A Year of Giving Thanks!

 

November is always a fast month, but this year it felt even faster than usual! (Perhaps that has to do with the fact that I’m getting older, and time flies faster!) This Thanksgiving Day was a bit different for us, as it was just our family spending the day together. I’m certainly not complaining by any means! 

As we look back over the course of the year, I can reflect on so many blessings that God has bestowed upon our family. 2021 was a year unlike any other, and there have been high point and low points for all of us. But through it all, God has been faithful. 

January: Garett and I were able to go to Haiti on a medical missions trip with Parakeleo International. It was a busy, full, and exhausting week, but what a blessing to see God at work. The US team will not be going to Haiti in January 2022, but I am so thankful for all that God continues to do around the world. 

February: We used up our winter break from school working on the house, and we are so thankful that we did! We poured in hours of time into new flooring, painting, and moving things around in our house. At the time, we didn’t know that God would want us to list our house in a few months, but His timing is ever perfect. 

March: We continue to see God’s hedge of protection around our school, church and families, as we are able to continue with in-person learning for our students. What a blessing to be able to attend school in-person! 

April: This year (2021) we were especially thankful for our Resurrection Sunday services. How thankful we were to be together in person to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ! I am so thankful for salvation, hope in Jesus, and the promise of eternity spent with my Savior! 

May: Our capacity restrictions were lifted just in time to have our Patriotic Program! I am so thankful for the United States of America. I’ve seen and heard things that I never would’ve expected to in the last few years, but I am still thankful to be an American. Our Founding Fathers made huge sacrifices for our freedom, and I refuse to just throw it away. Liberty and freedoms are quickly being stripped away, but for as long as I am able, I will endeavor to be a Patriot of this country that loves America and loves Jesus, as well as raise up the generation behind me to be the same. 

June: We made it! School is over for another year! We are thankful for Garett’s 8th grade graduation. My parents came out for the Patriotic Program and Garett’s graduation. They took the boys back with them to Wisconsin so that the boys can attend camp and spend some time with them. My friend, Hannah, invited me to take a fitness class with her, and it’s been such a great experience for me. It’s provided an opportunity to interact with others in our community, an outlet to relieve some stresses, and an opportunity to grow stronger. I am thankful for the health that God has given me. 

July: We are all happy to be home! I went out to Wisconsin to pick up the boys, and we are thankful for our home in Maine. Roger made some difficult decisions regarding his job this month, and we spent much time in prayer. I am so thankful for a personal relationship with Jesus in which we can cast all our cares upon Him! I’d have never survived without prayer!

August: Back to school preparations are underway! We had many teacher positions to fill this fall, and God filled all of them with just the right people! I am thankful for the opportunity to work with some amazing teachers and friends. We have our share of struggles, but God continues to work in and through us and the school. I am so thankful that our children have had the opportunity to attend this Christian school for the past six years. 

September: I am thankful for my students. It’s a new year with a large class of kindergartners. I pray for them often that they will grow up to love God and serve Him passionately. Also, this month, God makes it clear that our family will be leaving Maine. As hard as change is, there is such peace in knowing that God goes beside us and before us. We talked with a realtor, and we will be listing our house on September 29th. It was a crazy month as we had just started school, Roger is getting ready to take the job in Michigan, and we are getting our house ready to list. My specific prayer for this month was that God would sell our house before Roger needs to leave for Michigan which is on October 5th. 

October: I am thankful for God’s blessings and answers to prayers. We could feel the prayers this month as our house was under contract within five days of being on the market! God did “exceeding abundantly” this month in answering our prayers. God provided an apartment for the kids and I for the school year through some dear friends. God provided housing for Roger in Michigan. God provided a storage company that would bring a pod to our house to load. God provided us with an amazing realtor to walk us through every step of our house closing. God provided financially when we were unsure if Roger would get paid for training at his new job. God provided sanity for me when it seemed like everything was getting crazy. God provided rest when He knew that I just needed to be able to sleep. God provided my children with extra forgiveness for a parent who was low on patience and grace. 

November: I’m thankful for family. I’m thankful that Roger is home for a few days, and that God made it possibly for him to get home a day early. I’m thankful for every moment that we can soak up together knowing that God will continue to carry us through. I’m thankful that the boys will have the opportunity to play soccer three time a week through these winter months. (God provided a miracle in allowing that to happen for them). I’m thankful that we have a church family with whom we can gather for a night of “Pie and Praise”. I’m thankful for our children, and I’m thankful that God has specifically created them for this era in history. We serve an amazing God- how can we not sing His praises?! 

Happy Thanksgiving!