So, we weren't able to do our normal Thanksgiving Tree this year. We were moving our family of six into our new home after living 14.5 months with family. I know, I know...it seems like a lame excuse, but what a task it has been!! :) But I didn't want to skip out on this time of pausing each day to find something that I was thankful for...especially in the hustle and bustle of moving, homeschooling, starting a ministry and having the holidays approach us. My spirit needed this reflection time each day...it kept me grounded and less overwhelmed at times.
Thankfulness Day 1: I am thankful for my Lord and Savior...the One
Who gives me strength to get through each day...the One Who shows me
grace when I do things in my flesh...the One Who loves me
unconditionally.
Thankfulness Day 2: I am thankful for my hubby.
The one who shows me the love of Jesus on a daily basis. He is far from
perfect, but he is humble enough to seek Jesus on how he should love
and serve his family. ILUVM, Christ, and I am thankful to be your wife.
Thankfulness
Day 3: I am thankful for this sweet and sassy girl. She definitely
has an opinion on things, but is also one of the most encouraging
people know. She is quick to tell a person they look pretty or to thank
you for cooking a meal. I love how girly she is...she would wear a
fancy dress everyday with high heels. I love her independence...the
girl of the third option...but it shows me she thinks outside of the
box. So, for today...on her birthday...I am thankful for Kyrie Eleison!
Thankkfulness
Day 4: I am thankful for this boy. He is the one that made me a mom.
He is so full of love and hugs. He goes above and beyond to help
others. He is a thinker and a problem solver which means he is full of
questions. Thank you, Josiah Potter, for making me a mom...I love you
more than you will ever know!
Thankfulness
Day 5: Today I am thankful for this reserved, full of life and animal
loving girl! Her quietness in a new situation is a lot her momma. Just
like me, she needs to observe the people and the situation before
opening herself up. But when she feels comfortable, she loves and lives
passionately! This girl loves to write and draw. She loves to tell
imagination stories at night to the other Hooties...and they want her to
tell them a story. I am so thankful for the opportunity to be your mom
and that God chose you to be a part of our family! I love you, Sophie
Sugai!
Thankfulness
Day 6: Today I am thankful for this little guy. He is the one who
wasn't planned, but God knew we needed him in our family. From this
little guy, we have learned that His ways are better than our ways. He
is so full of life and laughter. Already at his young age, he tries to
bring a smile to people's faces. Some of my favorite moments with him is
when he wakes up from his nap because he loves to cuddle with me...a
rare moment in the day that he isn't bursting with energy. I am
thankful for you, Richard Tobias, our unexpected blessing!
Thankfulness
Day 7: Today I am thankful for this young lady!! I don't even know
where to begin. She has touched our hearts in ways that I can't explain.
She has loved on our children and given them so many wonderful
memories. She started off as the "World's Best Babysitter" and has
ended up being a part of the family. I love her creativity whether it
is painting, repurposing something or dancing!
I love her free spirit...traveling somewhere in the spur of the
moment. But what I love MOST about her is the way she loves and lives
passionately for Jesus. I love you, D, and I am SO very thankful that
God allowed our paths to cross! Now, plan that trip to GA so we can
give you some BIG hugs and stay up late eating ice cream!!!
Thankfulness
Day 8: Today I am thankful for this group of people who love on our
children in ways that we can't as parents. They are able to do fun
things like give them sweets before dinner, let them stay up past their
bed time or get up SUPER early in the morning! They have invested time
into our children and have created wonderful memories with them...ones I
pray that our Hooties will never forget. So, today I am thankful for
Mimi, Bup-Bup, Pa T, Lin-Lin, Bob-Bob and Mimi. We love you and are
thankful for you.
Thankfulness
Day 9: Today I am thankful for Mathetes 268 Ministries. It took A LOT
of waiting and growing and the Lord preparing us for this call He has
laid before us. I am thankful for a husband who has grown in his faith
and obedience to do whatever the Lord asks of him. I am so thankful for
going on this journey and beyond humble that the Lord chose us. Thank
You, Lord, for giving us a heart for discipleship and allowing us to be a
part of Your vision.
Thankfulness
Day 10: Today I am thankful for my sister. Being seven years apart has
been hard on having a close relationship. When she went off to
college, I was starting sixth grade in England. Distance has been hard
on us, too. The last 11 years I have lived away from home. But in the
last month since we have moved back to GA, we have been able to spend
more time together. I have enjoyed our time
preparing for my many projects that I want to do. I have also enjoyed
watching you with the Hooties whether it is buying a dress for a
princess birthday party, making crowns for a birthday girl, playing a
game that doens't require you to move :),
you reading books to them, letting a little fashion diva pick out your
outfit, or you being awakened by your "alarm clock" in the morning. I
look forward to this new opportunity of living in the same town again. I
love you and am thankful for you...for the woman that you are...inside
and out!
Thankfulness
Day 11: I am thankful for all the Veterans who have fought for the
freedom of our country. Whether it is a soldier on the front lines or a
doctor taking care of the soldiers, they all play an important part in
keeping our country safe! Thank you to you and your family for the
sacrifices you make!
Thankfulness
Day 12: Today I am thankful for these ladies. The Lord's plan for our
lives have put us miles apart, but because of our love for Jesus our
love for each other is still strong. I can text or call these ladies
with a prayer request and know that they will stand in the gap for me.
If I am having a rough day, I can call and know at some point in the
conversation there will be a good laugh. I am thankful for the love
they have for me and the rest of my family...especially the way that
they love the Hooties! We aren't sisters by blood, but I am thankful
that we are sisters because of His blood! Love and miss you ladies!
Thankfulness
Day 13: Today I am thankful for being able to homeschool the Hooties.
This is just a small sampling of the books we will use this year. At 268 Academy, we aren't just about book knowledge, but we spend time
each week learning about life skills (comparison shopping, cleaning,
cooking)...about our character...and most importantly how to live and
love like Jesus. I am thankful for a husband who supports and encourages
me to do this because believe me there are hards days...real hard days,
but he reminds me that this is the calling God has put on my life. So
today I am thankful for the calling God has given me to teach the
Hooties!
Thankfulness Day 14: Today I am thankful for new experiences. After
37 years of being a sister, 13 years of marriage, and 7 years of being a
mom, we rode on a float for the first time in the VSU Homecoming Parade
and threw candy to the all the people watching the parade. I love
watching the Hooties experience new things. Thankful for a hubby who
goes along with my crazy ideas and a sister who made it happen!
Thankfulness
Day 15: Today I am thankful for finding this letter as I was
unpacking. This letter came at a dark time in my life. It reminded me
where we were as a family and how far we have come from in the last
couple of years. What we thought was best for us in reality doesn't
compare to what God had planned. It made me realize we weren't ready to
handle Mathetes 268 two years ago. I am thankful
for God's timing and how He knows what is best for us. I am thankful
for the one who penned this letter. Even though she didn't know all the
details of what was going on, she knew that I was struggling. I am
thankful for her obedience to speak His word into my life. I am thankful
for this letter and seeing that GOD's timing IS PERFECT!
Thankfulness
Day 16: Today I am thankful for my marriage. This past week has been
CRAZY busy. Chris has been moving us into our new house, working on
getting his bus driver license, doing stuff for Mathetes 268 plus making
sure to spend time with his family. I have been unpacking boxes and
getting our home organized, homeschooling, doing stuff for Mathetes 268
plus taking care of everyday things to
make sure my family is taken care of. We have had to do a lot of
tag-teaming to get these things done. (We even had to ask for help from
my dad, sister and niece. THANKS!) But I am thankful for how Chris and I
can come together in busy times, get everything done and then crash
into bed still talking to each other!! (Not always the case, but the
case for this past week! :) Because of all our teamwork, it looks like we will be spending our first night in our home TOMORROW!!!
Thankfulness
Day 17: Today I am thankful for what this doormat represents. The
Greenwoods will be spending their first night in our new home! This
momma is beyond excited to tuck the Hooties into their beds tonight. I
am beyond excited to wake up and fix them breakfast. Welcome Home,
Hooties! Welcome Home!
Thankfulness
Day 18: Today I am thankful for my bed. I wish I could spend more
time in it, but reality is these boxes will not unpack themselves. But
in a short while after getting a few more things done, we will be
reunited and hopefully there will be no party crashers in the form of
Hootie Hoos!
Thankfulness
Day 19: Today I am thankful for finding this book!! All the other
Hooties have had this book read to them and they did great with potty
training. It is now Tobias' turn to have this book read to him! With
this book though there has been many laughs with our former youth. As I
read it to T, I will remember all those late night story times!!!
Thankfulness
Day 20: Today I am thankful for staying up until 12:30am going through
all off the Hooties' toys. Watching them play today and use their
imagination has brought joy to this momma's heart. So today I am
thankful for imagination play and sibling relationships.
Thankfulness
Day 21: Today I am thankful for having a table to gather around to eat
meals with my family. I pray that when we gather for our meals that
there will be heartfelt conversations along with LOTS of laughter. That
we will never be too busy to hear about each other's day. (And there
was a lot of laughter as Tobias at "worm" soup for the first time
today!)
Thankfulness Day 22: Today I am thankful for all the different
churches we have been able to attend the last couple of months. Part of
being a pastor is you already have a church you attend and you don't
get to experience how other brothers and sisters in Christ worship.
So, even though it has been hard not having a church home...today as I
sat in a new church I realized the creativity of God and the beauty of
being able to see how different people in the Church worship.
Thankfulness
Day 23: Today I am thankful for the Lord being all knowing. Last
night Chris and I went looking for a bookshelf for our classroom. We
went to Target and I found one that I REALLY liked. Then we went to
Walmart and found this one that was 3x cheaper. I REALLY wanted the one
at Target even though it cost more, but I felt like we needed to get the
cheaper one, so I obeyed even though my
flesh didn't want to. When I got home and started unpacking our school
supplies I began to realize everything wouldn't fit in one bookcase.
Because I obeyed in that moment we have enough money to buy a second
bookcase so I can finish our classroom. So, today I am thankful that
God sees the BIG picture and in that moment my spirit was in line with
His Spirit.
Thankfulness
Day 24: Today I am thankful for this lady! We first met when I was
teaching in NC and she was the assistant principal. We didn't hang out
outside of school, but because of technology and being moms of young
kids who are close in age our friendship has grown. Over the last year
she has checked in faithfully each week to see how the job search was
going, how I was doing emotionally and
spiritually and to see how our kids were doing. After God revealed our
call, she has checked in to see how the house search was going, how the
know kids were adjusting, how the ministry is going, and how the church
home search is coming along. She has been an encouragement and a prayer
partner, but most of all an example of what it looks like to walk with
someone through life. So, thank you for your friendship and praying that
one day we can get all of our kids together and I can meet that
wonderful husband of yours!
Thankfulness
Day 25: Today I am thankful to have one room in our house completely
done. I am thankful that I was able to get all of my teaching stuff out
of boxes and put up on shelves. I am even more thankful that my
parents live right down the road and the Hooties were able to spend a
good portion of the day with them so I could accomplish this task.
Slowly we are getting settled am turning this house into a home.
Thankfulness
Day 26: Tonight I am thankful for a date night in with the hubby.
That we don't have to go and spend lots of money, but can enjoy playing
some games while lounging in bed. For parents who are willing to keep
all the kids so we can have some time together. That yellow face
character is going to be Chris' face after I dominate him in Boogle!!!
Thankfulness Day 27: Today I am thankful for an impromptu breakfast with my sister and hubby before getting some work done.
Thankfulness
Day 28: Today I am thankful for Chris' genius idea of the kids giving
us a "haircut" in bed...it gave us some extra time in bed. This is
Kyrie's finished product for my hair. Thankful for lazy Saturday morning
#creativeparenting #needmoresleep
Thankfulness Day 29: Today I am thankful for being able to hang up
our CHRISTmas wreath on our front door. CHRISTmas is my favorite
holiday. It was hard not being able to decorate last year, so this year
it is especially special to be able to decorate.
Thankfulness
Day 30: Today I am thankful for what this tea set represents. My mom
got this set when we lived in England while my did was serving in the
Air Force. As a child it was hard moving every 3 years or so...I don't
have long time childhood friends like some of my peers do. I didn't
grow up in a childhood home. But because of all the moving we did, I was
able to see some really cool things. As we finish unpacking the last
bit of boxes, I am also thankful for all the moving we did because it
has prepared me to follow my wonderful husband wherever God calls him.
And with this picture I will say, "It's a wrap until Nov. 2016!"
