Feeling Down? Make a list!

I haven't posted in a while because I have been moping. I make sure to put on a smiling face in public, but I cry often. Let me back up a bit. My father-in-law pasted away in June of 2007 when I was 5 months pregnant with LB. It was an unexpected death and he had been deceased for 10 days when my husband and I found him. My husband was very close to his dad and he has been grieving hard (yeah, I know, like there is any other way to grieve). I have encouraged him to seek therapy or a bereavement group, but his response is that it won't bring his father back. Sometimes I feel like he is mad at me for not understanding exactly how he feels. And I know he is resentful that both of my parents are still alive. Don't get me wrong. He is a fabulous husband and father and I know that my marriage is blessed by God. He is my best friend; we finish each other's sentences and have the same quirky sense of humor. But, things are REALLY HARD right now. I talk to my mother and counselor about it, but I still feel alone and helpless. (I have been in counseling for severe postpartum depression for the last few months. More on this in a later post.) I don't want to mope around, and I don't want to feel sorry for myself. Had this been a few years ago, I would have stayed down indefinitely. Those days are over. God has given me victory over self-pity and depression. So, here is a list of 27 things I'm grateful for. Why 27? It's the 27th day of the month, and it just kind of fits. My list is a mix of big blessings and small ones. Some obviously are more important than others, but they are all blessings, nonetheless.

1. Jesus Christ's ultimate sacrifice
2. God's undying love for me
3. God's patience with me
4. My husband
5. My daughter
6. My mother
7. My father
8. My niece
9. My brother
10. My extended family
11. My friends
12. Mocha Moms (Hands down, the world's best support group for stay-at-home moms)
13. My home
14. My career (Teaching)
15. Target (Good Deals)
16. Babies R Us (Consistent coupons)
17. Dark Chocolate (Tasty and good for you, as long as you don't eat the whole king size bar in one sitting)
18. Ice Cream (Coldstone, mmmmmm)
19. Baby Gates (Oh yeah, she's crawling--fast!)
20. My father-in-law's art collection which now adorns our home
21. Photos
22. California (My birthplace)
23. The Olympics (The best place to see track and field, my favorite sport)
24. LB's new Baby Bible Storybook (Too cute! It has great activities and it's a boardbook, so it can withstand her "reading" it.)
25. Home Depot (They're open late.)
26. Purple Heart (For all they do for our veterans, and they are making a pick up in our neighborhood tomorrow, so they're helping us to purge.)
27. Blogs ( I love reading them and posting to my own is cathartic. Today's post is a perfect example.)
28. Prayer (I had to go to 28 to include this one.) Prayer changes things. How do I know, because it has changed me. As one of my favorite TV preachers, Joyce Meyer says, "I'm not where I want to be, but thank God I'm not where I used to be." Prayer changes things. So, please pray for my family.
    

God is indeed good all the time. He is here for us. We will be all right. God is seeing us through. My job is to hold to His hand, remain grateful, be a blessing to others, and pray. So reader, please share what you are thankful for, it's always a blessing to hear about God's goodness. God Bless! :-)