The Reason for the Season...I am reminded at this time of year all the little things I have to be thankful for and there are many. I have a healthy family, a roof over my head, food to eat, water, heat - all taken care of. There is a song Amy Grant sings that says "I need a Silent Night to hear an angel's voice above the chaos and the noise. I need a Midnight Clear a little peace right here." For some reason that song hit me, I was reminded that Christmas isn't about the hustle and bustle, the craziness of trying to get it all done but about the Baby Jesus. I am thankful that so long ago God would send His Son to the this earth to live among us that we might know Him. He loves each of us and wants to know us personally. He is the peace at this time of year and all year long. He is our joy at all times, no matter the circumstances. He is all we really need. The world wants us to believe that we need all this stuff, but we really only need Jesus to fulfill the need in our life. Without Jesus, we just keep looking for things to fill our lives up. I find that often in the chaos of the day I forget to rely on Jesus. I am so thankful that when I am not faithful HE ALWAYS remains faithful. The world would have us believe we can rely on ourselves, and I am thankful I can rely on Jesus. I am thankful for that baby in a manger so many years ago. His birth was a quiet one; not a lot of fanfare in the grand scheme of things, and yet in that moment the greatest gift any of us will ever know was born. He wasn't the one everyone may have been looking for because although He is the King of Kings there was no castle but a stable. He was a baby who would make a great sacrifice that we can know life. I am thankful to know the Reason for the Season.

Counting My Blessings

It is certainly the right time of year to count my blessings and remind myself of all I am thankful for today and always. I am thankful for my family, husband and 2 boys, and we are all healthy. There are days I need to remember this especially when the boys are difficult or I'm tired or whatever. I'm thankful for family to share the holidays with; I know there are those who won't be with loved ones for one reason or another. They are blessings. There are those crazy days when I "can't" hold my boys every time they want me to, but I need to remind myself to count my blessings. They are growing before my very eyes and there will come a day soon enough when they won't want me to hold them and they'll be too big. Right now is the best time and a crazy time of the year and I need to sit back and relax and take it all in. I need to enjoy every minute with my children, with my husband. I need to count my blessings. I am guilty of getting caught up in the busyness of everyday...making sure the house is clean, getting meals ready, laundry done and put away, the list goes on and on. I need to count my blessings and get caught up in my little ones, in my husband. I am grateful for the gifts and the blessings God has given me. The most important gift of Jesus and to remember that I am Jesus to my children in each touch, look, word spoken...are they seeing enough of Jesus in me? I am reminded to count my blessings but let it not be just now at Thanksgiving but every day for the blessings all around me.