Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for:

 

~ink stains on Adam's fingers

~the ability to be flexible

~breaks from school work

~blooms on the bottle brush tree

~new birds

Thankful Thursday

                    When you are thankful, you affirm the central truth that I am good ~ Jesus Calling

                  

~saving a little money

~belly laughs around the table

~unexpected money

~beautiful weather

~new faucets

Thankful Thursday

~ belly laughs around the table

~ unexpected money

~ beautiful weather

~ new faucets

~ something costing a lot less than it was supposed to

Thankful Thursday

~ belly laughs around the table

~ unexpected money

~ beautiful weather

~ new faucets

~ something costing a lot less than expected

Thankful Thursday

~watching the birds come back

~Anna's music

~house calls

~people surprising me in a good way

~saving a little money

Thankful Thursday

~ one working faucet

~ tax returns

~ being able to teach

~ new ministry opportunities

~ really good chocolate cake

Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful for:

~ spare change

~ easy offertories

~ generous in-laws

~ a pat on the back and some sympathy

~ Anna's ear getting better on its own

Thankful Thursday

~I am fearfully and wonderfully made

~picnics

~that my children are growing up strong and healthy

~Anna's freckles

~strong cold medicine

Thankful Thursday

~little red painted toenails

~wondercards from Anna

~rain

~all of the birds returning

~access to a wonderful library system

~generous relatives

Saul:The Incredibly Tall, Shrinking Violet

I have been reading through the Bible this year, and I have finally made it to 1 Samuel. I have read about King Saul many times before, but I noticed something different this time. Saul had low self image problems. It says so in 1 Samuel 15:17: " And Samuel told [Saul], 'Although you may think little of yourself, are you not the leader of the tribes of Israel? The LORD has anointed you king of Israel.' "

I have been thinking about this today. 1 Samuel 9:1-2 says Saul was tall, rich, and handsome, yet for some reason, he was never able to see himself as others did.The Bible portrays him as as a disobedient coward consumed with jealousy.

I have always found Saul to be a rather unsympathetic character. He is the antagonist in the story. I have always felt badly for his children who have to pay for his misdeeds. But, after reading what Samuel says to him, I wonder how often that can be said about me. How often does God look at me and say, "Jill, even though you may think little of yourself, haven't I anointed you to do my work?"

I don't want to be like Saul. I don't want to think little of myself and be unable to do the things God has anointed me to do. I don't want to be so busy looking at what others are doing that I am unable to accomplish His work. I want to see myself as God's child, chosen for his purpose, to do his will.

Thankful Thursday

unexpected gifts

being able to share God's word with my children

patio furniture

picnics

Penguins, Digestion, and Thankfulness

Another busy week is almost over. The girls have had a good week back in school, and Adam has been finishing up the tennis season in Ponte Vedra at districts.

Anna and I did a small unit study on food, nutrition, and digestion yesterday and today, and I am amazed at how intricate our bodies are. Did you know if our stomachs were not lined with mucus they would digest themselves? I'm glad God is detailed oriented! Next week we study penguins and the Arctic. I love penguins, so this should be fun. I checked out almost every book the library had on the arctic. I am hoping to end the week with March of the Penguins. I hope it isn't too sad. I don't do well with nature documentaries. They make me cry.

 Next week is a big week. Elin will be turning 14 on the 16th! That kicks off the official birthday season of the Hoke family. I will pretty much be baking cakes and cooking favorite meals from now til the end of may. Can't wait.

Here is this week's Thankful Thursday list:

long talks with Adam

a dogwood tree in bloom

being shown my flaws so I can correct them

laughing girls

my stomach lining

I would love to know what you are thankful for. And if you know of any great penguin resources, please share them!

Thankful Thursday ~ March 31, 2011

I can't believe it's the last day of March! We're a quarter of the way through the year already. It was Spring Break for us this week which was nice. I really needed a break. I am ready for the school year to be over. I already have most of our curriculum for next year, and I'm ready to start organizing it. However, that seems a little premature with two months of school left.

I didn't do a Thankful Thursday post last week. We were out of town for the weekend, so I didn't get on the computer much. Here is this week's list:

seeing the moss on trees

spending less at the store than I thought I would

laughing with Russty
singing

 people that love to praise the Lord

spending my Saturday ministering to others

Thankful Thursday

Here are some more things I am thankful for:

seeing bunnies run across the yard

little boys learning to be good

how happy Adam is when he wins

teenagers with clear skin

hearing the  mocking birds sing

Thankful Thursday

For the past few weeks I have been reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. Ann is a home school mom, farmer's wife, and blogger. I have enjoyed reading her blog posts for a few months, so when her book was published I grabbed it as soon as I could. It came from her experience of counting her blessings and finding things to be thankful for even in the midst of trials. While I was reading, I was inspired to start my own thankful journal. I thought I would share some of these blessings on Thursdays. Here are some of the first ones on my list.

~seeing the first robins of spring

~new growth on the maple tree

~signs of spring

~free books

~God wants to share his wisdom and love with me

I am looking forward to sharing with you. It is amazing how much my perspective changes when I concentrate on how blessed I am. Feel free to share your blessing s as well.