Thankfulness can Outweigh Sadness

It truly can.
Although I am sad
that I had to say
goodbye to my family,
especially my parents and my sister,
I am overwhelmed with
thankfulness for the time
the Lord gave me with them
this past week.
I'm not going to lie,
I'm really struggling right now.
I'm sad because
I don't know the next time I'll see them.
This Christmas
will be the first one that I'll be away
from them.
And I don't even know if
I'll be around others...
I may just be alone
this Christmas.
And it's just going to be hard.
So, even though
I'm sad,
and I don't really even know
what this season is going to look like,
I trust in the One who does know.
Christ has been faithful.
Oh so faithful.

I mean,
this past week
is a testimony to
His faithfulness and His goodness
to me.
He gave me five
amazing
days with my family.
We did so much....



Thanksgiving Bucket List 2012
- eat at Saltgrass Steak House   completed
- eat some Rudy's BBQ!  (Okay, no Texas bbq for this girl. Boo. Shall I try my hand at it sometime? Possibly. Although, I'm not too handy with the grill....)
- visit Ron and Fran   completed
- play bocci with my sister   (I'm really sad that I didn't get to do this! I was really looking forward to some sister time. Seriously. I was. We just ran out of time, and out of daylight. So. When she comes to see me, or when I go home next, I will have to have a bocci date with her. But I am thankful for the times that we got to sit and talk---whether late at night as we were falling asleep, or whispering in the backseat of the car, it was sweet.)
- do crafty things with my sweet mom   completed
- go to the Cowboys game with my dad   completed
- watch a movie & eat some popcorn with the fam   completed
- go to the zoo!!  (We decided as a family to opt out of going to the zoo. We heard it would be crazy!  So, instead, my mom and I crafted. And. We just had a relaxing morning. It was wonderful.)
- Turkey Trot 5k walk   completed
- shopping at the Outlets  (We didn't quite make it to the Outlets. But we did go shopping. I got some Christmas shopping done for my cousin, and my parents got some shopping done for a ministry at their church.)
- family game night   completed
- cuddle with my mom   completed
- hang out in the hot tub   (Sadly, we just didn't have time to jump in the hot tub.)
- long talks with different family members    completed
- hug people. a lot.   completed
- take lots of family pics   completed
- buy HEB fruit jelly   completed
- have a slumber party with my 13-year-old cousin and invest in her   completed
- love my family. well.   completed



And I am so thankful
for all the time I got with them.
Like I've said,
I don't know how much time
I have left.
Every breath is a blessing
sent from His loving hand.
He was so gracious and loving
in giving me time with them.


So, instead of living in sadness,
I'll be choosing thankfulness.
It'll be hard.
But I know--
I know--
He is Lord.
He is worthy of my time,
of my worship.
And even though I can't
see my path more than
one step at a time,
I can trust the Maker of the path.


Ephesians 3:20-21
"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

Blessings.