Count your blessings

When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed, 

When you are discouraged thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings;

Name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

So amid the conflict, whether great or small,

Do not be discouraged; God is over all.

Count your many blessings;

Angels will attend,

Help and comfort give you to your journey's end.

This hymn has been coming to my mind at least several times a day for the past week. I've been feeling so over burdened lately, and the Lord has been reminding me with this hymn that these burdens are actually blessings. Since I've realized that, I'm happier. I'm not going to complain. The Lord has given me the opportunity to serve others and I need to not complain or feel burdened by it otherwise I will not receive the blessings he has for the good works I've been given the opportunity to do. 

I've also decided that I'm not going to allow the negativity to continue to be present in my life. Lately there have been things come up that have been making me feel awful. I know Satan is working hard to ruin the happiness that has come to my family. He has been working very hard to make sure my family doesn't succeed in our goals. So, I need to step up my game and my defenses even harder. I'm going to purge myself from all the things or people that do not contribute to my life in a way that makes me happy. I won't necessarily be cutting ties with people I currently have relationships with because people change. I'm just going to put a little bit of distance from myself/family and the things that will not help us grow closer to Christ.

First Day of School 2013/2014

Alyssa all ready for school

Lily had to give Alyssa a hug before she left on the bus

I forgot my camera/phone when we took Micah to the bus stop. So, we didn't get a shot before school, but after school coming home from the bus.