Sunday, November 28, 2010

Sunday Snapshot - What I am thankful for...

As I think about Thanksgiving and all that I have to be thankful for, all the whining and complaining and worrying that I have done over the past year seem like such a waste of energy and time and well just plain ungrateful!  Yep, we have been through our share of financial struggles over the past year and yep, it has been hard and yep, it has been stressful and yep, it has been a trial, but...

It has also been a journey, a beautiful journey that has brought us closer to God and has brought us closer to each other and has shown us what it means to be grateful and has shown us very clearly all that we have to be grateful for. 

This journey, this beautiful journey has taught us what it is to have faith, not just I believe in God so I have faith, kind of faith but the kind of faith that allows you to let God take it all and trust that He knows what you do not and that His plan IS the perfect plan and that no matter what, He has got your back! 

So as weird as it sounds, this year, I am most thankful for the struggles, I am most thankful for the hard times and I am most thankful for the trials because without those, we might still be going about our day as we were - walking beside Him but not holding His hand, not allowing Him to lead us.  It is still a journey and we are still learning but the miracles that I have seen ever since my eyes were opened and ever since I have bit by bit, given it all to Him have been well, miraculous! 

Of course, I am also thankful for all the blessings in my life like crock pots and frozen pizza, vacuum cleaners and anti-bacterial wipes, like duel controlled electric blankets, clothes that last long enough to actually be handed down and king sized beds.  I am thankful for my coupon clipping grocery shopping, I can stock the pantry AND save money,  hubby.  I am thankful for things like hair color, pony tail holders and 2 in one shampoo, things like washable marker and durable slip covers.  I am thankful for my precious pets - and carpet shampoo!  I am thankful for my boys who know how to change a flat tire and my girls who constantly remind me to pray - for patience!  Hehe!!

I do have so much to be thankful for and this Thanksgiving I was able to spend with just about all of my family



my crazy





wonderful


family!

Thank you Lord for opening my eyes to what I have and as I tell my children, to think more about what we DO have and not what we DON'T have, because in the end, the things that we have had this past year, this really hard year, are the things that matter the most and the things that I am most thankful for!

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Ni Hao Y'all

7 comments:

  1. Aww, how sweet!! You are surely blessed!!

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  2. Oh, Annie! You're positively INSPIRING! How I admire your perspective...I know you are making God smile BIG :)
    Sending hugs to you and your beautiful family!!

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  3. Dear Annie, Your words bring me to tears. I love you and your whole "Ham Fam". Marney

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  4. How precious, Annie and what a beautiful family you do have!

    Blessings,
    Tammy

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  5. I am catching up on blog reading....love these pictures! How special and what a great family you have!

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  6. Your family pics are wonderful...all of them...including the crazy fun ones!! You are definitely blessed to be able to have so many family members surrounding you! We are all so blessed to have a Father who absolutely "has our back" and during the trials is showing us His love in ways He couldn't otherwise! Love you my friend! :)

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