I had a conversation yesterday in which I was asked about ‘the rest of life’.  My initial response was that there was nothing else to life right now.  Which, I know, is categorically untrue, but my mind and my heart tend to get tunnel vision and miss, or at best discount, everything else that happens, and so I have a hard time seeing any good.  But after that conversation, I thought I should at least try.  Here’s what I’ve come up with…

:: We have a new refrigerator.  It was an unexpected purchase, but since our old one decided to stop keeping things cold, it was necessary.  Though not high on my list of what I would have wanted to spend money on, it is nice to have a new, bigger, prettier, functioning refrigerator.  And the expense didn’t throw us off financially…which is a testimony of God’s faithfulness to us, especially considering that last year at this time Tim was out of work and our bank account was getting very low.

:: I started a Bible reading plan about a month ago.  It’s nothing revolutionary…pretty standard two or three OT chapters, one NT chapter per day…but this is the first time I’ve started a Bible-in-a-year plan and found that I get to the end of my scheduled chapters and want to just keep reading.  It’s been life to me.  Not warm-fuzzy, revelatory, deep moments with God, but daily bread – sustaining, mind-renewing strength for my days.

:: My kids.  I love them so much.  And as I ponder making adjustments to our homeschooling, and try to find ways to make up for activities they will now be lacking, I’m finding a renewed zeal for these amazing people I get to call mine.

:: My husband.  He works hard every day.  He holds me up even when he’s hurting.  He keeps the Word of God as his standard even when it’s difficult.  He cleans up middle-of-the-night throw-up, and bloody noses, and wetting accidents.  He gives our kids running shoulder rides up the stairs.  He tells me I’m pretty when my hair is all over the place in the morning.  He fixes our washing machine.  Plus so much more.

:: A tax return that, for the first time ever, resulted in us coming out thousands of dollars better than we anticipated.  We over-estimated in quarterly tax payments, and didn’t realize it until figuring out our taxes for the year (note: I use the term “we” very loosely.  Tim does it all).

:: A new mattress that, while not resulting in always completely comfortable sleep, has at least greatly alleviated my problem with my arms falling asleep all the time.  I’m thankful.

There is probably more if I thought longer, but this is at least a start, right?