Hopeful Housewife

Haven’t done a Gratituesday in a while…but this week, its a must. I think instead of a theme, I’ll just do a checklist of amazing-ness.

1.) A new, beautiful home. We are hoping to get the keys within 48 hours. I cant beleive it…I just cant get over how good God is to us. I just dont deserve such grace and love from Him…but I suppose that is the beauty of His love in the first place. If only we could have that same love for one-another.

2.) A really cute new dog. His name is Dallas, and he’s a redbone coon hound. He’s so super cute, but SO super puppy too. :P  We took this pic the second or third day he was here. He’s significantly bigger now, and more “hound” looking too. I’ll have to find my camera and get a new pic up soon.

3.) Homeschooling. We are finally “on our own” away from a charter, and its just been amazing. I cant get over how much JOY there is in homeschooling when you’ve got some freedom. God has really shown us why the pull to go independent was so strong. I love to see the way He works.

4.) These kids of mine: They are just awesome kids. Sometimes they drive me absolutely insane, but as I watch them sleep at night, I have the clarity of mind to contemplate how incredible they really are. I love these kids, and I am so grateful for their love and innocence.

5.) And last but not least: The hubs. He’s amazing. I love that man like crazy, and “gratitude” doesn’t even begin to explain how I feel.

He has the sweetest smile, and the kindest heart. I am so grateful for his devotion to finding God’s will for us, and obediently following it. He hasnt always been so devoted to God, and it has been such a blessing to watch him seek God, and strive for Godly Manhood.

You’re a good man, Charlie Brown!

Today, I am thankful for something that perhaps doesn’t make any logical sense. Maybe the thing I am most thankful for today doesn’t warrant gratitude in the minds of most people. I, too, was not thankful for it until I had some time to think about it this morning as I sat outside in the early hours of the day. Today’s Gratituesday entry is a testament to perspective.

I am grateful for our $500.00 electricity bill.

We have an older house, with an equally as old a/c unit, and the cost of running the dishwasher, washer and dryer, and occassionally the air conditioner added up quickly.

Now, I will admit, I am CHOOSING to be grateful for it. This is not something that made me jump for joy when I discovered it. I wasn’t calling my husband, giddy with excitement to tell him that our bill was going to basically sink us this month. I can hear it now, “Woohoo…guess what honey? We’re completely ruined this month…isn’t that EXCITING?!”

After spending the weekend fretting over it, and trying to remain calm, I had a realization this morning. God is always good. God is always using things in our lives to move us forward in a GOOD direction. “All things work for the good for those that love Him and are called according to His purpose.” Well, I love Him, and I am called according to His purpose, so this relates to me too. The first part of this verse is ALL THINGS. Not just the easy, fun, wonderful things. All things. The crummy stuff too.

Since we received our bill on Thursday, I have managed to plan a 2 week grocery trip and only spent 31.75.  I enjoy the challenge, and take great pleasure in planning healthy meals that turn my husbands pay into riches.

I have stopped using the dryer completely and have devised a plan to dry the clothes outside using the rings in the pool gate. I put whatever I can on hangers, and hang them on the gate.  I use the picnic table for things that cannot be hung. I felt so good about my efforts yesterday.

I was reminded this weekend that we have all the recreation we need in our back yard. No reason to fret over what we can or cannot do for the time-being. We have our own little park in the back, and its a wondeful place to be.

I have been given the opportunity to teach my children a financial lesson, and stressed to them that we need to make a family effort to keep this from happening again. It’s amazing how much of a difference that sense of responsibility for them makes.

Above all though, I am grateful for an opportunity to rest in, and rely on, a God who loves me more than I deserve to be loved. It is an honor to go through this knowing He will teach us through it and carry us over this mess.

 Hey all! Join me for “Gratituesday” and share what you are grateful to God for today. Check out other Christian homemakers’ gratituesday at www.heavenlyhomemakers.com !! There’s lots of neat tips and tidbits there!

Today I am greatful for God’s grace. I’m so grateful for the fact that he loves me in spite of myself. ;)  I am so happy that he allows me to get up every day and do what I do.

I am grateful for a husband that gets up every single day without fail and goes out to provide for us. I’m grateful for his work ethic, his love for his children, and the fact that he is always striving to get closer to God. He has quite the rebellious spirit, so its not easy for him a lot of the time, but he’s constantly fighting through his own personality traits to get closer to understanding Jesus.

I am grateful for the smell of baking bread.

 I am grateful for the three little blessings in my home that God placed in my care. Its an honor and a privelege.

I’m grateful for air conditioning!

Overall, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve my God every day in every aspect of my life.