Thankful for the basics

     Sometimes I forget.  I try not to, but it happens.  I am the type of person to really be thankful for my car running, heat in my house, clothes to wear, etc. but sometimes I get wrapped up in what I don't have.

    Today we got our heat fixed.  It was working, but not really.  Oh, once it was back on and I was finally warm in my house I was so grateful.

    I do have a privileged life.  I have a garage door opener!  I know that sounds silly to some, but what a luxury to press a button and then be inside to unload everything.  And there is so much more.

   For example, last year we had decided to give up on our van.  We pronounced it dead as it would be too much to fix it.  A loving family was friends with a mechanic so they made arrangements to have our van fixed.  I remember when I got it back and we had two vehicles again.  I felt like a millionaire in a bmw or something.  It was so nice to have it back and not coordinate everything with David.  (By the way we wouldn't have the van at all if David's parents hadn't given it to us!)

    Over the past weeks I knew the boys pants were too small, but I tried to make it work.  Then I came out of denial and went to Wal-Mart to buy them some pants.  Thanks to some wonderful people from TRF they gave us money to buy some groceries and we were able to use the money we saved to get some much needed pants that fit!  

     And of course our most luxurious thing we have this Christmas is our house which we own.  A year ago if you would have told me I would own a house I would have laughed.  I really would have.  What a miracle from the Lord and not to be taken lightly as two close friends of mine have recently lost their house.  Without my parents it wouldn't have been possible.

     I am glad to remember how nice it is to have the things we use daily.  It is also good to remember that even if I had no earthly things that I have the Lord and my amazing family.  The Lord gives me all that I have and most of what I have the Lord gave me through people I know.  Humbling and just makes me grateful.