Thankful

These last few weeks have been pretty tough in the circumstances department. First I got strep throat. Then I went to the dentist and found out that I needed not one, not two, but FOUR fillings! The first fillings of my life! So I've been getting those done and am definitely becoming a tougher patient on the dentist chair. But one of the fillings is giving me a lot of grief, and there's a chance they'll have to redo it or (please no!) do a root canal!! I live on Tylenol and can only chew on one side. Joshua is heavily teething and prefers to be within one foot of his mother (that's me) at all times. This has caused my tendonitis to flare up. Ellie is very sweet and wonderful but she's also 2. And very energetic. I don't ever feel like I've accomplished much in a day. And those things, though not nearly as bad as they could be, make a person like me feel like a little...self-pity...is in order. But I've been down that road way too many times and it does very little, if any, good at all.

So I've been fighting my blues with thankfulness and prayer and when I look back on these last few weeks, yeah, they've been a battle, but boy, they've also been really good. I know I've had posts like this before, but I'll risk doing it again. Here's some of the things that make my heart overflow with thankfulness:

1. My husband, Rob. By God's grace we're experiencing some sort of revival in our marriage and we are having way too much fun! Yesterday I came home to 5 page love note! How amazing is that!?!
2. Tylenol.
3. Children's Tylenol. :)
4. Ellie's new passion for 'squish' hugs and jumping high in the air, which always make me smile. She has a soft and obedient heart.
5. Good nights.
6. All our debt is almost paid off.
7. Anticipation for what God might have up his sleeve next!
8. God hears my prayers, every one! Folks, He is LISTENING! (This simple fact is so encouraging to me lately.)
9. He enables me to do so much more in a day than I could on my own. I often give him my 'hope' list for the day - three or four things I'm hoping to be able to get done. And He amazes me over and over with his faithfulness!
10. Joshua. Just knowing he exists.
11. Picnics. Loads of them.
12. Great friends. Awesome family!
13. All hard times are accomplishing something. Every time I go through a season such as this, I am learning to trust God more and myself less. Thank you Jesus!