Giving Thanks on Thanksgiving

Heather at The Mouth behind the Moose is hosting "Giving Thanks on Thanksgiving"--a chance to do what Abraham Lincoln originally intended Thanksgiving to be: "I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens."

We have tons to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. One of the most amazing ways God has provided for us this year is financially. For example, we got a large, very unexpected tax bill...and the next day, got a check for almost the exact same amount. That happened again about two weeks ago (though this time it was property taxes). It was an act of faith for Patrick to step down from a regular, salaried job, but God made it very clear that it was what he was supposed to do, and He has been very faithful in providing for us.

I am also incredibly thankful for answered prayer and new life. For quite a while, both myself and a small army were praying that God would either take away my desire for another baby, or for a successful pregnancy. Seriously, three days after I finally felt at peace with only having two children, I found out I was pregnant. God definitely has a sense of humor...and of surrender. When I had given up, there were still faithful friends praying for me and our family. It is amazingly obvious Who is really in charge, and the answer is definitely not me.

Paul said it well in his letter to the Ephesians:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.