National Day of Giving Thanks

What a glorious day in this nation! 

"12  To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. 

O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever" Psalm 30:12

A day set aside for giving God thanks for the many blessings He has given us. 

Yes! This nation was founded for religious freedom. Men wanted to worship the LORD as the Bible commanded, they could only do that by coming to a new land thousands of miles from civil/religious rulers. 

Thanksgiving was originally a celebration for the first successful harvest on this new land. 

So, the pilgims were giving God the glory for His bountiful provision.

The LORD led President Lincoln to make Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863, in the midst of the Civil War. 

Thank you LORD for setting this day aside as a reminder to your people, that YOU are the one deserving of thanks for the prosperity of the nation and our selves! You have done great and glorious things in our lives!


"24 Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you" 1 Samuel 12:24


The LORD is worthy of all praise and thanksgiving! Here are just a few of the things that I am thankful  for:

A nation that allows the worship of God

All the civil rulers, doing very difficult and critized jobs, to keep our nation, state, county, and city secure

The military, and all of the brave men and women, fighting for our security

The family of those in the military, sacrificing their loved ones for the protection of the country

Policemen and women, patrolling 24/7 for the protection of citizens

Doctors and nurses with knowledge of the human body, and ability to assist in healing, physically and emotionally

Doctors and midwifes with knowledge on how to bring a life into the world

Ability to conceive, and give birth

A new son born this year

A son born two years ago (WOW! It has been two years?)

Precious memories of those births

Memories of time past

A husband and father to lead our small family

A job for my husband that allows me to stay home with our boys

A hard working husband, that makes his bosses happy and glorifies the LORD

Vehicles, for the employ my husband and for getting us around

A church filled with people to love

A church filled with loving people

A man to preach the word of God

Moving closer to family

Seeing my family more often

Spending time with family on both sides

Hearing my son call his grandpas "Pa pa" and grandmas "Ma ma"

Seeing him giving them hugs

Seeing him realize that these people are special

Seeing him make friends of the little ones in church

Hearing him learn how to talk

Seeing my other son learning how to move around

Seeing him learn how to balance

Seeing the love between these brothers

A place to live

Food to sustain

A comfortable place to sleep

Access to learning tools for the boys

Crayons and paper

Hymnals

"Ho-y Ho-y" (Holy Holy Holy)

Ability to read

Reading the Bible with Bob

Dr. Seuss books

The time in which I was placed

The country in which I was place

The people that I was placed with

The freedom to raise our family according to God's word

Protection

Prosperity

Christ's death

Christ's resurrection

Prayer

An Intercessor

A Friend

A Husband

A Savior

A Creator

A Hope

"O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever."
1 Chronicles 16:34

"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
1 Thessalonians 5:18

"Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness."
Psalm 30:4

"It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High:"
Psalm 92:1

"O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever."
Psalm 118:1

"But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
1 Corinthians 15:57

"Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned."
Revelation 11:17

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; 

Praise Him all creatures here below; 

Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts; 

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Amen.

I just had the joy of saying this with Bob! He followed me in speaking the words, and said them all fairly clearly for a two year old. What a wonderful blessing, and joy!

I'm an Aunt!!

(photo credit: Donna Jackson)

My brother and sister-in-law just had their precious little boy yesterday afternoon!
He is a tall and skinny little guy at 21" and 5 3/4 lbs.

Congratulations to new Mommy and Daddy! You two have a handsome son!

Little Adventurer

Tom is beginning to become mobile.

Where has my baby gone?

Yesterday, he also figured out how to turn around in his bouncy seat. So he was on his hands and knees bouncing the seat. He looked like he was having fun! He ended up climbing out of the seat by tipping it over and rolling out. 

P.S. Look at those thighs! : D

Two Years!

My baby will be two tomorrow!
Where has my baby gone? He is so big, he's not a baby anymore.
I praise and thank the LORD for Bob! Life would not be the same without him, I can't even imagine it.
I'm very thankful:
for his cheerful spirit
for his good obedience and patience (for a two year old)

for his contagious giggle
for his butchered words
for his clear words (Daddy!)

for his snuggly hugs
for his kisses that are more and more like real kisses
for his soft, warm feet rubbing my leg when we snuggle

for his adventurous personality
for his goofy dancing

for his soft blonde hair and big brown eyes

for his efforts to be a big boy
for his thumb sucking and belly button fiddling
for his little "thank you"'s

for his "singing" out of the hymnals
for the little mole/freckle on the back of his arm

for his help with chores (he is really good at unloading the dishwasher : ) )
for his love for his little brother (it melts my heart when Bob hugs Tom, or holds his hand)

I have been blessed greatly with this little boy!
I love him very much! He has a chunk of my heart, right next to his daddy and baby brother.

Bob, I pray that you become a great man for the LORD. That you follow his Word. Always honoring your Father, by respecting and obeying your earthly father and authorities, and loving your brothers in Christ. I pray for many more years for you to live for the glorification of the Lord and edification of the brethren. I love you so much son!

Major Adventures!

We have had a number of adventures as a family. Here are just a couple of the big ones:

Marriage, Oct. 2011

Me moving to Missouri, Oct. 2011

General Lee's birth, June 2012

Buying our first home, Dec. 2012

General Stonewall's birth, Feb. 2014

Moving to South Carolina, June 2014

We praise and thank our LORD for his guidance and protection of our family over the past 2 1/2 years! He is all powerful, and all that has happened is part of His perfect plan!

Fear Not, Little Flock

The souls of those who seek for wealth the Lord shall soon require,

But riches which are stored above shall never there expire;

Fear not, little flock, fear not, fear not; thy Father knows thy need;

Fear not, little flock, fear not, fear not; He will His children feed.

Behold and see how lilies grow; they do not toil nor weave, 

Yet kings in all their royal dress are not arrayed like these.

Fear not, little flock, fear not, fear not; thy robe is sparkling white;

Fear not, little flock, fear not, fear not; the Savior is your light.

If God so clothe the forest green whose leaf will soon be gone,

Shall He not much more glorify His chosen and foreknown?

Fear not, little flock, fear not, fear not; thy God is on His throne;

Fear not little flock, fear not, fear not; He'll come and take you home.

~ Ralph E. Harris