Thanks and Giving – Part 4

It also happened to be grandparents day and the bookfair was in full swing so I actually volunteered for a brief time and noticed the teacher’s wish list.  Carly’s current teachers did not have any items on the list so I picked a few other teachers who are close to my heart and made a special delivery.  

And here is Carly Jo with Nana and Mimi.  She loves having them come visit her school and I think she convinced them a few books was a good idea.  

Day 26:  We are so thankful for food on our table and knowing that we do not have to worry each day whether we have enough to eat.  My kids are fully aware that there are those in the community who are not so fortunate and they enjoy volunteering when they can at our local food bank.  Today Dillon and his friend Colby invited a few friends to join us.  I’m so thankful my kids have such great friends so after all their hard work we treated them to Wings N More for lunch.  

Wednesday afternoon we had family pictures.  I am so thankful that my family is willing to set aside time to have a few pictures taken each year whether by me or a professional as they mean the world to me!  This really is just me being thankful and the chance to have all my babies all together at one time is priceless.  Hopefully they all know just how special this is to me! 

Day 27:  Thanksgiving Day and we were all so thankful for a beautiful meal and good company.  I was so happy to make my Meme’s dressing and to have all my kids with me.  

Day 28:  I think I was in a food coma on Friday as I really can’t remember anything that really happened!  Oops!  I did run into World Market and picked up some fun stuff for my niece and nephew who I am so thankful for.  Being an Aunt is so much fun and it blesses me so much to be able to give to them.  Hopefully they will receive their package of goodies this week. 

Day 29:  We are always thankful for our clothes and especially jeans so we donated a load to Jeans for Jesus (read more here).  Side note….always double check with the husband before leaving with his jeans.  I seriously had to go back two days later to pick up a pair that he still wears!! 

We are so thankful for our cousins and since we did not see them Thanksgiving day we decided to drop by with pizza for those that were still visiting from out of town.  The girls had such a super time and played for hours and I got to love on the newest little cousin, Rosser.  Dutch Buddy was in heaven playing with all these girls and he was so tired when we arrived home he skipped dinner and went straight to his crate!  

Day 30:  I am so thankful for our church home.  We really have missed more sundays than I care to admit this fall but today I knew my heart needed it more than ever.  The sermon was perfect and a perfect way to tie up the #30DaysofThanksandGiving.  The pastor spoke about the source of life and the fact that it is no one else’s responsibility to fill your love jug but you.  I think sometimes we start out giving thanks and giving of our time or our resources with the very best of intentions and with only love in our heart but sometimes along the way we (as imperfect humans) begin to feel like we are giving and giving and no one is taking care of us.  I struggle with this the most with those I love the dearest.  My intentions are all in the right place but as soon as I lose sight of Jesus in my daily life and replace Him with my husband, my kids, my friends, my job, I begin to feel resentful and bitter because no matter what these people do for me it will never be enough to fill my soul.  We are responsible for our own hearts.  I am so thankful for God’s grace every single day and hope that with His help I will have the ability to be more compassionate and kind and forgiving of others.  You can view this sermon later this week or any of the amazing sermons here.  

Proverbs 4:23, Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.  

If you are interested in seeing some of the other ways our family participated in #30DaysofThanksandGiving you can read about those here:  Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.  

If you are looking for a way to challenge your family to random acts of kindness in December, visit Courtney Defeo’s blog for her Light ‘Em Up ideas here.