Thanks-living September {a linky}

Sometimes it's the simple things that I'm most thankful for.

We went to the beach with relatives visiting from Oklahoma. Since God knows one of my love languages is animals, he brought this friend on over. Paco the Pelican, as he is now known, wasn't afraid at all.

He just looked at me. Posing.

Isn't he beautiful?

Incidentally, we saw dolphins, fish, and giant orange and pink sea stars stuck to the pylons.

It was an extraordinary walk on the pier.

I'm thankful this month for opportunities to serve God. You know, he doesn't need our help

But He chooses to use us.

This month, it has been such a huge blessing to start 101 Wednesdays. So many women have responded, in my face-to-face life, through the blog, and a few even shared that they were thinking of starting their own studies in their communities. I knew God had been moving my heart to start it up; I just couldn't have predicted how inspired, humbled, blessed and satisfied I'd feel after doing so. (That's how you know you are where you're supposed to be, I think.)

I'm thankful our church encourages kids to serve the Lord too. My girl serves on the Power Hands team. It's only for 4th graders and up; they lead worship and hand motions for all the littler kids.

(And that's my mommy. She was looking so cute I had to take a photo of those two. She always looks cute, btw. I'm thankful for her too. She's a fun mommy and a very popular Nana.)

I'm thankful for quiet times and creativity.

I've been getting some myself, now that the kids are in school, and it's wonderful. I am really loving making things - special, one-of-a-kind things - for my shop. I'm very thankful for friends like you who have encouraged me and loved the results.

Here, my little guy is having some creative time of his own writing comics. He wrote multiple stories, some with three chapters, over the span of a few days. They are quite funny. My favorite was called "Episode 2 - My way" which was a silly version of a Star Wars epsiode.  

Lastly, I'm thankful that God goes before us. He knows what will happen tomorrow, and next week, and next year in my life. It's been a rough transition getting back to the school routine. Early mornings, busy afternoons, loads of homework, things forgotten, half-eaten lunches and tired everyone. It's tempting to dwell on the unpleasant aspects of September, for me anyway. But I'm choosing to be thankful that I don't need to figure things out ahead of time.

I don't need to know all the answers.

I have a good God.

And He goes ahead of me, making sure I will have what I need.
Tomorrow, and next week, and next year.

What about you?

What blessings did you find this month?

<center> <a href="http://topofthepagewithleslie.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="topofthepagewithleslie" src=" https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LDn0Ll89AYw/UD5f9UsjxlI/AAAAAAAADBc/Rg_P_ddqrSU/s512/ThanksLiving%252520button.jpg "/></a></center>