Always giving thanks...

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,  making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,  addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,  giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,  submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ." Ephesians 5:15-21

I find the context of this verse interesting. It is preceded by the importance of living as children of the light rather than of the world (darkness) and followed by our roles to our spouses.  Nestled between two great challenges, it gives us a weapon to overcome the difficulties and our natural tendencies to fail at these two points.  In myself I cannot live as a child of the light, nor can I love and submit to my husband, but I do find that hearing the Word through fellowship with others, worship, and the acts of thanksgiving for all things at all times to God and through Christ makes the burdens light and enables me to live more and more as He has called me to as the Spirit speaks and empowers me.  My prayer is that God would draw me near as I wander often.

113.  Time away with friends and the dose of perspective it can bring.  A couple of friends and I were able to go out of town for the night and go shopping!!!  No boys of any ages.   I missed them and found it funny how much I talked about them, but it was refreshing to be away.

114.  The way rearranging a room makes it seem as if you have a whole new room.  My boys will be sharing a room so last night my husband and I moved things around to make much use out of little space.

115.  My husband's help around the house.  My growing belly means I need more and more help.  I'm so thankful for the way he loves me through serving even though he works long hours and serves a lot at the church.

116. My husband's tenderness to the Word of God and courage to take more and more steps to grow and lead our family.

117.  Baby Boy Tarplee's continued growth and entering into the third trimester.

118.  Andrew's affection and the way he kisses and hugs his baby brother by cuddling up to my belly and talking to him.
119.  That as Andrew plays with the charm I wear, he says, "That's for baby Ashlynn."  His memory amazes me.  The memory of the hope of her fixes my gaze on eternity.

120.  Stability that can only come from knowing my Abba Father and the instability in my heart that causes me to run to Him constantly and teaches me to depend on Him rather than myself.