Yes, I’ve missed the past few days - but did want to end the month with one last thanksgiving posting!

Tonight, as we were getting ready to say our bedtime prayers as a family - our oldest, 4 1/2, started praying our prayer before his daddy had a chance to start. There have been many times this past month where he’s really felt the need to pray out loud - for which I am so very thankful!

He’s learning to talk with the Lord, develop a personal relationship to Him - through prayer. He prays so sweetly, so honestly, so childlike - and isn’t that what Jesus told US to be like?

He thanks God for food, and tonight got down to some really basic things such as forks and spoons, and hands to pick things up with…. I KNOW God was very touched by his heartfelt prayer!

I can’t remember if I shared this a few weeks ago or not, but the night of voting - his daddy had to vote after work. Here in Alabama, it’s dark around 5, and something about being outside in the dark makes my little ones a bit nervous.

We had been counting on using our “I Voted” stickers for dinner at Chick-Fil-A, but they stopped honoring that deal around 1 in the afternoon - due to overload. Well, I didn’t find that out in time to prepare dinner, so the kids and I drove over to Mc Donald’s instead. (Yep, I held a grudge against the chicken chain for not honoring their deal)

On the way, #1 got worried about Daddy being outside in that long line in the dark, with all those other people. He asked if they would hurt his Daddy… I told him no, they wouldn’t hurt him - but could tell by his voice and the silence that followed that this 4 year old was still pretty concerned for his Daddy. So, I told him we could say a prayer for him.

Then I asked that since I was driving, would he like to say the prayer for Daddy - and what followed was the sweetest prayer for Daddy that I could’ve ever heard.

So, to end this month, I must be thankful that my children are learning the importance and power of prayer. That they are realizing that God IS real, and that though we can’t see Him, He can hear our prayers - and they want to talk to Him.

What’s been YOUR biggest thanks this month?

PS - I’m also very thankful and grateful for the comments you’ve left!

Can I say this?? I’m thankful for Black Friday deals!! I’m even MORE thankful that some stores offer these deals online!!

We didn’t know this last Thanksgiving, but thought about it for after Christmas sales last year - and it worked, early too! We had been having major issues with our video camera working, and didn’t want to miss anymore special events due to power cords no longer staying in and batteries never working…

So, HH Gregg had a fabulous sale on cameras, which I checked out online the night before the sale. I couldn’t believe it was already up and available! No getting up at 2 in the morning, no long lines, no sold-outs, I bought this with 2 minutes worth of effort from the comfort of home!

So if you’re in the market for something, and reading this early - check out sales online tonight. If you overslept, or just didn’t want to fight the crowds for something - it might still be available online.

I’m also thankful for the Lord keeping watch over our little ones fingers tonight. Our 15 month old is fascinated with balls. So, what do you think the shiny ornaments on our tree look like?? Yep - balls! He’s pulled them off all day, and tonight (while taking family pictures) threw one on the carpet and the glass shattered everywhere!

Not 15 minutes later he managed to get another one, and threw it on the hard floor. As you can imagine, this one REALLY shattered. Then he had to reach down and grab up shreds of glass! He got one sliver in his hand, big enough to make it bleed a little. But overall, I think that’s the only piece that really seemed to cut into anyone - and most of us were barefoot! Thank you Lord for protecting his little hands and feet!

(Now, what am I going to do for the next 6 weeks?!?!)

Alright, it’s getting late, and I’m afraid I’ll have a pretty busy day tomorrow (hubby wondered if an electric fence around the tree would keep him away?? Just kidding!!)

Be sure to head over to Sonbeams for the Black Friday Sale on the new dry erase “My Daily Duties” charts!! Til ‘noonish’ on Friday, you can buy these at wholesale costs - only $7 a board!!

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend!

On this Thanksgiving Day, I’m grateful for beautiful hymns which cause us to reflect on/ and praise the Lord. Today, reflect on the words below, and sing this Thanksgiving hymn in your heart to God - “For the Beauty of the Earth”.

“For the Beauty of the Earth”

For the beauty of the earth,
For the beauty of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our grateful hymn of praise.

For the beauty of each hour
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flower,
Sun and moon and stars of light,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our grateful hymn of praise.

For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth, and friends above,
Pleasures pure and undefiled,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our grateful hymn of praise.

For each perfect gift of thine,
To our race so freely given,
Graces human and divine,
Flowers of earth and buds of heaven,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our grateful hymn of praise.

For thy Church which evermore
Lifteth holy hands above,
Offering up on every shore
Her pure sacrifice of love,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our grateful hymn of praise.

May you and your family have a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving Day!

Candace

I’m thankful for all the provisions the Lord has given our family. Our home, vehicles to drive, clothes to wear, beds to sleep in, food to eat - things that we take for granted all too often.

Many families have had to deal with job losses this year - this along with rising prices on electricity, food, and gas - have caused a great deal of strain on many.

For reasons such as this - but mainly because God’s Word tells us to owe no man anything - I’m grateful that my husband and I both share a desire to be debt free. We have paid for vehicles - although they’re not the newest, bestest models out there - they serve their purpose!

We owe only on our home - and once our house sells and we move, we’ll no longer have that! We’ll enjoy being debt free in a manufactured home for a while, while saving to build a home later.

There have been plenty of opportunities for us to not be in this place financially, but we’ve had follow God’s leading and evaluate what our true needs are.

Because we don’t owe thousands on credit card debts, constantly need new clothes, and we’re not pulled in by expensive cell phone and satellite/ cable plans - we have blessed to have our NEEDS met!

Don’t take me wrong, we’re not well off by any means. We still price match at stores, use coupons some, and don’t buy what we really don’t need - and just get by month to month. But I’m thankful that God allows us to ‘take no thought for the morrow’ in regards to our needs - He’s always been faithful to provide the perfect amount and at the perfect time!

Wow, can you believe it’s almost the end of November, and before we know it 2008 will be over? Each year seems to fly by faster and faster!

Today, I’m grateful that no matter whatever happens in my life, God is in control. HE has ordained each and every day of my life, what happens at each moment, and is holding me every step of the way.

As we’ve been looking over pictures the past few days from the past 4 years (of our children), I can see testimony of God’s LIVING part in our lives.

He knew each trial we’d face, and He brought us through. He knew each blessing was ‘just around the corner’, if we only would trust Him and get out of the way.

In a way, it’s a little frightening that time seems to be flying by so quickly, but today I’m thankful that I can have peace about the future - because He’s still on the throne and holds all that encounters me!

Today I’m thankful that God was gracious and merciful regarding my worries over the weekend.

For one, our loan was approved - so no worries there in regards to buying the land!!

We have since discovered that there’s no water nearby though, and it will cost over $25,000 to hook up to the city pipes down the road. We’re still praying that God would intervene here, and the land company we’re buying from is looking into the costs and splitting them between us and the other lots still available.

Looking for well drillers hasn’t been an easy task, but from the ONE I talked to, this area isn’t good ground for drilling wells….

Second relief was that although insurance was no help on the $850 + bill from our daughter’s recent dr. visit (due to the diagnosis they gave, they won’t cover it), the nurse at the drs. was very kind in trying to assist me with the insurance company. Hopefully, or should I say, prayerfully, God will continue to work in this situation (He’s already given me a nice nurse!), and this bill will be paid by insurance after dealing directly with the drs. office.

Third praise, well, that’s baby news - so click over to Nine Months or Less. com/blog if you’re interested in reading about that one!

God is SO good, and today I thank Him for the relief He gave me from some of the needless worries I’ve had!

Oops, I missed a day! Sorry! We’ve had a busy, hectic weekend - starting with my oldest son throwing up on and off on Friday. It appears he caught the same thing his sister had the previous Friday - just a one day throwing up bug.

We’ve learned over the past few years that people in our town don’t stay home when sick, and my children pick it up if we go out or visit anyone. We had to go to the bank to handle some loan info for our new land one day, then go to the Post Office to mail in the perk test results another.

Not sure which one was ‘germ infested’, but one was…. If only we could get it through to him that biting his nails causes germs to get inside and make him sick!

Okay, guess that’s not a thanks is it? I am thankful it’s just a one day virus!

Today, I have to ‘pray’ to be thankful for a financial matter that is trying to burden me. In the midst of having some tests done on my daughter, one particular dr. and the tests there are being covered by insurance for some reason…

I opened the insurance statement yesterday (Sat.), to discover that we are responsible for almost $700 of charges not covered!! Let’s just say this has bothered me, and I can’t talk to anyone until Monday about it!

I am really hoping and praying it’s a mistake, or that the dr. will re-code her visit - since it was medically necessary to determine if there was a real problem or not.

Today though, while at church, I admit I was still stewing - ready to argue our case tomorrow… Then something someone said - well, the Lord used it to speak to me about this.

Yes, this is a LOT of money. No, it’s not in our budget by any means. But YES, God uses circumstances in our lives to teach us things.

But how, why?? - these were my arguments in my head. You know, ‘our’ money isn’t really ours - it’s God’s! He holds ALL the wealth of the world in His hands, and can easily replace that and meet our needs.

I’ve been so worried about things lately, trying to get everything to work out - when really, God will do all that! Yes, I do have responsibilities, and do have to make a lot of these phone calls/ run errands - but somehow I’ve got to figure out how to ‘let go, and let God be God!’.

I’m not here to live my life, but to serve God. I just obey and follow, I don’t have to worry - He’s got it all in control. Even if I don’t like the plans and results, if they are happening and I desire to be in His will, then these ‘plans and results’ ARE His will!

What’s the song? TRUST and OBEY! There’s no other way to be happy, life is too stressful and worrisome, we can only be happy when we place our lives/ plans/ circumstances in His Hands!

I’m excited today - and so…. grateful to be living in 2008 with modern technology. Why? Because I’m now 20 weeks pregnant, and TODAY get to have another ultrasound and see this precious little one God is giving us in April!

IF we decide to find out the gender, it won’t be today. Today we’re just having her write it down and seal it up. That way if we choose to know later (maybe Thanksgiving or Christmas), we can. Overall, I think I’d really rather wait and see later this time! Besides, I think I know what it is anyway….

For any interested in how it goes, you can visit Nine Months or Less sometime Saturday for the updage.

It’s funny to listen to my aunts talk about not having ultrasounds back when they were pregnant - kinda like I guess I’ll sound talking about having records as a child when I talk to future generations!

I’m not 100% on every modern thing, but must admit I’m very thankful that I have the opportunity to see the life God is giving us! PS - If we get a really cute ultrasound pic, I’ll be sure to post it on the baby blog!

Candace

PS - Don’t forget to sign up for the FREE dry erase chore chart at Sonbeams! There’s been hundreds of views, but only a few comments…. leave a blurp for your chance to win!

Today I’m thankful that my daughter has all her teeth! Let me explain….

For some reason, my children are climbers - loving to climb in chairs especially to reach on the counters or tables - DESPITE our frequent ‘lectures’ about it being dangerous. See, we have laminate floors, which are slippery. Add to that chairs with felt pads… this equals a scene you don’t want to picture if your child is climbing, standing, or reaching from these chairs.

Once again, one of them felt the need to climb up to reach on the counters, this time my daughter. I’m not exactly sure what happened, since it happened so fast - but I was starting some green beans for dinner and the next thing I know she’s sliding faster than I can catch her.

Next come screams, tears, and LOTS of blood. My first fear being she’d knocked out all her front teeth. But thankfully, she just bit her bottom lip and all the teeth are still secure. It’s a long time from 3 years until however old you are when your permanent teeth come in!

She’s still upset, especially when her ‘thumb sucking’ kicks in - for this makes it hurt all over again. At least she’s almost over that phase, it’s just for when she’s sleepy or not feeling well.

I’m sorry she’s hurting, but so very grateful that it’s turned out to be something that will heal and be forgotten in a week vs. years of being toothless!

I just wanted to share with you all a contest that’s going on over at Sonbeams. The dry erase version of the “My Daily Duties” chore/ responsibility charts is now available - just in time for Christmas gifts!

From November 18th through December 8th, you can enter the contest to win your own FREE board!! Simply read this post for contest information - and good luck!