Gratitude

I want to be intentional about cultivating a heart of gratitude.  Living far away from what is familiar it is so easy to complain about the things that I do not like, or long for the people and things that I miss, but gratitude is much better.  

This weekend I am thankful for:

-one of my birthday orchids which is blooming again!

-other flowers too!

-the privaledge of being Mommy to the cutest baby in the world! (I may be a little biased)

-a washing machine and drying rack so that I can keep Zoe in clean diapers.

-my fun, handsome, thoughful husband who is also an amazing Daddy for Zoe.  :)

-friends here in Salatiga.  Even though there is only one family here who I have known longer than 7 months, God has provided us with lots of wonderful people to be friends with.  It's so great to be doing life with these like-minded people!  Quite a few of them are pregnant and/or have babies and small children.  Yesterday we went to our friends' son's 3rd birthday party and had dinner with other friends. 

-fellowship.  We go to an English-speaking fellowship on Sunday mornings and I am in a Wednesday ladies' Bible study and pray with the MAF women on Thursdays.

-butterflies.

-skype, so that I can talk with my family and friends who live far away.

-my parents, who are coming to visit in 2 weeks!

-good rain gear.  It's rainy season again here!

-a store here called "Sweet Shop" that has clothes made for export to the US but that somehow got left behind here.  Daniel took me shopping Saturday after lunch and held Zoe for me and even found a shirt that I really like.  He does not especially enjoy clothes shopping, so it was really nice of him to help me to do it!  And we got home from shopping less than a minute before it started raining.

This is just a few of the things that I am thankful for right now.  What are you thankful for?

"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's willl for you in Christ Jesus."  I Thes. 5:18