Thanks

I love Thanksgiving. I love being with my family and all the stuff that comes with it (except the drama of course). I'm content to watch the parade, cook, and chill with the family. It's the best!

Today, as I did some prep for putting up my Christmas decorations, I turned on the Christmas music. It set the tone for the day. I cooked, my wonderful hubby cleaned, and then we had some awesome family time playing Star Wars Monopoly.

Everyone always start to think about what they are thankful for this time of year, and I am no different. Don't get me wrong, I recognize and thank God for His blessings year round, but it seems that we take a closer look at what we have to be thankful for come November. On Tuesday I did something different for my devotion with my Middle School/High School class. I asked each student to give 1 or 2 things they were thankful for. I started off and my two things were:

1. My family. They are wonderful people that I love dearly. With the passing of my grandfather in September, I'm even more thankful for the family I have. We are crazy and can be more than a little drama filled, but they are mine and I love them.
2. God's Gift of Salvation. Without it I know I wouldn't have anything I do now. I wouldn't have my husband or my children. I don't know where I would be in my life, but I know it probably wouldn't be anywhere good. I have to thank God for His hand of protection during all the crazy things I pulled in my teenage years. I also have to thank my mom for making me go to church twice a month, and "ratting" me out to my youth pastor. His matter of fact statement about the state of my life led me Jesus, and I haven't looked back. Thank you Randy!! Also thanks to God's gift I know where my grandfather is spending eternity and I can't wait to see him again to get his unique perspective on Heaven.

If you haven't thought about what you are thankful for, stop and do so. It doesn't matter what is going on in our lives, we are alive and live in the greatest country in the world. That's more than enough to be thankful for!

We Never Know

We found out yesterday that another Master's Commission Program was in an accident yesterday. This morning I found out that 2 of the team members have died and 6 more are in critical condition. Their van hit a patch of black ice and rolled several times. Most of the team was ejected from the van.

This is so hard to hear, because I think back to our team's accident back in February coming back from Texas (read the full account here.) While my heart is truly saddened by what has happened and the road of recovery and grieving this team and their families will have to go through, I can't help but marvel at God and His plans. What was to keep us from going off that bridge into freezing water? What was to keep us from rolling a couple of times as we careened up the bridge? Nothing but the hand of God. No one in the back of the van had on their seat belts, but we all had minor bumps and bruises. Carlo and another student had on theirs on and suffered minor injuries because of their airbags deploying.

Lord, thank you for your grace and mercy. Thank you for your hand of protection. I don't understand why You have chosen to act as You have, but I know that through this You will receive the glory and the praise. I know Your ways are higher than mine & trust You to shelter the 13 members of RMMC in Your hand.