God's Good Gifts-Part 7

"Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray.  Thanksgiving will draw our hearts out to God and keep us engaged with Him; it will take our attention from ourselves and give the Spirit room in our hearts."  ~Andrew Murray 

241. A healthy doctor visit for Nathan's one year appointment and strength for Mom as I had to hold him as he got 3 shots and a TB test.

242. After Christmas sales on several new books for Nathan's 25 days of Christmas books for next Christmas. 

243. Good health in a season where many are getting sick.

244. Servant hearted ladies who prepared dinner for an associational meeting with local pastors and church leaders.  

245. A fun photography session with a patient photographer for Nathan's one year pictures.

246. Time to catch up with a good friend.

247.  A fun at home date with Michael-food from local restaurants, great dessert, and a game of Scrabble.

248. A crock pot that makes preparing dinners so much easier.
249.  A new recipe for chicken tortilla soup on a chilly winter evening.
250.  A morning workout that helps me get energized for the day.
251. New wooden, magnetic letters and numbers that keep Nathan engaged while I cook dinner or wash dishes.

252. Opportunities to teach Sunday School each week, especially when the kids are listening well and are eager to answer questions about the lesson.
253. A warm, cozy, comfortable house to live in each day when the weather outside is bitterly cold, icy, and windy.
254. Quiet days at home to enjoy with Nathan.
255.  A little boy who loves to read books.
256. Watching Nathan push his little motorcycle all over the house, smiling and excited about getting around in this new way.
257. A book on hospitality that challenges, convicts, and encourages me in my role as a homemaker.

258. God's forgiveness and mercy when my attitudes and actions are sinful.

259.  Quiet times in the afternoon to read, reflect, pray, and sit.

260. New days that offer new beginnings and new opportunities. 

   

A Letter to Nathan on your 1st Birthday

To my sweet Nathan,
 Happy 1st Birthday!  It is hard to believe you are already turning one year old!  The time has gone by so incredibly fast, but I am so thankful that I am able to stay at home with you each day and experience all your changes, noises, smiles, laughter, and fun.  As I reflect back on last year and where we were, I remember being completely terrified as your dad and I got in the car to head to the hospital.  I didn't know what to expect and all I kept thinking about was meeting you and that I wish that moment could already be happening.  We waited and prayed for a long time that God would bless us with a child, so to have it be so close to a reality was so exciting, yet scary.  I just wanted you to be healthy and for everything to go smoothly and to be able to hold you and tell you how much I loved you.  Well, the Lord's grace was evident that entire night as we waited for you, as there were a few complications; however, bright and early the next morning on December 31, we met you, our precious boy, for the first time.  You were perfect in every way!  Everyone kept saying how cute you were and how all your features were so perfect.  It was the best gift we had ever received!

It is a complete joy to be your mother!  From the time you were just a few weeks old and smiled for the first time, you have brightened our lives in every way.  Everywhere you go, you bring a smile to people's faces.  I have loved watching you experience all your "firsts."  From laughing, rolling over, noticing Lacy,smiling, touching grass, sitting up, swimming in a pool, going to the beach, watching you try and crawl for about a month, then learn to scoot on your belly and rock on your hands and knees and then finally take off crawling, watching you kneel on your knees and look out the big window in the living room and bang on the window saying, "Hey" to everyone, to playing games with you, like "Where's mommy? while you go from room to room in the house looking for me or hiding behind the chair in the living room and you coming to find me, to enjoying walks around the neighborhood and hearing you test out your voice with little coos and "heys," to many day trips to Memphis and Jonesboro and enjoying shopping afternoons with you where you say "Hey" to every person you see and smile at every person who stops and talks to you, days at home playing with your kick and play piano gym, your motorcycle, your musical table, your little balls and other toys, seeing you explore all the new wonders of the house, including the floor, the carpet, the kitchen cabinets, the pots and pans, the Tupperware containers, drawers with clothes inside, the washer and dryer, books on the shelves, playing with Lacy and her paws and fur, looking over the edge of your crib, watching you eat cereal and all kinds of new foods, hearing you say, "Hey, Day" to Lacy when you see her, having you rest your head on my shoulder for a couple minutes every time I come and get you from a nap, watching you lock eyes with me for the first time and really looking at me, watching you clap your hands at random moments and when you are excited you did something, watching you watch Daddy and Lacy playing outside (you will be able to join them soon enough), stopping play to come and give me a hug, reading books from your basket and having you pick out books for mommy and daddy to read to you (your favorites are Hop on Pop, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish, The Little Engine that Could, Click Clack Moo: Cows that Type, and a few others), listening to you belly laugh at coughs, sneezes, and other random things, singing to you when you are upset and having you calm down right away, reaching for me with your arms outstretched, crawling down the hall as fast as you can to come to me when I call, you bring excitement and wonder to each day.  I have cherished all these times and the many others I have captured in pictures and videos.  I would not trade these days at home with you for anything.  You have brought a childlike joy to my life that makes every day special.

You, my sweet boy, are a blessing from the Lord in every way!  It is hard to imagine what life was like before you came.  Many nights when you are sleeping, I go into your room and just watch you sleep, so incredibly thankful for the gift I have in you and the opportunity I have to be your mom.   My prayer for you is that you will one day love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, that you would understand the power of the Gospel, and that God's Word would lead, guide, and direct your steps as you journey through life.  As the Psalmist says in Psalm 139:14-16, "I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.  My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.  Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them."  Your life, Nathan, is a miracle and an answer to many, many prayers.  You are a blessing.  I love you to the moon and back.

Love forever,

Mommy

God's Good Gifts-Part 6

In the words of the Getty's...
My heart is filled with thankfulness to Him who bore my pain,
who plumbed the depths of my disgrace and gave me life again,
who crushed my curse of sinfulness and clothed me with His light,
and wrote His law of righteousness with power upon my heart.

My heart is filled with thankfulness to Him who walks beside,
who floods my weaknesses with strength and causes fears to fly,
whose every promise is enough for every step I take,
sustaining me with arms of love, and crowning me with grace.

My heart is filled with thankfulness to Him who reigns above,
whose wisdom is my perfect peace, whose every thought is love. 
For every day I have on earth is given by the King,
so I will give my life my all to love and follow Him.


212. Safety in travel for my family as they traveled to and from our home for Christmas.
213.  Times of laughter and making memories with family.
214. Generous friends and family who showered Nathan with an abundance of fun toys for Christmas and his birthday.
215. Unexpected gifts of money from our church family.
216. The Lord's grace in always providing the money we need, even if it comes in unexpected ways.
217. An afternoon of shopping and catching up with almost all my siblings-something that does not happen very often anymore.
218. A new tradition started on Christmas Eve-Nathan opening his first Christmas Eve box-a book, movie, and new pajamas:)

219. Celebrating the birth of our Savior on Christmas morning by adding baby Jesus to our advent calendar and reading Luke 2 as a family.
220.  A delicious, Christmas morning breakfast-ham and hash brown casserole, Christmas morning coffee cake (birthday cake for Jesus), fruit salad, juice, and coffee. 

221.  Having my family here to celebrate Nathan's 1st Christmas!

222.  Relaxing days at home just enjoying time with family.
223.  Fun family outings to see Christmas lights.
224. Family members who graciously helped prepare food, decorations, cupcakes, and cake for Nathan's birthday celebration.
225. A fun day celebrating the gift of Nathan with family and friends-We only wish our other family members could have been here too.

226.  Watching Nathan smile and clap after he opened each gift at his birthday party.

227. A birthday lunch at Chickfila to celebrate on Nathan's actual birthday.
228. A mother who helps plan and prepare meals for all of us to enjoy.
229. A marathon night of watching the last few episodes of Downton Abbey with my family as we prepare for season 3 to start this coming Sunday evening.
230.  A lovely, candlelight Christmas Eve service.
231.  New goals, visions, and beginnings as the new year starts.
232.  Time to reflect on the blessings the Lord has given us this past year.
233. A lovely snowfall to wake up to the day after Christmas.
234.  Time to read and spend time in God's Word.
235. Reminders to remain persistent and steadfast in the faith, to pray and not lose heart this coming year from Michael's sermon from Luke 18.
236. Hearing Nathan "count" after he hears me counting the buttons on his clothes.  He repeated 2 and 3 after he heard me say them:)
237. Watching Nathan play with and enjoy all his new toys, especially learning how to push his motorcycle around the house:)
238.  A brief visit from family we haven't seen in a long time.
239.  Skype dates with far away grandparents and family that we were not able to see this Christmas.  Thankful for modern technology.
240.  Continual reminders of the Lord's grace in my life.

Books to Read in 2013

One of my goals for 2013 is to spend more time reading with the purpose of learning about the lives of different people, being challenged in my faith, learning practical ways to be a better wife, mother, and homemaker, and grow in hospitality and reaching out to others.  I thought if I actually posted the list, it might provide better motivation to stay on track and be reminded of the ones I want to focus on for the coming year.

Real Marriage: The Truth about Sex, Friendship, and Life Together

by Mark and Grace Driscoll

 

 Give them Grace by Elise Fitzpatrick

Killing Lincoln by Bill O’Reilly

Killing Kennedy by Bill O’Reilly

Because He Loves Me by Elise Fitzpatrick

Don’t Make Me Count to Three by Ginger Plowman

Practicing Hospitality by Pat Ennis and Lisa Tatlock

Loving the Little Years by Rachel Jankovic

The Explicit Gospel by Matt Chandler

Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney-I have read this one before but would like to reread it as I think it will be helpful in the current season of life.

Biblical Womanhood in the Home by Nancy Leigh DeMoss-This one has been sitting on the shelf for awhile and is written by several women who offer great insights to the role God calls us to as women of God.

Treasuring God in Our Traditions by Noel Piper-I  have read parts of this book but would really like to sit and read the entire book, especially in looking towards the future with Nathan. 
 

Fit to Burst by Rachel Jankovic-a new book coming out at the end of January.  Her writing is fun, easy to read, and practical. Looking forward to getting this when it comes out. 
 

To the Golden Shore by Courtney Anderson-a biography about the life of the first Baptist missionary from the United States, Adoniram Judson.  My husband has been trying to get me to read this for a long time, so I think this is the year to do it.  He says it is one of his favorite books. 

Celebrating 12 months of Nathan!

On December 31, 2011, the Lord blessed us with the greatest gift, our son, Nathan.  

Psalm 139:14-15-"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well."  The following is a picture story of the first 12 months of Nathan's life.

Praise the Lord for the blessing of Nathan!