Counting Blessings

Yesterday, I sat down to work on the belly book I am making for my pregnancy since I have been kind of a slacker on it and the first trimester is basically over. As I was going through and writing all the things that have been going on so far with my pregnancy I realized that we have been truly blessed. I consider myself pretty aware of the way God has blessed us but lately I think I have taken it for granted and it was neat to step back and try to count the many blessings He has given us. Jeremy and I constantly acknowledge that everything we have is a blessing from God but sometimes I think I get so caught up in the world I don't fully acknowledge it with my head and my heart.

As I was writing closing thoughts on my first trimester to our little baby I realized that I really have had an easy pregnancy so far. I have had some waves of nausea but no vomiting, I have been exhausted but nothing I can't handle, God is so good!

Later on I was doing my homework for the Beth Moore Bible Study that I am in right now and it was the story of when Jesus fed the 5,000. I love how we can read a story we have heard since preschool and come away with a fresh perspective! I had never considered that this event took place immediately after the disciples returned from their commission to heal the sick, etc. Jesus was in the process of trying to take them to a solitary place so they could rest and eat but the crowd came to find them. Jesus had such compassion for the crowd and began to teach and when they were hungry he didn't just give them just enough to wet their appetite, he gave them enough so that everyone ate and was satisfied, not just that, but MORE than what satisfied them....there were 12 baskets FULL leftover. Beth made note also that maybe it was coincidence that there were 12 baskets leftover...12 baskets, 12 disciples.

God is so good and loves us so much that He doesn't want to just give us enough to sustain but more! And scripture reminds us of this so much- He came to give us abundant life (John 10:10), He can give us immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).

This is such a comfort to me right now as I feel our lives moving into a new season of becoming parents. God will show us how to glorify Him in our parenting and in our marriage. He wants to give us good things and He already has. As I look around our living room I am reminded with pictures, memories and things of ways He has blessed me more than I even could hope to deserve. I am so glad we serve a God who loves us so much!

Here's the latest picture of me with our favorite little blessing right now...

We are so blessed!!