In Everything Give Thanks

Since the dogs decided to be up at 5:30 this morning I figured I should just go ahead and get up too. They have no sense of time... The one day I am off of work to be able to sleep in, I am up even earlier than my normal alarm would be. So here I sit on the couch cuddled up under an Ohio State blanket, (Go Bucks! Just kidding Iowa.... Never in a million years!!!) drinking my pumpkin spiced coffee, smelling the amazing fall scents from my Scentsys, while the dogs and my husband sleep. (Obviously they are tired, because they woke up early! Silly dogs!). I also have not written in awhile, and I figure what better day to write a blog post on being thankful then on Thanksgiving. So here it goes...

Thinking about the holidays this year I really did not want to celebrate them. I have no desire to be happy on days that I am supposed to be happy. I have no energy to be happy. I was contemplating the other day trying to think of things I am thankful for this year. Not many came to mind... Negative thoughts and complaining came to me more then anything. Like why did we have to lose our baby, why did we move three hours away from our family, and why am I just not happy? During my pity party I started to see actual things that I am thankful for. Not like when you were a kid. When you went around the table at Thanksgiving dinner naming off everything you owned, "I am thankful for my barbies, I am thankful for my dolls, I am thankful for crayons." No, I actually thought of real things to be thankful for this year. Here is my list:

1. I am thankful for my husband. He is so amazing and loving. He works so hard for our little family. Even through all of my nagging and complaining, he somehow is still able to love me. I guess that is what marriage really is, choosing to love someone even when you do not want to. I am so thankful that he chooses to love me!!

2. I am thankful for our families. They have loved us so well through our hardships this year. They have been there for us when we have needed them, and have just sat with us quietly not needing to say words. Just being there and knowing that they are doing everything they can to help us heal is enough.

3. I am thankful for my amazing friends. I have made so many friends throughout this year, and I usually struggle with making friends. So I mean I have done good. I don't have enough fingers to even count how many true friends I have now. Friends that have sat with me through hard trials, friends who encourage me, and friends who call me out when I am not thinking how I should.

4. I am thankful for my precious daughter and the short time that we had with her. I will treasure that time in a very special place in my heart. I think of Mary (Jesus's mother). I am sure the time that she had with Jesus seemed extremely short to her as well. The verse that comes to mind when I think of the short time being Eleanor's mommy is Luke 2:19 "But Mary treasured up all of these things, pondering them in her heart." (emphasis mine)

5. I am thankful for what God is teaching me throughout this year. I have learned hard lessons this year. I am still learning these hard lessons (and sometimes failing greatly if I am being totally honest). Still I have changed immensely. My outlook on God and his character has changed. I now know God loves me (no matter what). I am learning that I can trust him in every situation (no matter how hard it is). I am learning that God is in complete control, and I have none. (This is an ongoing lesson... click here to read about giving up control).

6. I am thankful for the Bible. This might sound cliche or something a kiddo might say at the Thanksgiving table, but the Bible has so much greater meaning in my life now. Before it was jus a book that I felt like I had to read. It was a chore. Now it is my life. It literally is my "daily bread." Job 23:12 "I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food." (emphasis mine) I have found so many treasures in the Bible that get me through my days. I by no means am perfect at continually reading my Bible, but it has become an attitude change; less of an "I have to" and more of an "I want too, and I need too."

So there you go. There are my 6 things that I am thankful for this year. I really encourage you to sit down and make a list as well. It really helps to change your attitude and outlook on life. Even people who are going through tragedies and hardships right now, it really does help to take your eyes off of the struggles if only for a couple of minutes. Please comment... I would love to hear what everyone is thankful for!!

Have a happy Thanksgiving from HiddenJoys!!!

PS.... A little nugget into my life.....

While writing this one of the dogs decided to jump up onto the pillow on the coffee table to lay down. Dogs are not supposed to be on coffee tables so I tell him to get down. In the process of jumping down the pillow slides out from underneath him knocking my coffee and two cups of water over on to the floor. Luckily just the water fell on the floor, and the coffee stayed on the coffee table. (Ironic coffee on a coffee table... Too funny) Also positive outlook on it my coffee table has never been this clean 😏

The culprits...