Counting Down and Counting our blessings

As we count down the last 5 days until Christmas I cannot help but count our blessings.  It has been an amazing, exciting, eventful, and interesting year.  I could really go on for a while but will save some things for a different post.  Today, I just want to thank the Lord for 5 blessings, as we count down the last 5 days until celebrating our Saviour's birth.
5.  God's Protection.
God has been so good to us as we have traveled for the past 9 months.  We have driven over 33,400 miles all over our amazing country.  God has protected us, our vehicle, and our health.  We know that God has answered the prayers of so many by His protection of us.
4.  God's Provision.
When we left our home in February, we were (and still are) relying on the Lord to provide our every need.  We only had 4 supporting churches and a very large mortgage that still needed to be paid each month even though we were no longer living in our home.  As we look back many months later, God provided miraculously each month and has increased our monthly support to over 40%.  In June, God placed a renter into our home, we have a safe, reliable vehicle to drive, and we have never missed a meal or lacked a place to stay.
3.  Presents
This may sound materialistic, but with four children, I am thankful that we were able to buy them presents (more than they need or have room for).  God provided in miraculous ways for us to be able have presents for our family this Christmas.  We not only give them gifts to show our love for them, but we explain to them how Jesus was the best gift of all.  We also are doing are best to teach them to have a heart and generosity for others.   While out shopping the kids would see something and want to buy it for an aunt, or uncle or someone. I was so excited to see them excited about giving to others.  We came up with a plan.  Caleb, Anna and Abigail put all of the names of their aunts and uncles in a bowl and drew names.  They did extra chores and used some birthday money to pick out gifts for everyone on their list.  It has been such a fun year buying gifts for our children and seeing them excited about buying for others. 
2.  People
I am so thankful for the family God has given us.  We are able to take some time off to spend time with Jon's family at Thanksgiving and Christmas and will soon be with the James gang as well.  God has given us great friends and family.  We never want to take them for granted.
1.  God's peace
There is only one way to have peace with God and that is through His Son, Jesus.  Christmas really is the time to celebrate peace on earth.  Jesus came to earth as a baby so that one day He would give Himself as a sacrifice for us.  If we accept this gift, our sins can be forgiven giving us true peace with God.

The Beginning

I have contemplated starting a blog for some time now.  God has taught us and blessed us so much that it is my desire to share what we have learned with others.  With our hectic schedule and the amount of traveling we do, I cannot promise to post daily, but I do hope to share many things that God is teaching us and the lessons we learn living our life for the Lord.