Thankful Thursday #64 was supposed to be a post overflowing with from my grateful heart. It was supposed to be my Thanksgiving post. I had a wonderful Thanksgiving and I spent a great deal of time being thankful. I just didn't make time to post.
Now it is a week later and...
well...
The last words I said to my two middle children were: "I don't care. All I want is for you not to fight. I want no fighting more than I want anything in the world."
Whew! That sums up how I feel after yesterday. Yesterday was the kind of day where I met my hubby at the door, grabbed the keys and went out for a much needed break. My nerves were shot and I had nothing left to give my kids. (Yes, I texted my hubby to let him know the state of my heart!)
First thing this morning I felt tension as soon as my boys came downstairs because their began arguing immediately. What is it? Are they let down after 2 weeks of company? Is the cloudy weather getting to them? I have no idea. I immediately started praying.
My point? Today I don't feel thankful. I hardly feel hopeful. However, I am thankful for many things. I am going to spend time today focusing on that. Just maybe, that will make the difference in my day.
Here are some things I am thankful for:
1. My hubby: He is a constant encouragement.
2. My parents: It was incredible to have them visit us.
3. Christmas cards: I love getting Christmas cards in the mail. They are reminders of people that I love.
4. Pictures my kids draw: My kids' drawings fill my heart with happiness. I love seeing their creativity. I love listening to them when they draw. The drawings cannot be drawn without sound effects!
5. 1/2 Pump Peppermint Mocha Frappicino: This was the perfect treat for me last night.
6. Finding Old Pictures: I found some hilarious photos last night of my hubby and I (and lots of our friends) at a 70's party in 2000. I laughed so hard I cried.
7. Encouragement in Blogland: Sometimes I come across a post that points my heart in the direction it needs to go. I read a post about prayer recently that reminded me that I need to spend more time alone with God. Go read Devotion to Prayer.
8. Seeing my Kids excited about learning: One son is excited about sounding out letters. My daughter is trying to walk. She learned how to "give 5" last night. One son is learning to pull his own pants up and down when he goes to the bathroom (with mixed results but he is learning). One son is excited about being able to read- words cereal boxes, signs, the computer -just everywhere! I am thankful for their excitement.
9. Music: I keep finding myself singing the little song "This is the Day" (that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made. I will rejoice, I will rejoice and be glad in it). Songs can help me focus and they can change my mood. And, I am going to get out the the Christmas music today!
10. Friends: I am thankful for my blogland friends, friends that email, and friends that I talk to throughout the week. I have many friends and it is encouraging to think about them.
10 comments:
You are in my prayers, sweet friend. And a special prayer that the boys stop fighting!
I have been there. It is sometimes so hard to be a Mom...and give all the time. I find myself spent at the end of somedays too. Just nothing left. I will say a prayer for a fightless afternoon. You can do the same for us too...siblings.
I am so thankful for you. God puts people in our life for a reason and I am so glad I found you. Tough days are hard, don't I know... I will keep praying. I think it is the devil trying to rob us..Just a thought.
You're definitely in my prayers and I enjoyed your great list of blessings! Happy Thankful Thursday!
Great post! Just want you to know that I 'm praying for you. Being a mom is one of the toughest jobs there is!
My kids were like that too. It is almost impossible to control them. You need to try positive energy with them. praise them when they get along and tell them if they want to fight go back in there room and stay there till they can say nice things. Play games like who has some thing nice to say about ?. only positive energy can change them. but this is easier to do with grandkids than you own kids. So if you can get grandparents involved it helps to reprogram them.
Praying for you, Jane Anne. We've had LOTS of arguing at our house lately, too. I have said the exact same words you said to your boys about wanting the fighting to stop.
Thank you for your wonderful list this week. Sometimes this exercise is more therapeutic than I ever intended and far more about obedience to the Lord than I ever imagined. I was so encouraged by your words today, friend. BTW, if you email me your snail mail addy, I'll send you a Christmas card. ; )
sorry to hear that things have not been all sunshine and roses at your house over the last couple of days. i remember feeling great frustration when my girls hit that stage where they were fighting constantly. unfortunately even though they got over that initial period - it has come and gone over the years. we seem to be there again as of lately. i'm so proud of you that your first reaction was to immediately start praying. i think that is such a testament to who you are as a woman, wife and mom!!! my solution is for you to bring them all up here and we'll send them ALL outside to play "in the woods"!!! =)
thank you for posting a thankful post!!!
You will be in my prayers.
I've had several days like that too. :)
Coffee always cheers me up too. I'll be sending you our card in the mail tomorrow! I love getting christmas cards!
I forgot my blogger id so I'm posting anonymous. :)
Hope
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