laying down my cross

Yesterday during my long run, I was thinking about how each one of  us has our "cross to bare." I have a friend whose son died years ago during his teenage years and she has a broken heart that will never go away. Another good friend of mine has terrible varicose vein problems, on her legs, that not only look horrible, but cause her an immense amount of chronic pain. And another sweet friend has an incredibly manipulative difficult mother-in-law who won't obey her "wishes" on how she wants her children raised. This same friend also has a cute baby that refuses to sleep through the night. And then there is me with my constant struggles with a mentally abusive, drug-addicted mother, living in a foreign culture that constantly seems "foreign" and trying to speak a language that I don't get enough opportunities to practice and subsequently end up looking pretty dumb. So....we all have our "thing." I bet right now you are thinking about the "thing" that plagues you and is always there as a reminder of how much you need God, His strength and His guidance. I think that without these things, we might become so self-dependent that we forget our need for Him. Even Paul, in the Bible, had his "thorn in his side." I often wonder what it was. It definitely wasn't a mother in law or varicose veins. :)

Anyway, in light of ALL of our problems, I think it is best to look "up" (thank you Jonatha for that gracious and much needed reminder) instead of dwelling on the issues at hand. So, instead of daily reminding you how hard my life is here and constantly lamenting about my cultural struggles, I'm going to daily post a list, on top of my normal blogs, of things I am so ever grateful for. How can one stay down when they are focusing on such blessings? And praise the Lord I have a lot of them. I can think of 6 right off the top of my head! :)


So I am setting down my cross to bare and picking up The Cross that has blessed me with this life of freedom and intimacy with God. 

I am so thankful:

for perfectly healthy kids and for so many children.

A good-looking, intelligent, thin husband who takes care of the "details."

I am thankful that he also cleans rugs :) (see previous pictures)

that my hubby allows me to spend a lot of time running because he knows it makes me a better mom and wife.

for my children's school.

for a sweet baby that smiles and grabs my face to kiss me when he sees me.

for my relationship with my very kind dad (Papa Dean).

for cheap Peruvian food that is quite healthy.

for Papa John's 2 for 1 specials on Tuesday night.

for the gardeners in our neighborhood who work so hard to keep the grass green, the bushes trimmed and the flowers looking beautiful.

for friends that haven't seen me very much these past 3 years, but still faithfully call me and are committed to a long distance friendship.

for the sweet lady, whom I've never met, when I asked for a discount on a new blog, on her own accord felt led to donate her services to me.

for God's immense patience with my impatience, struggles, doubts and faithlessness at times.


for friends, like you, who are reading my list.

for my favorite color, Red!