYTHING to him---not just the big stuff.

I have some posts coming up with LOTS of pictures (if I can find the time this weekend to put them together-). These are the posts I love---words, words, words=blah, blah, blah! ;D Pictures=1000 words...or so "they" say! I'll close with the text to the hymn---kinda like a pastor---but I didn't have three points.....oh, and I'm a woman.....but we won't go there! HA~ Thanks so much for stopping by today---I hope you are thankful today for the peace of Christ. If you don't KNOW the peace of Christ---I can tell you how you can. Email me!

Like a River Glorious

Like a river glorious, is God's perfect peace,

Over all victorious, in its bright increase;

Perfect, yet it floweth, fuller every day,

 Perfect, yet it groweth, deeper all the way.

Refrain:

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest

Finding, as he promised, perfect peace and rest.

Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand,

Never foe can follow, never traitor stand;

Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,

Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there. Refrain

Every joy or trial falleth from above, 

Traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love;

We may trust Him fully all for us to do.

They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true. Refrain

{Thirty Days of Thanks~Day 3}

Well, this post should be a little lighter than the last two. It's is definitely something I'm thankful for---but it probably doesn't have the eternal significance of yesterday's post or the gravity of Day 1. BUT, I am happy to say I'm so thankful for my dog.(Please excuse the photo above---this was our summer arrangement in the den---full of stuff---summer is for  fun and all the mess that the fun brings!) Sophie is an 8 year old lab/shepherd mix. We adopted her after she had been abandoned. I have always loved her---I mean, really loved having a dog---except for the crazy amount of shedding; she kept me company when I was home during the day, she had a serious bark when people approached the house and she's a very loving dog. Now, let me say, I'm not the girl who pampers a dog---she's a great dog----but she isn't my child.

Again,, since my life has turned upside down, I have found myself much more grateful for Sophie. She truly is always under my feet. She sleeps in my bedroom, or right outside my bedroom door. She is home during the day when my driveway sits empty. She is a companion to my son on our nightly football outings (more about these later in the month!) She is a constant watchdog to alert me to anyone outside our house (or down the street for that matter---I didn't say she was perfect!)

This has brought a sense of security to me---and to Josh during these changes. I have watched my son relax because he knows that Sophie is our "first line of defense" at the door. She is calming down in her old age and is a good reading buddy for Joshua. She is his playmate, too when mom HAS to do something else.

 

It's just interesting to me how my perspective of her has changed---like I said, I have always been grateful for her, but I am now somehow comforted by her very presence in the room. I know she'll die someday---I'm not attached in a pitiful way---just grateful that I have this dog around to help me sleep better, or help entertain my boy, or  be a quiet companion.....

{Thirty Days of Thanks~Day 2}

Back again for Day 2---I can't thank you enough for your kind comments on yesterday's post, here and on Facebook to encourage me. I certainly don't need sympathy, but I will never turn down a prayer! God has been SO good to me and has just walked me through this year. When I look back on this time last year, it's remarkable to see his sovereign hand in my life. For this I am grateful. I don't have to understand it---but I can trust Him and this is a comfort.

Today---and everyday, I'm thankful for God's word. I'm not sure I have ever been so moved by the truth of God's word as I have lately. It's like everything I read, everything I hear speaks directly to me. I'm sure this is because of the state I find myself in---the vulnerable, totally dependent place I am in. Of course, this is where I should live everyday of my life, but I don't. I tend to think I can do life on my own---not that I'd ever say it that way---but this is the reality of my behavior. Not anymore. I am wholly dependent on a Holy God---and how blessed I am to have a relationship with him. Do you ever just ponder that this holy God loves us in the midst of our mess? It's one of the most humbling things I've ever wrestled with. I have learned to love His word---to trust his word---to hear his word in a fresh way....and, I am changed.