12.31.2011

1. I praise God for carrying me through 2011. There were many difficult things this year, but He was there for all of them.
2. I praise God for 2012. I am eager to see what blessings this next year will bring.
3. I praise God for good books. I have been reading a fantastic one lately that I have to force myself to put down. I really enjoy reading and I am very thankful for it.

12.30.2011

1. I praise God for His protection last night. As the night progressed, we were able to analyze the situation with my neighbor and came to some very unattractive conclusions. The cops never found the offender, but he never came back, for which we are very thankful to God.
2. I praise God that I was sharing a bed with my husband last night. I am always thankful for it, but after the way things happened last night, I wouldn't have gotten the little bit of sleep I did if it weren't for him being right next to me.
3. I praise God for the peace that comes with prayer. I was still so anxious last night this morning when we tried to sleep that I couldn't calm my thoughts or my heart. But, after about twenty minutes of very intense praying, I was able to drift off into the couple hours of rest I was able to receive.
4. I praise God for new life. I found out today that a friend of mine is pregnant. What a joy to hear something like that after a night like last night.

12.29.2011

1. I praise God that my son wasn't feeling well so I stayed in tonight instead of going to my sister-in-law's house. Had I gone to my s-i-l's, I wouldn't have been home when my neighbor came knocking on my door because someone was trying to break into her house. I am so thankful I was able to be home for her.
2. I praise God that I live in Texas. We have the Castle Law; I have the right to use any means necessary to protect me and my family. Anyone who tries to break into my house will be staring down the barrel of my husband's shotgun.
3. I praise God that my neighbor and her son are ok and that none of their property was damaged or stolen.

12.28.2011

1. I praise God for the days when I don't feel very well. They help me to better appreciate the days I do.
2. I praise God for my bosses. They are kind people who are rooting for me to succeed. I have had bosses before that were not that way, so I know what a blessing it is to have that.
3. I praise God for the quiet evening I had last night. I sat listening to music with only the Christmas tree lights on and it was very much needed after the chaos of the long holiday weekend.

12.27.2011

1. I praise God for every referral I get out of my territory. It is always so exciting when one of my referral sources sends a patient to our hospital; it makes me remember why I am out there banging on doors day after day.
2. I praise God for playtime with my son. The older he gets the more entertaining playtime becomes.
3. I praise God for my washer and dryer. It is so nice to be able to do laundry in my own home. I spent many years toting my laundry to a laundry mat, so I truly do appreciate the convenience of having my own washer and dryer.

12.26.2011

1. I praise God for His forgiveness. I am so unworthy for it, yet require it daily.
2. I praise God for family. I have some pretty awesome people in my family and am very thankful for them.
3. I praise God that He is in control. I often struggle to be, but He takes care of things so much better than I am able to.

12.25.2011

1. I praise God for family prayer. There is something powerful about a family praying together.
2. I praise God for safe travel. We have traveled well over 200 miles the last couple of days for our Christmas gatherings, but have made to our destinations with no problems.
3. I praise God for my home. There truly is no place like home.

12.24.2011

1. I praise God for the time we were able to spend with my family today. Some of it was a little rushed and it was in multiple places, but all the visits were enjoyable.
2. I praise God for the excitement my son has had pertaining to Christmas this year. It has really made it so much fun.
3. I praise God for the Child that was born unto us many years ago. The Child who would one day stretch His arms out and bear the weight of the sins of the world upon His shoulders. The Child through whom my salvation was made possible. That is the greatest Christmas present ever given.

12.23.2011

1. I praise God for the easy WalMart trip we had tonight. For the amount of people there and the closeness to Christmas, we were in and out very quickly. We also made it through two lines in half the time it takes to normally go through one. Very thankful that outing didn't have to be a stressful one.
2. I praise God for soft winter clouds. Today was especially beautiful and I found myself in awe at His creation.
3. I praise God for the extended holiday weekend we have. It really helps with all the family events going on.

12.22.2011

1. I praise God for His awesomeness. Through a holy utterance, all life began. He placed the stars in the sky and sculpted the mountains, yet He cares about the little things in my life. I can't begin to wrap my mind around how awesome He truly is.
2. I praise God for my Christmas bonus. I received a turkey and a ham from my company today. It wasn't the financial bonus I have been used to from other companies in the past, but I am truly grateful. Between the two, I have an extra 20lbs of meat in my freezer; if I am a creative cook, that can feed my little family for over a week. What a blessing.
3. I praise God for the early bedtime my husband has mandated tonight. Last night I was up way too late getting things prepared for Christmas and could very easily be up at least as late again tonight. But, we have decided to go to bed and be well rested so we don't exhaust ourselves. I am looking forward to a full night's rest.

12.21.2011

1. I praise God for the joy my son possesses. He brightens our lives each and every day with his joy and I am so very thankful for it.
2. I praise God for mercy. Enough said.
3. I praise God for the kindness that is brought out in this holiday season. There is so much ugliness that the season brings out, which makes the kindness that much more beautiful.

12.20.2011

1. I praise God for Christmas lights. They are so pretty and I feel like a little girl again whenever I gaze upon them.
2. I praise God for my husband helping with dinner. Even when it's just picking up something to bring home, it is nice when I get to have a break in the kitchen.
3. I praise God that we have many presents to go under our Christmas tree. I know there are many families who will not have anything (and may not even have a tree) and I am so thankful that we can have presents under our tree.

12.19.2011

1. I praise God that my job allows me to help people. It is definitely one of the better parts of my job.
2. I praise God for my sitter and her family. They are so wonderful and my son loves them so much. They are truly an answer to prayer.
3. I praise God for mercy.

12.18.2011

1. I praise God that He has never broken a promise. I have had my fair share of promises made and subsequently broken to me, so it is very comforting to know that God will never do that to me. He is the same God yesterday, today and tomorrow.
2. I praise God for all the many things I take for granted throughout the day. Small things like having a toothbrush, dishes, an assortment of clothing, and so many more things, I rarely stop to acknowledge how wonderful those things are. However, all of those little things add up to make a big difference in my life and I am thankful for each and every one of them.
3. I praise God for the weekends. They go by way too fast and I never get everything I desire accomplished during that time, but I am so grateful for that break from work each week to fully focus on life outside of the job.

12.17.2011

1. I praise God for my birthday. Twenty-seven years, today; thirty-one for my big brother. I am thankful God has continued to keep me alive.
2. I praise God for my Nana. She went home to the Lord a year ago today. She was one of the most influential women in my life and had a huge impact on my faith. I love her so much and miss her dearly.
3. I praise God for my baby sister. She surprised me with an evening of babysitting, allowing my husband and I to go have dinner and do some shopping together. We didn't go anywhere fancy, but it was really nice to have a birthday dinner just the two of us. That was such an awesome birthday surprise and I am so thankful for her kindness.

In honor of my Nana:

"God of My Fathers" by Andrew Peterson
God of my fathers
Huddled in the harbor
Every man an ocean from his home
Their captors could not keep them
When they heard the drums of freedom
The dream of a kingdom
In a land they've never known
And God of my fathers
Strangers in this country
Pilgrims on these dusty roads
Across the great plains
In the bellies of the steel trains
To stake a new claim
In that wilderness of hope
Like my fathers I am looking for a home
Looking for a home beyond the sea
So be my God and guide me
Till I lie beneath the hills
Then let the great God of my fathers
Be the great God of my children still
God of my grandfathers
Gone these many years now
I guess they're shining like the sun
And I envision them
Grinning at the finish
And they smile and they smile,
'Cause they love to see me run 
Now we're counting stars and counting sand
Little feet and little hands
We're counting joys
We pray you'll know them
As you knew us when you wove us
As you hold us Hold them, please hold them
Like their father, they are looking for a home
Looking for a home beyond the sea
So be their God and guide them
Till they lie beneath these hills
And let the great God of their father
Be the great God of their children, Let the great God of my fathers
Be the great God of my children still

12.16.2011

1. I praise God for the current success of my hospital. We have been so busy this week and my day today was thrown askew because of it, but those are good problems to have.
2. I praise God for the sunshine today. I was thankful for the rain, but the sunshine on my face after a few days of clouds and rain really felt nice today.
3. I praise God for difficult emotions. They drive me deeper into His arms and that is the best place to be.

12.15.2011

1. I praise God for the anniversary my father is celebrating today. Eighteen years and he's still going strong. I am proud of you, Daddio.
2. I praise God that I have found contentment in my life. I do not have a bright shiny car or a big beautiful home, I am not in my "dream job" or jet-setting across this beautiful world, but I can see all the many blessings that have been poured down upon me. Rather than spending my time wishing away my blessings on something different, I have learned to see how blessed I am.
3. I praise God for His protection. Today, in my work travels, there were many moments that came very near to an accident, but I managed to make it home safely.

12.14.2011

1. I praise God for puddles. It seemed my feet landed in every one that came across my path today; I spent the day with soaking wet, cold feet. However, I have not forgotten the many prayers for rain over the summer. Just because God's blessings don't come in my time frame doesn't mean they carry any less of His goodness.
2. I praise God that my hospital is doing well. Our census is staying high and our patient care is even better. It is so nice to work for a company that has a great reputation for providing quality care and good patient outcomes; it makes my job much easier.
3. I praise God for my sweet husband. The last two days he has been able to tell that I am at my emotional time of the month and has been very sweet about it. By the time I got home today, I had stepped in countless puddles, the wind blew my car door shut on my foot, my hair looked like an unruly Chia pet, I smashed my pinkie finger and had multiple other things not go my way. I was in pain, frazzled and rapidly approaching a bad mood when he just took me into his arms and hugged me. Sometimes, I can be a little silly, but God gave me a man who knows how to handle my character flaws. That's pretty awesome.

12.13.2011

1. I praise God for closure. I received some about something today and it feels really good.
2. I praise God for the sweet men and women that come to my exercise class every Tuesday morning at the Senior Citizen Center. They have been such a blessing to me these past few months. Today they surprised me with a Christmas card and a gift. I am growing very fond of that group of people.
3. I praise God for precious moments with my son. Not a day goes by that my husband and I aren't amazed at how much that little boy can make our hearts swell with love. What an incredible blessing he is.

12.12.2011

1. I praise God for my oldest nephew. Today is his eighth birthday. I remember falling head-over-heels for him the day he was born. We don't spend as much time together as we did when he was a toddler, but he will always hold a special place in my heart.
2. I praise God for the amount of love my son has in his heart. He is always hugging what he loves: his stuffed animals, his trains, his cars, family, the window when there are birds in our yard, our animals... the list goes on. He receives such a pure joy from the things he loves; I receive such blessings for watching him love his world.
3. I praise God for hot showers on cold days. What a blessing to be able to be clean and warm.

12.11.2011

1. I praise God for my animals. We have too many and I tire of the amount of hair around my house and poop in the litter box, but they are all furry balls of love. Almost everyone of them was a rescue and is special to us for their own reason. I couldn't get rid of a single one of them and I dread the day when their times come (especially since they are all very close in age.) My life would not be the same if it weren't full of animals to love on (and drive me nuts each day!)
2. I praise God for our couch. It is one that has recliners at both ends and it works perfectly for my husband and I to curl up on for a nap. I take a recliner, he puts his head in my lap and stretches across the couch, then we both blissfully drift to sleep. Earlier today, we were joined by our son curling up with us. I treasure those moments so deeply.
3. I praise God for early bedtimes. Today was a "blah" day at our house; we were all sleepy and dragging in energy, so it was mostly spent lounging around and cuddling (no complaints there.) Our son is already in bed and I am pretty sure my husband and I are hitting the hay early, too. We have a long next couple of weeks ahead of us and a good night's rest is in order.

12.10.2011

1. I praise God for humility. I don't always wear it gracefully, but I am frequently reminded of the importance of being humble.
2. I praise God for my hearing. I can't imagine going through life without ever hearing a baby's laughter. I think that is one of the sweetest sounds in the world and I am so thankful every time I get to hear it.
3. I praise God for my son. He brings so much laughter, joy and love into our home. He has been such a blessing to us.

12.09.2011

1. I praise God for conviction. It is the first step towards repentance.
2. I praise God for His forgiveness. The sacrifice that was made on the cross to cover my sinfulness is the most incredible blessing of all.
3. I praise God for organization. My husband and I have been working on decluttering and organizing our house and it feels so good to get everything in order. I think it has been very cathartic for the both of us.

12.08.2011

1. I praise God for my husband. Thirty years ago, today, my mother-in-law labored to bring a precious little baby into this world who would eventually grow up and be my husband. Every life is a gift, but I am extra thankful for my husband.
2. I praise God for my crock pot. It is actually my husband's crock pot that had been given to him by his grandmother when she got a new one. The crock pot is old and well used, but it works amazingly and helped me to make a delicious dinner for my husband's birthday without having to exert extreme amounts of energy. (It also helped us to have dinner before 6:00, which wouldn't have happened if I had to cook the corned beef roast after getting home.) God bless the person who invented the crock pot!
3. I praise God for family dinners. I love when my husband, son and I sit down for a meal as a family. We hold hands to say "grace" and then all stay at the table until we're all finished. It is a wonderful way to come together as a family and have a little bit of "down time."
4. I praise God for the beauty that is found in His Creation. All around me, I see beauty that is bellowing praises to the Creator. He is the most amazing artist there ever was.

12.07.2011

1. I praise God that He has transformed me. There are still many things to be worked on, as I still wage daily battles against my flesh, but He has truly changed me in so many ways. The deeper I fall into Him, the more He fills me; the more He fills me, the better person I become.
2. I praise God for revelations. Sometimes they come through His word or a sermon, sometimes a Christian book or song and other times, they just come. However they come, I am always thankful for the insight and wisdom that come from them.
3. I praise God for my nieces and nephews. I got to have lunch with two of my sisters-in-law and 5 of my 10 nieces/nephews today. For some reason, they were extra lovey and clingy today. I had such a great time with them. I was smiling the majority of the afternoon from it.
4. I praise God for the way my son is when he is sleep deprived. Last night, he didn't sleep well and didn't get a long enough nap today, so this evening, he was a little crazy. The sleep deprivation increases whining, but the hysterical laughter and insane bursts of energy that come from him balance it out. I don't look forward to the sleep deprived days, but the entertainment that comes in-between the fussy moments makes them much more bearable.

12.06.2011

1. I praise God when I am given an opportunity to be a blessing to someone. Today, I had the opportunity to feed a homeless man. I was on my way to a meeting for work when I saw a man begging on the side of the road in 36 degree weather. When I feel led to help and have the resources, I always do. It is not my place to judge why that person is living on the streets, but it is my place to follow God's leading to help and minister when possible. I did not have money to give the man, but I did have a couple dozen mini breakfast pastries left over from the special treat I picked up for my morning exercise class. I couldn't give them out elsewhere, so I had planned on taking them home, but when I saw the man, I knew the pastries were not coming home with me. I called the man over to my car and offered the food to him. His eyes filled with tears as he accepted my gift. I am so thankful God placed that man in my path today.
2. I praise God for the way being a parent has helped me to deeper understand God's love for me. Through being a parent, I have been able to have a firmer grasp on unconditional love. It has also helped me to understand the grief that is caused by rebellion and the consequential discipline. Being a parent is the most difficult thing I have ever had to do and I often wonder why God thought me fit to be responsible for raising a child, but it has blessed me beyond my wildest dreams.
3. I praise God for warm soup on a cold day. Simple comforts are often some of the most powerful ones.

12.05.2011

1. I praise God for His Word. Every time I read my Bible, I walk away changed. I learn, grow, heal, receive comfort. The truth in His Word is the best medicine.
2. I praise God for my home. It may be humble, but it keeps my family protected from the weather. When I woke this morning to see a blanket of snow on the ground, I immediately was thankful to have a home to keep me warm when the outside was so very cold.
3. I praise God for progress. Moving forward in the right direction is a very wonderful thing.

12.04.2011

1. I praise God that I do not live in a country where practicing Christianity is illegal. I think a lot of Americans take for granted being able to wake up every Sunday and go praise Jesus Christ; I know I often forget how fortunate I am to have that freedom. Today, however, I am very aware of how blessed I am to live in a place where I don't have to fear legal ramifications of claiming Christ as my Lord and Savior.
2. I praise God for cold, rainy days. The best part about them is knowing the sun is still shining, just behind the clouds. Just because I can't see it, doesn't mean it's not still burning brightly with all it's God-given glory.
3. I praise God for the communion experience I had at church this morning. I have partaken in many a communion, but I have never had a communion like the one we had this morning. It was a very neat experience and I am so thankful I was there for it.

12.03.2011

1. I praise God that my bonus check finally came through. Tonight, my husband and I went grocery shopping and spent more money in one shopping trip than either of us had ever spent. We really just restocked our house, we didn't spend anything extra on unnecessary items, but everything seemed to run out at the same time and we actually had to money to buy it all at the same time. It is really  nice to know that I do not have to go to the grocery store for another couple of weeks for anything. (I am not a fan of being in any retail setting this time of the year.)
2. I praise God for the extra sleep my family got this morning. We all had a late morning, but it was obviously needed. The cold, rainy weather probably contributed to our slow morning.
3. I praise God for His strength. When I am weak, the glory of His strength is able to shine through me. He is so much stronger than I could ever hope to be without Him and I am so thankful He is willing to strengthen me in my times of weakness.

12.02.2011

1. I praise God for peaceful Friday evenings. It has been a long week back after the holiday weekend and it was nice to "chillax" tonight.
2. I praise God for His provisions. Sometimes, I look at my bank account and I see only a couple loaves of bread and a few fish; but somehow, He manages to spread the little I see and there always ends up being enough.
3. I praise God that I can choose joy and happiness. There are many things in life that I will never have control of, my attitude is not one of them.

12.01.2011

1. I praise God for sunshine peaking through clouds. I have always loved seeing the rays streaming out from behind grey clouds; there is something very ethereal about it. God is such an amazing artist.
2. I praise God for spiritual growth. It is not always comfortable, but the end result is always a good one.
3. I praise God for my job. It really is a good one and I know that I am beyond blessed to have a job period, let alone one I enjoy so much.
4. I praise God for His grace and mercy. Not a day goes by that I do not find myself in great need of it.