thankful :: a story and a list

as most of you know,

we had a lot of extra expenses 

when we closed on this house a month ago.

things we were told we wouldn't have to worry about,

so we didn't have the extra money in place--

all following a really rough 

summer for us financially.

i have always known that God

will provide for us...

but sometimes i get scared,

and i doubt.

this week, we were humbled.

in my e-mail inbox, i got a request

for a survey from the lending company.

i felt like they should be aware of what had happened,

so i went ahead and filled it out.

i wasn't hateful, but i was very honest.

i didn't think anything would come of it.

the next day, jason got a call.

it wasn't customer service.

it was one of the owners of the company,

the largest shareholder, in fact.

he wanted to know more,

and was extremely apologetic.

at the end of it all, he wrote us a check...

for five hundred dollars.

i cried. 

 if it hadn't been for the tough experience,

we would still have been out that same amount of money...

 but the lord already had it worked 

out ahead of time while i've been busy fretting.

two days later, we received a check

from the title company for what was

left over from paying the escrow...

almost two hundred dollars.

He never ceases to amaze me.

how do i forget these things?

how do i let myself doubt?

he is always faithful.

always.

take heart, friends.

he sees you when you don't think he does,

and he loves you so, so much.

and now, here are some other things i am thankful for:

--a hard working husband

--4 healthy children

--5 days home with my school aged girl

--supportive parents

--a wonderful church, whose members have become family

--a warm home

--coffee. i'm not even kidding.

--my husband's work schedule

--photography picking back up

--thoughtfulness of friends

--an extra day off this week with my husband

--feeling loved

--my own craft room

--our little farm

--sharing life with others

--loving on people

--the lord's grace and mercy

--forgiveness

--having others in our home

--time to catch up with family

over plates of delicious food.

i hope you all have a wonderful thanksgiving this week!