Always in Need of Grace: Giving Thanks

So many, many things to be thankful for this year. If you have read Brent's blog lately then you know that we are trying to look at being thankful from a little bit different perspective. (pewtopractice.wordpress.com) I think the thing that has resonated the most with me is that God gives you all that you need. That includes the hard things....get in a wreck on the way to work? You needed it. Only get three hours sleep last night? That was all you needed. If you really had needed more, God would have provided it. Have a head cold? You need it. Have crazy, disobedient children? You need them. God gives you all that you need to be conformed into the image of His Son. So whatever you have, you have it because you need it. Whatever you do not have, you do not need. God knows more than I do whatI need...and I am very thankful for that this year. God freely gave us His Son to die in our place....so how could He not give us all else that we need? (Roman 8:32)

So this year we celebrated with my side of the family first. Mom and Dad took us to Galveston...one of my favorite places on Earth! How I missed the salty sea air and the sparkling ocean waves! It was so refreshing to stand on the shore and take it all in.

The boys had a blast....too much, perhaps. We had to go buy them some new clothes at the store afterward, but I think it was all worth it! I kind of wanted to go splashing in with them!

Showing off our new Star Wars shirts!

Then to the gift shop....always a fun stop. You never know what you are going to find!

Feeding the birds from the Ferry boat. It was Jane's first boat ride!

On Thanksgiving Day we went over to my Aunt Diane and Uncle Larry's house. My cousin Sara and her crew were there too. Here is Sara and the adorable hat that she made for Jane...so sweet!