blessings

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.  ~ Ephesians 1:3


And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.  ~ Philippians 4:19


This morning when I was spending time with Jesus, I became overwhelmed with thankfulness in remembering all that God has done for us.  It began with praising God for the brand new fridge we just got for just under 20% of the retail price - 80% off!  A friend from church works for an appliance company and this one was not able to sold because it was a tester and so he hooked us up with it.  Our old one still sort of worked, but it wouldn't have lasted much longer as it started leaking this summer.  There have been numerous stories like that one where God has provided abundantly more than we could ever ask for.  When I think back over the years, of our marriage especially, it is amazing to see God's hand move to meet our needs.  When I think about our entire house even, every part represents some sort of blessing.  Whenever someone who is in the real estate industry hears what we paid for our house they are usually in awe.  Not to mention that most of the furniture was from our wedding or hand-me-downs from family.  It is always especially sweet to see the generosity of friends and family too and to know that they are acting out God's provision and blessings.  Even the very nature of our jobs require God to move through people to allow us to do ministry with college students.  Probably most of you reading this have been a direct movement of God's hand in our lives... whether you support GCM or the church, or have provided a meal with the babies, or have attend a wedding/baby shower, or blessed us with encouragement, prayer or friendship.  "Thank you" for all that you have been in our lives.

At Mom's Circle a few weeks ago, one of the Pastor's wives shared that being a "mom" is one of the only jobs where every task is directly associated with a blessing.  If you do laundry, its only because you have clothes to wear.  If you do the dishes, its only because you had food to eat.  If you have long days or long nights because of the kids, it's only because you have the blessing of having children.  I don't want to mislead you, its not like I sit around all day having a perfect attitude towards a messy house or crying children, but its something to think about.  But the beautiful thing is where I lack in mothering, I can trust God to help.  I appreciate the following verse: And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8).  This is another example of one of the "spiritual blessings" God gives - making it possible to handle two children 15 months apart in age.

Okay, enough talk, here are some pictures of the little blessings:

He's still fascinated with animals.

Eden meeting Great-Grandpa Wesley.

Eden and Jordyn Griess meeting each other... sort of.

Modeling his fall clothes.

Modeling her fall clothes too.

I came downstairs the other day and found Owen eating a whole half of a tomato like it was an apple.

New leggings!

We figured out a way to let Owen pull Eden in the wagon.

1st bath together!

Finally captured a smile!