Perspective...

Today is the very last day of 2011.

Probably a good day for a blog post! I have been trying to work on one for a little while now, and each time I sit down, I can not seem to gether the words or even a list to do so.

I would sit in front of my computer, start to type, and stop. I never got further than a one line introduction. I just could nopt get further than the word perspective.

Over the last couple of weeks my family has experienced a lot of slap you in the face, take your breath away, tears in your eyes type of blessings. I am so thankful to God for his provision and faithfulness to our family. I am also so thankful for the people that have allowed themselves to be used by God to bless our family.

Our girls experienced a truly wonderful Christmas!
They had hearts of gratitude with each gift they were given.
We were able to purchase oil for our home.
I have complete peace about Scott meeting with an Air Force recruiter.
I was able to enjoy a nice dinner with a friend before Christmas.
I was also able to enjoy a coffee and time of catching up with a friend after Christmas!
I was asked to take pictures for a couple of friends.
Katelyn Joy always tells us she loves us and seems to always give me the sweetest hug just when I need it most.
We saw some snow on Christmas morning! Just enough to create a lot of excitement.
Mikayla was asked to sit with her friend during one of her chemo treatments, which she happily did.
Mikayla is a wonderful friend to have.
My girls enjoy being little girls.
I received a book that I am really enjoying, Loving The Little Years, Motherhood in The Trenches". I highly recommend it.
Our MADE WITH LOVE Christmas was a huge success!
Our Christmasa Eve open house was a hit! The crowd grows bigger each year!
I enjoyed talking with Mikayla about how her perspective of Christmas was changing.
Christmas night we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus follwed by Jesus loves me. It was so sweet.
Friends and family and anonymous people gifted our family with financial gifts that could not have come at a better time.
We had a couple of photo shoots with friends that resulted in some cute and funny pictures!
I was given a gift that I didn't even know I wanted!
The girls recieved not only things that they wanted but also things they needed!
Mikayla has drawn some really pretty pictures!
BABIES!!!!!!!
I am thankful for friends that share with me. I feel so much closer to God when I can thank Him for blessings and ask Him for miracles on behalf of myself as well as others.
I am thankful for the times when things can not seem to get any worse, because it makes me even more thankful for the little things, and forces me to look at things from a different perspecitve.
Scott heard back from the job we were REALLY hoping he would get. They went with someone else, but we are so thankful that we are no longer waiting for an answer.
Scott has started the application process to re-enlist in the Air Force. This is something he has been wanting to do. He has always regretted leaving the Air Force.
I as able to talk to someone I am close to about something that had upset me, and felt much better after the conversation.
We saved a bunch of money by not having power for an entire day,
I was able to make all of the food for Christmas Eve using ingrdients we had in the house, and then was able to feed the family all week using the leftovers!
We purchased our Christmas dinner spiral ham for only $8, using coupons and sales!
We hosted a play date!
The girls and I enjoy doing Zumba for our Wii together!

Something I feel badly about but was extremely blessed by:
Mikayla didn't even tell us about a Secret Santa type of party at school. She told me after the fact that she received a bracelet and had MADE her person a necklace. She said that her friend adored the necklace and was happy to receive it.

Today is the last day of 2011. Each year I choose a word to study and focus my attention on. For the last few years my word has been "content". I learned a lot about the word and how not content I had been. As I was thinking and praying about which word I would use as my focus for 2012, the only word that seems to stick out to me has been "perspective".

Somet things to please pray for in 2012,
Scott would find a job that would supply for our family's needs.
That he is paid for the last 6 weeks of work he has performed.
That we continue to find peace as we live out God's plan for our lives.
That our family experiences good health.
That I will continute to strive to live my life as an example of God's kindness and love.