Thanksgiving and a time for Joy

This Thanksgiving we headed down to Foley, AL. to spend time with my Dad's side of the family. 

 Last year, Foster was just 7 weeks old at Thanksgiving and it was the first time my family from Texas and Paw Paw got to meet him.  He is much bigger this year!

Week one of walking was a whirlwind!  He has had several bumps and bruises, but he is loving it!  I on the other hand, have been a nervous wreck!

We took Foster to the beach to play in the sand and he didn't know what to think of it all.  It was so fun to watch him experience it for the first time and get to play.

I'm so thankful for this little boy, my husband, my family, my friends, my health and Jesus who gave it all.

It was funny to me that he had snowmen on his outfit while he was playing on the beach.  

The weather was so beautiful the whole weekend!

During this holiday season, I've been thinking and praying a lot about what it means to have an attitude of thanksgiving.  I want it to be more to me than a holiday I celebrate one day a year, but a continual attitude of thanksgiving.   As Ann Voskamp says, "thanksliving."

Thankfulness is an attitude.  It is a practice of letting the holy spirit rule and reign in my heart.  It is me becoming less and God becoming more.  It is being open to Him in everything.

I would always say that I was a thankful person and I was very aware of all the blessings in my life.  But now that we are in this particular season, I can see these bits of ugliness pop up in my attitude.  Things have been tough, but that is only an opportunity for me to let Christ live through me and not for me to walk out the flesh.  

I thank God for his love and graciousness to me. I am thankful that the holy spirit is here to convict me when I'm not in God's will.  

Y'all, isn't that awesome that we can always be getting better and growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus!?  

Walking in the Spirit is sometimes uneasy but always good.  When I'm more generous, then I don't notice myself anymore; I do experience Joy in this Journey.  

You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. -Psalms 16:11

I hope your Thanksgiving day was wonderful.  We all have so much to be thankful for.

Have a great week!