The rain is pouring down.

  I like it.

Dinner dishes washed. 

Candles lit. 

Fire crackling.

  Tea Kettle singing. 

  It all soothes me.

Feeding Olivia in the fireside rocker, gives me some needed quiet time,

margin in a busy day.

  With the older ones off to Bible Study, and the younger children playing upstairs,

the house is quiet at the moment, 

providing a reflective moment that has given way to thankfulness. 

I still,

after a year,

am amazed that this is our house. 

Our heavenly Father has been so generous and gracious in providing this home. 

Most recently, we were texturing and preparing to paint the second floor. 

Some friends had given us paint left over from their project last year.

Having no idea what color of tan it was, we opened it up last week and put it on the walls. 

As it dried, we just stared in amazement.

  It is an EXACT match to the carpet. 

We could not have picked better. 

Furthermore, the paint givers had no idea of our carpet or where we would use the paint. 

It is so incredible to see such examples of providential care over and over

as we have built this house. 

To think that the God of the universe would care about such details. 

Oh how He loves us..

you,

me,

all his children. 

Can you fathom how wide and long and high and deep?

  I think not, but we can try.

We can count our blessings every day 

and give thanks to the Lord for each single beauty that He sends our way.

this is our act of worshiping,

moment by moment, 

always seeing his hand in the good,

and recognizing it, acknowledging it, 

rejoicing over it.

As we do, the anxieties we carry melt away. 

We see first hand how trustworthy and good our Savior is. 

Indeed, I think possibly Gratitude is the underlying principle of sanity,

and therefore,

ingratitude is the underlying factor of insanity.

So, we bring sanity to our daily lives when we stop and recall how much God loves us, 

when we give him praise for all his wonderous acts.

Truly,

the greater one lives in gratitude,

the greater the sense of fullness and satisfaction.

"I have loved you with an everlasting love."

Jer. 1:3

"Because your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips will praise you."

Ps 63:3

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us."

1 Jn. 3:1

"Give thanks to the Lord for He is good." 

Psalm 136:1

This quiet evening, I am thankful for the way that He loves,

for the sweet baby snuggled into my arms as I sit in the flickering candle light,

for tan paint,

for an adorable two year old who lights up every day,

for my precious husband- a rare gem he is,

and, for this amazing home that Providence built.