Thankfullness

more canning

I have been quite busy lately, mostly by choice.  I have done more canning this year then I believe I have ever done.  That is not a lot in some circles but I was excited with my full shelves.  God has so blessed me this year and I haven't had to buy most of the food I canned.  What a blessing.

So, I was finally wrapping up my day and washing the floor.  It is one of those continual jobs that I haven't got to for a while.  I have been doing a lot of cooking, canning and freezing and the floor got pushed aside.  Well, tonight I tackled the floor and I started thinking back.  I remember around 30 years ago vacuuming the floor when I was a kid.  I used to ponder how someday I would be vacuuming my very own floor and it would add a little excitement as I worked.  I wonder if any other little girls imagine the same things.  My mom would leave us lists when we were on summer vacation and she would head off to work.  We would wake up to a list of things that needed to get done before she got home.  This didn't happen very often, normally we would do very little during our summer, but some days we would wake to a list of to dos.  Well, soon the day came and I was working in my own home.  Those little list my mom would give me helped me to make my own lists and get the work around my own little home done.

Our first little home was just that, little.  It had two little rooms and was over 500 square feet.  It was ours and we bought it as a hud home for a whopping $25,000.  Not to bad for two college kids.  Then I would imagine how the spare room would someday be filled with a baby.  I so longed for that day.  Eventually that day came and I was so thankful, overwhelmed, but thankful.   David had graduated and found a job that required us to move.  I was so excited when we found a house that had 1050 square feet.  I had found a house that was larger that I really wanted but it was just out of our price range so the this house was wonderful with it's 3 bedrooms, cutely decorated, and about twice the size of our first home.  Once again we had another child and filled the third bedroom and I was thankful.

Off we went again and had to move to a new city.  This time I was really hoping for something with a bit more elbow room.  We found a cute little house that had 4 bedrooms!  It was only 1525 square feet but it was in our price range and we were thankful.  When we moved into this house the neighbors were so excited because we only had two children and the people before us had had 3 and that was too much for this house.  Well,  we had two more kids and we did just fine in that home.  While we were there I felt God place on my heart a desire to entertain.  We would invite small and large groups to our home and loved to fellowship with our family and friends, it concerned me that our home was so cozy with so many people.  God had given me a vision of a lovely big home and I believe that he told me that if I would take care of what he had given me and used it for him that he would give me the desire of my heart.

Well, once again we had to move to a new city.  We looked for a home and found a new home in a new subdivision that was 2525 square feet.  What a blessing.  I remember thinking I had hoped for something a bit bigger but was thankful for God's provision.  After our 5th child we began to search a bit for something with a more land and around 3200 square feet.  We didn't really find what we were looking for so we took a break.  A few months later our realtor just happened to send us some listings.  In these listings there was a house that was just a few years old and over 6000 square feet.  It was a foreclosure and I giggled to think that we could own such a home.  Well, just for fun we drove by the house.  I didn't want to really look much, all I could think was how much it must cost to heat it.  David got quite excited and decided to call the realtor.  The realtor showed us the house.  Then I got so excited,  I could walk through each room and imagine what it would be used for.  Then the next room was perfect for something else.  I felt that God was fulfilling the vision he had given me years ago.  David looked at the tall ceilings and many rooms and got concerned about the heat.  Well, the house was a bit out of our price range but we made an outrageous offer and God was so good to give us favor.  We were able to get the house for an amazing deal.  We have been able to entertain over 100 people at a time even when it was down pouring outside and most were inside.  So, as I was washing my floor with my sore back I was overwhelmed with a feeling of thankfulness.  My back was sore from the canning and scrubbing the large floor but God has been so good to us and I am so thankful.  He has provided us with each other, children, health, and more than enough food, clothing, and shelter.  I am thankful for all the trips we have been able to take and how little we have had to spend on them.  What an amazing God we serve, a God of more than enough, who doesn't just provides for our needs but sometimes even for our wants.  Thank you God.  Be encouraged and thankful for what God has given you and may he fulfill the desires of your heart that he has given you.

Our first little home.

Alicia