A Thankful Heart

I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. - Psalm 9:1

Riley and Cricket

With Thanksgiving coming up, it's got me thinking of all the things that I am thankful for, and why they mean so much to me. Photos like the one above have so much more meaning to me than many will realize. When you get to see your daughter, filled with so much love for the life that we live, its a big reminder that we have so much to be grateful and thankful for.

Not only is Riley's joy for life a great reminder to be thankful, but as I've mentioned in another blog, we are called to be thankful. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 tell us to, "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." In all circumstances we are to be thankful. While that is truly much more difficult said than done, if we try, we can find something to always be thankful for.

The photos below are centered around my family and our farm, and those are two things that I thank God for each and every day. Whether I've had an amazing day, or one that was hard to get through, I thank Him for putting Jesse and Riley into my life. These two are always here for me, and can always bring joy to my days. Whether it's an off-hand joke from Jesse, or Riley's pure joy in getting to help me craft (or play with soybeans), they know just how to make me smile.

The farm is something else that I thank God for daily. This farm is a place that my husband had dreamed of owning for 13 years (8 of which I dreamed with him) before we were able to purchase it last year. When the world was in mass chaos, we created our own chaos when we spent half of 2020 in the purchase process. It wasn't an easy year, and while we are still trying to figure it out, we wouldn't trade it for the world.

I don't think that anything in the world can beat being able to spend time with your family. We are so blessed that the farthest away any of our immediate family live is an hour and a half from us. The majority lives within 30 miles and it's something else that I will forever be thankful for. I know many don't get that luxury, and we are lucky that Riley is able to see her grandparents from both sides at least once a week, and her aunt's and uncles (aside from the one set that is 1.5 hours away) weekly as well.

As for those who live far away (ahem, Auntie Shay and Uncle Nathan), we do our best to try to find once a month to get together and spend that family time we need. Not saying we don't talk often, but there's just something about that time you spend in person that is incredibly special. Riley's currently counting the sleeps until she visits them, and it is adorable.

What are some things that you are thankful for?