What are you thankful for?

Where do I begin? I think during times of crazy-mad, frustration- total loss of control in our life is when we need most to sit quietly and really reflect on all of the wonderful blessings in our life. I know you are probably thinking that I have lost my mind because God knows when everything in your life is literally a whirlwind of chaos mixed with one series of, "What next God?" the last thing on our minds is how blessed we are. Let me explain... A couple of days ago my car started making funny noises- not the tap, tap funny noise- the uh-oh, this is gonna cost me funny noise... So being the highly independent, do-all sorta gal I am... I call my Daddy. He says (and I quote) "Honey, it's Murphy's Law- if it can go wrong, it will around the holidays. But you need to take the car in and have it checked." My wonderful hubby assured me he would look at it that it was probably nothing much besides something simple like a pulley or belt... (Thank God my hubby is good at fishing!) So I decide that I would take it in today to have the oil changed and looked at... Fast forward... driving to work this morning and what would happen? Of course it did... I broke down- had the car towed and called my wonderful friend Holly to come and get me... (she sent her awesome hubby to my rescue and I am so thankful he came...sitting on the side of a busy interstate is never fun!) Anyway, short story long... I have to have a new motor put in my car. Never fun and certainly not as cheap as a pulley-

So, what, you ask during this mess do I have to be thankful for- Well, I am glad you asked. As I took Ayden on to school- they had their Thanksgiving feast today and I did not want him to miss it... I took a moment and watched as the kids were so excited to sit together wearing their construction paper head dresses and "noodle-necklaces" as they prayed and ate together. And I realize that all of the things we are so stressed out about everyday really don't matter when you have wonderful friends to share life with. You know, if we take a minute to look around and are really honest with ourself we'll see that most of what we consider necessity is merely wants- Our real needs are always met when we put our faith and trust in God. He has so abundantly blessed me- yes, even through a $1500 motor- No, I don't have $1500 just sitting around- but our need will be met.

What I do have is a wonderful hubby and beautiful children who pray with me and love me unconditionally- just as God does. I am thankful that He always puts the right people in my life at exactly the precise moment. I am thankful that I have a job that I love going to everyday with bosses who are understanding and always take care of me. I am thankful that we live in a country where I can express my opinions and enjoy freedoms to worship God without fear- that I can freely go out and live my dreams- at least chase them.. I am thankful to have a home and a family and friends who fill my life with love and laughter... I am thankful to have a talent that introduces me to really incredible people and allows me to be a blessing to them.

I have found that when life is great it is so easy to be thankful and easy to realize how blessed we are, but when we are being tested and things look as though there is no way out of the situation we are in, can you look around and see just how blessed you are? Have a wonderfully Happy Thanksgiving. ~S.