Another day of Thankfulness

Day two of fighting to regain my joy. I wrote down things I was thankful for, some silly and some serious. I made an effort to document a few of the things that filled my heart with thankfulness today...mind you, these are just a few:

The girls had moments today where they were battling it out, but they had more moments where they were dear friends and I couldn't have been more thankful.They are too cute when they play together and talk about life. I can't understand a word they say but they seem to understand one another and have a great time.

I have been staying away from coffee, but recently I read a study that said having more than one cup of coffee a day helped lower your risk of getting diabetes. Well we all know those studies go both ways, but with diabetes running in my family I'll go ahead and drink my coffee. Not to mention I LOVE coffee and will take any excuse I can get to enjoy a cup or two. 

Technology is great for 100 thousand reasons, but today I was so greatful for the Bible app that comes with reading plans. Joey and I are reading through the Bible together over the course of a year. We do it on our own time, but are able to hold each other accountable all through the power of the internet and our tablets. I can't tell you how much it helps me to have the Word at the tip of my fingers and to know that Joey is checking up on me. It shouldn't be so hard to read the Word daily, but the reality is that right now it is hard, so I am thankful for this app and its support along the way.

Tonight Joey taught Josiah how to play cribbage. He's a natural and they had a great time. I grew up watching my Dad and Grandpa play cribbage. Sometimes I even joined in. It is fun to pass on these games and traditions our families have, especially when they are games that are educational too. Looking forward to one day watching My Dad and Josiah play cribbage together. Fun, fun, fun!

Today has been a great day in the sense that I have been able to battle against the things in my life that want to steal my joy and have been able to choose to be thankful. Multiple times I have stopped the voices in my head telling me to be miserable and instead begun to praise God. It makes a difference. It was hard, but it makes a difference. 

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name."

Psalm 100:4

Offering of Praise

I don't know if you'll even care, but I've got to do something. Maybe it's just because I'm getting older and more cranky, or because I'm in the middle of the little years and time is not something I have much of, or maybe because of living here among the oppressed and downtrodden. Whatever it is I am loosing my joy. I can feel it slipping away, sometimes slowly, sometimes in big chunks. My heart is angry and cynical. I am asking questions based on doubt, and so so quick to explode or fall into self pity. I've been here before, maybe not exactly the same, but I've lost my joy before and I can't let it happen again. So, I've got to do something. 

It's almost midnight. Three minutes to spare. Before I go to bed though I want to praise my God. I want to remember His gifts. To thank Him for His blessings. I will give up an offering of praise and let it fill my soul. My God is good, and He has been so, so good to me. Let me publicly proclaim His gifts.

He has blessed me with a dear and wonderful friend in my husband. How thankful I am for Joey. My sharpener and my support. The one who makes my heart laugh and sing all at the same time. A picture of Christ, Thank you Lord for Joey.

Thank you Lord for the gift of motherhood. It is the hardest thing I have ever done, being a mom. Harder than I ever thought, and more wonderful than I could have imagined. Thank you for the successes and failures and the daily reminders of my own weakness. Thank you for the blessing of being completely and totally loved by five wonderful, amazing little people. Thank you for morning snuggles and midnight kisses. Thank you for squeals of laughter and hours of noise. Thank you Lord for Josiah, Benson, William, Isabelle and Phoebe. 

Morocco. Who would have ever thought. Thank you for bringing me here and showing me your world. Thank you for these amazing people and their acceptance and love for me. Thank you for allowing me to see you work miracles here and thank you for never once leaving me alone. Thank you for all that Morocco has offered me, most importantly thank you for making this a home. 

Tomorrow I will write more. Tonight I will remember and praise my God. May this offering of praise be pleasing to you oh Lord and may it lead to a renewed joy. 

Rain

As I went to bed last night the sky was clear, the moon bright. My weather app said there was 100% chance of rain, but there was no sign anywhere. We've been waiting for rain since last year about this time. Normally there would be a good rain preparing the soil for the peas and beans that everyone around us plants. Last year that rain never really came. Crops were planted but never amounted to much. I remember in March going to help harvest the few peas that had survived. I've never seen this area so brown and barren that time of year. Brown shriveled piles of leaves and steams littered the ground. Not only did the families have nothing to eat, there was nothing to sell nothing to trade. Many farmers had purchased seed on credit with the plan to pay back once they harvested their crops. 

This fall everyone has been holding their breath waiting for the rain. Desperately, it's all anyone talks about. Each day dawns warm and bright, not a cloud in the sky. Will we have another year like last year ? Could we survive? Then today as the sun comes up the sky is full of black ugly clouds. Rain started sprinkling down at first until it was quickly a downpour. Puddles and mud and smiling faces, everywhere. After a rain like today there is hope of a good crop and a better year. God did that. He brought the rain and with it he brought hope. Pretty awesome if you ask me.