Reflections on Christmas at the Nitengales

I was sitting here sad, mad and very worn out from a long holiday weekend. Muttering under my breath that no one appreciated all I had done, that my kids were selfish and spoiled and that I was so glad is was over....when God knocked me in the head.

I read on Facebook that a friend from high school lost her precious daughter this morning - the day after Christmas - to a 4 year battle with cancer. My life could be so much worse!

Why do I let myself get into this funk every year at Christmas when I come off a great time of Thanksgiving in November? God is the greatest Father in the world and Christmas is the day we celebrate the birth of HIS son....yet here I was being selfish and spoiled because I didn't feel appreciated - I wonder what God thinks of how I treat HIM (probably the same way I was feeling).

Help me Father to set my eyes on you each day and not my circumstances!!

Thankful for the Reminder

I'm thankful that I took this month to be thankful....for the reminders that the Nitengales are incredibly blessed beyond belief. Thank you God for putting this on my heart so that it would remind me to....

Count your blessings,

Name them one by one

Count your blessings

See what God has done.

Count your blessings

Name them one by one

Count your many blessings

See what God has done!

Thankful for Jesus

I'm thankful that Jesus came to earth as a baby, lived a sinless life, willingly went to the cross to die for each of us and then on the third day arose again! I'm thankful HE is sitting in heaven taking my prayers and making them into something God better understands!!

Thank you Father for JESUS - my Lord and Saviour!!!

Thankful for Many Things I take for Granted

• Running water



• Heat



• Flush toilets



• Refrigeration



• Microwaves



• Washer & Dryers



• Vacuums



• Dependable Cars



• Electricity



• Diet Pepsi



• Chocolate

I think it's important to be thankful for even the smallest things - and Mary often reminds me of that.

So thank you God for the many things I forgot to list!!

Thankful for Passion

I often wish that I wasn't as passionate about things....that I could adopt the attitude "Who cares?" about almost anything. And while I can about a few things - the things I'm passionate about are important. I'm thankful for passion for God and for His word to go forth in the world.

I'm thankful that I want with great passion my children to love God and serve Him. I know I'm not the best example but my passion for them to have passion for God is strong!

Thank you God for giving us passion for you and for other things in life. Help me to focus my passion on you!!

Thankful for Trails and Falling

Today I ran a little over 7 miles on trails in Kent County. I fell and I smiled. It felt good to be on trails again and to be running with my friend Akiko. While I haven't been seriously injured, my knee and hip have been bothering me - probably due to high mileage and IT band issues.

Today nothing hurt while I ran and the trail felt great under my feet. I wasn't fast, but I had great conversation and if you don't get dirty running trail - have you really run on a trail?

I am thankful for trails in this great state we live in. I'm thankful for we can hike, walk, mountain bike and run in some of the most beautiful country ever right here in West Michigan.

I'm also thankful that after my many falls on trails this summer - I didn't seriously injure anything! Praise the Lord for that one!! HE was definitely watching over me this summer - because as a couple of my friends said "You got air on that one!"

Thankful for a Day in Greenville

I'm thankful for a day where I didn't have to be anywhere or do anything at a certain time. The kids and I cleaned the basement, set up the MSU Christmas tree, walked a friend's dog, visited some other friends, had Dairy Queen ice cream, and did laundry. I actually feel like I accomplished much (and I didn't tie my kids up and gag them).

I'm thankful for a day off to slow down (some) and spend it at home - where many things needed my attention!!

Thank you God for giving us days at home!