One Thousand Gifts (continued)

"How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity!" (Psalm 133:1 TNIV)

Every year we try to take a family vacation with just the 6 of us.  They have no cousins or friends to play with.  It is such a beautiful thing when they are enjoying each other's company and "living together in unity."  However, that is not always the case.  It's remarkable how different siblings can be, which sometimes makes it difficult to find common ground.  Someone wants to go biking, but no one else wants to, or someone wants to play soccer, but has no one else wants to, etc.  Being together for the week, helps them learn to appreciate each other's differences and try to live together in unity.  

While on vacation, we also celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary.  As husband and wife, we too have had to learn to live in unity, which has not always been easy!  I am so thankful for God's grace and how He has brought healing and restoration to our marriage.  I am so thankful and blessed for 20 years of marriage with my best friend and how God has helped us grow closer to each other and to Him in the past 20 years.  I look forward to what God has planned for us in the next 20 years!  

Continuing to give thanks...
#4656-#4687

-finding a game to play that they all enjoy

-doing many things together, like being buried in the sand

-finding a project that they all can work on together

-the blessings of enjoying a week of camping with our four precious children

-how God has made them so different, yet so similar

-how we both proudly wear our "I love my wife" and "I love my husband" apparel

-celebrating 20 years of marriage (even if it was at Crabby Joe's) and God's love and faithfulness 

-her love for animals big and small, no matter where we are

-how he loves to read, no matter where he is

-glorious sunsets

-the joy of being buried in the sand and how that didn't grow old as the week went by

-his imagination and how he created huge muscles and Mickey Mouse ears!

-walking bare feet in the sand

-how her personality shines through this picture

-the many uninvited, but cute creatures that visited our campsite

-how he always makes us laugh (as he's trying to chase the racoon away with his hockey stick/flag)

-relaxing by the fire

-Nicole's servant heart, wanting to make s'mores for us (even though not all of the marshmallows were edible)

-her excitement to bike with her siblings and how she would ask them, "Do you want to bike around?"

-a fabulous week of relaxation!

-God's beautiful nature all around us

-the four of them playing at the park

-that we didn't have phone reception most of the week!!

-enjoying trips to the camp store

-reading in bed

-games that the whole family can enjoy

-the many fun memories that we created

-how he never ceases to make us laugh

-how she would ask every day, "Are we going to the beach?" and how she would pray at dinner time about going to the beach!

-great beach weather

-a fun, family vacation

-enjoying and appreciated reading material that I enjoy as well!