A Funny Story About Gratitude

It's been a long time since I posted and that time has been filled with lots and lots of preparations.  We have not sold our house yet, but we have had quite a journey in getting here.  Since we left Chris in Texas in July, we have repainted almost every room in the house, family has helped us redo the floors in the whole house, we have downsized immensely both furniture and just stuff, and we have completed all of the things it takes to get your house ready to sell.  It's a process, as anyone who has moved knows.

There have been a lot of unexpected things.  We did not expect to still be here this long.  We did not expect to be living apart as a family for this long.  Now, here's where the funny part starts.  We did not expect that once we got the house ready we would have fleas, the dishwasher break (TWICE), the oven catch fire (feel free to look up a broiler element melting in front of your eyes), the toilets (yes both) break and the car die.  Now truly, you can get bogged down in this, or you can just laugh.  Even better, you can praise God! 

Despite everything that has happened, I have been reminded over and over that nothing that has happened is a big deal.  It doesn't matter.  Oh, it takes up our time and money and convenience, but I am reminded that there are lots of people who's appliances work, but they are driving their children to hospital appointments.  There are plenty of people who have their house sell quickly, but they have loved ones who have passed away and that grief is overwhelming.  There are also plenty, PLENTY of people who do not have houses, appliances, cars, hospitals, family, food or any of the many huge blessings we have and they still trust God to provide and to have a plan for them.  More than likely, our future adopted children live in this way.  And what do I pray for them?  I pray for them to be safe, to know that they are loved and valued, and that they are able to hear about God and Jesus's love for them.  That's what's important, and we already have that, so everything else is just a funny story and a part of our testimony. 

Praise the Lord.

Praise God in his sanctuary;
    praise him in his mighty heavens. 

 Praise him for his acts of power;
    praise him for his surpassing greatness. 

 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
    praise him with the harp and lyre, 

 praise him with timbrel and dancing,
    praise him with the strings and pipe,

praise him with the clash of cymbals,
    praise him with resounding cymbals.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord.                                                     Psalm 150