Thank you

Today is my husband's first day at his new job. And I forced him to take a mandatory first day photo to mark this day for years to come.

As he packed his lunch last night and as his alarm went off this morning, I was once again reminded of how much will be changing in the days, weeks and months to come. I mean it's literally been like 18 months since this man has had to set an alarm as we tend to wake up to the sounds of little feet pattering across the hall into our room or little voices in our ears rather than a beep, beep, beep of an alarm.

And if I'm honest, I've been mourning that change in our life as we know it, and this past week has been hard for me emotionally. But that's just what I do, I mourn and I grieve what is before I can fully enter into a new routine, a new stage and I know this about myself. I did this when Peter and I got married, when I started a new job, and when I had my first child, and even when I had my second.

But as I gently nudged him willing him not to fall back to sleep, and as he slowly crawled out of bed, I was just filled with so much gratitude.

Thank you Jesus for this past season.

Thank you Jesus for this new one.

Thank you Jesus for Your provision.

Thank you so much for this life that I'm living.

And as the husband said his goodbyes and as I prayed over him and his first day, I was again just overwhelmed with gratitude.

Thank you Jesus for this man, for his heart, for the way he loves his family so deeply, for the way he loves You without question. I am so proud of him!

Thank you for Your words and Your truth that encouraged us time and time again.

Thank you for reminding us that there is a time for everything and that You make everything beautiful in Your time (Ecclesiastes 3).

Thank you for giving us eyes to see You amidst the grief and the suffering.

Thank you for the deep moments of joy and laughter amidst that grief and suffering.

Thank you for this season of suffering as we have learned the true depth of Romans 5:1-5 and the perseverance and the character and everlasting hope that comes from those really hard moments.

And as the kids cried as they were so sad to see Dada go, I held them a little tighter and cried with tears of joy as I sent my husband off.

This is what we've been waiting for!

And when Peter emailed me today from his new work email and simply stated "its real", I replied back stating "and I'm crying!"

Thank you Jesus.

May we never forget that You are Lord.

May we never forget that You are Good in all seasons. 

May we continue to run into Your arms and know that the riches of Your LOVE will always be enough!

And lastly, thank you to all of you, to our community, for praying for us, for thinking of us, for pleading to the Lord on our behalf.

We are so grateful to the Lord for all of you, for your support and encouragement through this journey.

May we continue to spur each other on and encourage and support each other for His glory!

If you want to read about the husband's journey to this job, check out this post.

this life that we have

A few nights ago, I went to bed before Peter, which we are in the habit of doing these days as my husband has become quite the night owl! And as I was laying in bed, I just started thinking about my husband, our marriage, our friendship, our joy and our children, our beautiful, sweet boys. And I was just overwhelmed with gratitude to the LORD for all of it...the good times and the hard times...the deep love and joy and the sleepless nights and the endless pouring out.

And you guys I just started laughing! And this is how Peter found me when he came into the room. So he was a little suspicious of what I might be up to. I admit I can be pretty mischievous at times but not this time. However, he's thinking I put something in the bed so he pulls back the covers and then proceeds to look behind the closet door. He's thinking I'm playing a trick on him somehow. And it just made me laugh harder. And he just looks and me and asks...What is it?

And I just said..I'm just really happy, I loved our day together and I'm just so thankful for you and this life that we have.

The end. 

Thankful.

I know this post may seem similar to yesterday's post, but I just had to write it..

Yesterday, after work, I stopped at the grocery store to pick up some supplies to make some chili.  I love this time of year, not because of the rain and the dark and dreary days, but because of the food!  With fall comes all sorts of hot drinks and hot food, especially hot soups!  And I love soup!  So I picked up the ingredients and headed home to take advantage of the non rainy evening.

I put on my running pants and a warm top and laced up my shoes and out the door I went, but before I left, I wrote Peter a little note asking him to start the dinner if he got home before me.  I knew he was going to be late at work, but thought just maybe he would be home before 6?

Well, bless that man, around 5:30, Peter called me to inform me that he was going to be late.  He not only called, but he also apologized.  Seriously?  That man blew my socks off!  I told him that I wasn't even home, so it didn't matter, and to take all the time he needed.

And as I hung up the phone with him after telling him I loved him and thanking him for calling, I noticed that my eyes were a little teary.  And I nearly started crying right there on the track - just felt so very thankful, for this man, my husband, for this baby, little buddy, for my blessings, too many to count.

And I wasn't upset that Peter was going to be late or resentful that he wasn't going to be home to start dinner - in fact, I truly didn't care in the least!  And I even found myself asking him...what can I do for you?  He was all stressed about work and feeling overwhelmed with all sorts of projects and deadlines looming over his head.  The last thing he needed was an unsupportive wife, this I knew, but he did need some food, this I also knew!  Thankful for my husband and his heart and thankful for the way the Lord has worked in my own heart to truly teach me how to best love and support my husband.

And I am thankful for my able body, even if it does have some extra weight on it - it's for good reason!  It felt so good to be outside using my legs and I even picked up the pace and ran for 20 minutes and man that felt good.

And I'm extremely thankful for the new bathroom I am going to get - new tiles, new toilet, new sink with cabinet, new medicine cabinet, new fixtures!  And we broke ground on it tonight, or maybe I should say Peter and Cristy broke ground on it!  This is the one thing I really wanted for my 30th birthday, and I have been asking for it since we moved into our house last March, and Peter has finally granted me that wish.  I mean who tiles a bathroom floor with white tiles?  Slightly ridiculous if you ask me - so that HAS to change.

Signing off with a thankful heart,

Malia