Snow falling softly....

My beautiful view! I love the "sound" of falling snow. So peaceful!

I really AM grateful!

I woke up this morning and went outside to do the chores. I was greeted with the most beautiful winter scene I've seen in a long time.

I didn't feel cold at all this morning, now granted it was a balmy 30° and I had my coveralls, scarf, stocking hat, gloves, thick wooly socks and muck boots on, but it is hard to feel cold when you are in awe of God's creation!

I'm sitting here in the kitchen, sipping my coffee while I write this and I can still see the snow falling from my kitchen window. It is lovely.

I feel for all of you who have to get out in it though. I find it very stressful to drive in winter weather.

You know, I was starting this post feeling a little discouraged. Feeling not at all in the Christmas spirit, while noticing on Facebook all of my friends seem to be in it and wondering why I struggle so much with this time of year, when here we are 11 days from Christmas. Maybe it is because growing up we didn't celebrate holidays with a lot tradition and hype, etc. We did celebrate them though.

I'd like to change that for my family, but not really sure where to begin.

Anyway, like I said, I started this post feeling discouraged, but now, thinking of all I have to be grateful for, I don't feel so down after all.

So, let's see...

1. Truly, I am grateful for Jesus Christ and my faith, which is always there and working for me even during the bleakest hours of my life.
2. I'm thankful for Matt. He's such a great man and has been the biggest blessing in my life aside from #1. 
3. Obviously, I'm so thankful for my little stinkers. They bring joy and delight my heart every day!
4. My wonderful family and friends. They are always ready to lend an ear or a hand.
5. I'm thankful for Matt's job, so that I can stay home with my stinkers. We are truly blessed!
6. I'm thankful for our home. It is warm and dry. It is inviting and our "haven of rest."
7. I'm thankful for this beautiful view out of our windows. No matter which way I look, I can see God's provision and blessing.
8. I'm thankful for our cat, Guidie, whom we almost lost the other day...she rode along in the car unbeknownst to me and got out at Jack's school in Mattoon. Luckily, we saw her and put her back or I'd be out of cats! 
9. I'm thankful for our 16 chickens...even when they don't lay many eggs in the winter...they are always a source of fascination to me. (We only got two eggs today!)
10. I'm also thankful for my two goats, Diamond and Zoe. They are so much fun and I'm learning so much as I care for them. They are so enjoyable that I don't mind getting out in this weather to mess around with them.

There really are so many more that. I couldn't even begin to list them all here and these are just the first ones coming to my mind, but thinking of these has lifted my mood.

Maybe, if I do focus on and keep focused on Christ and all my blessings, maybe I won't succumb to feeling so discouraged and overwhelmed and maybe if I ask him, Christ will help me get more into this Christmas season. :-)