Thanksgiving 2016

A peek at our low-key Thanksgiving at home. We were blessed to have my parents spend the week with us. After traveling to San Antonio and back the week prior, we didn't have much time or energy for fancy stuff, but we enjoyed a wonderful meal and quiet time together as a family. (We will pass over the sad fact that Ted learned the hard way to wash past his wrists after preparing a raw turkey...thank the Lord for our Young Living DiGize oil which helped him recover in time for a birthday date over the weekend!)

Following our friend Shauna's instructions, we prepared our first-ever (but definitely not the last) turkey-in-a-paper-bag! Sooooo easy, and sooooooo incredibly yummy!

Oops...accidentally picked one of the blurry shots of us...perhaps someday I'll go back and upload a different one, ha!

My little turkey!!

Ted calls drumstick!

Grandma makes her famous turkey gravy!

Zaden rests while Grandpa naps!

This is us!

Ted normally isn't a huge turkey fan, but this...this was incredible!

The girls are chilling...waiting for food to settle so we can enjoy dessert!

My birthday date--the Omaha symphony playing the soundtrack of Raiders of the Lost Ark live while we watched the movie on the big screen! So incredibly fun!

I loved watching the musicians and picking out which instruments were playing during the various parts of the movie. We could see the visual cues for the conductor to keep all of the timing spot on.

Thanksgiving 2014

For whenever I sit down to do our scrapbook...some day...ages and ages hence...I will continue to report on our family activities from last year!

Our last Thanksgiving in Italy was also the only one for which we were at home. After some discussion amongst friends, we decided that our family would host a big dinner. I think we counted about 39 people altogether, both Americans and Italians. It was so wonderful to share a traditional American meal with Italian friends!

The weather ended up being perfect, which was a relief, since we did have a lot of children running around, lol. The kids always enjoy piling onto the trampoline, so I for one was thankful that it did not rain! We enjoyed good food and wonderful fellowship and had a special time during which Ted spoke a little bit about the origins of the holiday, and then he prayed in English and Nello prayed in Italian. It was a beautiful, memorable Thanksgiving--probably one of my favorites ever! We are so grateful for such wonderful friends.

Charis put together fruit & veggie appetizer platters. They were a hit!

Some of the hubbies.

Titti is our Italian instructor, seated here with her husband Nello.

Titti and Nello's oldest son Vicenzo (left) speaks with a new Italian family we met through Lisa R's family.

Clay and Lauren are good friends from our church--they arrived in Italy about 18 months ago as a missionary family.

We women worked hard to put this spread together!

Thankfully we had an appreciative crowd of hungry people!

Seanin just enjoyed watching the commotion!

30 Days of Thanks 2013

30 DAYS OF THANKSGIVING 2013

November 1

I am thankful for the power of prayer.

November 2

I am thankful for the WORD of God, Jesus in the flesh as well as written pages of Scripture.

"The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14

November 3

I am grateful that God's mercies are new every morning.

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lam. 3:22-23

November 4

I am grateful for the gift of joy! It comes in thousands of ways, big and small, and I long to more fully embrace this gift by embracing the many forms in which it arrives.

"The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." Psalm 126:3

November 5

On the 4th I was thankful for God's JOY, so this day I am thankful for His STRENGTH.

"The joy of the Lord is your strength." Neh. 8:10b

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9

November 6

I am thankful for God's WISDOM and SOVEREIGNTY.

Personal Example 1: God removed my family from our familiar home in Texas and moved us to Wisconsin, which had many various results--the most important one for me was that because of this move (among other particular circumstances), I met my amazing husband Ted Jacobson!

Personal Example 2: Left to our own devices, Ted and I would have had 2, maybe 3 kids. Bwahahahaha!! Thank you, Father, for your sovereignty that has graciously overcome our human plans and replaced them with your perfect plans.

Isaiah 55:8-9

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways,”

declares the Lord.

As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts."

November 7

Now that we've shared the news with the grandparents, I can say here that I am thankful for THIS!

(Tobin's own words):

"On Saturday I had a talk with Mom. Arden was at Laser tag for Noah Mack’s birthday party. I confessed that I felt like there was something inside of me making me do bad things and making me a bully. We read some Bible verses, talked for a little bit, and prayed. Then I accepted Jesus into my heart, and immediately I could feel that the thing that was inside was gone. I also felt a lot happier. That night, I told Dad about my choice. He was very happy also. The next day we told Chaplain Keith. He was so excited!"

November 8

I am thankful for unconditional love. My parents showed me this from the time I was a baby; they prepared me to know and understand God's unconditional love for me. I am also blessed to be loved like this by my wonderful hubby, and together we strive to pass it on to our children. May we love those around us unconditionally as well, for who knows but the Lord what burdens they may carry?

"We love because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19

November 9

This year I've been posting some of the more abstract things I'm thankful for, but today I'll take a different tack and say I am so grateful for the opportunity to live in Italy. Naples has its share of problems--just ask anyone on the Living Abroad in Naples FB page, LOL. But we choose to love wherever God puts us, praying that we can make it just a little bit better before we leave! So grateful for the chance we have to experience a different culture, to travel, to learn and get outside of our little American box.

And at this moment, I'm thankful for the sounds of our kids and Italian neighbor kids playing together in the garden.

November 10

I'm thankful for sleep, more so when I don't get enough of it.

Dear God, PLEASE let Seanin sleep better tonight! Amen.

Poor snarfling baby.  He went 8 hours Thursday night only to get a cold or something Friday. It's been pretty miserable around here ever since...

November 11

I am thankful for the liberties we enjoy as Americans, but even more, I am thankful that we can be free from sin because of what Jesus did for us. THAT is a freedom that will NEVER be taken away...but it is also one with a great responsibility.

"You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love." Galatians 5:13

November 12

I'm thankful for the wonderful friends I've met through PWOC during our time in Naples! There's nothing better than finding like-minded sisters to journey along with.

"9 Two are better than one,

because they have a good return for their labor:

10 If either of them falls down,

one can help the other up.

But pity anyone who falls

and has no one to help them up.

11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.

But how can one keep warm alone?

12 Though one may be overpowered,

two can defend themselves.

A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

November 13

I am thankful for what I too often take for granted...a full pantry, fridge, and freezer. I can pull out what I need to make meals for my family each day. And that's meals, plural, plus snacks and often dessert. Too many people around the world don't have this luxury.

"The Lord upholds all who fall

and lifts up all who are bowed down.

The eyes of all look to you,

and you give them their food at the proper time.

You open your hand

and satisfy the desires of every living thing."

Psalm 145:14-16

November 14

I am thankful for our overall health. Some coughs and sniffles notwithstanding, we are pretty hearty individuals!

"I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done." Psalm 118:17

November 15

I am so thankful for mornings...hang with me here! I'm not naturally a morning person, but I've learned to appreciate the quiet early hours. For one thing, it's the one time of day I can enjoy a cup of hot coffee and quiet time with my husband. For another, I am guaranteed, thanks to the grace of our Lord, a fresh start to a new day. It doesn't matter if yesterday I blew my resolution to refrain from dessert...it's all right if I went to bed cranky...and the spilled milk, overflowing trash, bickering siblings, unfinished school lessons, and so on? Well, they just don't seem quite as overwhelming in the light of a new day. Thank you, Jesus.

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:12-14

November 16

I am thankful for my sweet baby Seanin, with a dimpled smile and gurgling noises that make me giggle no matter how badly my day is going. I love my chunky monkey!

November 17

I am thankful for my silly ham of a two-year-old Zaden, with his big eyes and entertaining expressions, both facial and verbal. Though he is a one-child wrecking crew, I love him!

November 18

I am thankful for my lovable, happy-go-lucky Lucan, who lives in a world of imagination and adventure and tries to pull me in with him when I'm tied to the mundane. "Mommy, I love you 100 times!" Love this kid!

November 19

I am thankful for my independent, imaginative Kenna, who doesn't know the meaning of "can't" (nor how to ask permission ahead of time, seemingly, lol). I love this loyal, affectionate, all-out little girl!

November 20

I am thankful for my sweet and silly Arden, whose energy and easygoing personality entertains and inspires family and friends alike. I love this tender, huggable, non-stop growing boy!

November 21

I am thankful for my (rather mischievous) jokester Tobin, whose love for words and knowledge helps him spin fantastic puns and single-handedly keeps the library in business. I love this silly, huggable, non-stop learning boy!

November 22

I am thankful for my creative, tenderhearted Charis, whose broad range of talents and interests gives her unique opportunities for enriching the lives of all those around her. I love this helpful, generous, loving girl!

November 23

I'm grateful for our home. Despite power outages and sewer issues, among other minor inconveniences, we DO have power most of the time; we have plumbing; we have heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer. We have plenty of space to do life. What a blessing.

November 24

I'm thankful my husband has a job to support his family, and I'm thankful I can be a stay-at-home mom. Really, I am grateful.

But next year when the NATO exercise rolls around? I'd like to be alone on an island somewhere. Please?

November 25

I posted a few pics of our homeschool Thanksgiving celebration on Monday but neglected to actually write this out: I am extremely thankful God has blessed us with such a wonderful, supportive community of homeschooling friends here in Naples. Through this group our kids have formed their closest friendships, and I as a mom have a lifeline of encouragement, support, and ever-flowing blessings from the other women we meet up with regularly.

November 26

I am so grateful for my dear parents John and Irene Keist and for the way they raised my brother John Keist IV and me. We are blessed with a godly heritage.

"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." 2 Timothy 3:14-15

November 27

I am so very, very grateful for my husband Ted and the marriage God has blessed us with. He excels at so much and deserves many accolades for the amazing job he does in his career—but because of the nature of his work, he gets to make his bosses shine in the limelight instead of having the spotlight on himself. This is a reflection of who he is all the time, not just at his job. As a husband and daddy, he quietly does things that are hardly glamorous—folding mountains of laundry, changing diapers, fixing the random weird things that go wrong in our house, and much, much more. After 16.5 years of marriage, he knows me better than anyone else on earth and somehow still loves me! He is my rock who builds his life on The Rock; he is the best friend and lover I could have ever dreamed of; he knows how to make me laugh and gently dries my tears when I cry. He encourages and blesses me every day, and I am so thankful God brought us together.

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” Ephesians 5:25

November 28

I am thankful for family traditions and memories! The past 2 Thanksgivings we have broken with tradition to create some different memories—we have traveled to another place in Italy and eaten Italian food! Last year it was Capri; this year it was a tiny mountain town, Atri, along the Adriatic coastline. We stayed in a 3-bedroom apartment (freezing cold the first night but finally warm by our last day there) and enjoyed having NO agenda other than spending time together.

November 29

I am thankful for the beauty of God’s creation: sunshine, snow on mountains, frost-covered branches, and the misty sea, a few of the sights we enjoyed in Atri.

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” Romans 1:20

November 30

I am thankful that the season of THANKSGIVING comes first—it is a perfect lead-in to the season of GIVING as we remember our Savior’s birth!

Happy Thanksgiving!

It was belated, but we did have a Thanksgiving feast!  We invited our friends Geoff and Carla K and their family to come on Sunday evening after Thanksgiving for a joint dinner.  Since the K family had just moved into their own home (FINALLY!) two days before, it worked out very well for them to leave the stress of unpacking and get away for a sit-down dinner!  The Ks have 4 girls and a little boy, Caleb, who is 2.  The girls are Emily (13), Braidyn (10), Sasha (8), and Hope (5).  Kenna and Hope are fast friends, and Charis adores spending time with any of the K girls!  She has taught a couple of them to knit, and they have joined her in her crafting passion.  We are delighted that the K's house is about two minutes away from us!  Though we aren't in the same parco, it is so nice to be able to carpool and know that we have Christian friends so close.

Here are a few pics from our dinner together, the "buffet" line, the "grown-up table," and the "kids' table."

30 Days of Thanksgiving

Last year I participated in the Facebook 30 Days of Thanksgiving challenge, posting one thing each day in November that I was thankful for.  It was a delight to see this idea resurrected again--reading people's status updates was so uplifting!  I decided to once again record my 30 days here on the blog.  It's interesting to look back over the month--at the beginning, we were still in a state of semi-chaos, having just moved in, and toward the end we were enjoying a blessed time vacationing on the island of Capri!

So here is my list for 2012's 30 Days of Thanksgiving.

Nov. 1:

Starting small :)

I am thankful for my steam mop and a CLEAN FLOOR (on the ground level anyway).

Nov. 2

That feeling I get when I throw open the shutters (after disabling the alarm system, of course), breathe in the fresh air, look around, and think to myself, "I'm living in ITALY!"

That is what I'm thankful for today. :-)

Nov. 3

I'm thankful that this time it's only 13 days apart, not 13 months. And we're just over the halfway point.

(Hurry home, Ted! I miss you!!)

Nov. 4

Thankful for the right to vote, despite the hassles of trying to get it done overseas. My vote may not be counted on November 6, but it WILL be counted!

Nov. 5

I am thankful for the internet, which allows me to feel close to family and friends who are in other countries (or even down the road).

(And an iPhone isn't bad, either. ;-)

Nov. 6

I am thankful for so many friends, family members, and mentors who are so passionate about our country! I am grateful for freedoms fought for and preserved, for opportunities to express my political opinions without fear of retribution, and for blessings so abundant in our country that we have plenty to spill over onto those who are in desperate need.

Nov. 7

I am thankful I get to share life with 6 precious, noisy, messy, giggly, silly, amazing people--the children God has seen fit to bless me with. Starting tomorrow I will give each one a spotlight, but today I thank God for the whole crew!

Nov. 8

I am thankful for my sweet, cuddly, still-crawling-but-close-to-finally-walking, 14-month-old Zaden Ezekiel. Though young, he already has a testimony of God's grace, and I am so humbled and grateful as I reflect on how Zaden's life and God's mercies are intertwined. From his birth at the beginning of Ted's year-long deployment to his struggles with eating and weight gain, God's hand in this boy's life is so evident. He is still my big-eyed boy, taking in all the activity around him, sharing toothy grins with his adoring fans but still preferring to snuggle on Mom's shoulder. Since his name means "sower of seeds," I thank God in faith for the seeds of the gospel that this little guy will sow in the hearts of those who cross his path.

And my mommy friends who followed our journey will understand my awe and delight in the fact that I still get to cuddle and nurse this sweet boy every morning!

Nov. 9

I'm so grateful that God knows better than we do! I thought the perfect thing in March 2009 would be to take the kids on a free vacation to Hawaii (courtesy of Stampin' Up!). God gave us something that lasted a lot longer than a vacation--He allowed Lucan Thaniel to join our family instead! Lovable Lucan lives up to the meaning of his name ("light"), bringing joy to our hearts and home. He loves Jesus, Veggie Tales, pirates, one ratty stuffed dog named Doof, singing, humming, building, jumping, and snuggling. He has his own time table and teaches me much about patience and gentleness. He tells me multiple times a day, "Mommy, I just wuv you!"

Why did I ever think I wanted to go to Hawaii?! I can't imagine our lives without our Lucan! Thank you, Lord, for this blessing!

Nov. 10

I’m thankful for Kenna Joelle, who arrived on the scene with a bang and hasn’t stopped since.  “Little Miss Independent” often helps herself to whatever it is she wants; she is an “ask forgiveness rather than permission” kind of a gal, which keeps me on my toes!  Kenna dances and prances just about everywhere she goes, twirling around to the music in her head or to the “demo” setting on our electric piano.  She loves princesses but can wield wooden swords with the older boys while bossing them around, even though they are twice her size.  She is loving and gentle with her little brothers and insists that we have twin girls soon so the girls can “catch up.”  For all her zest, she has a tender, sensitive heart and cries when she gets in trouble because she is genuinely repentant.  She loves Jesus, family, friends, and soon-to-be friends, as she has never met a stranger.  Thank you, Lord, for the breath of fresh air that is my Kenna!

Nov. 11

I am thankful for my “gentle giant,” Arden Daniel.  At 9 years old, he is bigger than his older siblings but not too big for Mom’s hugs and cuddles! His tender, sensitive spirit touches the hearts of those around him every day.  He truly enjoys playing with his younger siblings and works hard to include them and make them comfortable and happy.  He loves to laugh and be silly but continually amazes me with his thoughtful input during our Bible lessons and discussions.  His talent for engineering is evident in the complex structures he builds out of whatever set of toys happens to be on the floor (for Lucan to play with!) during our school reading time, and his gift for memorization blesses me every time I hear him quote a Scripture passage.  I know God will use Arden’s sensitivity to others’ needs to expand His kingdom and bring glory to Himself, and I can’t wait to see what is in store for my boy!

Nov. 12

We interrupt the statuses sharing thankful thoughts about my children. Tonight, I am extremely grateful that God allowed our paths to cross with Stella, Emelia, and Salvatore! Our family is teaching 9-year-old Salvatore English two days a week. This amounts to great fun for Tobin and Arden and takes me back to my days of teaching English in Hungary! In exchange for our "services," Stella, Emelia, and a co-worker clean our house once a week. Today was our first lesson and the first time this house has been clean top to bottom since long before we moved into it! And it took them less than 1.5 hours! Our family looks forward to building relationships with these dear people that God brought into our life. I hope we bless them even half as much as they have already blessed us!

 

Nov. 13

I am thankful for the chance to get a glimpse of what my husband surely was like as he grew up—because Tobin Michael is so much like his daddy!  From his sharp wit and keen sense of humor to the ability to lose himself in a good book (with a reading level far above his age), from his blonde hair and blue eyes to slight stature that is just bursting with the effort of waiting for that Growth Spurt that will help him surpass his younger brother, this kid makes me laugh and keeps me on my toes.  He dearly loves to scare me out of my wits or try to pull one over on me, but being married to his daddy for 15 years has taught me a thing or two!  Tobin is a wonderful big brother and a huge help with his younger siblings, often reading stories to them or teaching them new games (and tricks, ha!).  He is just as quick with an apology as he is with a pun, showing his tender heart as well as his preference for keeping things light.  I love seeing the growth and maturity that is (finally!) happening in Tobin’s life and am excited to see what God has in the years to come!

Nov. 14

I am so thankful for Charis Noelle. Stealing a line from a friend of mine, I give this apt description: "Mature beyond her years and innocent beyond her peers," Charis is indeed a gift of grace (the meaning of her name). She capably handles the responsibilities of being the firstborn of a larger family without complaining (too much!) and already has much wisdom as a result of earnestly seeking the Lord. She is not only thoughtful and creative but also thoughtfully creative, choosing to bless others with the many gifts and talents God has given her. She is proving to be quite the little wit, tossing off saucy quips that could only come from being Ted's daughter. At the same time, there is no denying that she is my mini-me in too many ways to count! We love to laugh, cook, read, and play together. I am so blessed by the young woman that she is becoming and look forward to our relationship developing into a deep friendship in the coming years.

Nov. 15

The last few days I have thanked God specifically for the children He has placed in our family. Today I thank Him for the opportunity to home educate these precious souls and the everyday blessings we experience together.

Nov. 16

If you're reading this status, it's because I am thankful for YOU! I can't make a list of what I am thankful for without being overwhelmed by God's graciousness in bringing so many wonderful friends into our lives. A bittersweet part of being a military family includes so many hellos and goodbyes. The good thing is that we have such a diverse, far-reaching network of dear people with whom to share life's joys and trials. The bad thing is that we can't always share those things in person.

So I'll add a little P.S. to my day 16 thankfulness post: Dear God, Thank you for Facebook and the internet. Amen.

Nov. 17

Was going to be thankful for my first real date night out with my hubby since moving and the first time to enjoy a real Italian restaurant. (Yes. Believe it or not, we have not yet eaten out in Italy!)

But...........

"Give thanks in all circumstances..."

So. Instead. I am thankful that we never lack for food, homemade or restaurant prepared. I am thankful that I have a wonderful husband with whom I adore spending time, whether out on the town or curled on the couch. And I am thankful that our quality time together does not depend on everything always going our way. (Thank goodness!)

And let's not forget to thank the good Lord for the ability to download episodes of Downton Abbey so we can have something to enjoy together.

Nov. 18

I am thankful beyond words for the capital C Church. No matter where in the world we live, God always puts us with a local body of Christ so we can worship, fellowship, learn, and serve together. Believers in Christ are my forever family, and I'm so glad we get to have all of eternity together!

Nov. 19

I am thankful for the living and active Word of God, an unchanging revelation of our holy and eternal God, a God who loves us with an everlasting love.  I am thankful that true wisdom can be found in the pages of Scripture, that there is purpose and unity in this most sacred and awesome story, and that there is absolutely nothing we face that Scripture does not speak to.  I am thankful for parents who taught me to reverence and hunger for the words of life and for all those who have encouraged me to memorize verses and passages that are now as much a part of me as physical DNA.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”  John 1:1

Nov. 20

I am thankful for my godly parents who will have been married 40 years this December!  What a legacy they have given to my brother and me and in turn to their grandchildren!  I am so grateful for their sacrifice and commitment to our Christian education and for how they have lived out their faith in good times and in bad.  I am thankful for all the fun family memories we have from growing up and road tripping all over the U.S.  I am thankful for the way they fueled my passion for reading and learning and for how they have supported me in the various whims that catch my fancy, whether big or small.  I am thankful that they have never said, “What?!  You’re having ANOTHER baby?!” when we’ve announced our pregnancies but that they have celebrated with us joyously as God has expanded our family.  I am thankful that I can talk to Mom or Dad about anything on my heart and they listen without judgment, and I am SO thankful for the thousands upon thousands of prayers that I KNOW have arisen from their hearts on my and my own family’s behalf!

I love you, Mom and Dad!!!!

Nov. 21

I am so thankful for our current assignment! A year ago we were slogging our way through a deployment, and all I wanted was for our family to be together...anywhere. But God, in His infinite mercy and grace, blessed us with the opportunity to experience life abroad. Our adventures are just beginning!

Nov. 22

A month ago today we moved into our Italian casa!  I am so thankful for God’s provision of the perfect home for our family.  He has led us all over the world, and we have always had a place to live that has been just right for us.  As God has blessed us, we pray we can bless others through the gift of hospitality, sharing our home, food, and fellowship as often as possible.

Nov. 23

I'm thankful for the breathtaking beauty of God's creation and the opportunity to explore a small part of it with my family.

Nov. 24

I am thankful beyond words for the amazing gift God gave me in my husband Ted! He is my best friend, my partner in crime, my forever and always love, my joy, my laughter, my shoulder to lean or cry on, my prayer partner, my encourager, my fellow adventurer, my whole world (on this earth). 15 years and counting...and the best is yet to come!

Nov. 25

I am thankful for rest.

Nov. 26

I'm thankful for my one and only sibling, my "little" brother John. While I thought he was a pest during our growing up years, we got a lot closer after I moved out and went to college (go figure!). We don't get to see each other very often, but I love him and I'm proud of him!

Nov. 27

I am very, very thankful for wonderful in-laws! I love my extended family and am so grateful for their prayers and support as well as the privilege of praying for and supporting them. I am very thankful for the amazing mother-in-love God gave me in Rhonda and for the close relationship we share. I am thankful for the privilege of knowing Jim and seeing the impact he made on his family and community before God called him to heaven. And I am thankful for the brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews and cousins and aunts and uncles that have appeared in my family tree through marriage!

Nov. 28

As this month of thanksgiving draws to a close, I want to take these last few days to attempt to put into words the gratitude in my heart for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Today I am so thankful for His sacrifice--for His humility in coming to earth, God in flesh, forsaking the riches of heaven to embrace poverty for our sake, becoming obedient until death: the death required as a once-and-for-all sacrifice to atone for sins. The amazing, overwhelming love He has for us continues to take my breath away; oh, Jesus, may I never take for granted what we sing to our little ones every night: "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so."

Nov. 29

I am thankful that God never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His Word is timely and timeless; His Truth is everlasting and never needs revised or updated.

Nov. 30

I am thankful for the eternal hope we have through Jesus Christ.  We can look forward to everlasting life and joy with our Creator; this anticipation helps me have a wiser and more thoughtful perspective of the temporal things related to life on earth.  It gives me purpose and meaning for the time God has given me, for I know He created me for a reason.  Oh, that I may be worthy of the calling I have received.