Just Say "Thanks"

In my devotions this morning I was reading a little devotional on giving thanks. On how having someone say a meaningful "thank you" can help to brighten your day and make you feel appreciated. The devotional mentioned some verses in the Bible where it says to "give thanks" and how God loves to be thanked too and how He finds pleasure in our expressions of thanks and that it is in God's will that we thank Him. "In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" 1st Thessalonians 5:18. Of course it is easier at some times than at others to give thanks but we are told to give thanks in everything! That is much easier said than done but I think that as we learn to do it we will see that it encourages our hearts and reminds us always that God's timing and will are perfect.
I had two rather significant (to me anyways) things happen today that made it easy to say thanks. Oh, 3 actually. It was so beautiful when we went for a walk this morning. No need for a toque or gloves! I think spring may finally be here! The next thing that happened was finding out that I can get the supplements the naturopath wants us to take for much cheaper than we have gotten them. They aren't exactly the same but they are close enough and do the same things and I don't have to drive as far and they are cheaper. That was a huge thanks! The other one was hearing back from a lady at the adoption agency. I had sent her our profile/letter and asked her to read it and then let us know if it was alright and if we needed to add or subtract or change anything. She emailed me back this morning and this was her response, "I think your profile is just great as it is. Don't change a thing!". How encouraging to hear and exciting because we can now have it printed and then send it off! 
I loved how when I was thanking God for these things my heart was even more encouraged and it just really made God's love for me so much more real when I acknowledged His blessings and just said thanks.
Now I have to practice giving thanks in everything!
So remember that God loves to be thanked, He takes pleasure in it. Your own heart will be encouraged and God's love will be even more real to you.

Cold Today

It is cold and snowy with a wind this morning. I was going to take the puppy for a walk like I usually do but we had him shaved yesterday so he is already cold and I really didn't feel like walking in the wind. 
-20ish with the wind chill this morning. Oh how I long for spring and warmer weather and buds on the trees and flowers pushing their way up through the soil and being able to go for a walk with just a sweater instead of my winter jacket. But then I remind myself that I do live in northern Alberta. We could be getting snow off and on until May. So instead of just complaining I will be thankful that I have a warm home and comfy clothes and food to put in my tummy.


We should be on the "active list" with the adoption agency some time next week! That is exciting for us! We know that once we are on the list there is nothing else we can do except wait but at least we will know that really at any time the phone could ring and we could have wonderful news and our arms and hearts will finally be filled. In some ways it all still fills surreal and well, just, I don't know. It doesn't feel real to me in many ways and I think it's partially because so much of the contact I have had with the agency has been on the phone or through email. Almost feels like there is something else we should be doing but we are almost finished everything that was required of us. We are officially "Approved". We were even sent a certificate that says we are. So I guess we are doing things properly. Such a lesson in trust and faith and hope. After 3 years of trying to have a baby and being disappointed every month it is tough for me to get my hopes again. I think I keep waiting for everything to fall out from under us and yet I truly believe and feel in my heart that this is what God wants us to do and that He has a little one chosen just for us who needs us and who we need. So I continue to trust and to have faith and yes, even to hope.