A Grateful Heart is a Happy Heart

After lunch, during a break in the Cowboys' game The beautiful clubhouse and pool

The future's so bright, we've got to wear shades

80's song- Kristin, do you at least know it?

The view of the lake from the dock

How amazing- and it's NovemberI call Nick my Boaz because he takes care of me and my mom

Thanksgiving was so beautiful this year. A relatively short drive to my mom's house, temperature in the 80's and an amazing gift in my life who did all the cooking! How good is God?!? But to have a family invite my mom and I into their lives meant the world to us. Nick's parents and family welcomed us to their beautiful home just an hour a way. After lunch, we went to the super nice clubhouse on the lake and took in the gorgeous view. After Nick beat me in foozball (thank goodness he doesn't let me win, I want to earn it!); we went home, our hearts and stomachs full.

But I never forgot last Thanksgiving. Holidays haven't always been my favorite and last year was close to rock bottom. I'm so thankful that the Lucas let me hang out with them but I only asked at the last minute. God has always been so good to provide invitations the past 4 years away from home but it was still emotionally challenging at times. Last year I realized that God did not ever want the birth of His Son to make people sad. There is an enemy of our soul who wants to use the holidays to make people feel sorrowful and alone. The truth is that as long as with live in a broken world, there will be children without parents, wives with husbands away at war and families with no home. There will never be a Thanksgiving where everyone can fill their stomach with turkey and their hearts with fellowship. But that gives us a chance to reach out, to give of ourselves and invite people into our world and share the blessings on our lives. Jesus was always feeding people's stomachs and their hearts. God blessed us so we could bless others and I hope to remember that during this season.

This year, I am beyond thankful to have my health, my parents alive and well, to be in a state I love, have a new car, a good job, great friends, an amazing church family, a wedding to look forward to sharing with and reuniting with friends and the most incredible surprise of Nick. But if I had none of those things, I would still have the love of God. I would still have the promise of eternity with Him. One of my favorite promises in the Bible is that there will come a day when God will wipe every tear from our eyes. So no matter where you are or what you have this particular holiday season, be encouraged that God loves you. He has a great hope for your future, an amazing plan for your life. He just never intended your hope to be in the things of this world. He intended your hope to be in Him. Though you may not understand what He's up to, if you just trust Him, you will find peace and joy this holiday season.

"Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured

out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

Romans 5:5