5 Days of Homeschool Encouragement: Thankful Thursday

Welcome back to the 5 Days of Homeschool Encouragement Back to School Blog Hop from the Homeschool Review Crew. I am so glad you are here. My fellow Crew Mates and I hope you've been finding encouragement this week. On Monday I shared how I stay motivated on this homeschool path, on Tuesday I decided we would "take a look" at our 2018-2019 curriculum, and yesterday I shared my new schedules to show how we work it all in.

Today my husband is taking over my blog, as he has done in the past. It has become a tradition for him to write one of my blog hop posts, and he chose to contribute for Thankful Thursday.

Without further ado, here's the hubby.

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Thankful?  Who has time to be thankful?  I work full time in a nursing home.  I'm on my feet so much my blisters are getting blisters, and when I get a day off, I'm scared to answer my phone for fear of getting called in.

What is this Thankful Thursday nonsense?  I just don't get it.

Or do I?

Sometimes when I'm frustrated at work, I find a folded up piece of paper with my sandwiches "I love you daddy.  Have fun at work"  They sure are sneaky.

When I'm exhausted after a twelve hour (or longer) shift and I fall asleep on the couch still in my uniform I get woken up to "Here's your breakfast, dear."  And she doesn't even add the words "choke on it" or "eat it or else"

When I'm leaving for work, and all the children rush up to give me a hug and kiss goodbye, then go out on the porch to wave.  Insisting that I honk the horn in our special way as I drive away. They like disturbing the neighbors.

When I'm finally home for a night, and the kids are in bed, and I feel my wife's arms around me, or I come home after a long day at work and she is waiting eagerly to see me.

When I find out I have time off to go to a Bills game I figured I would have to miss.

When I need a second hand with home repairs and members of my church offer to help.

When I hold my youngest daughter during the worship time  at church and she is singing along while one of her sisters is singing with the worship team.

I guess I have a lot to be thankful for after all.  But most of all, I'm thankful for My beautiful wife, Karen.

I would not be where I am, and doing what I do, if it weren't for her steadfast love.  She has been there for my highest of highs such as finally obtaining my LPN license, as well as through lows that are too devastating to put into words.  I can always count on her to be there for me.

Working night shift with 4 little ones in the house is no easy task and I couldn't do it without her.  She keeps the kids downstairs, away from our bedroom. She teaches them in a way that they enjoy, but without disturbing me.

I'm also thankful that, despite my love of sleep, She knows that there are some things I want to be up for, and won't hesitate to wake me.The house being on fire is one of those (no, that hasn't happened.)
I even get a nice, home cooked meal before I leave for work. Pretty cool, huh?

To this day, I don't know why we connected in the back seat of Mom's car.  I only know how thankful I am.  I'm also thankful that she said "yes" because, as I've come to find out, marriage. and all of it's perks, is awesome. Thanks sweety!! I love you!

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Aww, I love you too! And I'm so thankful to be appreciated and loved back. It is wonderful to have a husband that supports and encourages me. A husband that reminds me that yes, I can do this homeschooling thing. I am thankful that the Lord brought Harold into my life during quite the tumultuous time. Thankfully, things have calmed down a lot since then, and he has stood by me this whole time.

There are so many things that come up in life that make me want to grumble and complain. I need to remember not just to look for the good things to be thankful for, but to praise the Lord through the tough times. He tells us to rejoice always, to be thankful in all circumstances.

What do you have to be thankful for?

Here are some of the other participants in this week's blog hop, and you will find more in the linky below.

Amanda @ Hopkins Homeschool
Angie @ Run Ran Family Adventures & Learning
Annette @ A Net in Time
Ashley @ Gift of Chaos
Betty @ Let’s Get Real
Brenda @ Counting Pinecones
Carol @ Home Sweet Life
Chareen @ Every Bed of Roses