Jeff

I have finally found a few minutes to type out a post I've been wanting to type. Throughout the month of November I'm going to try to post everyday something I/we are thankful for. Earlier this summer I read a book about finding joy in everything. One of the things required of us to have true joy is to be thankful IN all things. There have been many a days since then that I have had to 'search' for something to give thanks for and I have often been humbled by the attitude of my heart on those days. It is on those 'humbled' days that I have also found myself the most joyful after getting my heart right before God. I thought it would be a good lesson for the girls (and myself) to take the time everyday to think about all that God has blessed us with and to give thanks for that. We will be writing them down and putting them in a jar to review at the end of the month.

So for today. . . I am blessed beyond measure with the husband God has provided for and placed in my life. Jeff celebrated his 33rd birthday Tuesday. As we were getting things ready for his birthday I had some time to reflect on how we got from our first date to his 33rd birthday (by the way..... he robbed the cradle :) ) Jeff has one of the biggest, most caring hearts of anybody I know. Does that mean that he loves everybody he meets? Nope. But for the people that have been gotten to know him, he will truly do anything to help them. Most of you know Jeff and I have a business outside of his job at Wilbur Ellis. In that business I get to see how big Jeff's heart is. He meets sooo many new people and is immediately able to build a relationship with them. And once they get to know each other, Jeff will pour his time into them to help them work through difficulties they are having in their lives and accomplish goals they have set. He is so good at encouraging others. I think it's because he is such a 'good finder'. He is the one that is looking for the good in others and focusing on that instead of their flaws. I'm so thankful for this since my flaws are many!! We have a stack of cards at home that attest to all the people that Jeff has helped in one way or another. I love watching him when he's encouraging other's. He has a very patient way of teaching that I do not always understand. It is very evident his passion is in helping others.

Jeff is also the best dad in the world!! I know that society these days makes jokes of the dads that sit around and watch tv all night, or go out with the guys every week, or play in 3 different leagues a week, or sit back and allow their wives to do all the discipline with the kids. The jokes they crack make it seem that these activities are okay and 'normal' to do. Thankfully God has given Jeff the desire to not just father his children, but to be a dad to them too!! Jeff loves playing with the girls. And while they are playing they are learning soooo much. Jeff is really good at teaching them little lessons, but I think the most valuable thing he is teaching them he doesn't even know. He's teaching them what to look for in a husband. As they grow older they will see the way he treats his wife and look for that in their mates. They will also have a wealth of memories of all the things their dad played with them and look for a mate that will treat their children the same. One of my favorite things to do is sit back and watch the memories Jeff is making with his girls and thank God for making him such an amazing dad.

Jeff is also an amazing husband. Oh we've had our ups and downs over the past almost, 8 years. Some very, very trying times. Looking back, I can see that God used those struggles to strengthen us and our marriage (another reason to be thankful IN all things). While I enjoyed the 'newness' (not the word I'm looking for)of our first years of marriage I would not like to go back there. I know we have grown so much since then and love Jeff more today then 8 years ago even though there may be more baggage now.

Everyday I thank God for placing Jeff in my life and that I won't take him for granted, but that I can be the best wife that I can for him.

(picture to come......)