DS is totally awesome!  He has been working quite hard these past few months.  See he has been working on memorizing the Shorter Catechism as well as the Ten Commandments, Lord's Prayer, etc.  Our church recently had a Bible Olympics for the children.  He did so well and it was so good for him in so many ways. 

We feel strongly that he learn these basic tenents of our faith and to begin learning the Shorter Catechism so that he will lay that foundation for not only what he believes but why he believes what he believes.  So since DH left we have started our mornings with Bible reading and then working on memorization.

DS did so well at the Olympics and we are so proud of what he accomplished.  Enjoy the pictures of him and sorry for the gloating here.  He won trophies for reciting the first 20 questions of the Shorter Catechism, the Lord's Prayer, the 12 Apostles, the Ten Commandments, and Psalm 23.  How cool is that for an 8 year old?

DS with our pastor

His trophies

Well, he's at it again.  This kid is so funny!

I have been listening to TobyMac lately.  I have widely varied musical tastes but his is my most recent enjoyment.  For a girl who is in that over-40 crowd it helps to "hippi-fy" myself when I can.  *grin*  A recent release of his from his album Portable Sounds is called Made To Love.  It is slightly hip-hop with a reggae beat thrown in (hence the "hippi-fying" of oneself).  I find myself singing and singing with Toby.  This particular song speaks of losing your first Love, losing your passion for Christ.  The gist of the song is that we can forget that we were made for Christ and were made to adore Him and be adored by Him.  Truly a beautiful song when you look at the lyrics.

But I was stopped in my tracks when singing along with him the other day when it comes to a place in the song where he is singing, "Anything I would give up for You.  Everything I would give it all away."  I was singing as hard as I could and then I stopped.  Can I honestly be singing those words?  Would I, could I give everything up for Him?  Would I and could I give it all away?  

I think we can easily get distracted by enjoying our favorite Christian song or hymn and not pay attention to the words we are singing.  We love the way the words sound with the musical score or we love certain phrases that may speak to our hearts.  But are our hearts listening carefully as we sing?  God is.  I imagine He is saying, "Could you give it all away?  I can ask you.  You sing praises to Me and sing of giving everything up and giving it all away.  But can you?"  Sobering thought.  Not that God isn't sovereign and doesn't know what my answer would be.  Not just the answer of my lips but the answer deep in my heart.  And not that it would change Him and His love for me if I honestly said, "Lord, I can't."  Yet, I can continue, "But You can help me.  I want to but I need Your help." 

Oh that I can sing those words honestly and wholeheartedly to my Lord.  A conscious act of my will it would be.

Next time you are singing with your favorite hymn or song, take some time to really listen to the lyrics.  Are they the cry of your own heart or a cry that needs to find its voice? 

It is truly sad and pathetic that I still drive like a Korean though we have been back in America for over a year now.  Take today for instance.  Confession coming....I was slightly more than irritated at a fellow driver for almost pulling out in front of me and then hesitating and then deciding to pull out v-e-r-y  s-l-o-w-l-y after my having to slam on brakes.  I then, quite irritated, pulled into where I was trying to go with a miniscule squeal of my wheels.  From the backseat I hear a faint prayer, "Dear Lord, thank you for letting me live."   At least DS is learning what means to "pray at all times without ceasing."

Okay.  The last post was heavy.  We need to laugh now.  No. No more 'nekked kitties.'  Well, I should post pictures of exactly how slowly his fur is growing out but that will have to wait.

You ever wonder what your kids do when you aren't looking?  I know I do.  I got to find out today, too.  Seems DS took the camera when I wasn't looking the other day.  He had worked very hard at his schoolwork so I sent him outside to the beautiful spring day to play his heart out.  I had let some papers pile up so I was going through cleaning them out and organizing them.  Nothing out of the ordinary, right?  Wrong. 

Today, I had taken some pictures of DS's handwriting (which I must say looks awesome for an 8 year old boy), and downloaded them.  I also downloaded these.....Enjoy laughing your socks off like I did.

It has taken me a week to be able to post this.  Our dear little CeeCee had to be put to sleep last week.  She was DH's kitty and with him gone this was a bit hard.  DS was also devastated since, in Daddy's absence, he had become the human of choice.

We adopted CeeCee 13 months ago from a rescue shelter.  She was already 10 years old and had been at this shelter for 2 years.  She was really traumatized.  When DS and I volunteered there last year we couldn't stand to leave her.  She pretty much stayed in one or two corners of the cat room.  She couldn't walk well or really at all.  We knew bringing her home that her time on this earth was limited but we wanted to love her and give her happy times for her time left.  We were able to do that.  She had significant arthritis but by this summer was walking with a funny little walk, but walking.  By this fall she was coming for pets and brushings.  By Christmas, she was getting on the couch beside me at night.  So we did what we said we would do.  We gave her happiness and she knew she was loved.

I know there are many others who are facing much greater trials than this but for our little animal-loving family this is quite a loss.  I would like to share some thoughts and Scripture a dear minister and friend of our family shared with me to help with DS's grief.   It was special that DS was able to be a part of the decision-making and be with her as she left this world.  A difficult lesson but one that is a part of the sinful world we live in and one I am glad I was able to be there to walk with DS through.  My prayer is that these may bring comfort to the other animal lovers out there.

"We must remember the Bible was written for the salvation of humanity, not of animals.  Humans sinned and brought the wrath of God, not the animals.  Sin came through us.  The animals are like innocent by-standers (Romans 5:12)  In Psalm 145:-9-10,13,15-21  God loves all His creation and has made plans for all His children and the lesser creatures to enjoy His eternal Kingdom."

"Romans 8:19 says that the lesser creatures await Christ's return to redeem the sons of God so they, too, will be released from physical death to eternal life."

"Romans 8:21-22 says 'Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.'"

LUKE 3:6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'" (NKJ) 

ACTS 3:21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. (KJV)  

REV. 21:5 And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. (KJV)  

ECCLESIASTES 3:18 I said in my heart, "Concerning the condition of the sons of men, God tests them, that they may see that they themselves are like animals”. (NKJV) 

ECCLESIASTES 3:19-20 Man's fate is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath, man has no advantage over the animal. Everything is meaningless. All go to the same place; all come from dust and to dust all return. (NIV)  

PSALM 36:6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your judgments are like the great deep; you save humans and animals alike, O LORD. (NRSV) 

REVELATION 5:13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:
   "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
   be praise and honor and glory and power,
         for ever and ever!"

Wow time flies when I try to sit down to blog.  This is something I must share with you all though.  Last week, DS and I had the lovely opportunity to attend a ballet like no other.  Though in recent weeks we had attended a local production of Peter and the Wolf this one was quite different.  It is a ballet company out of Mississippi whose desire and ministry is to serve and glorify God through dance.  Called Ballet Magnificat!, it is something to see.  We attended their production of The Hiding Place based on Corrie Ten Boom's life and book.  It was a powerful and moving performance.  I had wondered what an 8 year old boy's perspective or even attention span would be at something like this.  He loved Peter and the Wolf but it was a production that was geared for children.  We had briefly studied about Corrie Ten Boom before going.  Well I am not sure who was touched more, him or me.  He honestly was moved.

What is even neater is that before the final dance of praise, the speaker for the group comes out and basically brings the message of the Gospel and offers people a chance to pray with the dancers after the show.  Wow.  Afterwards, DS wanted to meet the dancers.  We met one who was about the sweetest young lady in the world.  She was very eager to talk with us, even after an exhausting 2 hour performance, no less.  We had to opportunity for her to pray with us and for us and then us for her.  What started as something that I really used as a "check off this block" for exposure to the arts became a night of ministering to our souls.

So check them out here and find out if they are coming near you.  It is well worth a drive if you have to drive some.  I would go back in a minute.  I am eager to see their other performances.  I won't soon forget this one.  Neither will DS as he is still talking about it almost a week later.

My heart is a bit heavy today.  A dear friend of mine sent a news link about the burning of the Namdaemun gate in Seoul.  How often we passed this beautiful historical structure on our way to shop in the Namdaemun Market during our time in Korea.  What a privilege we had to be able to see it and actually visit the site.  I had not realized that it had only been opened to the public in 2005.  That makes this even more poignant for me.

I included some links above so you could see it before the fire and also to see and 'experience' the Market by photos, too.  But to see the gate in all its beauty and to see the true devastion of the fire, go here.

My heart is heavy for my Korean friends.  What a loss for their country.

Did I grab you all with the title?  Oh what a few weeks.  First and foremost I must warn you of a bit of gushing ahead.

DS turned 8 yesterday.  I know I said it last year but where on earth does the time go?  We had so much fun, too.  Grandmommy came down and we had some friends over for a drop in.  We decided not to do a full blown party but it was still fun.  I honestly can't believe DS is 8.  He seems so mature and handles our current upside down life so well.  Though he missed Daddy terribly for his birthday he handled it.  Good friends coming by helped, as well.  The coolest thing was our our pastor's family gave him a wonderful new Bible.  The one he has been using was a bit for older kids and he was having trouble maneuvering around in it.  So they gave him a great new Bible with a dry high-lighter, bookmark, and the tabs for the books of the Bible.  He was so excited.  Have I said lately how blessed we are God led us to this church? 

School has been on hold for about a week now but we will get back to it tomorrow.  I love that we can just take time to do things.  Last week we did go to a local science discovery museum for our first time.  It was completely awesome.  It will require many more trips to see and do everything.  Plus they are homeschool-friendly.  DS also was able to participate in a rocket lab.  How cool it was for him.

We also went to another local production of a children's theatre.  It was an original story and DS loved it.  I did, too.  We have had lots of fun lately with the arts.  He is enjoying his art classes still and I will have some pictures below of his work. 

Though my tendency is to worry about his academic progress I realize that we are homeschooling his heart.  He has grown by leaps and bounds but mostly I love that he is growing in his love for the Lord.  He amazes me sometimes with his insight and desire for God's Word.  That is more important and more needful.  I know that when I rest in the Lord and trust Him for our school and give Him the first fruits of our days then He will lead us and care for our needs. 

I know you all have been reading waiting to see what the "nekked kitty" thing is all about.  Well remember the last post with Dusty who is just so darn cute?  Well he may still be cute but in a strange new way.  Another fascinating but little known fact about our lives is DS can learn biology, etc., in new and different ways because Dusty has asthma.  All that to say that since Dusty has been under the weather recently he wasn't grooming himself very well.  So I took him to the groomer for a nice bath and a little shave of his bloomers (backs of his legs), if the small mats didn't brush out.  What I got back was this.

There truly aren't words, are there?  As DH said when he saw the pictures, "It is so wrong on so many levels."    I told you he is Arnold Schwarzen-kitty.  Though I doubt the real Arnold has a stomach that hangs like a cow udder.  Wait, there's more...

And last but certainly not least....This earned him his newest nickname....Piglet.  For obvious reasons.

The vet assures me his fur will grow back in a couple of months.  I sure hope so.  We are getting used to him but everyone who knows Dusty and sees him now is speechless.  Well, after they get through laughing hysterically. 

On to good news.  DS is loving his art classes.  Again we are so blessed to have met this incredible art teacher.  DS is taking a class called Meeting the Masters.  He loves it, loves his teacher, and it is a true blessing for me.  Let me share my favorite of his recent projects when they studied Georgia O'Keeffe.  I love his picture and the colors he chose. 

Now for a couple of birthday pictures.  The first is the small set up I had for his day with the cake, Star Wars theme, of course.  DS is munching on a cheese puff.  Yes, lots of junk yesterday.  I tried to redeem myself with a bowl of apple chips and a plate of grapes.  And yes they got eaten, too.

Gift from Daddy

So as you can see there continues to be no want for excitement in our home.  Though I have to say that as much fun as this is, I am ready for DH to come home so life can be a little boring.  Boring is good.  I like boring.....
Remind me I said that.

Seems I have a knack for letting time slip away from me before I post again.  It isn't that there is no news or that little wonderful moments to share don't happen or even that the Lord shows or teaches me something that I want to share.  I guess life gets busy.  The typical deployment "monkey wrenches" have been thrown out there, too.  Most are mundane dealings with the house but one has been most exciting.  Seems someone (or some bodies), put a BB shot (per our kind deputy), through the back window of DH's vehicle shattering it.  Add in a few lovely shots into the body of the vehicle requiring some more body work and you have a wonderful learning experience for DS on how our sin choices always affect others. 

We have passed the two month mark of DH being gone.  Time is honestly flying this deployment.  I know the holidays helped and now we are back in the saddle again with school and a revised schedule at that.  Our new schedule has also brought some additions to our school day and the days seem to pass right before my eyes.  I love what we are doing and DS does, as well.  I have been seeking God's ideas to help our school flow through our lives as I believe living is learning (and really, vice versa).  I turned to some books of Ruth Beechick's (this site is a personal favorite of mine), I have had for a time now and have instituted some of her ideas for DS.  I honestly like her idea of a more gentle way of learning.  She just plain makes sense.  And her ideas speak to DS's heart.  A nice side effect of our new additions to school is that DS and I spend more time together interacting and I have enjoyed watching his journey of late.

I have also been reading Teri Maxwell's, Homeschooling With a Meek and Quiet Spirit.  I wish I had read her book before now.  Not just that it is written for a homeschooling Mom's heart but that, as a Christian woman, the words are needful in that area of my life.  Not that the two are really different women but that I know the Lord has been desiring to work on me in some of these areas and I have been resistant on some level.  Truly there is nothing like a deployment to bring you to your knees and lift your face to Him. 

The Lord has been talking to my heart on many issues lately.  I have been pricked by recognizing that I should love my DS (and DH), with a brotherly and selfless love and seek to"be holy as He is holy."  We are always kinder to those who aren't in our family doesn't it seem?  I should strive in my daily life to love the Lord with my whole heart and allow Him to fill me with the grace I need to move through each day's journey.  From that grace I can be more loving, tender, quiet, and wise.  I see that need for my heart to be tender to the men in my life.  The Lord has allowed me to see the downcast look in DS's eyes when he comes to share something with me and I am on the computer.  Confession.  I had been using the computer lately to escape honestly.  I used all so many noble reasons for doing so like researching lapbooking and such.  But honestly I was convicted that my son needed me right now.  I don't want anything to stand in the way of building that relationship with him.  He will be 8 years old soon.  In 10 more years, he will possibly be moving on out into the world.  I can't imagine, and really don't want to, how it would feel to look back on this season of life and wish I had grabbed more moments with him.  Is it easy?  Nope.  It is a conscious choice of my will to sign off and push away from the computer desk.

Yet in those moments when my heart awoke to my sin (yes it is all sin), the Lord reminded me that  "I will restore to you the years that  the swarming locust has eaten." (Joel 2:25)  He can and will renew my relationships.  But what I have been struck with and digging into is that really, if you look at it, all sin stems from pride and selfishness.  Really selfishness is pride.  Wow look at those "I's" in there.  "I" want/"need" some Mommy time to work on the computer.  Why don't you get finished so "I" can go do....Well, whatever.  Honey, "I" am too tired to read tonight.  "I" "I" "I."  My pride and selfishness spilled over into every area of my life.  Homeschooling by its very nature goes directly against pride and selfishness.  It is a conscious act of my will to choose to do what I know God has called me to.  He always equips when He calls but we can also expect that most times it won't be easy and it generally will push us to our perceived limits.  However, in that growth and maturity, a new creation blossoms.  That act of will is simply obedience to His call.  Even obedience to open His Word and ask Him to show you what He wants to work on.  Like I said, nothing like a deployment to put you on your knees eyes lifted heavenward. 

Let me share some of our recent moments with you.  Enjoy.

Forever a military kid.  Even his toys do the Pledge of Allegiance.  I love the elaborate setup.  The fan blowing the flag, the light on the flag, shone through blue colored glass for added effect.

This one is terribly funny.  DS as a butterfly.  I am jealous of his tongue-curling talent.  The discussion that led to the idea of acting out being a butterfly was quite interesting, too.  And, yes, we called the cup the flower, the hot chocolate the nectar, etc.

Our first nature journaling in some time.  This is a holly bush outside our house.  DS sat inside the glass door on a rainy day and drew some up close views and then "faded away."  Though difficult to pick up on in a picture is that he used a lighter color of green for the newer leaves.

Hot air balloons that flew over our house last weekend.

Sharing because he is just so darn cute!  Dusty, needless to say, lives in the lap of luxury.  He could care less about learning about meerkats like Sadie  or really anything else except when the next meal is.

This is Sadie's bed.  Bed made for a small 8 lb. cat with a l-a-a-r-r-g-e 25 lb. cat in it.  Basically the fat and extra fur are in the bed and his body is just laying along the top of the bed.  He should have stuck with the recliner.  Oh yes, you read correctly.  25 lbs.  We call him Arnold Schwarzen-kitty.

I just found this myself.  The giveaway sign-up is through today, January 1.  So go to Laced With Grace and sign up quickly. 

Happy New Year everyone!

I was lost on what to title my post so since so much going on was related in some way to our deployment I figured it is all part of the journey.

First of all I have to share with you all about this wonderful company called Daddy Dolls.  They have this awesome ministry to military kids and their families.  Please check them out.  What they offer is truly amazing and wonderful.  Well, needless to say we ordered a Daddy Doll for DS and it arrived right before Christmas.  For reasons I will share below, we decided not to wait to give it to DS.  And I glad we didn't wait!  He was so pleased and hugged and hugged his Daddy Doll.  Below DH's picture, I had them print "My Daddy" but DS thought we should have had printed, "Bald-i-locks."  Yes, like Goldilocks.  DH's hair is falling out at an exponential rate so the joke around here between DH and DS is that DH is called "Bald-i-locks" and DH calls DS "Heredity."  Oh what I live with. 

DS had reflux as an infant and then had a stress-related recurrence when Daddy was deployed last time.  I was on guard for it this time and sure enough it's back.  So after a trip to the Dr. and appropriate medicines for him, DS is doing much better.  DS also started with the crud a few days before our Dr. visit and she found the beginnings of an ear infection.  Again more medicines and he is on the mend.  Poor kid.  He is so rarely sick and this sick at that.  And he has only ever had one ear infection when he was 10 weeks old that we truly feel was due to reflux.  He is a champ, though.  So like I said, we felt it best to go ahead and give him his Daddy Doll.  DS was thrilled!  He hugged and hugged on his Daddy Doll.  I told him that he could give Daddy a hug anytime he wanted and Daddy would get it.  His response?  "How can Daddy get my hugs?  Is it electronic or something?"  I said, "No honey, Daddy knows your heart and knows that you send hugs anytime you can.  This way you can really hug him."  DS still wanted to know HOW that happens.  I just gave up.  lol!  The other funny story about our Daddy Doll is that they take full length pictures to make the dolls.  I did not know about Daddy Dolls until after DH had left so I had to make do with any pictures I already had.  The only one I had that might work was this one that was taken last deployment and the guy that put the CD together cropped DH's legs off and super-imposed his picture in front of a flag with the words "One Nation Under God."  You can see that picture at the end of this post.  The wonderful people at Daddy Dolls worked with me and had their graphics gurus "make" DH new legs for the Daddy Doll.  You should have seen all the funny emails back and forth about "making" DH "new legs."  Even DH said they did a great job "on his legs!"  Funny, funny.

We have also been very blessed with frequent communication with DH.  It has been such a blessing and his unit has also scheduled video tele-conferences monthly.  We had our first right before Christmas.  It was fun to get to see Daddy on TV and DS enjoyed Daddy trying to give kisses through the screen on his end.  DS also left a sweet little note on the board in the room we were in.  It definitely recharged our batteries for the holidays.

Took DS to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra again.  Oh wow.  It was awesome again.  I am starting to get the story in the music.  It is a beautiful story and the lyrics tell of many stories relating to Christmas.  They also play favorite Christmas hymns as well.  I have no idea if any of the musicians or the producers or the people behind TSO are believers.  But I do know that God tells us His Word will not return to Him void and He can use whatever means to send His message out.  So we are already making plans to attend next year's concert.  Perhaps next year DH can be there to see for himself what an experience it is.  Till then I will work on reading lyrics and finding out more behind TSO and the stories.

Christmas was actually really nice all things considered.  DS got lots of Star Wars stuff plus some other nice surprises.  We went to our church here in town for the Christmas Eve service.  I always like to go to church on Christmas Eve to get my focus right.  And did it happen this year.  The peace and comfort I had in my heart as we headed home was truly priceless.  I think one thing that touched me deeply was towards the end of the service.  We had sung Silent Night with lighted candles.  That also always put my focus on Christ.  But at this point the bells rung very slowly 6 times.  Then, after the last of the 6 slow rings died away, they pealed with joyful rings .  This was a medieval tradition where the 6 slow tolls symbolized the demise of satan at the birth of Jesus Christ.  Then after the demise the joyful tolling symbolized the joy of the earth at the birth of its Savior.  It almost brought me to tears.  How can I forget that sweet baby's birth was the birth of God made man that would so soon die on the cross for me?  It was a lesson in not separating the two for me.  And it put everything in perspective.

As I look toward getting back on schedule and back to school, the Lord is again teaching me so much.  I will share them later.  For now I have to wake DS from a rare afternoon nap.  But I promise to share them.  So many times there are things I want to share and time gets away from me and then the post seems to never happen.

Though it is belated, Merry Christmas to all.  I pray your Christmas was blessed and the peace in our hearts and the lessons from this season will carry us through the new year. 

Wow.  It has been already one whole month since DH left and it has flown.  My Mom has come twice and helped me finally finish this house.  I know.  It is truly pathetic that we moved here in June and I still hadn't finished.  3 moves in less than 3 years was more fun than I cared to have.  And it showed.  DH will come home to a nicer looking, more put together home.  No more pictures lining the walls.  Curtains are hung.  Corners and closets cleaned out.  Nice.

DS and I have been busy to say the least.  All good, but busy.  I decided to do Christmas baking for the first time in more years than I care to admit.  Use your imagination.  We have moved 2 out of the last 5 years during the holidays and now twice DH has been gone during the holidays.  Don't even talk to me about Christmas cards.  What's that you say?  I can't hear you!  lol!  But I am prepared for January.  Usually about 6 weeks (give or take), into a deployment life can slow to a crawl, the daily grind gets...well, to be a grind.  Put that with it being winter and cold and probably yucky and we will needing some creativity to get the days moving along again.  DS should be thrilled when he learns I am adding a couple of extra things to our school schedule (note the sarcasm).  I am still fairly relaxed but feel the need to start moving him along to get ready for 3rd grade.

DH is doing well all things considered.  Pray for his unit.  Always pray for all our military and their families, but please pray for his unit and for his ministry to them. 

Well I had great plans to write more but most days I sit and read all your blogs and my little mind goes blank.  I hope to write more words of encouragement but perhaps those will get blogged when I can think them out into some kind of sense.  But in the mean time.....Welcome one of my dear friends to the blogging world at HSB.   I wish I could explain how we met but suffice it to say the Lord was all over it.  Through her we found our incredible church family and home.  Her DH is the pastor.  How cool is that?!  She is always so encouraging and supportive and funny.  Plus she is a fellow animal lover so that puts her up high in my book.    In just a short amount of time we have grown to be good friends and I count her as one of my few sisters that always keep my eyes pointed to my Lord. 

Okie dokie.  If I don't get back to sit down and do more than peruse your blogs before...Merry CHRISTmas! 

Please take some time to pray for sweet Noah again.  He is pretty sick and his family needs our continued prayers.  They are such a blessing to the homeschool community.  Let's show our love by lifting Noah, their family, and all the Drs and nurses caring for them up in prayer.  Thanks.

As I reflect on this past week or so I am impressed by the words in Psalm 8.  Join me in reading His Word and reflecting on the words of David.

1 O LORD, our Lord,
         How excellent is Your name in all the earth,
         Who have set Your glory above the heavens!
         
 2 Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
         You have ordained strength,
         Because of Your enemies,
         That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.
         
 3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
         The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
 4 What is man that You are mindful of him,
         And the son of man that You visit him?
 5 For You have made him a little lower than the angels,^[b]
         And You have crowned him with glory and honor.
         
 6 You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;
         You have put all things under his feet,
 7 All sheep and oxen—
         Even the beasts of the field,
 8 The birds of the air,
         And the fish of the sea
         That pass through the paths of the seas.
         
 9 O LORD, our Lord,
         How excellent is Your name in all the earth!

What praises to offer our King and what a perfect season and holiday to offer up these words ourselves.  I have been practicing praying Scripture and these words just fall off my tongue when I remember God's blessings on me.  What am I that He is mindful of me?  The splendor of the heavens and earth fill me with such wonder and awe yet He minds every second of my life.

Though DH is deployed and we miss him; though we are separated by thousands of miles, I still praise God and worship Him with thanksgiving

I pray each of you a Happy Thanksgiving.  I pray the Lord's blessings on each of you each and every day.