A Look at Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Thoughts from a Mother’s Heart

As Thanksgiving day approaches, and Facebook, blogs, and the internet becomes flooded with days of thanks, thanksgiving crafts, devotionals on thanksgiving, etc., I decided to write my own post on Thanksgiving. I could do the 30 days of thanks as many are doing, and I enjoy reading their thoughts. But God has been at work in my own life again, and I’m determined to write down my thoughts…before I forget them! J

I love Thanksgiving, enjoying time with family, feasting on a huge dinner and all the other things that go with the holiday. But as I’ve had more children, I’ve discovered that it’s easy to be thankful most of the time, but I’m not always as joyful as I should be…especially with young children. It’s hard for me to be joyful as I wake up to an overflowing toilet (“too much paper, Mommy?”), deal with children who seem to do the same thing over and over again…like wake up the baby, “She wanted to smile with me, Mommy!”, and find that someone used the shower curtain for toilet paper…always, “Not me, Mommy!”. J However, God has been working on me gently correcting my attitude, giving me numerous opportunities to share grace and teach my children. (For example, on our way to someone’s house this week, a child ended up with the dessert on his shoes and all over his pants…it was an opportunity to dig deep … and keep my mouth shut! J Sometimes, the best thing to do is to take a deep breath and say nothing (at least for the moment).

Painting!

Well, all those ramblings to say I’ve come up with a few words that go with THANKSGIVING. Please take the thoughts I've come up with the humor that I've intended to go along. I love my children, and I do love being a mom!

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My baking helpers!

          Teachable moments…oh how God has been working on this with me! J Before I had children, I envisioned sweet little children quietly sitting on the couch, while reading stories together. Not so much, reading time consist of usually ½ of a story while sitting under the dining room table which is made into a fort! J  I envisioned cheerful dinnertime conversations discussing how God made the world and the things He’s done for us. However, God gave me lots of boys who want to know things like, “Why did God give me boogers and why can’t I eat them?” or “Why do I need to change my underwear, they don’t have any streaks in them?” I’m learning that life is much different through the eyes of boys…but I wouldn’t change it for the world! J

          Time…I’m thankful that God gave us time…He made the sun to come up and the sun to go down. I love the hugs, kisses, “I love you” from my boys, and I’m also thankful that God gave us a time for rest at night! J

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          Health- It’s easy to take for granted that my children are healthy; but since sickness can take place overnight, it’s definitely something I’m thankful for on a daily basis.

          Home- I love, love the fact that we have a place to call home. I’m not always thankful or joyful about how it looks, but that’s a work in progress. J One closet will look decluttered and organized, but meanwhile the troops have emptied out the laundry baskets to make “boats”. J

          Heritage- I’m so thankful that my parents raised me in  Godly home, where Christ was King. I never want to forget that I’m so blessed to have a heritage where I never knew parents that were not saved and that our children have Grandparents who love and pray for them.

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          Attitude- We have a either a good attitude or a bad attitude, but I’m thankful for both. A good attitude shows me that maybe one of our children is grasping the concepts we’re trying to teach…a bad attitude shows me exactly what we need to work on-sometimes a NAP! J

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          Naptime- This one is at the top of my list! J While some of the boys are outgrowing nap time, I still insist on quiet time (i.e. “sanity hour”) every day.

Craft time

          Noise- Perhaps something weird to be thankful for, but in a house full of young children…usually, silence is NOT a good thing! J Generally, if I can hear them playing, I can envision what’s happening; however, when things are quiet that’s usually when drawers are being emptied, shampoo is being rubbed on the rug, or the hinges are being taken off the door! Yes, I’m very leery of silence! J

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          Kisses- Nothing brightens my day like getting a kiss from my children. While our lives are a work in progress, kisses remind me that these days are short!

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          Salvation-Oh, how I’m thankful for this one! Every morning is a reminder of how thankful I am that God saved me. God loved me enough to send His Son to die for me, and Jesus has saved me from my sins. I have admitted that I’m a sinner, believed that Jesus died for me, and confessed my sins to Him and my desire is to spend eternity singing His praises.

          Spouse- Outside of my salvation, my spouse, Roger, is next on my thankful list. While not perfectJ, he loves me, loves our children, and loves the Lord…I am blessed!

          Soap-Where would I be without this?! We go through a lot of soap here, although on occasion we do have to remind certain children to use it! J

Siblings

          Siblings-I’m thankful that God blessed us with more than one child…at least with having them close together they can always play with a different sibling if they can’t get along with one! J

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          Grandparents-Roger and I are both blessed to have parents that are saved. My mom has been a HUGE help to me in homeschooling the boys this year, and I am so thankful for all her time and effort.

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          Irritations-It is extremely easy to get irritated at the little ones in my home, (“Why did it seem like a good idea to jump out of the tree with trash bags for parachutes?!” or "Why did you use the toilet plunger on the toliet WITH the stick part?!)  but the irritations are a reminder that I have another opportunity to respond rightly! J The days are filled with teaching opportunities, and I need to see them as opportunities not irritations.

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          Victories-The battles that are won on the parenting front leave me with much to be thankful for every day. Sometimes, it just the child that responds politely (a work in progress!) or perhaps a bigger battle such as being kind to the annoying sibling! J We try to offer lots of praise in our home for right actions, attitudes, and responses, but it sometimes seems like we’re moving forward at an immeasurably slow speed! J Sometimes, it seems like we’re constantly fighting the same battles,(“please use your fork”, “we don’t talk about butts at the table”, “did you use soap when you showered?”)  but I have to remind myself that we’re working with a different child than last week. J

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          Interesting- With having four boys in four years, and then a girl, I can honestly say my life is always interesting! J I’ve never been bored, haven’t finished a book in one sitting in over three years (at least not one that’s on my reading level! J) and I’m never caught up on laundry. BUT…I laugh every day (and sometimes cry), I get hugs and kisses from little boys every day, I always have someone to read a book with or build a fort, I never wonder whether the day will be “interesting”…because it will be interesting! J

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          Nature-I am so thankful for the great outdoors! J We are blessed to have a great yard, and the kids go out EVERY SINGLE DAY! J They build forts, drive their daddy crazy by dragging “supplies” out of the garage J, ride bikes, climb woodpiles, throw wood in the basement, plant gardens, dig for worms, and it’s not every mom that gets to have frogs living in her camping cooler! J

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          Girl- Wow!  I’m so blessed to have a little girl in our house. To say she is loved would be a GROSS understatement! J She has someone kissing, touching, or in her personal space just about every waking moment! I have to put my foot down in order for her to be left alone! J Emma “Cake” (as Wyatt still calls her) made the top of the list for the boys thankful lists this year, and I’m delighted to have a little girl in our house.

Siblings

 

So, there you have it…my take on Thanksgiving this year. We are so thankful for the friends and family relationships we have and we don’t take them for granted. We are blessed beyond measure!

Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.