In Plenty & In Want

The daily devotion I'm working through this month has a theme of thankfulness. Shocker, I know. Today it challenged me about being thankful in times of plenty and in want. You've heard it before; give thanks for your circumstances. In need, hunger, pain, suffering and uncertainty...show gratitude. But, I think I had glossed over what a privilege it is to give thanks in times of plenty.

Sure, I give thanks for the food that graces my table, the three sweet guys that gather around it with me and the roof above our heads. I've even thanked God when I found the missing shoe or that overdue library book. But, plenty is not just these fleeting moments.

"Plenty is not just a season or a lifestyle enjoyed by a group of lucky people, just as want is not just a sad face emoji that begs to be prayed for and brought a meal. We cannot simply characterize our circumstances on a sliding scale from famine to abundance because, for the believer, plenty and want are constant states of being" - She Reads Truth, 11/22/13

Each of us have real, tangible, plentiful blessings. In reality, our constant state is a want and need for grace. I'm so thankful I know the ultimate and faithful supplier! I'm challenging myself to count my blessings not just because it's a time of thanksgiving, but because it honors my God and His generous love for me!

"Think how much grace one saint requires, so much that nothing but the Infinite could supply him for one day; and yet the Lord spreads his table, not for one, but many saints, not for one day, but for many years; not for many years only, but for generation after generation." - Charles Spurgeon

Do you need an overflowing cup of His mercy today?

thankful thursday

This week I am thankful for the sunshine we enjoyed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Just when I thought I couldn't take another day of dreary rain, the clouds parted and we headed outside.

We enjoyed some time on the swings, climbing, sliding and monkey bar crossing. It was just what we needed.

We even broke out a toy Jack had received for his birthday from Aunt Lisa & Uncle John. We hadn't had a chance to enjoy it yet between the windy days and the soggy days, but (as you can see) Wednesday was the perfect day for a little stomping.

thankful thursday

I'm oh so thankful for these two sweet faces!

thankful thursday

What a week it's been, and oh how much there is to be thankful for. As you may recall from my first thankful thursday post, my sister was scheduled to arrive home from Germany. She arrived pretty sick, but thanks to God's healing and guidance through several great medical professionals, she is on the mend. She's been diagnosed with orbital myositis, which involves swelling of the eye muscles. Her's had progressed so severely that she was suffering neurological issues. High dose steroids have reduced the swelling greatly and she has improved. Her vision hasn't returned completely to normal, which is causing double vision. Thank you to all of you that prayed for her.

thankful thursday

A sweet fellow blogger and friend does a weekly post titled Thankful Thursday. She recently invited/challenged others to link up their own weekly posts of gratitude. Well, I rarely find myself blogging on Thursdays, but I made time for it today despite the millions of things I should be doing to get ready for our whirlwind road trip. So, here's some things I'm thankful for this week:

1) Our whirlwind road trip. In just a few short hours, we'll pile in the car and head slightly northwest to Chattanooga. Josh has family that lives in that area, and after deciding to take Good Friday off, we thought it would be a great opportunity to visit. Although it will be a little hectic because of a late Saturday night return for Easter Sunday, I'm thrilled about the opportunity to visit with family we haven't been able to see much of lately. We look forward to introducing Sam to several folks who haven't had the chance to meet him since a Christmas snow storm botched our annual holiday get-together. Josh's uncle is battling cancer, and may not have too much longer. What a special time to spend with him. One of Josh's cousins who lives in Brooklyn, will be visiting with his family. We'll get to meet the newest baby in the family, as another cousin just gave birth a few short weeks ago. Finally, we'll celebrate with a third cousin and his fiance at their wedding shower. It also means 3 straight days with my precious family. Josh doesn't take many 3-day weekends, so I want to relish this extra time together.

2) I get to see my amazing sister on Sunday! I haven't seen her in the flesh since August when she and her hubby left for Germany. We were expecting her home for a visit for a few weeks, but unfortunately the last few weeks she has been ill. She has gotten worse in the last couple of days and none of us feel her condition is being treated urgently enough on base...having to wait weeks for appointments with specialists, etc. So, the decision was made for her to come home and see if medical professionals here can get her fixed up. It's really a shame, because she has had to resign from her job there just so she can come home and get well. I hate the circumstances, but am thrilled to have her home for a few weeks! Now, I pray God will bring healing to her body.

Look who is ONE!

So, today officially marks Sam's first birthday! Our little baby is one. We celebrated in a big way last Saturday with family and friends. I made a little slideshow of photos from Sam's first year. We've been so blessed by this sweet little guy. How can it be that a year has gone and yet it seems he's been a part of our family forever? We love you, little guy!


Sam's First Birthday Tribute from Laura Garrett on Vimeo.

What more could I be thankful for this Thursday?

thankful thursday

Many of my fellow bloggers have a weekly feature "thankful thursday." I have to admit I can't promise that I'll remember to do it weekly, but was sitting here and realizing I have much to be thankful for today.

I'm thankful for the safety of my family. It got pretty icy here last night and conditions were still dangerous early this morning. Josh was able to get to the office safely and even managed to come home for lunch with us, which is always something to be thankful for.

I'm thankful for my warm home today...and every day. It's been crazy cold here and winter has barely begun. Although I had hoped to venture out today to take the boys to their last day of Early Steps Preschool for the 2010 year. The fun was to be capped off by a birthday party for Jesus with lots of adorable singing preschoolers. Alas, the icy roads had something else in mind. So, we have been here in our warm house all day. There are definitely worse places to be! So, thankful we'll be!