Counting My Blessings... 20-30

20. God's empowering grace
21. Birdsong coming through my open windows
22. The ability to read in another language

23. Communication of all kinds
24. Baby open-mouth kisses
25. The smell of clean laundry
26. Watching my children fall asleep
27. Girly giggles

28. A good core exercise program (I just need to do it more).
29. Healthy bodies for all four of us
30. Breastmilk

Counting My Blessings... 12-20

Here are some more blessings and things I am thankful for...

12. Nature right outside my backdoor.
13. Smiles
14. Bible promises for every trial possible to humans
15. Sunshine: nature's stain remover
16. Sweet, juicy, ripe mangoes
17. Hugs
18. Sleeping in (sometimes, hardly ever. Which is why I am thankful when I am able to).
19. Homemade tortillas
20. Making new friends while speaking a foreign language.

Comfort

My friend and her husband are burying their 18 month-old daughter today. This candle is in memoriam of the life of Ryann. I am praying that my friends will experience the comfort and peace that only Jesus can give when we face a loss like this.

‎"Through all our trials we have a never-failing Helper. He does not leave us alone to struggle with temptation, to battle with evil, and be finally crushed with burdens and sorrow. Though now He is hidden from mortal sight, the ear of faith can hear His voice saying, Fear not; I am with you .... I have endured your sorrows, experienced your struggles, and encountered your temptations. I know your tears; I also have wept. The griefs that lie too deep to be breathed into any human ear, I know. Think not that you are desolate and forsaken. Though your pain touch no responsive chord in any heart on earth, look unto Me, and live. 'The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the convenant of My peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.'Isaiah 54:10." - The Desire of Ages, p. 483.

Counting My Blessings...11

Continuing on with my counting of blessings and things I am thankful for, I would like to add number 11.

11. Naptime

Counting My Blessings...1-10

A friend of mine was diagnosed with throat cancer in January of this year. On her blog, she has written a list of 1,000 blessings, or things she is thankful for. I think I will do the same, only this will be an ongoing list, that doesn't end at just 1,000. Here is a small start:

1. Jesus

2. A husband better than what I deserve

3. Two great daughters

4. Laughter

5. Fireflies in Thailand (makes it feel more like home)

6. Meeting someone and just knowing that they're a friend

7. Divine appointments

8. Mosquito-eating geckos

9. Clean sheets

10. God's mercies that are new every morning.

I Love My Husband

I was just thinking about how great a guy my husband is and how much I love him. So, since he is the father of our children, I think he's relevant to my blog.

Tragedy

Please excuse me for writing about something other than my children. This is really on my heart tonight...

I wonder what the average age of a person is when they experience their first completely devastating loss. In my life, I have experienced a lot of loss. I don't know what the most devastating one was. I do remember the most recent one, and that was an episodic event in my life. I was 26 years old. Other losses, that are older and have had more time to heal don't seem so terrible as the most recent one, but they were devastating at the time that they happened.

Just recently, there has been much tragedy. In the news, in the lives of my friends, everywhere around us there is immense suffering as people suffer loss of loved ones, livelihood, homes, pets, and security. It is appalling to witness.

What do we do when we are faced with tragedy? Of course, there are the five stages of grief: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance. How do we get through these stages though? I guess that depends on if we were prepared or not...

What do I mean? How do we prepare for the tragedies that come upon us unexpectedly and suddenly? Let me just say that when I suffered my latest loss, I wasn't ready for it. But I was able to trust in the love of Jesus. In my time of deepest sorrow and suffering, I knew that He was right beside me weeping. He held me in his arms. He knew EXACTLY what I was going through. My relationship with Jesus prepared me to face the tragedy that came into my life. I knew that He had been beside me up until then, and that He would be with me through it.

I pray for all that are suffering loss now: The many people who have been affected by tornadoes, floods and other natural disasters. My friends who just lost their 18 month old daughter suddenly. Another friend who was diagnosed with throat cancer at the beginning of this year. Friends whose sister-in-law has just been diagnosed with a brain tumor. So much loss. So much suffering. So much tragedy.

I pray that all those who mourn would be comforted by Jesus. "Weeping may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning." Psalm 30:5