THANKFUL THURSDAYS

Since I focused on my Big Girl last week, I will focus on my Little Girl today. As you can see from the pictures, my Little Girl is not so little anymore. It was 13 years ago and then some that I brought home this gift for which I am eternally thankful.

My girls are best friends, but they are so very different from one another! Little Girl is my analyst, my lawyer, my sensitive and social child. She has in the past been a little rebel and still loves to argue, yet can be hurt so very easily. She is practical, very smart, honest, and very wise for her age. She loves to do things with others, and seldom enjoys activities alone, the exception being hanging out on the trampoline in the back yard. She loves the outdoors and goes out every single day she can, even all winter. She has a good imagination and can write very good poems, though she seldom does so. She loves to collect things she finds on her outdoor tramps, like rocks, tree bark, railroad spikes, old pieces of glass and pipes. I call her Frederika Sanford. ;-) She is a Christian and can spot heresy and false teaching a mile away. She loves her family, and right now, she would be content for us all to stay together forever.

As with her sister, I wish so much that I could just do it all again. I cannot imagine any greater gifts than these two beautiful blessings.

Thankful Thursdays

Oh wow! Just where do you begin? There are just so ridiculously many things to be thankful for! Above all, I am thankful for the One by Whom, from Whom, and through Whom all the other things come - my God, my Lord, my Savior, Jesus Christ.

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. (James 1:17)

I am thankful for His love, mercy, grace, kindness, goodness, provision, protection, and on and on I could go. I am thankful for my family, my home, our health, our safety, my friends, the freedom and ability to homeschool, our pets, ..... and on and on that could go as well.

But today, I will focus on just one of those gifts for which I am so thankful - my oldest daughter. I will focus on her sister next week.

I can't believe how quickly 17 years have passed. She is my artist, helper, and peacemaker. She has always been obedient and compliant and eager to please. She has grown into a beautiful Christian young lady with many talents and interests all her own that I had nothing to do with. How did that happen? She loves drawing, writing fan-fiction, and making music videos. She loves reading great, old literature that many her age would shun in this modern day. She will do anything I ask her, or at least attempt it. ;-) She has always been the peacemaker in the family, and never could stand conflict or arguing, nearly always giving in to her little sister rather than hear her fuss. She is modest, kind, compassionate, intelligent, honest, trustworthy, and trusting. She may forget on occasion to do something she was supposed to, but she never disobeys or goes back on her word on purpose.

All those years have flown by, and I wish I could do them over. But I can't. So I am thankful for what is now. Very thankful.