When I married my husband almost 10 years ago, I didn’t know what kind of dad he would be. I thought he would be a good dad, but I didn’t know. Now I know. Whether he is taking time to rough house with them or disciplining them or bathing them or or encouraging them or leading them spiritually, he is a great dad. We are so blessed.
It has been a while since I’ve written a Thankful Thursday post, but after a crazy January of traveling (or my husband traveling), I’m reminded of two things I’m very thankful for:
I’m so thankful for my dad, as well as my husband, who is a wonderful father to our children. And, as proof that it always helps to have daddy behind me getting smiles out of the kids, this year’s D-A-D photos (taken without dad’s help!).
This year, I had Ella answer questions for a Father’s Day questionnaire I found on Pinterest.
Here are Ella’s answers:
What is Daddy’s name? T (then later, “I call daddy Mr. Trent.”)
What does Daddy do for fun? play
What does Daddy do at work? work
What are his favorite things to eat? I don’t know
What does he like to drink? tea
How old is Daddy? I don’t know
Where did you and Daddy meet? At McCarty {where he works}
How long have you know Daddy? I don’t know
How tall is Daddy? raising her hands to the sky she said “that tall”
What is Daddy’s hair like? stuck (patting the top of her head)
How much does Daddy weigh? stretching her hands out she said “that much”
What makes Daddy the best? nothing (giggling) {I don’t think she ever understood this question . . .}
What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy? go to McCarty
Check out previous year’s D-A-D photos!
It has been way, way too long since I’ve written one of these posts! This post is a reflection from my time when I was a full-time work-at-home mom (plus attending school) to now (I only do contract work on the side when I choose – not a full-time work!).
I’m thankful for time to do so many of the things I felt like I missed out on when I had to work.
I’m thankful for time to spend with the kids (including spending time with them outside which was very difficult when I was also working).
I’m thankful for time to make breakfast for my husband (now I just need to spend more time doing it!).
I’m thankful for time to attend (and teach) Ladies Bible Class without having to rush in and rush out to get back to my work.
I’m thankful for time to spend with the college students at our congregation (my husband is a college minister).
I’m thankful for not being stressed out over little things every day (not to say that I never have stressful days – but my life isn’t a constant mess of stress like I used to feel).
A full (likely long!) post about my mission trip to Jamaica is coming, but for now, a few things I’m thankful for related to the Jamaica trip.
I’m thankful time to play and watch my children grow.
I’m thankful for the rain that brought the weeds that Ella loved playing with this morning.
I’m thankful for my Troy who toddles around throwing leaves.
I’m thankful for family that is always willing to watch our kiddos when we need.
I’m thankful for the opportunity to spread the gospel.
I’m thankful for my husband and the hard work he does all the time spreading God’s Word.
I’m thankful for family and friends who are willing to watch my kiddos from time to time.
I’m thankful for the abundant rain our area has been blessed with recently, especially considering the drought we endured over the summer.
I’m thankful for a strong family, and a spiritually-minded husband.
I’m thankful for trips to Target with Ella.
I’m thankful for Troy’s ability to express whatever he is feeling, even if he doesn’t use words to do it.
I’m thankful for time to go jogging, and that Trent graciously watches the kids while I go, even if it means taking his lunch time to watch the kids.
Although I really ought to be up picking up the house, or even perhaps putting Troy to bed, I didn’t want to let another Thursday pass without doing a Thankful Thursday post. These posts really are a good reminder of all the blessings I have in my life.
I’m thankful for my husband who always has our family first in his mind and always takes care of us.
I’m thankful for my children’s laughter, and that they make each other laugh. I might have mentioned this before, but a child’s laughter is one of the best things in the world.
I’m thankful for good friends who are willing to lend their ears to me.
I’m thankful for other Christian parents who are striving to raise their children in the Lord.
I’m thankful that God gave us His inspired Word, and that it gives us all things that pertain to life and godliness. {2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:3}
Some days aren’t like yesterday around the house. Some days feel like every little task I need to complete is really a huge mountain that I have to climb. That wasn’t yesterday. Yesterday ran smoothly. Yesterday went kind of like I imagined most days would go as a stay at home mom (which I’m still figuring out, by the way). The kids ate well, without extra reminders to Ella to take more bites or to Troy to not throw his food. They played well together without injuries and without really any fussing. They took an uneventful bath together (so much so that I was able to clean the bathroom while they were taking a bath). I was able to get lots of little odds and ends done around the house, and even had time to sit down and starting reading my new book on my Nook.
Sure, yesterday had its challenges – it isn’t likely that I’ll have a day without challenges when I have two little ones (or even when they aren’t so little) in the house. Ella did everything she could think of to not take a nap (and I’m thinking in my mind, “Oh, what I would give for a nap!”), but she did eventually take a nap.
I’m thankful for days like yesterday, but also for days that don’t always run as “smoothly” as yesterday did. I’m thankful that I’m even able to have days like yesterday – I’m thankful that I’m able to stay at home with them. I’m thankful that I’m the one who is there to feed them their meals, to watch them play, and to give them their baths. I’m thankful that I get to direct and watch them as they are growing up.
I’m thankful for cold fronts. Yes, I like the cold. But then again, I really don’t think I know what “cold” is considering that I live in Texas. So maybe I should be thankful for cold fronts in Texas.
And, while I’m thinking about it, I’m thankful that I live in Texas.
I’m thankful for silly little girls.
I’m thankful for batteries for the ball popper. I think I am anyways, ha. The kids love that thing, but it is noisy!
I had forgotten that today was Thursday (I lose track of time after the holidays), and was reminded when I was reading today’s Thankful Thursday post by my friend (who inspired me to write these posts in the first place). She also inspired/reminded me that now is a great time to reflect on at least a few of the ways I’m thankful for my husband considering that we just celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary on Tuesday.
Excuse the poor quality photo (a scanned photo from Facebook). We have been married longer than Facebook has been around, ha!
I am thankful for the Almighty God who rules the heavens and the earth.
I am thankful for His sovereignty.
I am thankful for God’s perfect love and grace.
I am thankful for God’s salvation found through Jesus Christ.
I am thankful for God’s supreme knowledge and wisdom.
I am thankful for God’s holiness.
I am thankful for God’s truth and peace.
I am thankful that this list could never be complete because there is so much to thank God for.
I’m sad to say that the first Thursday I’ve missed in writing “Thankful Thursday” posts was Thanksgiving, the day our nation takes time off to be thankful. BUT, I’m thankful that throughout this past Thanksgiving week that I really haven’t spent much time at all on the computer, and that a large portion of the time that I have spent on the computer has been spent looking up recipes for family meals or looking at family photos.
Every year I’m more appreciative of the blessings that I have in my life. I’m blessed with a beautiful family. I’m thankful that my husband is leading our home to be centered on God. I’m blessed spiritually (Ephesians 1:3) because I’ve been baptized into Christ Jesus. I’m blessed by my spiritual family (the church), and I’m blessed to be able to labor with them in the Lord. I’m blessed physically with a house (much more than we need), a warm bed on cool nights, clothing, and plenty to eat. And, even with some of the awful things that we see in our nation, I am blessed to be living in this Great Nation.
I hope you and yours had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Just one thought for today, but lots of photos.
I’m thankful for kiddos that, at least at this point in their lives, enjoy playing with each other.
I’m thankful for my little boy who is turning into a toddler before my eyes.
I’m thankful that my husband has endured all the really bad meals I’ve cooked during our marriage. I’m also thankful that there are a lot less bad meals these days . . . I’ve learned a bit over the years!
And, I’m thankful for our house, and for all the hard work we put into making the house our own.
(kitchen before – excuse the facebook quality photos)
(kitchen after – well, close to after)
I’m thankful for blogging. I’m especially thankful for the opportunity it has allowed me to document precious moments in my children’s lives.
I’m thankful for a certain little girl who is anxious to help with everything.
I’m also thankful for the patience that a certain little girl is teaching me when she is anxious to help with everything.
And, I’m thankful for the wonderful cool weather we have today.
I wanted to publish this post on Father’s Day, but things came up, and I didn’t get it completed by then. In times past, I probably wouldn’t have written the post since I missed my *deadline* but I’m really trying to go with the flow a little more these days, and to not let things like my artificial deadline deter me from getting things done that I really want to get done. Now that I’ve gotten past all the rambling . . . my thoughts:
I’ve always been thankful for my family; well, at least from the time that I knew how to be thankful for such things. I was thankful that I had a home that had two parents. I was thankful that my parents made time for my sister and me, and that they were always involved in my life. I was thankful that my home was focused on God, and that I was raised in a Christian environment. I could continue on about some many other things that I was thankful for in regards to my home and upbringing. I truly was blessed by the home that I grew up in.
However, now that I’m a parent myself and as I watch my husband parent, the level of thanksgiving and respect that I have for my parents has increased dramatically. It is hard work being a parent (I’ve said this before) and I don’t even have a teenager yet (or close for that matter!). I am so thankful that my parents made their job of parenting a priority in their lives. Although I am far from perfect, I know that I wouldn’t be the person I am today if my parents hadn’t done the things they did for me.
I initially thought about all of this because I was thinking about Father’s Day, and how blessed I am that my husband is the father of my children. Although I always expected him to be a great father, seeing him in action as a father is amazing to me. I have learned so much from him, and I look forward every day to our journey in parenthood together. I am so thankful to have a home that is dedicated to God and serving Him first.
Happy Father’s Day to fathers everywhere, but especially my dad and my husband! The world needs more strong dads like you!
(To see last year's "D-A-D" shot click here!)
