Thankful Thursday

Sending all the love and thanks to Rebecca Jo over @ Knit By God's Hand for always hosting Thankful Thursday. It's always so uplifting to check in with everyone and see all the good things God's been pouring out into our lives. You can't help but leave your tablet, laptop, or whatever feeling encouraged and refreshed. Pay a visit and find out for yourself!

This week finds me thankful...

** for my Bible study group. We are doing another week-long time of prayer and fasting to uplift each other and focus prayer on the specific needs each of us has. I just love that the whole group is that committed and willing to cover each day and night. (We divide the day into 12 2-hour periods and we each have an assigned time to pray that works with our schedule. I'm so thankful for the ones who are willing to pray through the night!)

** the dressier, platform sandals I ordered arrived yesterday and I put them right on and walked around in them for a while. THEY ARE COMFORTABLE!!!! If you're interested, they are Vionics and you can find out more about them here. I am just so tickled to be able to wear a shoe that isn't a sneaker or a flat.

** my boss continues to be in a good mood rather than her usual jumping all over me and then apologizing later mood.

** it's only 14 more days until vacation and our cruise! Two weeks. It can't get here soon enough. I am beyond ready for a break from reality.

** there were no blips on the baby radar this week. In fact, our daughter got her final sonagram and it was a 3-D one. This is little Leah's face. Look at those cheeks! She is scheduled to make her entry into the world via c-section on July 29...just four days after her mommy's birthday.

** for the first veggies from the garden. Love the cucumbers and zucchini! Now if only the tomatoes would hurry up!

** the horribly hot and humid weather of the last week is finally going to ease up a bit today. And by horribly, I mean the air was like soup with the humidity levels at 90% or more. There was just no getting cooled off the last two days. Breathing made you break out in a sweat.

** I have this coming weekend off. I need to get a lot of stuff done to get ready for our cruise. I have this weekend and next Friday off...that's it until we leave. 

** for God who has it all under His control and who loves me, has a plan for me, and knows how all things work together. It gives me peace in a world that seeks to steal it. Just yesterday the fact that we are not in control and that tomorrow isn't promised (so we'd better make the most of today) was driven home again.

A woman was killed in the town were I work yesterday. She was my age and there was a very small connection in that her husband was the son of the man my dad took over for as manager of the wildlife preserve and he is the manager now. She had dropped children off at a church preschool and was crossing the street when a FedEx truck struck her. She ended up trapped under the truck and despite the immediate efforts of the public works crew that was nearby, she didn't survive. The police say the driver didn't do anything wrong. It's just a tragic accident. 

We struggle to make sense of such things, but the fact is, it's beyond our understanding. We have to learn to trust in the Father and his plans for us. I am just so grateful for that because I don't know how those who don't know him manage. Without Him, what is the point?

** as always, for each one of you!

Have a blessed Thursday and an amazing weekend!