Gratitude ...

We started our gratitude journals yesterday using this free printout from Ann's blog.

Jared was so excited to read his list to his Daddy at dinner last night and to hear what his Daddy was thankful for.

This morning as we sat down to do our devotions, Jared hopped up and ran to the spot where our journals are so he could list our 7 things for today. He grabbed Tim's and asked me to call him so we could ask Daddy right then what he was thankful for.

The four of us spent a joyful 10 minutes this morning with Daddy on the phone counting our blessings as a family. My heart was so happy.

(of course, then as we started our devotions Jared & Will got into a fight over which Bible they were going to use for their quiet reading time and it sort of went downhill from there ... but I digress)

On the way to work this morning for my Tuesday work day I was thinking about the famine in Africa and had several jumbled thoughts running through my head ... I am praying for the cause and thinking about how to help ...

I was glad that my husband sets aside money to give and although it isn't much given the magnitude of the crisis, I am grateful that we can give something to help those poor people ...

I thought about a sermon I just listened to by Pastor Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church on birth control. He talked about his large family and how people give him flak for having 5 kids when there are scarce resources in the world. He responds with the facts that the real problem isn't a supply issue, as much as its a distribution issue. He states that the world isn't overpopulated, but that people and problems and corruption get in the way of everyone getting enough food ...

I agree with him that the population control crowd has it all wrong ...

The thought pops into my head that maybe the best thing we (meaning Tim and I) can do for the world is to have LOTS of kids. Feed them well. Teach them truth. Do our best to impart empathy and the genuine Christian desire to help others. Perhaps the more children we can raise in our home, the more hands there will be to go to those hard places and offer help...

I know I don't do a perfect job as a mom. Lord knows, I need help. Seriously.

But ... that hopeful thought that I am making my contribution every day at home raising these three boys, and Lord willing, more ... rung quite true this morning in my heart.

I am thankful for ...
6. 10 minutes on the phone with Tim as a family this morning to count our blessings.