Visit the home of Thankful Thursday at Sting My Heart.

The theme of today's Thankful Thursday is love and I have definitely seen God's love demonstrated this week!

* I am so thankful for His protection ... my family, my home, our property, the possessions and belongings He has blessed us with.

* I am so thankful for the firefighters.  The ones I personally saw had great attitudes, worked hard, and were kind and friendly to everyone.  (Sadly, I cannot say the same for other emergency personnel.)

* I have been through disasters before (hurricanes and tropical storms).  I know they bring out the best and the worst in people.  I am thankful that for the most part I saw the best come out in my neighbors.  People banded together to help others get out of their homes and get their livestock evacuated.  You have to understand what a huge shock this was to me.  After the two hurricanes that hit us in 2004, the only times I saw people helping others out around me was those who were already friends.  The fires earlier this week proved so different.  (Those of you who have great relationships and friendships with your neighbors - you are truly blessed.  This is definitely one of the oddest places I have lived in that respect.  It's almost as if people already have their "quota" of friends and they don't let anyone else in.  We have lived in this home 4 years and don't really know any of our neighbors.)

A quick update for everyone: The reality of what happened finally hit me a couple of days ago and just overwhelmed me.  You have such a rush going while it's all happening that you really can't think straight and take in the magnitude of it all.  I am okay, but still a little shaky now and then.  The mercy and love of the Lord was definitely all around us.  The fires in my immediate area are up to 50% containment.  There are still hot spots all around that have the potential to flare up (some of the hot spots are specifically on my road).  The air quality continues to be horrible so going outside is being kept to a minimum (the kids are having the hardest time with this).  Mine and dh's eyes and throats have finally stopped stinging and burning.  We do have electricity.  The only time we were without was for just over 4 hours Monday evening.  A lot of areas are still without and aren't expected to have it until Friday night.  A good majority of those homes have well water which means without electric their well pumps won't work and they have no water.  I'm continuing to keep everything sitting by the front door in case I have to load my vehicle and evacuate again.  Please continue to keep Florida in your prayers.  The last I heard, there are wildfires burning in 11 different counties and new ones continue to spring up.  Keep the firefighters and other emergency personnel in your prayers.  They are exhausted.  Please continue to pray for the rain we so badly need.

Vist the home of Thankful Thursday at Sting My Heart.

While watching a Christian television program last night, I was overwhelmed by God's goodness and knew just what I was supposed to express a loud thanks for on today's Thankful Thursday.  A couple of weeks ago I was blessed with 11 books at a yard sale for a grand total of $.55 - yep, that's FIVE cents per book.  One is a textbook that's just a few years old all about the state of Florida.  Guess what ... we're studying Florida this coming school year!  I also got a couple of older ABeka science workbooks ... not the science curriculum we use, but some great, casual summer reading nonetheless.  I could go on and on about every item individually but the point is, God blessed us with fantastic learning resources at a price that didn't make my wallet scream.  Instead it made me scream with joy! 

I am also so thankful that our/my gardening efforts are going well so far.  My picky eater, ds1, couldn't get enough of the green beans we enjoyed earlier this week.  Thank You Lord for Your blessings upon our humble little garden.

Visit the home of Thankful Thursday at Sting My Heart.

I have been sick since Monday afternoon and although I am still not completely well I am thankful for soft pillows, a comfy bed, cozy throw blankets, and hot, running water for showers and baths.  I am also thankful to have my voice back.

Visit the home of Thankful Thursday at Sting My Heart.

I am so thankful that I can throw a hissy fit (translate as temper tantrum for anyone not from the South) and behave like a complete idiot and He is still there and still loves me.  I don't even have to knock on the door - it's open and He's waiting with open arms to scoop me up.  I am also thankful for good news (answered prayer) that came over this past weekend. 

Visit the home of Thankful Thursday at Sting My Heart.

I am so thankful for finding this just before ordering a different curriculum that would have turned out to be a mistake for us.  The Lord definitely intervened and saved us wasted $$$.  I am also thankful for new books that will add to our bird and butterfly studies.  My oldest is thrilled, especially with the butterfly book so he can now easily identify the ones he catches in our yard.  And I'm thankful for the blessing of homeschooling and the priceless moments it brings our way.

Visit the home of Thankful Thursday at Sting My Heart.

I am thankful for furry friends that fill our lives with love, laughter, warm snuggles, and sloppy, wet kisses.  Sadly, they aren't with us as long as we would like but I am thankful for the memories that I hold so dear.  I am also thankful for all the sweet ladies that stopped by here to leave us comforting words, hugs, and prayers.  It meant more than I can ever express. 

Visit the home of Thankful Thursday at Sting My Heart.

I'm thankful for a beautiful bundle of joy that arrived 9 years ago - such a wonderful gift and blessing and getting to be home with him from the start has been amazing!  And I'm thankful for silly birthday pictures ... hopefully he'll look back one day and find it just as funny as he does now.

Visit the home of Thankful Thursday at Sting My Heart.

The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save.  He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.  Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)

This week I feel like I've had the wind sucked right out of me.  Even though I've experienced just how precious and short life can be (through my own mother's death at the age of 52), the realization has come to the forefront again.  It turns out that hubby knew one of the victims of the sugar refinery explosion that occurred in Georgia at the beginning of the month.  I didn't *know* him really, but knew who he was.  Sadly, no one in hubby's family let him know this young man had passed away but hubby had a bad feeling overcome him earlier this week and sure enough we found the devastating news online.  It appears that this young man had turned his life around from the one I associated him with and had come to know the Lord ... for that I greatly rejoice!  My heart goes out to those he left behind.  So often ... all too often ... we go through life without regard to just how fragile and precious it is.  I am thankful for all those who have graced and touched my life with their love and laughter.   

Visit the home of Thankful Thursday at Sting My Heart.

* I'm thankful for the Lord's hand of protection on us and for sparing the kids and myself from a wreck on our way home from the library yesterday.  It was a very close call that left us all badly shaken.

* I'm thankful for a small package that came in the mail for ds1.  It made him feel special.

* I'm thankful for chocolate (and I've had more than my fair share since last Friday!).

* I'm thankful for library books and snuggly read-aloud time with my boys.

* I'm thankful for fun family time spent at the lagoon.

* I'm thankful for all the sweet ladies that visit me here at my blog.  Your comments make me feel like I've been visiting with old friends.

Visit the home of Thankful Thursday at Sting My Heart.

I'm thankful for the loves of my life ... Jesus, my hubby, and our two precious boys.  I'm grateful for the Lord's unfailing love and offer to be my best friend - the greatest gift I could ever receive.  I'm grateful for Him bringing my hubby and I closer over the last week and the exciting new path He's taking us on in our relationship.  And I'm grateful for the two beautiful blessings that He grew in my womb and who call me Mom.  I'm truly a blessed woman.

I have to add one more thankful, although it doesn't go along with my "love" theme ... we finally have medical insurance for our whole family again after being without since July 1, 2007!  It's not as good of coverage as we would have had if hubby's employer had not stopped offering medical insurance, but it's better than having none at all!!!  Thank You Lord!

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Visit the home of Thankful Thursday at Sting My Heart.

Since I started participating in Thankful Thursday, I have been posting a list of thankfuls for the previous week.  This time I'm going to do something a little different.

This week I am thankful for a major "light bulb" moment.  Not a "head knowledge" light bulb moment, but instead a light bulb moment of the heart.  You see, I've known and believed in my head for a long time that everything is in the Lord's hands and He is in control.  But did my heart really feel that?  Sadly, no.  Out of nowhere it hit me a few days ago.  I was crying out to Him about a situation in my life that has gone on for years and all of a sudden ... BAM! ... I finally felt it in my heart.  I can't change the situation.  I can't make it right or even how *I* want it to be.  It's all in His hands and in His time.  And now I know that I can feel that in my heart about everything that happens in my life, whether it's just to me personally or something that affects my family as a whole.  Will I still feel sad, discouraged, hurt, fearful, and so on?  Yes, and I know that's okay.  I am human and have God-given emotions.  Feeling all those things is perfectly normal ... allowing myself to dwell on those emotions and not cast my cares is not.

Visit the home of Thankful Thursday at Sting My Heart.

** I'm thankful for new kitchen towels ... we needed them!

** I'm thankful for free, educational, and fun places to take our children on field trips.

** I'm thankful there have been no more problems with the dryer.  I'm still hand washing dishes but am thankful for the remains of a stockpile of  Seventh Generation dishwashing liquid I purchased in August 2006 (yes - 2006! ... on sale for $1.99 and I had $1 off coupons).  It's a blessing that I haven't had to purchase this right now.

** I'm thankful for answered prayer.  Once again, they did not sit down with hubby for any kind of meeting as they said they would, but one of the owners did tell him last Friday (while passing him in the hallway) that he is indeed the department manager.  There has been no discussion to follow this up so hubby doesn't know if he will be receiving any bonuses or such that were implied when he interviewed for the job.  We'll just have to leave that in the Lord's hands.

** I'm thankful for an email friendship I've had for probably 7 years now.  This sweet lady and I "met" on a forum that no longer exists, but we've stayed in touch via email.  We may never get to meet in person as she lives on the opposite side of the country from me, but she holds a special place in my heart.

** I'm thankful for my beautiful boys ... their hugs and kisses are priceless.

** I'm thankful for the blessing of being a homeschool mom and a hubby that works hard to provide for our family and give our children this amazing opportunity.

**  I'm thankful for kitchen helpers ... crockpots, KA mixer, VitaMix, and so on.

** I'm thankful for recent thrift store finds and a $1 dvd (Big Cat Challenge) that thrilled my ds1.

** I'm thankful for the little tomato growing in our garden and hope that more soon follow.

** I'm thankful for snuggle time with all my boys.

** I'm thankful for sunny days and nature walks around our yard. 

He will fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.  Job 8:21 (NIV)

Visit the home of Thankful Thursday at Sting My Heart.

* I'm thankful for freebies ... a 3lb. bag of honey tangerines from our neighbor and 47 mini candy canes from the health food store we shop (and they're organic to boot!).

* I'm thankful for toaster pastries finally being on sale after months of my oldest son begging for them (at $3.99 a box regular price ... no way!).  We've all been feeling a bit deprived lately and a few boxes of these proved to be an uplifting treat. 

*  I'm thankful for hubby being on call for the last 7 days.  It's never fun when it's his week, but the much needed $ from the extra OT will be wonderful on his next paycheck (in 2 weeks).

* I'm thankful for rain ... off and on showers over the course of several days.  Our area has needed it badly.

* I'm thankful for postcards showing up in our mailbox on a regular basis.  They're beautiful and taking us to places around the USA that we may never get to visit.

* I'm thankful that my latest round of eye swelling is over and I am able to wear my contacts again!

* I'm thankful for The LPM Blog ... oh how it brings a smile to my face and laughter up out of my belly.

* I'm thankful for silliness and hilarity with my boys.  Yesterday ds1 and I collaborated on a story during lunch called "You Wouldn't Want To Be a Tangerine in __________'s Bowl: A Trip Through the Digestive System You'd Rather Not Take."  You must understand that this silly title comes as inspiration from a series of books we've been enjoying this homeschool year.  It felt so good to get all our worries out of my mind and act completely goofy with my children.

* I'm thankful for answered prayer ... getting to watch Wednesdays With Beth yesterday all by myself before the pitter patter of precious little feet came padding down the hallway.

* I'm thankful for a book I'm slowly working my way through right now being the encouragement I needed to start making note of all that I have to be thankful for.  It is my hope that Thankful Thursdays will lead to a major improvement in my attitude.

* I'm thankful for baby steps that are taking place in two relationships that need to heal.

* I'm thankful for the exciting events that are unfolding concerning the land we own in GA.