Thankful on Thursday

Are you generally a thankful person?

Are you truly thankful for what you have? For what you don't have?

For your circumstances and the people in your life?

Are you thankful for the blessings God has graciously given you and the things God has thoughtfully taken from you?

I feel The Lord continually asking me this, and after sitting in thought and in prayer over these questions, my answer to these questions is no. 

I am not generally a thankful person. 

Thankfulness does not come naturally to me. 

In fact, often times, I am an expect-ful person.

{Yes, I just made that word up.}

By being an expect-ful person, I simply mean this: I expect things. I expect things from every situation, from every person, and  from God. 

Let me give you an example.

Thomas and I are very different and we have very different ideas on what the meaning of clean is.

Thomas is content with things being picked up.

Whereas I look around and see specks of dust on the baseboards and crumbs on the floor and instantly, I spin into a whirlwind of panic and frustration at how incredibly dirty our home is.

Instead of being thankful that Thomas just cleaned the dishes, put them away and picked up the downstairs, I focus on everything else that needs to be done- and I get upset.

I expect his meaning of clean to be my meaning of clean. I expect him to see what I see. I expect him to take the same cleaning approach that I do.

And, by doing that, I completely strip myself {and him} of all feelings of thankfulness for what he actually did do.

I know that was just a tiny example of the kind of expect-ful person I am, but just know that I {embarrassingly} do this with almost everything and everyone, in almost every circumstance and situation.

What a B, right? {just keeping it real}

It's ridiculous and crazy, unfair and unloving. 

Not to mention, un-thankful.

Like I mentioned earlier, The Lord has really been stirring this up inside of me. 

He is showing me that this is a direct reflection of my heart {whoa} and that He does not want this attitude and outlook from me.

He does not want this example to be portrayed by one of His own.

He is showing me there is SO MUCH to be thankful for and I am wasting too much time, energy, and emotion being expect-ful.

He is showing me that being expect-ful is robbing me of the joy He has for me. 

The bible says a lot about being thankful.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. {Colossians 3:15}

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. {Colossians 4:2}

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe... {Hebrews 12:28}

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. {1 Thessalonians 5:18}

I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. {Ephesians 1:16}

God wants us to be thankful.
I want to be thankful.

Since the November is traditionally the month where everyone is reminded of thankfulness {Thank you Thanksgiving} I thought this month would be the perfect time to really dig deep, work on my heart and share with you the things I am thankful for.

I will be sharing these things every Thursday this month, beginning today {even though we're one day short of November}

I encourage you to do the same thing! 
Grab a pen and a notebook and ask God to reveal to you the things you should be thankful for. There are so many little things we overlook in the busyness of everyday that God will be faithful to show you if you just ask Him.

Thankful on Thursday

• My marriage. Even through the lowest lows, my marriage to Thomas is an incredible blessing.
• I woke up early this morning to spend time in the Word - something I rarely do. I was so blessed by it, and you know what? My eyes are open to things I normally would not see and my day is so much smoother than most of my days because I did this. God is so good!
•  Kennedy got up this morning with the most joyous spirit and I got to enjoy it. She was so giddy that our dog woke her up and that she got to wear her jammies to school. I am thankful I got to see her smile and hear her belly laugh.
• Right before I walked out the door to take the kids to school, I noticed dirt under McKynlie's fingernails. I took her into the bathroom and washed her hands thoroughly for her, and I noticed just how tiny her hands are compared to mine. It made me realize how small and innocent she still is. I am thankful for her innocence. I noticed her look at me while I washed her hands, and she started to sing to me. It was the sweetest.
• Sometimes Lincoln wants only me. I love it. 
• the new recipe for Chicken Chili I am about to stick in the crock pot for a perfect Fall dinner before Trick-Or-Treating tonight. 
• I am always thankful for hot, fresh coffee. 
• for my laundry that is piled at my feet- I normally loathe it, but today I am thankful for it. It means we have clothes to wear and we are blessed by that. 
• For this blog. I am thankful for the times I get to openly spill my heart out, for the times I get to be real and honest. I am thankful for what The Lord is stirring up in me with it. 
• I am thankful for Wednesday night service at our Church. My work schedule doesn't allow us to make it to Sunday morning Service, so I am so thankful for this. I love that it is a smaller, more intimate service!
• The few bits of quiet time I get throughout my day. Like right now- Lincoln just fell asleep in his swing.
• I am thankful for encouraging bible verses like Romans 8:28 {And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose} which gives me hope in my current circumstances. 
• I am thankful for my current circumstances, because I know through these trials, God is building me up and preparing me for His good and perfect will. 
• I am thankful for the cross. For God's unfailing love and mercy. I am thankful for God's patience with me when I am too hard-headed and stubborn. I am thankful for His gentle hand guiding me and his sweet voice speaking Truth to me every single day.   

Thank You for reading along as I share my heart. I am finding that praying about being thankful is opening my eyes to what God is doing in my heart and life. It is opening my eyes to what I would have otherwise missed, and I am finding that writing out what I am thankful for, even if it is just a few things, makes it much more real. 

I hope it does for you, too. 
  

Hays Ways {a little about us}

 Photo Credit: Andrea's Wedding Photography

December, 2012

This is us. 

We've grown a little since this picture was taken, but,  this is us none-the-less.

Our little, blessed family of five.

I would like to take some time to tell you a little bit about our history, our family and each one of us, individually. 

Photo Credit: Andrea's Wedding Photography

Thomas and I met in October 2007, when I started working at Washington Mutual Bank in Sun City, California. He was a Teller there, and he was basically the one responsible for 'showing me the ropes.'

I could have never imagined that first day of work at Washington Mutual would be the first day of the rest of my life. 

I was in a really rough season in my life when I started working there. 

I was 21 years old {Thomas was 19}. I had a 3 month old daughter, my sweet McKynlie, and I was living with my parents, as a single mom. 

At first, Thomas was a friend. A great listener and comforter. He was there for me.

It didn't take long for our friendship to turn into something more. 

And then, within 3 months, he decided it was too much.

I was crushed. 

But, I understood. 

And I was grateful he was honest enough to tell me it was too much.

You see, I was really grown up for being just 21 years old. 

I was a mom. I had lived a lot. I had been through a lot. I had seen a lot. And I expected a lot.

I was a lot of responsibility for a 19 year old boy to take on. 

I truly did understand where he was coming from. 

I always refer to the first part of our relationship as the time God used Thomas to show me what He had in store for me. 

Thomas brought me back to me.

He reminded me of what I deserved, what I wanted and how I was meant to be treated by a man. 

God used Thomas to open my eyes.

During the time Thomas and I were apart, {long story short} I became pregnant with Kennedy, and I got engaged to her and McKynlie's dad.

{yes, I made A LOT of mistakes. I am forever thankful I serve a faithfully forgiving and gracious God who never let go of me.}

Thomas was crushed. 

My relationship quickly crumbled with the girls' dad, and Thomas was selflessly and completely there for me, once again.

Thomas and I were officially a couple on August 27th, 2009

We were married October 1st, 2010 {the best day of my life}

Together, Thomas and I have become the very best of friends. We have laughed and rejoiced and found joy.  We have struggled, fought, mourned and cried. 

We have been through things that could've torn us apart and ripped our marriage to shreds.

But The Lord, our God is with us and He carries us through all of the seasons we go through as husband and wife.

I find my hope in Him, and everyday, I place our marriage in His hands.

And I am so thankful The Lord made me for Thomas. I am so blessed to be his wife.





photo credit: TWP by Marissa Sanchez
January 2012

photo credit: Andrea's Wedding Photography
December 2012

photo credit: TWP by Marissa Sanchez
November 2012

Thomas is... amazing.

God really knew what He was doing when He created Thomas and put the plan in place for us to be husband and wife. He knew I needed Thomas. Thomas is gentle hearted and sweet. He is funny. He is soooo smart. He is a hard worker, a great friend and an incredible father. He is strong, honest and trustworthy. He is a great leader and protector. Thomas works for a local city in their finance department and he loves to watch sports, movies and go shooting. Sometimes, I look at Thomas and just melt at how deep my love is for him. I couldn't imagine one day without him. Thankful is an understatement.

 McKynlie age 6- September 2013

Kennedy age 4- October 2013

Photos by Me

McKynlie is my oldest. She is 6 years old and is in first grade. She is sweet and kind. She is sassy and bold. She is drama and beauty. She is curious and she is a perfectionist. She is love, truly. She truly loves to love and be loved. She seeks to please and wants to be just like me. She is silly and loves to make people laugh. She has a great heart for Jesus and a flawless eclectic soul. If you were to ask, she would tell you that her favorite TV show is Sofia the First and her favorite colors are pink and purple. She loves to help me cook and she wants to be a teacher when she grows up. She is forgiveness and grace and the capacity of her heart is larger than she is.

 Kennedy is my middle child. She is 4 years old {though she will tell you she is 5}. She is daring and tough. She is active and rambunctious. She is carefree and unorganized. She is sort of a tomboy and she is a daddy's girl.  She loves animals... probably more than people. She pushes the limits. She likes to be just like McKynlie, so she would say her favorite TV show is Sofia the First {and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse} and her favorite colors are pink and purple {and black}. She loves to pray and ask questions about Heaven. She has the sweetest voice and she is so imaginative. She does her own thing. She is cool and confident and kind. She looks forward to baking chocolate chip cookies with me. She is bold and she believes and she will be an amazing Godly influence.

 Lincoln, age 10 months. October 2013. Photos by me.

Lincoln. My baby. Lincoln is my miracle child. He is a blessing from The Lord after He had Thomas and I journey through a very long, rough season in our marriage and life. {I will post about this season in the future.} Lincoln is perfect. He is a mommy's boy. He is happy and sweet. He is big and strong and energetic. He fights bedtime and loves to feed himself. I gave Lincoln to The Lord when I found out I was pregnant with him, and sometimes, I can feel The Lord through him.  He has slowed me down and made me realize The Lord's desires for me and my life. His eyes are windows to his soul- so deep and full. He is pure joy and an answer to so many prayers.

Me. August 2013

This is me. {and this is the hardest part of this blog post to write.} As you know, I am a wife and a mom. I work full-time as an emergency dispatcher and I am too busy for my own good. I am at a turning point in my life and I am excited  to see where The Lord is guiding me. He is changing my heart and my plans. He is aligning me with His good and perfect will. I am in awe. I love coffee and I love to crochet. I love when my house is clean {which is never, by the way}.  I have a creative spirit. I love to plan, decorate and organize. I have a bold personality, and I am beginning to realize God didn't give that to me by mistake- He gave me a bold personality to be bold about Him- about His grace, His love, His son. He gave me a bold personality so I can speak {write} about bold topics of faith and truth and love. And this blog is the place He gave me to start.

I hope you enjoyed this little look into my life and family, and I hope you feel a little more connected when you are reading the posts now that you have seen our faces and have had glimpses of our hearts.

Callie Loves {a blog name change}

so, I decided to change my blog's name.

as much as I loved A Beautiful Frenzy, and as much as it 'fit' me and my life,
I felt it just wasn't personal enough.

I want this blog to be about my life, my family, my joys and my struggles.
I want to share with you what The Lord is putting on my heart and what He is teaching me.
I want to share the testimony He has given me through my experiences and by His grace.
I want to share about His unconditional love for us.

I want to share about the work He has begun {and will forever continue} in my heart to love as He loves.

This blog will be a reflection of my journey to love like jesus.

Welcome to Callie Loves.