So much to be thankful for

Isn't it nice that we have a holiday to remind ourselves why we are thankful?  What is important in our lives. The ways the Lord has blessed us.  We, like many others, had a thankful tree this year.  I think this will be much more fun in the future when Eli can actually verbalize what he is thankful for but it was a good exercise for Keith and I.  It made us be intentional on a daily basis of how the Lord has blessed us, from Keith having a short(er) commute on a given day to a friend of ours coming to know the Lord.

Lately I we have really been missing Austin.  The warm weather, the familiarity and especially the people. This probably was due most in part to the fact that we spent this Thanksgiving just the 3 of us, but the emotion has been creeping in for some time.  It is easy to think about what I don't have and what I wish was. There are many days when I don't want to go to a new group or visit another church, etc but we know that is part of moving.    

It's interesting that I am having these emotions on Thanksgiving, a day when we think about what we are Thankful for.  I, like many of you, have so much.  More than enough really and I really need nothing.  If this is true why am I not content in my circumstances?  Why don't I trust the Lord to guide our family from Texas to Kentucky?  Why, why, why?  

Fortunately, the Lord led me to this verse over the weekend..."give thanks IN all circumstances" (1 Thess 5:18).  I need to remember this.  I don't have to be thankful FOR being lonely, being away from community and the hard adjustments of moving, but the Lord does command to be thankful IN them.  So, I thought I would list some of them out below.

-for the house the Lord provided in a good neighborhood
-the friends we have already met and good neighbors
-Keith's new job where he is thriving
-a healthy, fun, energetic 1 year old who would be happy anywhere
-the holiday provided much needed rest and family time
-opportunities to serve others around me
-a church small group where we've already met many people
- the hope of a future in this house AND city
-Jesus, who has led us all the way and continues to be so gracious to us.  

"I know that the Lord is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods.  The Lord does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths."  Psalm 135: 5-6

I know one day that "moving to Louisville" will be added to the list.