Today...I'm thankful :)

My life isn't perfect...Matt and I both have our faults and our kids aren't always the most well behaved, but I'm thankful for this life.

Everyone has struggles and hardships in their life. We've had our share of rough days these past few months, but in the midst of all of that, I'm still thankful.

I start feeling 'unthankful' when I compare my life to other people's lives. There's always going to be someone that has more 'stuff' than we do, makes more money than we do, goes on more vacations than we do, has better behaved children than we do, or just seems like they've got things more put together than we do. But those people don't have the hand of cards that I have. They don't have my life. The truth is, how often to you really see what others are experiencing?

In my opinion, what makes my life successful is that I strive to keep my priorities in order and I thank God, everyday, for His blessings and provisions. I'm thankful.

We're off and running with 'Mommy Summer School.' Nate's school time is a lot more independent that what I do with Gabe and Adri. I'm going through the alphabet with them (review for Gabe and kind of new for Adri) and just for kicks, I've been including a scripture in our school time that starts with the letter that we're talking about that day. Today we were on letter D, but also reviewed the previous letters. Nate recited, almost with perfection, the first 4 scriptures! And where he couldn't find the word, Gabe piped in!

I love those boys! Usually rowdy and loud, often appearing to have ants in their pants, they have such amazing little hearts. Nate recited "Be kind to one another and build each other up." Gabe finished with, "Foist Thisisbologna 5:11."

"What does that mean?" I asked.

"It means say nice things and don't call your brother stupid," Nate added.

I then proceeded to ask them to say something nice to one of their siblings. They both had an outpouring of love for Adri and struggled with nice things to say about each other...Gabe never lifted his face out of his hands when he admitted to being thankful for Nate's help when he has a DS question.

I was ready to move on. All three of them weren't quite ready for that and spent the next few minutes (seemed like forever) giving me compliments!

How was this? These kids that I think, so often, take for granted my daily devotion to them, were building me up!

Yes, my kids have their faults and may not be perfect in comparison to others, but they're mine...and I'm thankful!