Thankful Thursday

I just read Iris's Thankful Thursday post, and am a little sad right now to hear that she is taking an extended blogging break...which reminded me of something else I am thankful for...Iris! I'm thankful for the *push* of Thankful Thursday to remind me to stop and focus on my blessings in the midst of whatever else is going on...even when I don't feel like it (which is when I need to the most)...and I'm thankful for Iris's sweet spirit of encouragement. On more than one occasion, she has left a comment or sent an email with just the right words at just the right time...and, she has been one of the people who has made me feel most welcome in the blogging world. What a neat thing that God can use people who we have never met IRL to bless us and minister to us online in very personal ways! Iris...I'll miss you and be praying for you during your break!

I've been sitting here this morning trying to think "what am I *especially* thankful for this week?" It's one of those mornings that I didn't wake up *feeling* especially thankful, so I'm having to work a little harder at it. ;-) But...with a little bit of self-prodding, I've realized I'm actually thankful for quite a bit this morning...

1. I'm thankful to be missing my husband this week. :-) Last week he was on vacation and home all week, and since he has gone back to work this week, the children and I have really missed his being here all the time. I'm thankful that he's the kind of wonderful guy that we *do* enjoy having him home all the time, and that we *do* miss him when he goes back to work!

2. I'm thankful that we have a *normal* week this week. I got up Monday morning and realized that we didn't have a *single* outside commitment this week other than our normal church activities. I love those weeks! We've been so off-schedule the past few weeks, it has been *really* nice to get back on schedule (mostly ;-)) this week and just be able to putter through getting the things done that we need to do at home. We have a lot to pack into these last two days of the week, but I'm looking forward to attacking the *to do* list and getting it done.

3. I'm thankful to be getting excited about Christmas. Those who don't know me *really* well won't understand how amazing that statement is. My Christmas spirit has been in hiding for several years now, and this year has been like the freeze thawing in Narnia after all those years. I grew up with huge storybook Christmases...lots of extended family, two colossal dinners (usually within hours of each other), presents everywhere...lots of love and tradition and family togetherness. Our Christmases have been shrinking for years....as our extended family has shrunk...and that has been hard for me to get used to. Then 3 years ago, my dad died just a couple of weeks before Christmas, and ever since, we have been dealing with some sort of extended family crisis during the holidays. By last year, not only was my Christmas spirit *gone*, but I didn't really even miss it. I would have been perfectly happy to skip Christmas altogether (not an option, of course, with four young children).

But this year, as we began to discuss Christmas music for the two choirs I'm involved with, somehow that long-missing Christmas spirit began to creep back in. God has really convicted me this year that I need to "forget what is behind" and "press on toward the goal of the high calling of Jesus Christ"...and that part of that means letting go of my *what Christmas used to be* thoughts, and making Christmas a special time of celebrating God's gift to us for *our* family. I was suddenly struck the other day with the thought that someday we may very well *have* the big extended family Christmases again...but I'll be the grandmother then! In the meantime, it's time for us to make some new traditions and make it special the way things are *now*. I am thankful that God has given me excitement about this and is beginning to give me ideas about creative ways to celebrate and begin new traditions.

4. I think I've mentioned this before, but I am thankful to have a piano at home again after many years without one. Playing the piano was always a major stress-reliever for me...my family could tell by how hard I was hitting the keys what kind of mood I was in! It's been really nice recently to be able to just sit down and play, and I've even enjoyed getting into a practice routine as I work on pieces for the Children's Christmas musical. After over 10 years without a piano, it's taken me several months to feel like I am *getting my piano fingers back*, but I'm finally beginning to get there. And the kids and I are really enjoying singing around the piano as part of our school day!

To see what others are thankful for this week, or to share your own blessings, visit Iris at Sting My Heart.