Dry Sockets and Empty Pockets

What a week! Last week flew by.. and so did the weekend. I had my wisdom teeth taken out last weekend (Friday morning) which has not been my favorite surgery, that's for sure! I was still in so much pain yesterday that I went into the doctor's office to have him take a look at the incision to see why it was hurting so bad only on one side. He told me it was dry sockets so packed both sides down. I woke up this morning with even more severe pain though, so I went in again and the doctor discovered that an entire bean had made it's way into my incision. How does that even happen?? At least I'm on the road to recovery now! I am thankful though, because I have had tons of time to get stuff done at home (since I wasn't able to go to work on pain meds.. and yes I tried but got sent home). My heart is so happy, because I have so much joy! I wanted to blog mainly just to share my radiating joy that comes completely and solely from the Lord! Even on rougher days, I still have a happy heart, and I am praying the same is true for all of my blog-readers :) I have spent the last several hours reflecting on the many things that I am truly thankful for, and have been giving thanks for those specific things. The list literally goes on and on but here are some of the ones I really want to share

I am thankful for a loving mom, who is a cancer survivor. She has raised me to fear the Lord yet embrace His everlasting love. Mom and I have started a new challenge to memorize scripture weekly. I am thankful that I can have such a relationship with her!

I am thankful for the cross. How AMAZING His grace is! I have experienced His overflowing love and comfort this week! Thank you Lord for forgiving my darkened heart and bringing me to my knees!

I am thankful for my siblings.. Trent, Chelsea, Terah and Beaux. I got to talk to every one of them last week and got to see all except for Chelsea (I miss you Chels!). Terah got baptized at church last Sunday and Beaux and I got to spend all Saturday together. My little sisters and brother bless my heart more than anything in the WORLD!

I am thankful for a job. Maybe it's not my job of choice, since I still don't have my own classroom, but I am getting a paycheck, and for that I am thankful! I have also had the opportunity to minister to the students I have been working with in ways that I wouldn't have been able to had I been their permanent teacher for the semester.

My sockets are dry, as well as my pockets, but still I have job and happiness. Praying the same for you this week!! God is good, and He is faithful! Have a blessed week y'all!

When it rains, it drizzles

Last week was rough.. one of the weeks you wish you could just skip over. Maybe some other people feel that way too? Well I was reminded (by Rick), in a loving kind of way, how good I have it. Even on the rough days, or the rough weeks, I am still better off than many. Here is the conclusion I have come to (granted, it has taken me several days to get here):

I am not terminally ill

I am not hungry

I am not cold

I am not motherless/fatherless

I am not mourning over the death of a close family member

I am not hopeless

I am not held in captivity and being tortured for the sake of the gospel

I am not a child bought into the sex slave industry -this one brings tears to my eyes. Lord please free these sweet little innocent and precious children.

this list can go ON and ON and ON..

I am fortunate. Even in the hard times, how can I complain about my life? That's nothing. Life is BEAUTIFUL! On the bad days, life is STILL BEAUTIFUL! Thank you Lord for changing my perspective. It is the Lord's will for me to endure hardships, whatever they may be. I need to consider them joy, because these are the growing times. I have found myself on my knees more this week than I have in the past several months. Why? Because it's when you're at the lowest of the low when the only place you can look is up. Job's story is an amazing example. satan thought he could turn Job away from the Lord by taking pretty much everything away from him, including his children (imagine that.. I don't even have children so I can't, but I know how much I love my two-year-old bubba and I can't IMAGINE losing him..), yet Job continued to exalt and honor the Lord through His trials. Honestly, that goes to show how Christ can send supernatural comfort to those who are hurting. I am praying this for every hurting person tonight because I know what it's like to hurt- we all do. If anyone has any specific prayer request, please email me or text or call or something! I want to pray very specifically. The Lord has blown me away this week with the comfort and shield of protection and security He has placed on my heart! It's supernatural, and He can do the very same for every other hurting person. I will beseech on your behalf.

Lord, I am small and you are huge. Thank you for who You are. Your grace truly is amazing, and it's something that I will never be able to fully grasp. I pray specifically for every hurting person, please mend every broken heart! Lord, let us come to know you greater through these troubled times though, because you have allowed us to face these trying times for a reason, whether it be to relate to others, or just to grow us in You. We LOVE you Lord.