[A Month of Thanksgiving] Day 12

[Day 12]  After waking with two of my kiddos last night, I am VERY thankful for coffee and sunshine. They do much to help my disposition. :)

[A Month of Thanksgiving] Day 11

[Day 11] On this Veterans Day, I am thankful for those who have fought for our freedom, for their willingness to serve, and the sacrifice that they and their families have made.

[A Month of Thanksgiving] Days 7-10

I was without internet for a couple of days and then just too busy to do more than post on Facebook.

[Day 7]  I am thankful for my parents. They taught me so much but most of all they taught me that there is GREAT joy in serving Jesus.

[Day 8] Today I am thankful for prayer and a heavenly Father who wants us to talk with him, to share our burdens and blessings. He is never too busy for us. "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." Philipians 4:6

[Day 9] I am thankful for godly friends who encourage me when I am struggling and lovingly speak the truth to me when I need to change my behavior, thinking, etc. "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." Proverbs 27:17

[Day 10]  While sitting in church this morning I was reminded how thankful I am for the gift of music. There are many times that words alone cannot reach a person in their time of need but music will. We've had some setbacks with selling our house, we discovered that the basement is leaking again and now there is a leak in the roof going into the bathroom (which we just remodeled last fall). I was really discouraged but God brought the song "Burdens are Lifted at Calvary" to mind and then this morning we sang "You can have a song in the night" as a congregation and the men's quintet sang "It is Well with my Soul". 

[A Month of Thanksgiving] Day 6

[Day 6]  After doing what seemed like mountains of laundry yesterday and today, I am thankful for the modern conveniences of a washer and dryer. I don't even want to think about how much time and energy washing my clothes by hand and drying them on the line. I do dry laundry on the clothesline in the summer but with all the rain yesterday and today it wouldn't have been much help to me. :)

[A Month of Thanksgiving] Day 5

[Day 5]  Today I am so incredibly thankful for my husband. I know that I wouldn't be where I am today if I didn't have him. He is such a blessing to me. He encourages me when I am down. He challenges me to be better and to expand my horizons. He loves me unconditionally. He is the best teammate I could have in this game of life. Thank you, Jared, for giving me the best 9 years of my life!

[A Month of Thanksgiving] Day 4

[Day 4]  I am thankful for trials. Trials in life help us remember where our priorities need to be. They help us to grow, to mature mentally, emotionally, physically, and most of all spiritually. I have come to the conclusion that trials in my life help to strengthen my faith and my relationship with God. Often it takes a trial in my life for me to see my weakness and seek to lean more fully on Christ.

Menu 2013: November 4-December 1

It has not slowed down even one little bit since our move back in March! Don't get me wrong, I am having a blast. :) At the moment, I am working on plans for our annual church Christmas banquet and I thoroughly enjoy event planning. I also get to start doing some part-time secretarial work. I am looking forward to Thanksgiving and then Black Friday shopping since I have a bunch of gift cards that I've been saving. What are some traditions/recipes that your family has at Thanksgiving and/or Black Friday? Free Printable Menu available here.

Menu Format for the Month

Spicy (Tex-Mex, Cajun, etc.)

Crockpot

Duo Night ("Sandwich" & Soup or Salad)

Italian

Miscellaneous

Week 1 - November 4-10

• Spinach and Tomato Tortellini with French bread
• Chicken Taco Soup
• Blackened Chicken and dirty rice
• Philly Cheesesteak flatbread sandwiches and side salad
• Meatloaf, cheesy garlic mashed potatoes, and green beans

Week 2 - November 11-17 (Happy Birthday to my wonderful hubby)

1. Mexican Gumbo 
2. Rotisserie Chicken, roasted potatoes, roasted butternut squash, and glazed carrots
3. Quesadillas and 10 bean soup
4. Baked spaghetti, brussell sprouts, sauteed green beans, and breadsticks
5. Asian chicken, stir fry veggies, and rice

Week 3 - November 18-24

• Texas Caviar Casserole
• Biscuits and gravy with scrambled eggs
• White Chicken Chili and cornbread
• Meatball subs with side salad
• Sausage mushroom ravioli (http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/calling-all-cooks/roasted-portobello-with-caramelized-onion-ravioli-recipe/index.html) in garlic cream sauce with steamed broccoli and cheesy garlic bread

Week 4 - November 25-December 1 (Happy Thanksgiving)

• Tacos with black beans and rice
• Pizza and fruit salad
• Thanksgiving - Still working on it...
• Turkey Avocado Panini with pasta salad
• Slow Cooker Sausage, Bean, and Pasta Stew

One final thought, shop responsibly! Don't get in over your head financially, if you don't have the cash for it don't buy it. :)

[A Month of Thanksgiving] Day 3

[Day 3] Today I am thankful for the Bible. It showed me my lost estate. It showed me my the way of salvation. It provides comfort in time of sorrow. I find encouragement and hope among its pages.

[A Month of Thanksgiving] Day 2

[Day 2]  Today, I am thankful for God's mercy and compassion.

I fail on a daily (sometimes hourly) basis but God's mercy and compassion do not. They are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness.

"This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord." Lamentations 3:21-26 

[A Month of Thanksgiving] Day 1

I love Thanksgiving. It is a simple holiday dedicated to being thankful for what we have. And I, for one, have so much to be thankful for in life. With that in mind, I am challenging everyone to join me for "A Month of Thanksgiving". Post something that you're thankful for each day for the month of November.

[Day 1] 
On this first day of November, I am reminded of many firsts, fresh starts, new beginnings, etc. But most of all, I am reminded of THE first, "In the beginning God..." (Genesis 1:1)

Today, I am thankful for my God and His love. He created the world and mankind knowing that man would rebel and sin against Him. He knew from the foundation of the world that because of man's sin, it would be necessary to send His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to this earth where He would die to pay the penalty for my sin (and yours).

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in
Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:6-8

"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:4-9