Thankful Thursday

With almost two weeks of summer vacation already behind me (YIKES!), I feel like I have been on the go, go, go almost constantly. I am certainly having a blast, and I am loving being at home with my sweet little man! Here are some things I have been doing that I am very thankful for.


A Weekend Away
Last Friday around lunch, Brent and I packed up the truck and headed to Pigeon Forge. It was nice to have some time together without Chandler. We love him very dearly, but we have also learned that it's important to have time away together away from him occasionally. It makes us better parents.  We got half price tickets to Dollywood thanks to the Stone Mountain membership passes that were issued to us for FREE from Brent's work this past year, and we took advantage of the "arrive after 3:00 p.m. and get the next day free" offer at the Dollywood park, so we saved tons of money and had a lot of fun at the same time. You just can't beat that!

 Jazzercise 
I tried walking and jogging (too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter, plus the jogging stroller and I didn't always get along), I tried the gym (I didn't like working out with men- no offense!), and I tried DVDs at home (it was hard to get motivated at 5:00 a.m. or 9:00 a.m. - the only times I could complete the routines without interruption), so I went back to Jazzercise about 6 months ago. I got an offer I couldn't refuse, and I am so glad that I went back. I need the accountability, and I love the encouragement and energy that the instructors and customers share with each other. I go 3-5 times per week, and I feel better than I have in a long time. I also appreciate that Chandler can go with me. He loves to stand at the childcare window and watch, and his impressions of my exercises later at home are quite entertaining! 

Swim Camp
My little man may be a dare devil on land, but the pool certainly isn't part of his comfort zone yet. As one of the youngest in his swim camp class this week, I hope he is learning from the other kids that it's okay (and even fun) to play in the water. I love how Coach John pushes him to do more than he thinks he can. I know he'll get it one day, and if he's anything like his Daddy, it will probably be coming very soon and I'll wish these sweet, innocent days were back. 

        

                                                        Linking up this week with...

 

Facing My Fears

It seems that everywhere I turn lately, 

God is reminding me that I must stand up and face my fears. 

It was part of my morning devotion one day last week, 

and it was the focus of Sunday morning's message at church.

What do I have to fear, you ask?

Well, there are all of the normal things that lots of others fear, like roller coasters and mice, 

and I don't care too much for Atlanta traffic, either,

but there is one big thing in my life that scares me the most-

Babies.

Now, before you think I am crazy, no I do not have a fear of babies themselves. 

In fact, I think babies are wonderful. 

Honestly, I can't believe that my little man is no longer

a baby, and I certainly adore 

holding other people's babies. 

They are so cuddly and adorable.

I still get very excited when I find out

that someone I am close to is having a baby. 

Babies are a gift from God. I know that as a fact. 

His Word not only tells us that,

but it is evident to anyone who has the blessing of being around

one or raising one. 

So, what scares me about babies, you ask? 

It scares me that Chandler might be the only baby I ever have.

Yes, I am very thankful to have him in my life.

He is a precious gift from God, 

and I enjoy being with him. 

It's a blessing to be his mama,

but it honestly scares me that he might be an only child.

It's not that I have anything against only children,

I know several- both children and adults, 

and most of them have turned out fine.

It's not that I am not thankful for the little one I have,

because I truly am. 

It's not that I won't be okay if I don't have another child, 

because I know I will be.

Life will go on, 

and God will continue to bless me

if I allow Him to.

 

I am very happy with the family God has given me. 

It's just that it breaks my heart

that it may have to be this way,

and that is not what I wanted.

It's not how my "ever after" was supposed to be.

If there is one thing that having multiple miscarriages

has taught me, 

it's that my plans are only that- plans.

 

God is the one who is ultimately in control,

and more and more each day I must learn to lean on Him.

His will and way is perfect, and mine is not.

I must remember to praise Him no matter

what His plans are for me and my family,

even if that means that my family is already complete.