While at first glance, it has been a hard year for our family, if I look harder I can see SO much to be thankful for!
While Ron was out of work, we had all that we needed provided for us. If it was my way I would have seen how things would work out a month, or a week or even a full day ahead. But though I couldn't see ahead, it doesn't mean that God wasn't orchestrating things to take care of us. The same week Ron lost his job, I got a check in the mail from my brother. It had a note just saying God said we needed it. I called him and asked him when he mailed it, it was BEFORE he knew Ron had lost his job. So for me right at the beginning it was like God was trying to let me know all would be ok. Yes, we changed a lot of how we did things and what we did, but that isn't what got us through. He showed us in so many little ways that He was taking care of us. It came mostly in form of the little things (and one big thing). One day we were down to not having anything to eat that day with another day before payday...a little while later a neighbor called and invited us to an event at their church, that included a meal. Our power was taken care of one month and Ron had odd jobs that helped. Even some of the seemingly non-essentials were taken care of, a friend made sure that I was able to continue going to the gym, which was a great way to work out some of my stress. Then Ron got a job that he started in September. In the midst of trying to make decisions on what would be best for our family we realized a move was next. Wasn't sure where we were going to move to at first, but once again God provided the perfect place to move to. I have always wanted a Cape Cod home, but never really thought about it too much as there just aren't a whole lot of them around here. And here we are in a beautiful Cape Cod with a deck, lovely wooded lot and much more space! I wasn't that grateful at first, griping about leaving a house I had worked hard to decorate and take care of, packing up everything in the house and just the whole stress of moving. But now I'm sitting here looking around our new place and am just so grateful that I wasn't the one in charge, because I have more than I could even imagine. While the new job is lower pay, it did give him a truck to drive and pays his gas. Which is good because the car isn't currently running. So once again, circumstances we couldn't see at the time (the car not working) God saw and provided for ahead of time.
Last week I spent three days in a row taking LeAnne to the hospital for tests, thinking it was her appendix, hoping it wasn't something serious. She is ok and all will be fine, major thanks there. I have a job that allows me the time off and has sick time. Another thing to be grateful for.
So tonight, as I sit here in my recliner and look around our new place, I see my son and my husband talking and my daughter on her laptop. I smell a cake that I just pulled out of the oven while ago. I hear the washing machine washing clothing for us to wear and I feel the rising and falling of my dog's breath as he lies here next to my legs. I feel warm, cozy, happy and full. I'm thinking about how we will get up and head to my hometown tomorrow. Where over the weekend I will see my sister and her husband (whom I haven't seen since he returned from Afghanistan, another praise that he returned safely), a new niece I haven't seen yet and a lot of other family.
Yes, I have MUCH to be thankful for this Thanksgiving!
