Mondays. I really dislike them and I think most people would agree. If you are like us, we spend most of the weekend catching up on errands and spending as much time as possible having fun, which leaves little room for rest and relaxation. (Thankfully this weekend we did have time to take a two hour nap after church!) There just never seems to be enough time in the weekend!!
Every Monday morning I wake up with a bit of depression, knowing that the next "break" is five long days away. I know I really shouldn't be complaining since I have had the whole summer off, BUT..... it is still depressing when your loved one, my husband, has to go back to work. I obviously know the importance of having a job, more now probably than I ever have before. I am currently unemployed and now can sympathize and empathize with all those people who earnestly want to have a job, but just can't seem to find the open door. Teaching positions in the San Antonio area are scarce and if there are any positions available, they are filled before they even post them. I am learning every day the importance have having connections and networking. And I am realizing how good I had it in College Station.
Ok I need to quit complaining and get back to the original point of this post! Mondays can be such a bummer for me, BUT as I was driving back from some schools today, (yes passing out resumes and cover letters to schools that probably won't even look at them) I was jamming out to KSBJ and there was a woman who came on the radio that talked about how she has "Gratitude Mondays". She writes down 100 things that she is thankful for and that helps her get through the day. I definitely know God was speaking to me through this because all morning I have been thinking about how much I hate this day, but in reality I have no right to be depressed about anything!! He has blessed me with so much SO here is my list of 50 blessings. I could obviously go on and on with more than a 100 ways that He has blessed me, but I decided for the sake of time I would only list 50.
I am thankful for....
1. A God who loves me unconditionally
2. Aubry John, a man who tries to love me unconditionally :)
3. My sweet, caring mom
4. My best friends- my sisters: Michelle Marie and Tracy Jannette
5. My funny dad
6. The best brother in law a sister could ask for
7. Three beautiful red-headed children, with whom I adore
8. Legs that help me to run and walk
9. Arms to help me hold the ones that I love
10. A healthy body that lets me do most of the things I want to do
11. LOVE :)
12. The ability to laugh and smile
13. A brain that is fully functioning (most of the time :)
14. Money to buy things
15. Our home
16. Our adorable dogs-Major and Sadie
17. Our comfortable bed and cute comforter
18. Friends to love and to care for
19. Merrideth and Tim
20. Kayde and Kevin
21. Heather and Adam
22. The opportunity to live in a place where you can go to church without risking your life
23. Food in the pantry
24. Sonic drinks, especially Diet Vanilla Cokes!!!
25. Pickles (yes I know this is weird but I do love them)
26. Cute shoes to cover my feet
27. My truck that is fully functioning
28. Swimming pools to cool me off on hot summer days
29. Flowers, I love flowers!
30. Kids-I love kids. They make me laugh and smile and they are just so stinkin cute
31. Technology. Even though I can really despise it sometimes, it is so nice to be able to call or email anyone you want.
32. Cuddling with my husband in the mornings before he goes to work
33. My husbands drive to be a godly man
34. My loving in-laws-Lane, Johnna, Julie, and Rachel
35. New clothes. I love getting new clothes!!
36. Chicken strips with gravy and french fries
37. Margarita Mondays
38. Vacations. Just the finances and time to be able to go on a vacation is such a blessing!
39. Hope. Hope that God will take care of me in all ways no matter what.
40. God's Purposefulness. I need to take a break and tell you this story about just how purposeful He is! So since I have moved to San Antonio I have been wondering about God's purpose and plan for me here. I was reading through my prayer journal looking at the entries I made right before I got married. It was awesome to see how God took care of literally everything I was worried about and just how purposeful He was through the whole process. In reading those, God was also telling me that of course He would be purposeful in my life no matter where I live. So a few hours later, I was shopping for my husband and maybe a little bit for myself :), when I came across these two old ladies checking out at the cashier. They had to have been in their late 70s even 80s. The cashier had already told the lady twice about how much here merchandise was but the old lady had to ask again :) I love old people :) Anyhow, this poor woman was digging through her purse for 3 pennies. I can relate to this because I am always digging to try to find something in my purse no matter the size. I looked in my change pocket and I had EXACTLY 3 pennies. I gave them to the cashier and the old woman was so surprised and grateful. You would have thought that I gave her 5 dollars or something!! Anyhow, as they were walking away I complimented her on her awesome bright red walker. I explained that that red was my favorite color. By her facial expressions you could tell that she was proud of her RED walker! She told me that red was also her favorite color. When I glanced down on the walker it had her name on it S. Taylor!!! YES HER LAST NAME WAS TAYLOR TOO!!
Some people may say that these were all coincidences-the 3 pennies, the red walker, and the last name BUT I don't believe that, I believe in a GOD who is ALL PURPOSEFUL! No matter how big, small, silly, or serious the circumstances. (I know this took a lot longer than I expected too!)
41. The color RED :)
42. Old people-especially Grandy and Granny Taylor
43. My New Mexico family
44. Green chiles and the smell of Grandma's house-a mix of pets, alfalfa, and onions.
45. Homemade Ice Cream
46. Cookie Dough
47. Brazos Fellowship-friendly people, awesome worship, and convicting sermons
48. MUSIC-and the ability to hear it
49. House Hunters International-entertaining and educational
50. JESUS!! The one who died for you and I so that we can live eternally with HIM!! :)
Here are some random pics of my thanksgivings and blessings!
