So many reasons to be thankful ...

On this chilly October morning, I can't help but count my blessings. I have been blessed with life, God as my father, 3 healthy boys (even though I'm still waiting on #2 son to poop out the coin he swallowed 3 days ago), an amazing husband and a warm home in which to live. I don't want for anything! When I think of the hundreds of families all around us who don't have such blessings in their lives, I can't help but want to thank my heavenly Father for all that he has given me. In the busy and often times hectic day-to-day life of motherhood, I find that I too often forget to be thankful. I get so caught up in the tasks at hand for the day, that I literally forget about my daily blessings, and there are hundreds of them ... truly. Lately, things have been different though. I've been devoting a lot more time to reading my bible, more time to prayer, more time to teaching my boys about what we value, our faith, and truly being thankful. Homeschooling has really helped bring about this change and the massive responsibility I have felt recently in my desire to raise both smart and God-fearing kids. I have been so blessed as a result of spending each and every day with 3 little boys who want to be just like their Mommy and Daddy. My days are certainly not all perfect and peaceful, but what an honor it is to be with them on a daily basis and to know everything that is entering their minds. I feel blessed and I'm learning to seek the Lord first in my life, not last. One of my daily prayers is to glorify Him in both my words and actions. I don't always live up to that, believe me, but how grateful I am for God's grace. We are all sinners, right?! My oldest son is filled with questions for us ... and often times, they are deep and meaningful. He has a heart for Jesus and he's really beginning to understand that there are lots of little boys and girls out there who don't have what he has. He is learning to be grateful for all that he has ... I can almost see his heart growing. He has also recently learned of the deaths of some young boys in our community. Hard thing to explain to a 4-yr old, but of course, simplicity is best, right?! He was really really sad, but he understood where they went and that someday, he will be with God forever, too. He will frequently tell us that "Jesus died on the cross for me so that I can live forever with Him." He even carries around a small rock (that he received at church) with a cross on it. The faith of a small child is priceless and something we should all desire. I just love their simplicity and have really begun to desire that simple life myself ... a life of faith, a life of devotion, a life of giving. I'm not sure if any of you have ever heard of the 5 love languages ... mine is acts of service. I'm not always the greatest at expressing my emotions to others, but I'm a doer! Is that even a word? I love to do things for others that will bless them in some small way. Probably one of the reasons God has placed this ministry on my heart. I not only desire to take pictures of families, but I also desire to pray with them (if they allow me) and to continue to pray for them. Prayer is so so powerful and I'm convinced that God hears all prayers, even when they're not always answered in our perfect time. Isn't God amazing?! How blessed we are to be Christians! I think that word is taken so lightly sometimes ... I often times like to say that my family and I are followers of Jesus Christ. 
Just thought I'd share a little of what was on my heart this morning ...  hope you all have a blessed and fruitful weekend! Oh, and Happy Halloween!!!! Enjoy the time with your little ghosts and goblins ... for us, it will be a 4-yr old Superman, a 2-yr old Spiderman, and an adorable 1-yr old lion. They're all superheros in my eyes!