Returning to Reasons to by Joyful

I promised I would get back to why I am joyful! :) Well, TADA!!! Here it is!

I can be joyful because:

1.) The Lord provides for my family. He provides for my family's needs in amazing ways. And I'm not just referring to monetarily. (Though He has provided me with a consulting job that I am SO thankful for!) This month has been really crazy. We counted up all of the times that we were going to have to get babysitters for Everett this month...13 times! And that's JUST in the evenings. That's not counting all of the times he goes to our school's daycare while Tyler and I are both teaching and coaching! (I coach volleyball and Tyler coaches football.) Anyway, God sent along perfect solutions. First, my parents came out and stayed with us for about 2 weeks. That took care of 7 of the 13 times I needed a babysitter! My parents were such a blessing to us! Second, Marissa moved out here. She has watched Everett for us on several occasions, including one time when Tyler and I had games in Boise that we needed to stay overnight for. And lastly, our friends the Reeds. They have watched Everett on numerous occasions for us. We are so blessed and humbled by everyone's willingness to help us out! We are doing some thinking about what to change for next year so we don't get ourselves in the same situation next year. :)

2.) Tyler and I have time for "pillow talk." On an average day these last couple of weeks, Tyler has been leaving the house for school around 7:45 in the morning and has been getting back after coaching and mowing lawns at about 8 or 8:30 every night. Everett and I have been leaving the house around 9:15 every morning and have been getting back around 8:30 every night.  By the time Tyler and I are both home and have things cleaned up and everything packed up for the next day's activities we just want to go SLEEP! :) This doesn't leave a whole lot of time for us to be with each other so we can just TALK. Well, lately we have made it a point to talk before we fall asleep. It has been SO GREAT. We just lay in bed and talk until we drift off to sleep. It has been so good for us. I just love that man.

3.) God has been teaching me LOTS of things. I feel like I pray a lot more the busier I get. I'm not sure why that is. I think it is partly because I know that I can't get everything done without His help. And I certainly can't do the things I'm supposed to do with a good attitude without His strength and grace. So recently, instead of turning on the radio in the car, or popping in a CD, I've started to spend my "car time" praying. Good grief, I never realized how much time I spend in the car! Haha!  In all seriousness, I am always amazed how much brighter everything looks after I've finished praying about it. Daunting things don't seem as daunting. Disappointing things aren't as disappointing.  Discouraging things aren't as discouraging. Worrisome things aren't as worrisome. God is showing me once again how my prayer time is invaluable.

4.) My sister made me funfetti cupcakes. YUUUUUUUUUUUM. She gave me a key to her apartment and then let me pick them up while she was at work. They are SOOOOOOOOOOO good! AND she bought me a LITER SIZED CAN of Mountain Dew!! Those things are so cool!!! I started drinking it on the way to one of our away volleyball games and finished it on the way back. Man, it was awesome!

5.) Everett had his 18 month wellness checkup this month and he is as healthy as can be! I'm so thankful that God has allowed Everett to be healthy! What is kind of ironic is that Everett is in the 90th percentile for height at 33 1/4 inches. I mean, have you seen Tyler and me lately? I don't think either of us has ever seen that side of a growth chart. But don't worry. We don't let Everett get his hopes up. :)

Well, sorry I had to take a little vaca from writing my Reasons to be Joyful recently. Thanks for reading! :)