I complained yesterday

Sadly, in a moment of weakness, I threw my thankful attitude out the window and vented to my co-worker that I wanted to run away screaming!!
Why is it so easy to forget what we're thankful for?  When life overwhelms and you realize you just don't have any control - fear, anxiety and frustration start to take root.  If you let them, they grow and grow, because they are so easy to nourish.  Our friends even help us water them without even knowing it!  Pretty soon, they rule our hearts and our attitudes and complaining goes back to being our natural instinct.
Today, however, I'm not going to let them take root.  Instead I'm going to be thankful that I DON'T have the control and someone else does.  Rather than get frustrated when things aren't going my way, instead of letting anxiety flourish when I just don't know how it will all get done, I will BE THANKFUL that Some One else has an amazing plan, that I just need to let Him work out.


Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."


I'm thankful for hope.  I'm thankful that the One who created life lives in me and has amazing plans for this life.  I think I'll focus not this today.

Find a small group!

Yesterday I was sooooo thankful for the end of daylight savings time.  It is so much easier to get up in the morning now!  I feel like a new person!
This morning, as I was praying, God was bringing to mind the prayers requests of the people in my small group.      I was overcome with what a privilege it is to be a part of their lives and to know that they are praying for me as well!  I know today will be a good day because I have their support whenever I need it!!
I'll get to spend the weekend at the lake this weekend with them (and a few other friends!)  Here's a picture of some of our group from our house on the lake last year!!

So thankful for this group!!

Thankful for the weekend

Sleeping in.  A lazy day.  Time to rest. Time to cook.  The sun is shining.  I fit a workout in.  It's Saturday and it's a great day!!

I know I've said this before...

...but I am so thankful for coffee.  It couldn't be any more perfect on a cool fall morning when all I want to do is go back to bed.  It keeps me going, warms me up, AND has no calories (only a few when I add skim milk!)  I think my co-workers share my enthusiasm!  They are not a fan when grumpy Val comes to work!

Do You See What I See?

Do you see what I see?

To me this is more that the beginning of my morning commute.

Do you see the cross?

I love when random things remind me of something with a totally different meaning.  Something important to me.  Something meaningful deep in my soul.  There are examples all around us.  I saw this telephone poll this morning, with the beautiful pink and blue sky in it's background, and thought of the cross.

To say I'm thankful does not do this emotion, this truth, justice.  Forgiven, clean, free.   Full of life.  I only am because of Christ's sacrifice on a cross looking not all that different from this telephone pole.  His agony is my redemption.

"Thank You for the cross my Friend..." (Matt Redman, "Once Again")

What do you see today?

Added note: I would be remiss to not update you on David today.  David has started chemotherapy and is responding well.  He's joking with people and showing so much strength.  We are looking at a miracle.  His heart stopped and he stopped breathing two times last week.  Carlos had to fill out the papers for funeral arrangements.  The doctors who said there was no hope last week are now hopeful he will recover.  It's still a long road.  This form of cancer is apparently very aggressive.  Please keep praying that he continues to respond to treatment and the doctors continue to have wisdom on how to treat him.  Thankfully the Mexican government will most likely take care of the medical bills.  However, because Carlos cannot work and they have had to transplant their family to be close to the hospital, they are using the donations to help the family with food and housing.  If you're interested in donating, please go to the Cuirim Outreach facebook page.  Thanks!

A Messy Desk

Thankful for a messy desk today.

That I am able to work.



I have the tools I need.



Fantastic coworkers.



My Bible open on my desk is not something strange.
In fact, it's encouraged!


My messy desk means there's work to be done.



It's good work.



It's making a difference for the most vulnerable and empowering the church.



Yes, I'm thankful for my messy desk.


Even when the alarm goes off way too early.
Even when it's too cold to get out from under the covers.
Even when the train is late.
Even when the piles of papers overwhelm me.

I can definitely chose to be thankful.  And today, I do.


"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive and inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Colossians 3:23-24

Thankful November

One year in college the girls in my small group decided to go on a complaining fast for the month of November.  What we found was that you don't realize how much you are complaining until you try to stop.  (Isn't that the case for so many things in life?) Philippians 2:14 says, "Do all things without complaining and grumbling".  All things being defined as ALL THINGS, like everything, even if it's something you don't like or really don't want to do.  Do you know how hard that is?

We quickly learned that in order to stay true to this fast, we needed to find something to replace the complaints.   With Thanksgiving just weeks away, the obvious choice was to replace complaining with its opposite - being thankful.

This morning on facebook I posted that I was looking for the blessing in today.  In response to that, my friend posted this quote - "Be on the lookout for mercies. The more we look for them, the more of them we will see. Blessings brighten when we count them." (M.D. Babcock).     I found this statement to so eloquently say what I was trying to express.  When you are looking for things to be thankful for, you will find them.  In the same way, when you are looking for things to complain about, you will find them.

I've heard some people call this month "no shave November."  I think I will try to go back to "no complain November."  Instead, I will attempt to share something I'm thankful for each day.  I've seen people do this as their facebook status in November and they are so great to read through.

So here goes (and this is in no particular order):

Halloween 2011

I couldn't find a good one of the 2 of us (this is Nicole with Audrey)
Today I'm thankful for having 2 amazing roommates (both named Nicole).  :-)  They are great friends and the best people to share life and my house with!  


An update on David - the little guy is still recovering.  Please keep praying!