5:00 in the morning........

136. sleep
137. being up early in the quiet
138. spending quality time with friends
139. hospitality
140. that God's hand reaches everywhere
141. sleeping kiddos
142. sunrise
143. the promise of a new day to do His work
144. being up after I slept
145. no meds or treatments for awhile
146. A clear head
147. my sister
148. my nephew and niece and their example to me
149. my mom's apartment
150. my son's choice to be baptised
151. missing my dad.........

3:00 in the Morning......

I know this probably does not help the brain reset but I can not sleep........ I have no idea how the blog is going to look after redoing it but here are more things to be thankful for......

115. QUIET NIGHTS
116. PEACE
117. SUPPORT
118. FRIENDS THAT ARE FOR ETERNITY
119. SLEEP WHEN IT COMES
120. My DAD BEING TRULY HOME FOR A YEAR
121.MISSING HIM (MORE THE LITTLE THINGS)
122. older BROTHERS THAT ARE SO DIFFERENT
123. THE Lord's GRACE AND LOVE
124. BEING ABLE TO TYPE
125. NOT KNOWING THE FUTURE
126. MY HUBBY WHO STANDS WITH ME
127. My Abby GRACE
128. MY CHRISTIAN B
129.NEW LIFE
130. DISCIPLINING KIDDOS AND REALIZING THEY LEARNED IT FROM YOU
131. SCHOOL
132.TWO CARS
133. THE GOSPEL
134.3 AM
135. HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR ME........

I WILL END THERE FOR NOW. LORD BLESS-A

The Lord's will ..........

91. the Lord's perfect will and timing

92. surprises

93. watching a new baby come into this world

94. new life, spiritual and physical

95. that the Lord saved a wretch like me

96. praying as a family

97. having the Lord meet me in the midst of grief and comfort and "hug" me

98. knowing my dad is perfect and standing in the true son's light!

99. having our cat who was gone for three days come home (for my kiddos who were so thankful)

100. the Lord preserving my mother in law

101. our salvation and in the Lord's strength to be a light for others

102. my precious little girl's smile and back rubs

103. late night talks with my son

104. date with my hubby

105. finding his perfect Christmas gift and hoping to surprise him

106. learning to be fulfilled and content (thankful the Lord is patient)

107. thankful to be able to cry out to the Lord anytime, anywhere

108. thankful He collects my tears in a bottle

109. finding joy in house work

110. helpful little hands

111. traditions: new and old

112. Knowing the Savior LIVES and that my daddy is with HIM and he lives too

113. loneliness

114. change

115. health

116. projects with my kiddos


I have to say that when this post started I was feeling down and lonely and a little lost. I miss my dad and although that has been said so many times it still is fresh and extremely hard. I feel lonely and lost somewhat at times but then I sit and read and worship the Lord and get to know Him better and realize that He alone is in control and that He loves me. He understands my pain and the loss.....
Bonnie was discharged yesterday. We love her and continue to pray for her salvation and for her to experience the Lord as her Savior. We are so thankful for her recovery.
My little girl is five and my boy is 6.5 and I rejoice over them. At one time we did not know if we would have any little ones and I have two bundled on the couch this morning..... ( plus and extra because we had a friend spend the night and it was a great time)
I am thankful that my Savior was willing to come as a baby and live in this human state to die for me a wretched sinner and for the sin of the whole world.

During this season as Christmas is quickly approaching and I am learning to look at everything I do have and what the Lord has given me through trials and bringing me and my family through His refining process I think of this verse;

John 10:10
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

What are you thankful for? What is the Lord teaching you. What ever the Lord is taking you through to refine you or if you are sad or discouraged take heart. Our king has come that we may have life and have it abundantly!!!!
Let us draw near to our KING and take advantage of HIS ABUNDANCE this season not what the world thinks of but what Christ IS!!!!!!!

1000 things to be grateful for part three

61. Good talks with my mother in law

62. moving to the rehab floor and watching my mother in law start to heal

63. special times with my love

64. having to totally and utterly rely on my Savior

65. knowing when you stand by a loved ones hospital bed the Lord stands there with you

66. Family and friends help

67. having my kiddos home!!!

68. colds

69. cooking at home

70. sharing my salvation and testimony

71. Christmas tree lights

72. my home

73. laundry

74. warmth

75. beautiful snow fall

76. my kiddos hugs

77. my mom and brother's birthday

78. family get together

79. remembering my dad and all the memories

80. learning to laugh and find the humor in things

81. having a medical background to help understand what is going on

82. peace

83. strength from the Lord

84. snuggles and reading to my kiddos

85. hearing my son read

86. Christmas

87. life

88. eternal life

89. my daughter's sweet laugh

90. my son's jokes :)

I have been so privileged this last week for to watch the Lord work!!!


Psalm 27: 1
The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

I have to say that when the call came on Monday and we knew Micah's mom had to have emergency surgery and we were not sure of the outcome this is one number we reminded ourselves of..... we have nothing to fear because our Lord and Savior is in control!!!! What a privilege to trust in Jesus!!!!

Next thirty things.......

31. unexpected trials that bring unexpected strength and peace

32. my mother in law

33. hearing my son pray wholeheartedly for his grammy's salvation

34. God's wisdom in not giving us info until needed and then abundant grace and strength

35. surgeons

36. headaches

37. pain

38. friends

39. family

40. prayer

41. my children's growth and watching the Lord grow them into more of his character

42. reminder that little eyes are watching for a response to the trial

43. cuddling with my hubby and holding his hand at the hospital

44. prayer with my hubby for wisdom

45. learning to fully cry out and fall on the Lord

46. Cuddles with my kiddos

47. knowing in the middle of the night when pain is strong and can not sleep that I am not alone

48. living so close to the hospital we can walk over in the snow

49. a neuro surgeon who is kind, patient, explains things thoroughly and very kind at night for an emergency surgery

50. physical symptoms that remind of eternal promises

51. a hospital staff that has been kind, compassionate and understanding

52. redeeming love

53. my daughter's fifth birthday

54. my mom's encouragement

55. movies

56. hearing my little girl sing amazing love and thinking of my dad and this songs promises

57. learning what true submission is and what it brings when we obey

58. God's example of perfect care

59. watching my husband lead us through trials, loving the Lord and looking to Him

60. PEACE



This week has been a hard one but I have been thinking of things to be thankful for and how the Lord is leading and guiding us. Providing us with what we need. Being comforted by who the Lord is and what He is doing. Everything filtered through his fingers of love.....
Habakkuk 3: 17-19
Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the Labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls -
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The Lord God is my strength;
He will make my feet like deers feet,
And He will make me walk on high hills.

I rejoice in the God of my salvation!
Please pray for us as we make decisions about placement for Bonnie for sub acute care and rehab. For endurance as we are tired and having to make so many decisions. But most of all as my son prayed as he looked out the window at St. Francis last night for her eternal salvation. For her to know the Lord as her Savior instead of judge.
What a peace and hope knowing the Lord loves us and has His best for us.
We are so thankful for our family, friends, and family of Christ- your support is so incredibly needed and helping us.
Thank you

someone to be thankful for.........

Today I want to share my thankfulness for my oldest child...... he is a miracle. I have endometreosis and PCOS and when I came home from our honey moon I was very ill. The doctors when diagnosing said that if we wanted children we should start immediately. We miscarried a baby two months later. I had many surgeries and they had started me on medications that my body could not tolerate. One of my surgeries was to fix some of the organs that they could carry a baby full term. I thought I was pregnant when my family was all going on vacation together and Micah had to stay behind and work. I found out that I was not and was very distraught. I took a long walk and remember telling the Lord I was done and just really did not want to go on trying. I was exhausted. Micah was as well and well if this was not going to happen then I wanted to go to school and build a life. I was pregnant a month later. At six weeks they wanted a sono to make sure everything was ok. I have never cried so much at a heart beat and this beautiful little pea on the screen. At thirteen weeks I was very sick and started bleeding. Micah took me into the doctor to my midwife( I happened to work there). Everyone was outside the room while they looked for a heart beat and they could not find one so they sent me over for an emergency sono. There he was now a little pea pod and his heart beat was strong. Home on bed rest. I was so amazed at the Love I felt for this little man. There were some bed rest off and preclampsia at the end but on June 10, 2003 I woke up with contractions. I woke Micah @ 8:00 and asked if he thought it was a good day to have a little one...... When my labor got going it took five hours and then this little guy was laying on my chest staring at me and I at him. He was so beautiful, precious and worth every bit of bed rest and all the trials. His name Christian Benjamin Daniel: Christian (follower of Christ), Benjamin (son of my right hand)
He has been so precious. He adds so much life. when I am sick he is always asking what he can do to help or if I need anything. He loves the Lord and is interested in what the Lord desires of him and how he can make a difference. He is full of compassion for people and longs to be a comfort to those who are sick or disabled.
He told me one day that he was so thankful for me to be healthy and that he loved me.
He has been a source of comfort and strength when I have not been able to be what I think or want to do for them as a mom he always points out what I can do or that it is ok because this is God's plan.
He is such a great big brother and takes care of her so well. When I have been to sick to get them to bed he has helped her brush her teeth, prayed with her and tucked her in.

I just am so privileged to be his mom and watch him growing into a young man who loves the Lord.
He loves to run and love life like his grandpa.

In short he is a precious gift from the Lord and I am thankful for me to be called his mom. I look so forward to watching the Lord work in his life and mold him into the man of God he desires for him to be.

I love you sweet Christian and thank the Lord for you my first born and miracle!!!!!!!! My prayer for you is to be ruined for the world and chase after the Lord and His work with your whole heart!!!!!!

1000 things to be thankful for.............

Alright I am going to do this idea that Shawna has done because I love it and being able to look back at it when I am done and remembering what was happening at the time...... so here is the first list......

1. being married to my best friend

2. falling in love deeper and deeper as time goes by

3. family hugs and tickle fights

4. the excitement of my children when I run and chase them

5. hear my children pray

6. being able to be involved in holiday activities

7. walking up stairs with loads of laundry

8. walking period :)

9. times of quiet with my Savior

10. teaching my kiddos

11. tears

12. loss

13. my daddy

14. being refined

15. messes

16. cooking

17. lessons learned

18. being set aside by my Savior

19. early mornings

20. memories

21. forgiveness

22. friendship

23. family of Christ

24. wise counsel

25. brothers

26. time

27. healing

28. Lyme

29. security in Christ

30. family traditions



These are just a few of the thoughts running through my head. I have thought so often today of the psalmist saying oh taste and see that the Lord He is good!!! How I long to remember this and base my reactions off of this precious fact.
Micah was wondering of the things I remember of being sick and there is a very high percentage that I do not remember at all but I do have to say as I teach my kiddos and do alot of house work today I have to remind myself it is a privledge to walk, talk, use my hands, read....... those are for another list but my heart could burst with song for how grateful I am to be well. To be functioning. To be learning. To be actively participating in life as a wife, mom, sister and friend!

Enjoy today! As Anne of Green Gables says: Lets drink it in!! Or soak it up. In other words take a moment and reflect on all that we have!

My prayer is to work on having an attitude of thanksgiving and praise and to abide in the vine!