GRATEFUL

Psalm 121: 1-2 I look up to the mountains - does my help come from there?  My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

My help comes from God who MADE THE HEAVEN AND EARTH!!!! That is a God who can do anything.  The one who actually made the world is our helper!  This puts a smile upon my face.

TODAY I AM THANKFUL FOR the blue sky I see out my window.  I see rays of sunshine which is a welcome treat!  I don't recall the last time we had sunshine...maybe a week ago but even that is pushing it. :)  Out my window I am also blessed to see two cardinals playing.  God's creations sure are great!  It is going to be a beautiful day.

I wanted to share some blessings -

I am a stay at home Mom.  That means we live on one income (most of the time).  The Lord has always provided.  Sometimes it is hard to wait to buy something we need but God is never far behind when needs need filled.  It's almost as if he knows what we need.  Imagine that!  (smile)

This year God has been teaching me to give.  A friend of mine gave me an entire curriculum...no strings attached!  Another friend allowed me to borrow a curriculum for as long as I'd like.  I started thinking.  I am not as giving!  If I had a curriculum I'd sell it.  Then I started thinking that perhaps if I trusted God he could provide what I needed without the cash.

So I began giving people things I had that they needed.  It's been a trickle down effect.  As soon as I began giving things away, sharing things, God has provided exactly what I needed and more!

This week alone God provided items I have been needing for 14+ years!  You might be thinking I would NEVER wait 14 years!!!  The items I 'wanted' were certainly not items I had to have immediately so I did with what I had.

1) TWO BEAUTIFUL USED DRESSERS.  Our old set belonged to Jason when he was growing up.  They were particle board.  The tracks were broken.  Two of the front faces fell off and were simply resting in place.  I did not want to spend $1,000 buying dressers so we lived with them and they did their job.  This week the Lord provided two dressers which are just lovely in our room!  I am so blessed!!  Jason is burning our old dressers tonight....a dresser bonfire he calls it.  All of the neighbor men will attend and have fun with the fire flames (we have a neighbor who is a fireman so no worries).

2) A SMALL USED (like new)  BOOMBOX.  Believe it or not I did not have a portable cd player.  Listening to audio cd's only happened in the living room or car.  I am so excited to now have the ability to listen to cd's in the kitchen, bedroom or laundry room.  How fun this will be!!!  And a bonus....for the first time in 14 years I can listen to 103.3 in my home!!!  Our living room radio does not play that station clearly.  The boombox plays it static free!  I know.  Little things thrill me!

3) A NEW RADIO/ALARM CLOCK.  For years Jason and I have shared an alarm clock.  Imagine the joy I feel of being able to have my own alarm clock.  It's just a silly thing but it's exciting to me!

4) THERMAL UNDERWEAR.  Silly huh!!  I know, I know...RIDICULOUS!  I never owned a pair and always thought about buying a pair but could never splurge like that.  LOL.  I now own a pair that fits me perfectly.  Hmm.  guess I now need to get outside in that cold to wear them.

DRUM ROLL.....

5) 3 MATTRESSES FOR THE GIRLS.  The girls have been using the mattresses Jason and I acquired as teenagers.  They were not in very good shape but they worked fine so who wants to spend a few hundred dollars on mattresses!  Not us.  UNTIL our dog had an accident right in the middle of one of the mattresses.  We were forced to throw it away.  My hubby's parents surprised us yesterday and delivered three brand new, soft, fluffy mattresses.  The girls are LOVING them and said they are sooo comfy, soft and not sunk in in the middle!

I almost want to cry.  God provided all of this this week.  I am so undeserving.  I realize there are so many others out there who have needs so much greater than these.  I don't want to sound as if I'm filling my home with 'stuff' but since they are gifts from God I want him to know I appreciate them so very much and they put a smile upon my face!!!!  THANK YOU LORD!!!