Seasons of Thanks

I decided this year to have a basket of blessings on our dinner table throughout the month of November. We have little slips of paper that we write our blessings on and then throw them in the basket. We've all been doing it throughout the day and even Li Na has joined in:) I can't wait until Thanksgiving Day to get all of our blessings out of the basket giving Thanks to the Lord for each gift we've been given!!!

As I've added my own blessings to the basket I've thought about all the things the Lord has done for us over the past (almost) six years. We have been through our fair share of trials and transitions, but the more I ponder all of those things the more I realize that without all of those "tough" things we would not have half of the blessings that we have scribbled on those pieces of paper. That basket is full of blessings because God in His perfect timing with His perfect love and faithfulness has taken our family on a journey that is written specifically for us and for our good.

I am humbled as we move into this season of thanks. I LOVE this time of year, and I am hoping to be acutely aware of how blessed I am as I look back on where I've been and as I look ahead to where God is leading!

I have also been making a little Christmas keepsake book for our family. "Through the Years" is the theme that keeps coming to my mind. It's been so fun to look back on each Christmas we've spent together and how things have changed. So, I'll give you the "blog" version. Things have definitely changed for our family even though it's only been six years!!!

Christmas 2006- This was taken in our apartment in Birmingham. I was seven months pregnant with Lydia. We were raising support to go to Puerto Rico. This picture represented how we would react when we reached 100% of our goal!2007- We were living in Ben's grandparents house in Wedowee still raising support to leave for Puerto Rico. I was about 3 months pregnant with Thomas.

2008- Living in Puerto Rico. This was the first time I wore shorts and short-sleeves putting up our Christmas Tree! Side-note: I wasn't pregnant in this picture!

2009- Recently moved to Montgomery, AL. Six months pregnant with Sam:)

2010- Still in Montgomery, AL, but in a different house. Here's the crazy thing about this picture. Lord willing, we will be sitting under this same mantle in this year's picture. As you can see we have celebrated Christmas in a different place every year.

This will be our third Christmas here in Montgomery and our second Christmas in our house. The only difference this year is that our kids are bigger and we have a dog. Another side-note: I will not be pregnant in this year's picture;)

Thanks for sharing the past with me now let's all look with hope and great joy to the future that God has for each of us and our families!!!