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As I have been focusing a lot on gratitude with my children I have been forced to look at my own attitude toward gratitude. And frankly, it isn’t so good.

I manage to find ways to find things to complain about daily. Ridiculous things really. I manage to find things to feel as though I need on a daily basis. Need vs. want is still something I struggle with as a grown adult.

I have found it is better if I stay away from Pinterest. It just seems to show me that my house, food, body and mom skills are sub par. And has me wishing for bigger, better, brighter stuff. More stuff. That would make me happy.

I am generally a happy person. I would hope most people would describe me that way. Upbeat, optimistic, glass half full kind of person. But discontentment robs you of joy. It makes you focus on what you don’t have instead of all the wonderful things you do have.

I want to be content. I want to be one of those people who stares down adversity with a smile on her face. I know these people. Some of my close friends are these people and I think I am drawn to them because I am so much more likely to stare down adversity with a pout and a whine.

We are having a drought here as I suspect you are too. I picked up my CSA and watched my farmers working hard knowing that there just aren’t as many crops this year. Leaving the pick up spot I couldn’t get this song out of my head. It is time to focus once again on gratitude.

Send some rain, would You send some rain?
‘Cause the earth is dry and needs to drink again
And the sun is high and we are sinking in the shade
Would You send a cloud, thunder long and loud?
Let the sky grow black and send some mercy down
Surely You can see that we are thirsty and afraid
But maybe not, not today
Maybe You’ll provide in other ways
And if that’s the case . . .

We’ll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to thirst for You
How to bless the very sun that warms our face
If You never send us rain

Daily bread, give us daily bread
Bless our bodies, keep our children fed
Fill our cups, then fill them up again tonight
Wrap us up and warm us through
Tucked away beneath our sturdy roofs
Let us slumber safe from danger’s view this time
Or maybe not, not today
Maybe You’ll provide in other ways
And if that’s the case . . .

We’ll give thanks to You
With gratitude
A lesson learned to hunger after You
That a starry sky offers a better view if no roof is overhead And if we never taste that bread

Oh, the differences that often are between
What we want and what we really need

So grant us peace, Jesus, grant us peace
Move our hearts to hear a single beat
Between alibis and enemies tonight
Or maybe not, not today
Peace might be another world away
And if that’s the case . . .

We’ll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to trust in You
That we are blessed beyond what we could ever dream
In abundance or in need
And if You never grant us peace

But Jesus, would You please . . .

Gratitude by Nichole Nordeman

Sometimes God just doesn’t make sense. Sometimes you just want to shake your fist at the sky and yell and complain about the unfairness of it all. Sometimes you just want to sit and cry and beg in your prayers that he will make it all better.

Sometimes he does. Sometimes he doesn’t. And someday I will ask him why.

But I AM thankful that I have a God who can take my fist shaking and crying and begging. Who sends small miracles and beautiful unexpected blessings that let me know he is there and he is here and he is in this.

Sometimes we just have to cling to that.

I am fine. My family is fine. But someone very dear to me could use your prayers. It isn’t my story to tell today. But God knows. So if you could pray, I know he hears. Thank you.

Thabiso Setona was orphaned at 14. At 14 he was left to parent his younger sister and raise his father’s cattle. He lives in Lesotho where most people live on less than $1.25 a day.

Where he lives cattle are a precious commodity. To tend to them he must live in huts in the hills with only the most basic amenities. His job is to make sure his cattle survive. Even if it means he himself will go hungry. Herd boys are isolated and nomadic. They are also uneducated, having to drop out of school to work for their families.

This is Thabiso’s life.

When Ryan asked me today what I wanted for Mother’s Day I honestly had a hard time thinking of anything I needed. I mean I could think of a lot of “stuff” that I suppose would make me happy. I am forever chasing after stuff. But my life is a charmed one. “Stuff” is the last thing I need.

Read the rest of the post over at the World Vision Blog…

Today I saw this on Facebook.

Studies over the last 15 years have consistently shown that in the US and Europe, approx. 90% of babies diagnosed with Down Syndrome in utero are electively aborted. On this World Down Syndrome Awareness Day, let’s pray that our hearts will be opened to the gift every life has to share. Praying we also realize that we are each uniquely perfect yet broken by God’s design…not just those we outwardly deem broken and imperfect.

I don’t like getting political and soapboxy on this blog. Not because I don’t have strong opinions about things. If you are married to me you KNOW I have some strong opinions. But because I don’t feel like using my blog in that way and I don’t want to argue with people in the comments, I just don’t really get controversial around here.

So I will just say this. As a society we are robbing the world of a group of beautiful people. And when we have parents willing to stand up and say their children are less than desirable even after they have spent 4 beautiful years with them? Something is very, very wrong.

Showing the world that people with Down Syndrome are more than worth being born will be really hard when there are none of them left. It breaks my heart.

Today was a whirlwind of a day. I went to a meeting at school, followed by a trip to the grocery store, followed by library story hour, then a haircut for Silas, followed by his nap while I did some “work” on the computer, followed by a glorious afternoon soaking up the sun (ok so that part wasn’t so bad), followed by dinner and kid’s bedtime. Whew.

Why did I just give you a play by play? Because this is kind of a standard day around here. Lots of time in the car running around, lots of time with my kiddos, with a little productivity thrown in.

As I continue to reflect on the status of my friendships (recapped nicely here and here), I am realizing friendships at this stage in life are kind of like marriages. They can’t survive without dedicated time and attention.

While this might be a lesson from Captain Obvious, I am not sure is all that intuitive. In high school and college friendships require a different kind of work. Sure you have to overcome some immature drama, but you are together daily and have a ton of life in common.

Friendships in early marriage take work because you have to keep one foot in the single world and one foot in the married world, but it is kind of a nice weed out period where you find out who your friends are.

Friendships with young children become easy again. I mean there still is drama from time to time (oh my WORD that mom needs to discipline her child and stop him from beating on mine), but you find parents through playgroups and you all are in survival mode together. Those friends are your life line during the week.

But now life is just busy. My life is busy. My kids life is busy. My kid’s friend’s lives are busy. My kid’s friend’s parent’s lives are busy. Still with me? Net out: we are all quite busy. I try and plan a girl’s night out and we have to plan three months out. Add in husbands and it is worse. It is really hard to develop close relationships when you hang out once a month.

But Facebook is always there. So is Twitter. Add in Skype and I can “hang” with my online buddies 24 hours a day if I want. But here is the thing. As much as I love that, how close am I really getting in 140 characters. I can be whoever I want online. And it is easy to be a safe version of myself.

Here is the other thing. The more I just put out the safe version of myself online, the more I am tempted to sanitize the real version of myself. Everyone needs friends they can be real with. So what happens when you stop being real?

So why did I compare it to marriage? Because if we put the effort into it, it is so very worth it. Yes, it can be hard work to maintain, but if we can put down our walls, sacrifice our schedule a little and get real, we will be blessed with the deep relationships we all crave.

To this end, I am carving out some time in a busy weekend (the fact that it is in April and I already have things on the calendar is sad) to go to (in)RL.

When is it: A couple hours each on Friday & Saturday April 27 & 28, 2012 (you can find out if there is a meetup in your area and when it is here. If there isn’t one, start your own!)

What’s it about: Creating a catalyst for women to connect in real life, right where they are.

Why’s it special: It’s the un-conference that comes to your doorstep; just meet up with girl friends and tune in to our online webcast.

Who’s it for: For the women who’ve been hurt by friends, for the women who’ve been healed by friends, for the women who crave local Jesus community, for the women who wish they had the time, baby sitter or budget for a girl’s weekend away. So honestly, who isn’t it for??!!!

I love what my friend Lisa Jo has to say about it. And since she asked me to share about it with you, I thought I should let her do some work.

I would say their ideas fit pretty well with all I have been talking about wouldn’t you? Are you finding yourself craving something more in your friendships? Gather some girlfriends and dive into real life.

Back before the day of Flip cameras and high definition video cameras, my parents recorded some of our early Christmases on tape. Well I don’t even know what they used to record it, but they made a cassette tape for me with the recorded memories. Yes. I am old.

Anyway, this particular Christmas my parents had gotten two year old me what they assumed would be the HIT of the year. My very own play kitchen. The tape documents me coming down the stairs Christmas morning and discovering all the gifts Santa had left behind.

I quickly tackle my stocking and exclaim as only a two year old can, “UNDERWEAR!!!” (in my head I can hear that voice perfectly. I can’t say my r’s). My parents giggle a little and say, “Jill, what else did you get.” And I am sure they are gesturing in the direction of the large kitchen. I look next to the underwear I have just opened and gasp, “MORE UNDERWEAR!!!”

My parents literally have to point at the big kitchen to get me to notice at which point I say, “OH A TOVE!!”(apparently I am not so great with the S either.

For the last several Christmases I have been feeling less and less joy at Christmas. I really WANT to be joyful at Christmas. I mean isn’t joy what the season is about?

But I think the problem is all around me I see people getting excited for “underwear” and missing the stove.

This could be another post about consumerism and how evil it is, but the fact is, as a parent I love giving my children gifts. I love picking out a gift that I know will mean a lot to my child and seeing their face when they open it. Giving gifts is one of the best things about Christmas. And if we are created in God’s image wouldn’t it only make sense that we were made to love giving good gifts.

But I long for a Christmas with gifts that are more meaningful and with a whole lot less of them. More homemade, local gifts and less plastic junk from who knows where. And I long for a Christmas with a whole lot more giving to others and a whole lot less of getting for myself.

Less, less, less of so much and more, more, more of Jesus.

This post is part of World Vision’s 12 Blogs of Christmas Project about the true spirit of Christmas. In order to learn more real needs that you can meet this Christmas season, check out the World Vision Catalogue.

Do you have your own story about the true spirit of Christmas? Share it today at the World Vision blog.

Disclosure: This post was not compensated in any way. My love for World Vision is well documented

I think it has been well established that I am not crafty. I really wish I was a mom who had a cabinet stocked with pipe cleaners and glitter, but I am not that mom. At all. But my friend Amanda is. She is a crafting superstar. A crafting superstar with a HUGE heart to help people teach their kids about Jesus.

She has released this amazing ebook, Truth in the Tinsel. for you and your family to make Advent meaningful this year. I am so excited for you to experience this with your families. Every day there is a meaningful craft accompanied with a short scripture which all point you toward the birth of Jesus.

Amanda has made this so easy for you. There is a craft list so you can make sure you have all the supplies you need. Every craft has a picture so you know what yours is supposed to look like. There are even different plans if the thought of doing a craft every day overwhelms you (raising hand). AND she even has a great ebook Facebook page where you can join with other families who are doing it and have a little accountability.

This book is already a STEAL at $4.99, but today for Black Friday you can get it for only $2.99. Seriously. This is an amazing price for an incredible resource. Plus you don’t have to elbow and old lady out of the way to get it. Just head here.

Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links.

When I was growing up there was one man that was always at our church. Weekdays, weekends, it didn’t matter – he was there. And it wasn’t our pastor. It was our custodian.

He wasn’t a “churched” man, per se. He was there because it was his job. But over the years he came to know Jesus and the change in his smile was the proof. He didn’t have a glamorous job. Many people probably paid him little attention. And I know in a small town, at a semi-small church, he probably didn’t make much money.

I don’t know when it started, but one year at Christmas my parents slipped a fairly decent sized amount of money in his mailbox at church. Then the next year they did the same. Year after year completely secretly they gave him a “Christmas Bonus.”

see the rest of my post over at Pennies and Blessings…..

If you are like a large percentage of the country right now, things are tight. Maybe they have always been tight or maybe the ugly turn the economy has taken has hit you especially hard. Or maybe the downturn in the economy has simply helped you to tighten up your belt, stop overspending, get rid of debt and start living within your means.

No matter the reason, many people are in a spot where there just isn’t a lot of money left over at the end of the month. But can I submit to you that this may be the most important time to add a line item to your budget for giving?

Continue reading the rest of my post at Pennies and Blessings

One of my favorite and most unexpected joys in my 4 years of blogging has been the connections I have made to other bloggers. It honestly shocks me that some women that I haven’t known that long and barely met in real life I can count as friends.

One of my other favorite things about this blogging community is watching bloggers rally around other bloggers during times of need. Whether it is simply lifting someone up in prayer or gathering donations for tornado victims in Joplin I love the way bloggers help other bloggers.

Today, one of The Diaper Diaries long time readers is struggling and needs our prayers. Kelly is an everyday mommy blogger living in Mississippi with her husband and almost two-year-old son, Simon. A few weeks. A few weeks ago her vision started blurring, and after rounds of medical tests Kelly found out she has a rare type of brain tumor sitting on her optic nerve.

Kelly will travel to Johns Hopkins next week for consultation and surgery. In the best case scenario, Kelly will be in the hospital for five days and recovering nearby for two weeks. If the surgery is less successful, Kelly will lose her eyesight. She would need to stay in Baltimore at least a month to go to rehab and learn to live as a blind woman.

Kelly is 29 years old and has a toddler. Up until the diagnosis she was living a “normal” life just like many of us. Now her life has been turned upside down. I can’t even imagine what she is going through.

A group of bloggers want to help Kelly have the most comfortable hospital stay and recovery possible. Something simple to remind her she has a community of readers praying and thinking of her.

We’re asking if you would consider donating just $3 by clicking on the “donate” button. The money will be used to fulfill Kelly’s wish of having some wonderful, new, comfy pajamas for her time in Baltimore. We’re hoping to have enough to throw in a gift card to Trader Joe’s, so her husband can buy some prepared foods for their family that fit with their desire to eat healthy.

Kelly is also a huge fan of Etsy and homemade and upcycled items. Huge thanks to Moxie Mandie and Candace from Twiggie Makes for donating their goods to lift Kelly’s spirits. If you sell handmade items and would like to donate store credit, you can e-mail Jessie (jessie at vanderbiltwife dot com)

Will you help by pitching in $3? We’ll let you know on Monday how much has been raised!