...that Christ may pitch a tent over and dwell upon me.. 2 Corinthians 12:9

I feel like there was a time in my life when life looked like a pretty little package, everything just how it should be and of course I had all of the control in all of it (or so I thought). These days I feel that God has slowly but surely pried every ounce of me believing I have any sort of control over anything in my life. Most days I sit back multiple times a day and actually think about how I have lost all control over everything in my life, as if I really had the control in the first place....

 This week has been so strange. I had just sat down to write and had written these words, "The point is, when Adam and I got married, for whatever reason, the enemy began to have it out for us and God began to allow more awful and hanious things into our lives in the short 6 years we have been married than I could have ever imagined or would have ever have had the capacity to imagine. " 

Right after I wrote those words, I found out that we had lice and the next day in the midst of trying to rid our family of lice we got the stomach bug to which Adam ended up in the hospital last night.

Needless to say, it has been a week.

In light of all of that craziness, I want to choose to say thank you God for the many blessings He has placed in my life. He has given us a nice place to stay, food to eat, and clothes to wear. (Matt 6) I have a husband who loves me and is so in love with the Lord. I have two beautiful girls who are full of life and joy. 

Finding things to be thankful for in my life in no way negates that it has been a hard week. I do not like when it is insinuated that we have so many blessings so "get over" the hardships. I just simply want to acknowledge that God has taken care of me this week and I am thankful to Him for that.

And I can also be thankful because His word says:
James 1:2-4
Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations.

³ Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.

⁴ But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full playand do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.

Hebrews 12:3

Just think of Him Who endured from sinners such grievous opposition and bitter hostility against Himself [reckon up and consider it with your trials], so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds.

John 16:33

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]

Habakkuk 3:19

The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds’ feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]!

Hebrews 2:18

For because He Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted (tested and tried), He is able [immediately] to run to the cry of (assist, relieve) those who are being tempted and tested and tried [and who therefore are being exposed to suffering].