Wait

I am thankful:

~ for a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends and family. So grateful to have all my kids in one place for the first time in a long time. We took our traditional large group picture, competed fiercely in our Annual Pumpkin Olympics, danced the chicken dance wearing our chicken hats, undeterred by honking of horns from cars passing by, and ate until our stretchy pants were to their limit, and then we started on the pies.

But I’d be lying if I said it was the best Thanksgiving ever. Because Alan wasn’t there. Alan was always at the center of everything. Always the most hilarious with his pumpkin antics, losing his pants during the chicken dance, and no one could ever match his love for pie. There was a big hole without him. But we’re thankful that he is healed and with Jesus, and we are thankful that we could be together to love one another through our sadness. And we are thankful that although we must wait for now, one day before long we will once again all feast together in the presence of the Lord. And it was a great reminder not to waste one day with the ones you love.

~ for how hard-working Cooper has become. Instead of a traditional lazy teenager, he is working so hard at everything he does. He is dedicated to his music. His grades in school are terrific. He spent last weekend cleaning out our elderly neighbors’ gutters, and helps his dad every weekend with maintenance for our neighborhood HOA. Not only that, he got his first real job: he had his first day of training at Chick-fil-A! He will be serving up Preachers Poultry here in Tyler, so you’ll have to swing through and see him. It will be his pleasure!

~ for two fun new puzzles. One down, one well underway. And for stacks and stacks of new paper and art supplies. Aunt Nicki keeps us stocked. Is there anything more fun than a crisp new 64 pack of Crayolas and a sparkling new coloring book?

~ for another great day with family fellowshipping over food and football, this time a Carthage playoff game. Lots of loud and laughing and love.

~ for fresh jubilation as I put up our beautiful 9 foot Christmas tree that I found on the side of the road last year! Still the best find EVER! And for my sweet husband who hunted all over town to find the one remaining box of clear white twinkle lights.

~ for my DARLING HUSBAND and firstborn (who BOTH despise heights) who spent hours in the cold on top of VERY HIGH ladders putting up our house Christmas lights.

~ for a successful Week 2 of Operation Bazillion Puppies. We have relocated their enclosure to the master bathroom, so at least now I am back in my bed! (Glory Hallelujah!) The pups and their Mama did well on their first road trip to Carthage for Thanksgiving.

We are definitely getting into a puppy-ing routine. But it is still a wearying cycle of helping Birdie nurse every two hours including through the night, mixing puppy formula, sterilizing bottles, bottle feeding, and cleaning up puppy poop (SO. MUCH. POOP!) We clearly greatly underestimated the amount of work it would take to have a house with 13 dogs that DOES NOT SMELL LIKE HOUSE WITH 13 DOGS! Overwhelming is an understatement. But the upside is that the puppies get sweeter and fatter and cuter every day. Their hair is getting thicker and we are finally starting to have some little puppy eyes peeking out. The kiddos can’t get enough of them and each one has their personal favorite. For those who have asked, we still have some puppies available.

Today was the first Sunday of Advent. Just like everything else, for me at least, I feel it more deeply this year. All Creation really is groaning. We are all waiting for something. Are we waiting with dread and anxiety? Or with hopeful expectation? I’m reminded every day that hope is a choice, and peace is a Person. Every day I have to choose to wait on the Lord, to wait on His promises, and to wait WITH HIM. Let us not be so blinded by what we see around us that we miss the TRUTH that is to come that CANNOT BE TAKEN FROM US if we abide in Christ. What are YOU waiting for?

Thanks for giving thanks with me.

“For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.” (Romans 8:22-25)

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)