Thankful Thursdays: 4th & Final Week + an Announcement

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone, and welcome to the final week of Thankful Thursdays. I'm joining Gabby of Mama Gab and Caroline of Anchored in His Grace to share how the Lord has blessed us each week. It's about being conscious of the gifts our Heavenly Father gives us and thanking Him for His goodness and love. Feel free to share in the comments how God has blessed you lately.

7 {More} Things I'm Thankful for This Week

Let's keep counting . . .  

22

After our 10K in October

Sweet friendships. While I have a lot of friends, I do not have many close friends--the kind where you don't worry about the mess in your house because you know your friend isn't judging you. My friend Sarah is that type of friend. She inspires me to be a more patient mom as I watch how gentle she is with her little ones. Her homemaking binder totally motivated me to create my own. Her little boys play so well with my little girls, and we both have toddlers named Anna Elizabeth {born before we even knew each other :)}. I'm so thankful for our friendship.

23
Breakfast at IHOP. When Daddy suggests breakfast (lunch, dinner, lupper, linner, even a snack) out, Mama is happy to oblige :) Thankful that we have the means to eat out every now and then as a family.

24
Our church family. I think I list this blessing every week, but what is more wonderful than worshiping our God with other people with the same faith and hope. I am encouraged every week to put my trust in Him, even when fears assail me on all sides. The precious people at our church dote on our girls and never make us feel like their boisterousness is a nuisance, although I know it must be.

25
A wonderful doctor's report! Two years ago my endocrinologist wanted to remove my thyroid because of a nodule he thought was cancerous. After an inconclusive biopsy, my gut instinct, and a second opinion I declined surgery, and praise the Lord I did! This week I found out there are NO nodules on my thyroid and NO risk of cancer! I'm still taking Syntheroid daily, but I'm so grateful for that peace of mind.
 
26

Membership to our local children's museum. That was the best $75 we ever spent! Thank you, Lord, that we had the money to cover it. The Discovery Center offers preschool classes three days a week plus afternoon exhibits and activities that are free for members. Plus, the museum is filled with fun, educational things to do. My kids LOVE going here, and it certainly helps that our dear friends, the Swaffords, also have a membership.

27
Answered prayers. I went today to see the surgeon about the growth on my breast. The doctor thinks the place is almost definitely benign. I can't tell you what a relief that news was. I will have a biopsy in December just to make sure.
 
28 
Family & Friends. Last night we had dinner with my husband's mom's family and some of their friends. Today, we're having lunch with my husband's dad's family, and Friday, we're headed to my parents' for dinner with my mom's family. Time with loved ones is so rare these days, but I'm thankful for what little time we have together.  

What about you? How has the Lord blessed YOU this week?

Feel free to share a link or comment in the comment section below.  

An Announcement!

  
Beginning next Thursday and for the duration of December, I will be starting a series on "Unique Christmas Gifts for Children."  

I'll be sharing some fun, inexpensive, and memorable gift ideas that will, I hope, expand your search for the elusive "perfect gift" beyond the hottest toys at Toys-R-Us. I hope you'll join me!

 Blessings to you,

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When There Doesn't Seem Like Much to be Thankful For

When I was in my twenties, I had what I like to call my first midlife crisis. Having recently graduated from college with no real marriage prospects, I felt lost. The natural progression of events in my mind was: college - marriage - children. But the Lord had other plans for me. Those plans, however, did not mesh with mine.

So, I rebelled. 

Instead of trusting in God's providential plan for my life, I took it upon myself to forge my own future, one that involved love, happiness, and pursuit of me. I started looking for love in all the wrong places, seeking my place in the world--because everyone else seemed to fit in but me, and searching for contentment with myself in this life. I did not understand God, and I surely did not see anything to be thankful for in this pitiful life.

Slowly I began to sink deeper into the muck of this world. 

I rebelled against the word of God and despised His counsel (Psalm 107:11). So, the Lord subjected me to "bitter labor" (verse 12) in the form of loneliness, depression, and emptiness. It seemed like "there was no one to help" (verse 12). Even my boyfriend gave up on me. There didn't seem like there was anything to be thankful for anymore.

I was broken.

That is when I gave my life back to the Lord. It was a night I'll never forget. Humiliated, I lay face down on the floor of my rented house and cried out to God in distress, seeking His forgiveness. Repenting of my sins, He saved me from my distress (verse 13). He brought me "out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away [my] chains" (verse 14). He showed me that I could depend on Him, and my life has never been the same since.

Six years of marriage and three children later, I still struggle with contentment. My physical body -- even at age 34 -- is weak and prone to illness and disease. My faith wavers -- just like Israel's did -- and I wonder if He is reminding me once again of His great love for me as I grapple with the issue of my own mortality.

But I am grateful because the Lord is faithful and good. Even though He may choose to give hard trials, He is still sovereign. Only He is able to deliver us from darkness. Only He can free us from the chains of sin and death. 

Even though the world is swirling hurly-burly around me today and even though I don't know what the outcome of my life will be, I am grateful because the Lord has saved me, and He is in control of it all. He has not abandoned me to myself but, time and time again, has shown me unconditional love in spite of myself.

"Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love

and His wonderful deeds for men, 

for He satisfies the thirsty

and fills the hungry with good things."

Psalm 107:8-9

No one else -- no thing else-- can satisfy like the Lord.

There is something to be thankful for today, even if you feel hopeless. Remember today how God has saved you in your most desperate times. Give Him thanks for His eternal love.

If you have rebelled against God and feel forever lost from Him, you're not. He loves you. He wants to bring you out of darkness and into the light. Cry out to the Lord in your trouble. He will still the storm in your soul. 

If I can pray for you today, please let me know. You can leave a message in the comments below or email me at growinginhisglory@gmail.com. 

I'm praying God's richest blessings on you today,


 

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Gobble, Gobble!: 10 Tips to Eat Healthy this Thanksgiving

Pumpkin pie, turkey & dressing, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, rolls, mashed potatoes, pecan pie, and I could go on. If that list of Thanksgiving delectables doesn’t make your mouth water, then I don’t know what will.

The holidays can be a daunting time for eating healthy with so many tantalizing foods around, but it doesn’t have to be. You want to enjoy Thanksgiving, not feel guilty for all the food you've eaten.

So, in David Letterman form, here are my top 10 tips for enjoying Thanksgiving dinner without sabotaging your health:

10. Make traditional Thanksgiving foods, but healthier. 

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• Use less sugar, butter, and oil wherever you can. If the recipe calls for 1 cup of sugar, 3/4 cup is usually sufficient.

• Don't use "cream-of-anything" soups; they're loaded with sodium and preservatives. Instead, make your own, or even better, serve steamed or roasted veggies like broccoli, green beans, and squash. 

•  Serve salads, fruits, and raw veggies. If you aren't hosting, offer to bring one of these healthier dishes.

• Sweet potato casserole is a Thanksgiving staple for many, but it's also loaded with butter, cream, and sugar. For a healthier alternative, roast sweet potatoes with a few tablespoons of maple syrup. 

• Check out Cooking Light & Eating Well for healthier recipe options.

9. Don't starve yourself.  
Often when you know you’ll be having a big meal later in the day, you'll skip breakfast and/or lunch. Then, when it's time to feast, you’re starving. That’s when you overeat. The key to eating in moderation is to eat throughout the day, so you don’t overcompensate later.

8. Make time to exercise.

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There are numerous turkey trots on Thanksgiving Day. Take advantage of the family time and participate together. Or just go for a stroll in your neighborhood. You'll feel good, and if you overindulge later, at least you’ve burned some calories to cover them! {Find a turkey trot near you!}

7. Use the smallest plate. 
When it's meal time, leave the platter for the turkey, and pick up a salad plate instead. This strategy will help you keep your portions under control. Just make sure you heed tip #6.

6. Say “no” to seconds. 
Unless you’re going back for fruits & veggies, don’t even entertain the thought of seconds, especially if you intend to have dessert. Eat slowly, enjoy your plate of food, and put your fork down and sip water between bites.

5. But . . . say “yes” to favorite foods -- in moderation. 
You do want to enjoy Thanksgiving, don’t you? You can still eat a small portion of the foods you love. Just skip those dishes that aren't your favorite. By saying "no" to calorie-laden mashed potatoes, you can say "yes" to your mom's delicious oyster dressing.

4. Go for the rainbow!  

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As you survey your food options, try to select at least one food from each color of the rainbow, or at least, make a conscious effort not to wind up with a plate full of yellows and browns. If you see a monochromatic theme, ward it off with roasted sweet potatoes, steamed broccoli, & fruit.

3. Choose turkey over ham. 
If you have a choice, go for the turkey. Ham is full of saturated fat. Stick with a 4-ounce portion of turkey (about the size of a deck of cards). Be sure to remove the skin, which is loaded with fat and sodium. 

2. Stay hydrated.  
Sometimes when you think you’re hungry you’re really just thirsty. Forgo the soft drinks and tea, and drink water with a slice of lemon instead. It will fill you up, so you won't keep picking up your fork.

And my #1 tip for eating healthy this Thanksgiving . . .

Enjoy the time with family & loved ones. 

Remember the reason for this holiday season, and celebrate the blessings of family, friends, health, and home. If you overindulge, you can start fresh tomorrow. Today, make Thanksgiving about people, not food. Slow down & count your blessings.

What’s YOUR #1 tip for eating healthy during the holidays?
Do you do a turkey trot on Thanksgiving?
What's your favorite Thanksgiving dish?
Turkey or ham?

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

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