Happy Thanksgiving! ~A few thoughts...

Today, as we all know, is the official day of Thanksgiving, the day set apart for the specific purpose of giving thanks.  Oh how very much we have to be thankful for!  Yes, life is filled with many difficulties, confusions sometimes, and even pain.  When we look only at the trials and difficulties, life seems difficult to bear at times.  But when we look up and focus on our loving Father who is Faithful and True, and begin to look around us and see all of the ways that we have been truly blessed, counting our blessings, naming them one by one, how can our hearts not be filled with joy and thanksgiving to Him who has richly given us all things?!  

"I am reminded that God is my Father still, that He does have a purpose for me, and that nothing is useless in the fulfillment of that purpose- if I'll trust Him for it and submit to the lessons." ~Elisabeth Elliot 

So here's a thought to ponder on...

We live in a day and age where everyone thinks they deserve something and certainly more than they have.  But...

What about you?

Do you and I see how blessed we are?  How much God has given us? In the midst of holiday shopping, family gatherings and football; take the time this Thanksgiving to stop and count your blessings.  Thank God for the many things that you have to be thankful for.  Above all, thank Him for the love that He has bestowed upon us in sending His Son, Jesus Christ, that each person might receive the free gift of salvation to those that believe on Him as Lord and Savior.  

"Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered...Let us go forth therefore unto Him...By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to Him name." ~Hebrews 13:12-13,15

~Breanna for the Alexander Family

Overcoming the Little Things, the Hardest Things - Winning Our Spiritual Crown

But they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die. (Rev 12:11)

The greatest things are always hedged about by the hardest things, and we, too, shall find mountains and forests and chariots of iron. Hardship is the price of coronation. Triumphal arches are not woven out of rose blossoms and silken cords, but of hard blows and bloody scars. The very hardships that you are enduring in your life today are given by the Master for the explicit purpose of enabling you to win your crown.

Do not wait for some ideal situation, some romantic difficulty, some far-away emergency; but rise to meet the actual conditions which the Providence of God has placed around you today. Your crown of glory lies embedded in the very heart of these things—those hardships and trials that are pressing you this very hour, week and month of your life. The hardest things are not those that the world knows of. Down in your secret soul unseen and unknown by any but Jesus, there is a little trial that you would not dare to mention that is harder for you to bear than martyrdom.

There, beloved, lies your crown. God help you to overcome, and sometime wear it.

—Selected, taken from Streams in the Desert, Vol. 1, for Nov. 16th, by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman

~Brittany

Engaging in Fruitfulness - What draws you nearest to Christ?

“Be most in those engagements which you have experimentally proved to draw you nearest to Christ, because it is from Him that all your fruits proceed.  Any holy exercise which will bring you to Him will help you to bear fruit.”
- Charles Spurgeon

~Brittany

A Thanksgiving Quote - on Overcoming with Courage

“All great and honourable actions are accompanied with great difficulties, and must be both met and overcome with answerable courage.  It was granted the dangers were great, but not desperate; the difficulties were many, but not invincible.  For, many of the things feared might never befall; others by provident care and the use of good means might in a great measure be prevented; and all of them, through the help of God, by fortitude and patience, might either be borne or overcome.  True it was that such attempts were not to be undertaken without good ground and reason, rashly or lightly; or, as many had done, for curiosity or hope of gain.  But their condition was not ordinary; their ends were good and honourable; their calling, lawful and urgent; therefore they might expect the blessing of God on their proceedings.  Yea, though they should lose their lives in this action, yet might they have the comfort of knowing that their endeavour was worthy.”

- Of Plymouth Plantation, by William Bradford

~Brittany

New Little Blessing!

About six weeks ago the Lord blessed us with a very special blessing.  It came in a very small package weighing 8 lbs. 10 oz. and was 19" long.  This sweet little blessing was the first grandchild to enter the Alexander family; Tayte and Martha's first child.  Miss Alexandria Lea was born on September 23rd, just five minutes after midnight.  With a beautiful complexion and a very peaceful, content disposition, she was just perfect.  Babies are such an amazing thing.  Such tiny complexity; they are truly amazing works of God's hand.  We are so thankful for this little girl.  It is so precious watching Tayte and Martha be parents, and Alexandria has very proud grandparents and uncle and aunts. :-)  Here are some pictures that we've been able to capture over these past weeks that capture these special moments.

Tayte, Martha, and Alexandria

Beautiful Little Family

Little Alexandria

just a couple hours after she was born

 'Grandpa' & 'Daddy'

with Alexandria

Those are two thrilled guys!

 A special moment very late at night.

'Grandma' holding her first little granddaughter while she slept.

The morning after Alexadria was born we had four kiddos at our house who were very anxious to meet her. :-)

I love each of their expressions.

 'Aunt' Elizabeth holding her for the first time.

 'Aunt' Sarah holding her for the first time.

 'Uncle' Titus holding her for the first time.

 'Aunt' Esther holding her for the first time.

Since little miss Alexandria's birth, there have been many trips down the lane to check in on everyone, and we are enjoying watching Tayte be a daddy and seeing Martha being a mother.  And there are always many arms that want to hold that special little girl.  Here are some more random pictures.

 Titus is a wonderful uncle; very tender and sweet with his little niece.

This picture was taken the first day Tayte and Martha brought her down to our house.

 A very thrilled, awe-struck 'Aunt' Breanna

 and a very delighted, amazed 'Aunt' Brittany

 Sweet Martha and Alexandria came down for their first little visit one afternoon.

We all so enjoyed that!  That little girls gets passed around the room a million times. :-)

 ~ First Time Babysitting ~

We were all so thrilled when Breanna came back home from Tayte and Martha's with Alexandria in her arms one day.  It was only for about an hour or so, but that was one special hour with a very loved on little girl.

 We never just stand around gawking at her. ;-)

 Alexandria definitely likes her thumb.

She was sucking her thumb like crazy just a couple hours after she was born.

 She likes her pacy too. :-)

Esther enjoyed holding her outside and Alexandria seemed contented by the environment.

 Everyone wants a chance to hold her.

That smile could not get any bigger!

 Precious Picture

Father and Daughter looking at each other.

This was taken on Tayte's 20th birthday.

 Baby close-ups. - A favorite at our house.

Beautiful little baby doll.

 Such a cutie!

She really had Breanna and I cracking up on this one.

She kept pinching her cheeks and chin and making cute little expressions.

She had two very captivated aunties for sure.

Time to get out the baby toys!

The girls had lots of fun keeping Alexandria happy with all our baby toys.

It is so neat to be using these saved toys with our first little grandbaby!

So there you have a brief overview of the past six weeks of baby activity around our place. :-)  I hope you've enjoyed seeing the newest little member of our family.  We are truly blessed, very thankful, and totally thrilled!  We are praying that the Lord will work in little Alexandria's heart, draw her to Himself and use her for His glory and for the building of His kingdom.

~Brittany

Giving Thanks ~ The Attitude that Changes Everything

Thanksgiving is a favorite holiday in the Alexander home.  And as it is approaching we are being reminded of the concept of gratitude once again.  Truly, there is so much to be thankful for!
This blog post from a favorite blog we follow is a beautiful reminder to thankfulness.  Hope you enjoy it and that it is an encouragement to each of you.  And thankfulness really is catchy, so try it. :-)


In This Home, We Give Thanks: The Attitude That Changes Everything

I don’t remember exactly when it started, or even why.

But I got into the habit of making up these games when I was a young girl.

Well, they weren’t really “games” but that’s what I called them and it was my way of encouraging myself to do what was right…even when I didn’t necessarily feel like it.

And for some reason, it kind of worked.

Not always, but often.

When I was a waitress, it was the Serve-the-Customer-Cheerfully Game.

I was determined to be pleasant to my customers, no matter how rude he or she was to me. It was a game I could always “win” because it solely depended on me doing my part.  Not only did I win, but I frequently won over even the toughest of customers.

When I was a tired mom with small children, I played the Greet-Your-Child-With-A-Warm-Smile game.

I was committed to beaming at my little ones…even when all I really felt was bleary-eyed and grumpy. Another winning game because I simply had to smile and I usually got a smile in return. And that way, we both had a better start to our day.

Then somewhere along the way, I began the We-Have-So-Much-to-be-Thankful-For Game.

And this game is my very favorite!

Whatever was going on in our day – in our lives – I had to find something for which I could be thankful.

Maybe I didn’t get enough sleep, but I could be thankful that I had a warm, soft bed to sleep in (when I could sleep, that is).

Maybe my laundry room was full-to-overflowing, but I could be thankful that at least we had clothes…and children to put them on.

Some situations were more challenging for which to be thankful, but even there…..

Maybe our daughter couldn’t walk, but we’re thankful that she can talk…and talk…and talk.

Maybe my mother-in-law has Alzheimer’s, but we can be thankful that she lives with us so we can care for her in these difficult days.

One of the nicest things about this game is that it’s surprisingly catchy!

Like the other night, for instance. The boys were starting to complain about cleaning the dinner dishes when I saw one of our sons change his expression right in the middle of his sentence. He stopped suddenly as he had this ah-ha moment and then slowly said to no one in particular, “Well, I guess we could be thankful that we have a family to feed.”

Then a moment later, “…and that we had dinner to eat. And that’s why we have all these dishes to clean up.”

I smiled at him.

Right. Exactly.

This is the attitude that changes everything.

Thankfulness might not change our circumstances, but it can sure change our perspective and even our hearts. And that right there can make all the difference in the world. Starting right here in our very own home.

So in this home, we give thanks.

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ~ I Thess. 5:18

With thanks for you,

 

Owner at Club 31 Women

Wife of Matthew Jacobson

~Brittany