Giving thanks

For the last week or so my daily devotional has been doing a series on giving thanks.  Every day has a different theme: giving thanks in waiting, in sorrow, in security, in wandering, etc.  The two that stuck out the most to me were giving thanks in plenty and giving thanks in want.  In my life right now I relate to giving thanks in plenty.  So I especially appreciate the message of this devotion, to always remember that no matter how plentiful our lives feel, we should never forget that we are in a constant state of need of God's grace, and to rejoice that that need is constantly fulfilled.  If you are celebrating from a place of want today, I hope you can find comfort in the message of 1 Thessalonians 5:18 which doesn't ask us to give thanks for all circumstances but in all circumstances.

Thanksgiving blessings for one and all, from my blessed family to yours:) 

It won't be like this for long...

Well, if you can't tell by my silence on this blog, life has been kicking my butt lately.  I kind of feel like I'm walking around in a daze, kind of like this -

 It hasn't helped that me and both my little boys have been sick all week.  Or that Baby P has pink eye.  Or that he's waking up ridiculously often at night.  Each morning I am waking up not refreshed but still having to go into battle with a needy baby and an independent toddler.  (Yes, at least for tonight, I would characterize it as going into battle.)  And oh yes, and the holidays are coming up.  Yikes!

I keep thinking about the Darius Rucker song, "it won't be like this for long..." and hope that my run-down state of being will pass sooner rather than later.  In the midst of it all, I am finding time for my new just-for-me activity - graduate school!  I started working toward my Masters of Art in Christian Education this fall and I love it.  My first class this semester is New Testament 2 and every day it's a struggle for me to set it aside and focus on everything else in my life because I just want to keep studying!  My first paper is due this weekend and the bigger major paper is due in about 3 weeks...hopefully it won't be added to the list of things that are kicking my butt!

But enough complaining from me.  I know my problems are nothing compared to many others.  So send up some prayers for those people tonight and enjoy these pictures of our outdoor adventures this week.  I love cold fall days!!

Ready for a walk with Grampa!

Looking at each other through a hole in the tree

It's tough wrangling these boys still for a picture but Gramma got them!

Classic Little D expression:)

What is going on here?  Why am I wearing a hat that's too big and Gramma's gloves?

Mommy and Little B enjoying God's beautiful creation

Little boy and water

Sweet - Mom let me out of the stroller!

"I'm sliding down the hill!"  I tried to teach him rolling and it turned into sliding, oh well:)