Me, Sally, and the Whole Peanuts Gang

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

All I want is what's coming to me. All I want is my fair share. --Sally, "A Charlie Brown Christmas Special"

One of the great joys of being the youngest child in my family is that I have never known a world without my two sisters. No one in the world (except for Marc, of course) is closer to me than my two sisters, Cathy and Kay, and my parents. They know me better than anyone, and for reasons completely unclear to me, love me just the same. Even at forty, I am still the baby of this family, and I reserve the right at all times to pull the "I'm the baby" card.

Some of my favorite memories of growing up surround Christmastime. And my family loves every Christmas movie or tv special ever made. I promise you that I just made Marc download Earnest Saves Christmas from iTunes. We can't help ourselves. The Lifetime and Hallmark channels are our friends at Christmastime, and there is nothing better than a cup of hot chocolate, a tissue, and a viewing of It's a Wonderful Life on Christmas Eve. So when my family sat down last night to (again) watch A Charlie Brown Christmas Special, I couldn't help but think of my sisters and parents. But even funnier is that my sister, Cathy, who has a really dry sense of humor and surprises us all the time with some funny remark she will make out of the blue, can perfectly mimic Sally saying the "All I want is what's coming to me" line above. So I smiled doubly, thinking of her saying that to us and sending us all into gales of laughter.

It got me to thinking, though, of the many ways in which God has given me so much more than what's coming to me, so far beyond my fair share. And if you'll indulge one more "I am so thankful" blog, I'd like to tell you some of the ways my Father has gone far beyond what I could even dream about for myself.

• I've already mentioned my parents and sisters. Can I just say one more time how absolutely, head-over-heels in love with them I am? There are people I know who have no relationship at all with their siblings, and it just bewilders me. I cannot contemplate my life without growing up in this tremendous family. They call, they write, they send packages, they make me laugh, they make me cry, they miss me as much as I miss them, they never, even on the darkest days, let me contemplate coming home...they are far beyond what any one person has the right to expect in a family.
  
• My extended family is just as wonderful. My Aunt Angie is one of my best friends. I cannot tell you the ways in which she and Raleigh have blessed my life and the lives of my children. I have a huge Southern family, and growing up was just a wonderful adventure. I spent many, many weeks in Tennessee, where both sides of my extended family live, and it was just idyllic. I have many, many cousins, all of whom I adore. Both sides of my extended family have been so supportive of this move in our life, and after hearing stories of those whose families weren't all for the missionary life for their children, I appreciate so much the cards, the emails, the calls from my wonderful, giant extended family.
• My husband is just this amazing person. He loves me even when I am not lovable at all. He treats me like a queen. He challenges me to be the person God made me to be. He does not care that I don't shave my legs every day in the winter. Or every week. (What? It's cold here.) He thanks me for dinner each night. He is fun. He helps around the house. He is God's guy for me, no question, no doubt. I knew after our first date that I was going to marry him, and I have always been glad that I was right about that. Best of all--he loves God more than he loves me. I couldn't ask for a better husband.
• My three children are turning out to be wonderful people. Sarah Beth is fifteen, and when I get glimpses of the woman she will some day be, I am astonished. She is turning into this fabulous person, who cares about others, who is very nurturing and mature, but who is also silly and innocent. Oh, my goodness...God has gifted her in so many ways. Hannah is beautiful inside and out, and though she has had the hardest transition here, there are moments when she is totally unaware of being homesick, when she embraces the person she is here, and she is a total delight. Every day for Hannah gets a little better. And John-John...well, he just makes me smile. He is challenging and difficult, but he is also a great joy to me. When he wraps those skinny little arms around me before he goes to bed and says, "Mom, I love you very much," well...let's just say it makes me happy.
  
• I have tremendous friends all over the world. They love me and support me and pray for me, and they challenge me...they are the iron sharpening my iron. I can't tell you what they mean to me. I feel completely free and open with them, and so blessed. You know how sometimes you meet someone, and you just know? You know that you'll be friends for life, that you'll share so much, that you'll love each other forever, no matter that you're far away? I have a couple of friends like that, and I just thank God for them every single day.
• I am settling into my life here. I am becoming comfortable with being something different than I've been before. I am starting to really enjoy homeschooling. I am beginning to feel like I can manage my family and keep everything running smoothly for all of us. And here's the biggest blessing of all--I am finding great joy in simply being a support player here. I don't feel particularly stressed out, even though it's Christmas. I don't feel like I don't have enough time to get things done. I feel like I can sit and read aloud to my kids, or dance to Hannah Montana, or watch whatever John-John is wanting me to "look and see, Mom," because I don't have to go grade papers or prepare for the next day. I plan lessons on weekends for the whole week for the kids. I am having a lot of fun doing that. Two months ago, I promise you I didn't think I could home school my children. And now the thought of not home schooling them is a little distressing to me. (by the way--if you're a home schooler who reads this, I'd love to hear about what curriculum you're using and any suggestions you might make for next year. I am particularly interested in Tapestry of Grace users and Sonlight.)

There's so much more. I have more to be thankful for than anyone I know. And what I have coming to me, my fair share? I'll take grace and mercy and blessings instead. Above all of these things, above all circumstantial blessings I have ever experienced, is the knowledge that Christ died on a cross for me, was buried and rose again, and He did it all for me. I don't have to spend an eternity separated from God. I get to enjoy the abundant life I have here and look forward to an eternal life spent with the One who loves me more than His own life. Who could ask for more than that?

Blessings to you and yours!
His,
Kellye