Just a little update-post while I have some extra time today!
First the milestones:
- Warren (my son) started going to public school this year, 4th grade…and he loves it! His teacher is amazing so that’s a huge bonus!
- The beginning of September, WordPress notified me that For His Purpose blog has been a go for two years now!! When I first decided to start a blog I honestly didn’t think I had much more than two or three deep thoughts to share, so to think that I’ve now written over 80 posts in the past two years with 280 followers, blows my mind.
- Had an awesome time at women’s weekend with maybe 45 minutes of sleep.
- Nathan and I celebrated our 15 year wedding anniversary last month…with…insert drumroll please…a trip to Subway! They have gluten-free bread! (Side note: always have it toasted, it helps kill the rubbery texture)
…Thinking back — I remember the first five years of our marriage wrapped up in worldly desires and completely oblivious to it — the next five years wandering if we were gonna make it to ten years, and now here we are at fifteen years covered in God’s goodness and His mercy and grace with a healthy, solid Christian marriage!! Praise Him!! I love you Nathan!
- Nate recently built our chickens an epic chicken coop. It hasn’t encouraged them to become better egg layers though but it looks sweet!😕
- Our charming, but sassy, daughter turned fourteen last week so tonight we’ll head to the roller rink to celebrate. The good news is if we break a leg our insurance deductible is met!
Counting blessings…I feel like I always become a bit more aware of my blessings once Autumn hits, guess it’s the idea of the Thanksgiving theme in the air. I do have a lot to be thankful for regardless of the time of year, and yesterday happened to be my birthday so I thought I’d create a list of things I’m thankful for, one for each year of my life. If you’re feeling ambitious you can count each one and you’ll figure out my age!
Here we go…I’m thankful for: God, my faith, the Bible, my husband, my children, my mama, memories of my dad, my mother-in-law, my father-in-law, my brothers, my sister-in-laws, nieces, nephews, grandmas, genuine friends, yorkies, laughter, the mountains, the ocean, my church family, WordPress, substitute teaching, my salon job at the nursing home, yoga, reading, writing, cat naps, Tim Hawkins (Christian comedian), Anne W. (my mentor and friend from church), my imitation farmhouse, my chickens, camping, running, sunsets, the movie Elf, and lastly — fajitas!!That was easy (actually had to delete some to have the right amount). It’d be hard for me to come up with even a handful of complaints so I must be on the right path!
I want to leave you with one last thought.
It’s from 1 Chronicles 28:9 and 10 when King David announces to his kingdom that his son Solomon will take his place on the throne and he will be the one to build a temple for God. Instructing his son, he says this to him:
“And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house as the sanctuary. Be strong and do the work.”
As I was doing my Bible reading the other day I came across those verses. I’ve read them before, but reading them this time they boldly stood out to me.
As a Christian mom it’s my goal to see my kids grow in their faith and love the Lord wholeheartedly and I think King David’s words to his son here serve as a great example of what it looks like to really proclaim that desire. I want my children to know the Lord as their own — not by my faith, not by their dad’s…but by true, authentic, self-declared faith. My kids may not have the same task that Solomon was given, but the Lord has called each of them to serve Him in their own unique way and my prayer is that they would willingly discover His hope over their lives, knowing that I will fully encourage them along the way.
Hope you all have an awesome weekend!
What blessings are you counting? Are you more aware of them during this time of year?
Congratulations on 2 years blogging 🙂
Happy Anniversary 🙂
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Thank you!!
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You’re welcome 🤗
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Happy Birthday! Thanks for sharing your milestones. Your victories are an encouragement and a source of joy!
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Thank you! I definitely feel like I have more energy now than I did ten years ago!! Thank you for helping me recognize that❤️
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A shotgun blast of congrats for so many things going on in your life. Alicia, I am certain if your kiddos, your husband, your friends from the retreat, your church family, and your chickens could jump on this post to share about you, there would be mounds of blessings they would deliver concerning what you are in their lives. (That’s a long sentence.). God’s grip to you and yours, Alan
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Ahh thank you Alan!! That means a lot to me seriously!! Thanks for taking the time to read and comment. I always enjoy our visits!! I need to pop over to your blog!! …I’m behind again☹️…that is one of my complaints— not enough time or more accurately that I’m not a good manager of time 😂
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Ha, well, that’s what archives are for. Glad you’re there.
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🙂👍
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God first. Children and Grands, 3 siblings and their families, Our blessing of homes and hearth and my Blog Friends, to name a few.
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Yes those are fantastic and such a blessing!!!❤️💕
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Thank you.:)
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Congrats! That’s a beautiful pic of you and Nate! 😊 You’re an awesome mom, by the way. What blessings am I counting? All of them. 😆 God is good, even when I don’t feel so good or I’m doing battle with the devil. He fights my battles for me as I tuck in close. Be blessed my sweet friend. I’m looking forward to another blogging year with my blogging buddies at my side, and reading all of your heart warming posts. Love you, Alicia. ❤
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It’s so good we can rely on God when times are tough or even when it’s smooth sailing!! Incredibly thankful for my friendship with you!! Love you too!
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Awesome thankful list. Thanks for sharing your family’s milestones. May the Lord continue to bless you all and your ministry.
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Thanks!!! Love thinking of things I’m thankful for, seems like it’s hard to stop naming them off once I begin!!
Blessings your way also!
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I love this Alicia! I am thankful for you and our friendship! Congratulations on 2 years blogging, your birthday, 15 years of marriage, but most importantly, your relationship with Jesus. Thank you for letting me be a part of your journey…..it is truly a blessing. Here’s to more memories to come. Love you my friend!!
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Love you too!!! I’m thankful you’ve invested your time and wisdom and helped me so much and that you do it with Jesus as the focus!!! ❤️
…You know how sometimes we’re challenged to think of someone who is a positive role model in our lives—someone that displays patience, kindness..is humble, gentle, etc….ya you’re definitely that person for me!! People like you are very few and far between!!❤️
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God has surely been good to you and I celebrate his goodness with you!💃💃💃 This time of the year, I reflect on God’s goodness and go back to my “2019 testimonies” to check off the manifested testimonies my family thanked God for when the year began. There’s a lot to be thankful for♥️
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Yes praise Him!!❤️ thanks for sharing your thankfulness through the comments!!
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Happy Birthday, Alicia! Blessings!
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Thank you!!
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Happy 36th and 15th anniversary and 2-year blogiversary! You are very blessed!
So happy that Warren has a good teacher at his new school!
I love that Tim Hawkins made it on your list! 😂It’s such a blessing to have a good laugh!
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Yes!! Love laughing, it helps me keep positive!!
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It’s the best medicine, they say! 😁
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I couldn’t argue that!!
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