I planned to write every day so that I could share my thanksgivings. The sad reality is I am so busy in this season of life, that I can't make daily writing a priority--as much as I would like.
Things that are keeping me busy include homeschooling my son, visiting high schools so he can pick the one he wants to attend next year, planning the Christmas event for the ladies at my church, Boy Scout activities, shuttling my son everywhere (or so it seems), birthday celebrations, and getting together with friends.
And all within that list are a plethora of things for which I am thankful.
Let me break it down:
Homeschooling my son. I LOVE spending time with him and helping him learn. I love to read books with him--we're currently studying The Diary of Anne Frank--and discussing them and then guiding him as he writes an essay about something he's read. I am thankful that I can help him understand the foundations of our government and the Constitution and how that applies today. The timing is perfect with mid-term elections this year. It's truly wonderful to see him grasping these concepts. I am thankful that math and science come so naturally to him (which don't to me), so that he doesn't need my help as much. I'm also grateful for tools, such as Khan Academy for when a math concept is too challenging for either of us.
Speaking of math and science, I'm excited that today's high schools are offering ways for students with this ken to go deeper and further through their Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (S.T.E.M.) programs. This is where my son grooves, and he is excited to journey down this path. All three schools that we are exploring as options for him offer S.T.E.M. programs. And all of them have lacrosse programs, which is equally important to him. And here are several more ways that I am thankful. First for the choice of getting to pick the school my son wants to attend, second for the programs that they have, and third, that he's excited about this next step in his education.
When I wasn't homeschooling this week, I was planning the Christmas dessert that my church's women's ministry is hosting in December. Even though there are some big gaps that need to be filled in yet, I have some wonderful sisters in Christ helping me and can see how together we are glorifying the Lord. I am always appreciative of them and their gifts of service!
My son's extracurricular activities also kept us busy. That's where most of the shuttling comes in. He attends regular school every day so he can take two classes: Engineering Communications and Band. He loves them both, and he is thankful to be able to spend time with his peers. He's also very active in Boy Scouts and has weekly troop meetings, serves as a Den Chief leader for younger Scouts a second night of the week, goes to youth group, and is currently camping near the Sand Dunes National Monument.
Many thanksgivings here. First is that my son is physically and mentally healthy that he can be so active. Second is his desire to do these things. Nothing wrong with playing video games, but some of his friends just hang out in their basements all day, and my kid would go bananas if he didn't have the above physical, social and spiritual outlets. Third is my car that God has faithfully kept running. From the day I was blessed with it 12 years ago, I have been truly thankful for it! And even though I couldn't be the one to drive him to his camp out, I so appreciate the other parent who took my son as well as three other boys down to the dunes. What an amazing place it is, and I am thankful that there is such beauty and wonder in my home state. Here, every day, I see God revealing His creativity.
I can't overlook being thankful for my husband. He is a great man, who loves his family and works so hard on our behalf. He has faithfully served to provide for us. Even though we have made keen sacrifices (well, according to our American culture), he has ensured that I and our son can do this home school thing.
I'm also grateful that my in-laws, while not nearby, are coming to visit this weekend to celebrate my upcoming birthday, as well as my dear niece's. I truly love my in-laws and feel so blessed to have them in my loves. They are good, kind-hearted people who love the Lord and love their family. They have changed my life for the better because of their constant, faithful and loving actions.
My sister friends are a huge gift to me, too. I have two sisters, a step- and half-sister. They may not realize how much I love them and long to be connected with them, but life circumstances have put distance between us. I pray that changes. To fill my heart with "sister love" God has given me such wonderful friends. This week, I had lunch and shopped with one. We shared both confidences and laughter. Tonight, I will enjoy the great company of my dearest friend, whom I've known since high school. Our birthdays are close to one another's so we always get together to celebrate. This dinner will be bittersweet as we've always celebrated with our husbands, too. Sadly (doesn't quite cover my feelings), my friend's most excellent husband passed away last May. I miss him, and can only imagine how deep my friend's loss is. Yet I am thankful for the time we will have together tonight, and I am thankful that we WILL see this great man again in Heaven.
"The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." (Job 1:21)
Too often we only see what we don't have. But if we pause and take a closer look at our lives, even during the hard times (many gravely intense and burdensome), we can see that there is good weaving in and out of every moment--all for which we can be truly thankful.
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