Genoa yet again celebrates a son returned!

JAKE HAS ARRIVED BACK HOME SAFE AND SOUND!!!! WELCOME HOME BUDDY!! THANKYOU FOR FIGHTING FOR US. THANK-YOU, THANK-YOU, THANK-YOU!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

Thank-you for the Cross, my friend!

Today I'm thankful for the cross (as always) but in particular a small plastic gold colored one that hung around the neck of one of my 4 year olds. Some mornings when the kids are still tired when I get there we will all sit together in circle time and slowly wake up. Today was one of those days. One of my little boys, whom I'll just say isn't known for always being on his best behavior was laying down on the rug next to two of my other boys who are known just as he is. Well my one little boy mentioned first had on this little plastic cross around his neck. It intrigued me, I never in a million years would have pegged him for being a child to wear a cross, yet it made me smile...little did I know! He proceeded to roll onto his side facing the two other boys and said..."Did you know God died on the cross!?!" and thats all that was said on the matter. I smiled, knowing today was going to be a VERY blessed day, and indeed it was.

How awesome that here I struggle day to day to be Christ's light to my children, and today...one of them was His light for me. Praise God for this little plastic necklace that would open my eyes to see that Christ IS making an impact on these children's lives, and I get the honor to bare witness to it. I'm humbled beyond all comprehension.



What are you thankful for?

Holy Moly a whole week!?!? woops!!

Monday November 16:
I'm thankful for friends and laughs in class, and a boyfriend who appreciated the warm apple pie that I brought him!

Tuesday November 17:
I'm thankful for a small group that encourages, laughs, cheers on, hugs, and prays for one another!

Wednesday November 18:
I'm thankful for rest. I was so exhausted that I completely passed out on the couch for a VERY refreshing 40 minute nap!

Thursday November 19:
I'm thankful for a night on the couch with Zekers!!

Friday November 20:
I'm thankful for a very fun evening with mom!! We had a lot of fun after she won a turkey before I got to her...trying to win some bacon...no such luck! But we shared dinner and shared some very meaningful conversations!

Saturday November 21:
I'm thankful for joyful occasions spent with friends I don't get to hang out with very often! Jeff and I both had an amazing time at my friend Aimee's wedding! I got to sit with my friends Mackenzie & her husband Dan along with my friend Amy & her husband Jason. It was alot of fun! I even got out on the dance floor and danced a little bit!

Sunday November 22:
I'm thankful for Jesus. But not just Jesus, today I'm thankful for His birth. For the miracle that we get to celebrate each and every year!! Christmas tree lots are setting up, and this year, I'm out to get my very first Christmas Tree on my own...with the help of John & his truck :-D I'm VERY excited to have a real tree up in my apartment to help celebrate Jesus' birth! Thank-you Jesus!

So there you have, my week...in a nutshell...
What are you thankful for?

Zeke stop barking!

haha I couldn't think of a blog title and well, my dog thinks he owns main street and is barking like crazy at the moment...whats new?!

Thursday November 12:

Today I'm thankful for friendships that stand the tests of life. I was able after work to rush to a friend's side and spend some time processing a challenge life has thrown her way tonight. Ice cream and hugs were the prescription of the day!

Friday November 13:

Today I'm thankful for deep and loving conversations with two women who mean the world to me! Wow what a blessing! One of the talks showed me that God continues to mold and transform me!! I used to be very impatient when it came to talking about my faith and trying to get someone else to believe...but this time I was very patient and open and listened genuinely to what she had to say and came back respectfully with my reply. What a GREAT evening!!

Saturday November 14:

Today I'm thankful for the man that God has blessed me with. Jeff went all out for my birthday celebration. I had an amazing time celebrating and just having fun with him and a few of his friends! What a fun evening! Jeff is so patient with me, bless his heart...I'm not an easy person to deal with all the time and he takes it in stride and will crack jokes to help me lighten up. Hes so different from me yet we complement eachother so well! Thank you Father for such an amazing man!



Sunday November 15:

Today I'm thankful for the nice relaxing days where I have nothing on the agenda. That I can have movie marathons and do dishes and watch zeke run around with his newest toy. So relaxing and rejuevenating to prepare for the week ahead!

What are you thankful for?

Praising God

Tuesday November 10:

Wow what a blessed day!! My 26th birthday was AAAAMAZING! Praise God for such amazing people in my life and the love that they shower me with!! I'm so thankful for everyone in my life right now who helped make my birthday special!

Wednesday November 11:

Today I'm thankful for our Veterans and the chance I had to serve. "Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you; Jesus Christ and the American Soldier. One died for your soul; the other for your freedom." Thankyou to all of our Veterans, our servicemembers, and their families!

Thinkin it over...

Today I'm thankful for answered prayers. I asked for prayer to be more bold in sharing my faith out loud, and boy was I bold this evening in class. I was sharing pictures of my shredded tire and the story of what happend and as I walked back to my bench a guy said to me, "you sure are lucky!" I beamed back at home "No way, it wasn't luck...I'm loved, it was all God...only God could do something like that."

I then turned around and finished the two steps back to my bench...when I realized I had shouted that across the classroom. LOL boy, when I asked for boldness God sure didn't delay, I'm happy to see He's using my loud boisterousness (is that even a word?! lol) to spread His good news, His love and His protection that only HE can provide!

I praise you God!! THANK-YOU for answered prayers!!!

What are you thankful for today?

Catching up on Thankfulness

November 3rd: I was very thankful for my brother who was willing to stop around 10pm and change my flat tire...also thankful for a God who saves and protects. He surely took great care of me that evening when things could have turned out a WHOLE LOT worse for me and my car! Praise and Glory to God!!

November 4th: I was very thankful for a sister who was willing to take me and help me in getting a rental car.

November 5th: I was thankful for friends whose relationships withstand the test of times and trials. Everyday I'm so thankful to be back at the daycare surrounded by such amazing women!

November 6th: I was thankful for a fixed car...and rims that didn't get bent in the whole mess of my car episode on the 3rd...yes it cost a VERY pretty penny to get new tires, and for a rental, and an alignment but it could have been so very much worse!!

November 7th: I'm thankful for lunch and time spent with family whom I adore! What a blast it was to happen upon a "Marine Corps Birthday Party" ... the Marine Corps and I share a birthday!

November 8th: I'm thankful for the giggles and the laughter and the pure excitement I get from Jackson and Addison. I love them more than I've ever loved before and it just fills me with even more love every time I hear and see them giggling and laughing with me!

Praise God for such a roller coaster week...its times like those that it reminds me that I'm alive, and that I'm saved by a God who loves me deeper than I will EVER comprehend. What a great and AWESOME GOD!

What are you thankful for?

Giving Thanks

My longterm readers will remember if you think back, that last year I attempted to do a daily thanks as we counted down to Thanksgiving. I'm bringing it back again this year!!

Sunday, November 1st: I'm thankful for a day of rest, and relaxationg as I prepare for my busy week ahead.

Monday, November 2nd: I'm thankful for smiles. Today the daycare was filled with smiles (which isn't out of the norm.) aside from the fact that for a few short hours in the big room, we were trying our hardest to coax great big smiles out of our precious little ones...today was picture day. I got the honor as I was giving my co-workers breaks to help out back there with the infants and with a few of my 4 year olds. How precious it was to help out behind the photographer calling their names and smiling and these little ones hoping for a smile in return...and I was successful...even with one of our brand new babies (we had 3 that started today!) Afterwards the photographer turned over his shoulder and said with a huge smile, "thank-you" it meant the world to me to see these beautiful youngsters responding to me and also to help relieve some of the stress for the photographer and my co-workers...I just love my job!! Thank-you, God, for the gift of smiles. What a marvelous yet simple creation!

What are you thankful for today?

A reminder for prayer...

I want to take this time, as November is beginning, to take a moment to remind my readers to pray for our men and women who are overseas. I have multiple friends and some family who are currently at war. Some are holding up ok, and some if not all are really missing home. Anyone whose ever been away from home for an extended amount of time can empathize with the feeling of being away from home and making the best of your situation but at the same time longing for home. Now try to imagine that feeling while you're half way across the world, fighting in a war...the same war that a number of American's outright oppose...they've forgotten about our men and women over there.



PLEASE DONT FORGET ABOUT THEM...THEY ARE STILL THERE, THEY ARE STILL ENSURING YOUR FREEDOM...PRAY FOR THEM! THEY NEED OUR SUPPORT, OUR LOVE, OUR ENCOURAGEMENT ESPECIALLY AS THE HOLIDAYS ARE SNEAKING UP ON US AGAIN!