Thankful

Thanksgiving was so much fun this year.

Although we weren't able to make it home to Florida for the holiday, we were able to make our own tradition as a family of 3 1/2... :)

In January we made a Thankful Jar to start writing down all of the things we are thankful for [obviously]. The more we wrote, the more we realized that all that we were thankful for was all that God had provided us with. We thought it'd be a great idea to do on New Year's Eve every year to look back on all of the things we've been so grateful for during the past year, but decided that every Thanksgiving we will open the jar and account for all that God has done in that year.

Stop looking at our tree. It was $9.99. Just....stop.

We figured the most appropriate time to do this would be while Abs napped. These notecards would have been all over the place if she was awake during this. Or of course, they'd be in her mouth. She really is very, very similar to a dog. :)

So first we prayed before opening the jar. We prayed that our hearts would be thankful for all that we have right now because the Lord had provided it all. We prayed that the cards we would be reading would help us to remember that God is faithful--always.

And then we opened them, and I got teary-eyed from some of them.

Some cards were as simple as "Abigail's health" or "parents who continue to bless us."

And some cards were a little more complex like "God continuing to provide financially for us when we have an income next-to-nothing" or "An anonymous check in the mail right when our rent was due" or "We're pregnant...again!"

It really was so exciting going through these cards and remembering the faithfulness of God. You may not believe there's a god out there, but my God has made it very clear who he is, and what he promises.

This is one of my favorite Scriptures:

Psalm 111

Great Are the LORD'S Works

Praise the Lord!

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,

   in the company of the upright, in the congregation.

Great are the works of the Lord,

   studied by all who delight in them.

Full of splendor and majesty is his work,

   and his righteousness endures forever.

He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered;

   the Lord is gracious and merciful.

He provides food for those who fear him;

  he remembers his covenant forever.

He has shown his people the power of his works,

   in giving them the inheritance of the nations.

The works of his hands are faithful and just;

   all his precepts are trustworthy;

they are established forever and ever,

   to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.

He sent redemption to his people;

   he has commanded his covenant forever.

Holy and awesome is his name!

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;

   all those who practice it have a good understanding.

   His praise endures forever!

I love having family traditions. I think we found ours! Every Thanksgiving we're going to read this passage and then open our jar so we can remember the testimonies of the Lord!

After reading these, Abigail woke up and we started baking for Thanksgiving dinner at our good friend's house. Of course Abs didn't help. She ate food as we baked. What a porker. :)

We had dinner at our friend's house here on campus and it. was. so. delicious. and so much fun! They have an 18 month old who was making googly-eyes at Abigail across the table. My friend, Carie, had written questions down for us to draw during dinner and talk about together. It was such a great idea! The questions really made us think, such as: Name something you are thankful for about God's Word, or Name something you are thankful for in your apartment that you take for granted every day.

The day just turned out to be way different than I anticipated. Everything was out of the blue, but it made it so much more fulfilling.

I hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving and were able to continue/start your own family traditions!