Our Family Stories

Before Caroline was born, I started the daily practice of keeping a gratitude journal. Each night before I went to sleep, I would write down 3-5 things I was thankful for that day. It might be something that happened, something I saw, something I purchased, or something I did. I made my list in a simple numbered format. The key was to keep it simple.

I found this a really good discipline for closing the day on a positive note. To be honest, sometimes all I would write down is:

1. Sleep
2. Sleep
3. Sleep

I mean we all know that sometimes the best part of a day is the fact that it’s over and we can go to sleep. We can start over fresh in the morning. That’s something to be thankful for, isn’t it?

There were some times that were quite difficult in the midst of this. There were some stretches I stopped. But this pile represents 2004 through today. Some of the books represent more than a year. I don’t do a different one for each year. I start whenever I need a new one and just keep going.

That is a lot of things to be grateful for.

Looking through them today, I find myself wishing I had included a few more details when I wrote them out. However, that is the rub. If you feel obligated to write a lot each day then it becomes too much of a burden. So keeping it simple meant it got done. Since I have always viewed this more as a spiritual exercise of ending the day with a grateful attitude before the Lord and not a record of my life, it makes sense the way I did. But you know me. I’m always looking at how something might be done better.

I’ve kept journals and diaries off and on throughout my life. I wish I had always kept them, but I can’t undo that. However, I am thinking of starting up journaling again in addition to the gratitude journal.

I have read Psalm 91 more times than I can count in recent months. In fact, I’ve read the Psalms more in the past nine months or so than I ever have at any point in my life. I repeatedly pray for God to cover our little family in the shadow of His wings.

This is not the first time God has used Psalm 91 at a pivotal point in my life. In my NIV Study Bible, Psalm 91:14-16 is dated 8/28/96.

Psalm 91:14-16

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.

With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”

This was in reference to David making significant life decisions regarding whether he would leave his spiritually abusive church and we would marry. I can still remember walking around outside during recess duty on a warm, sunny early fall afternoon while I was teaching, reading those verses that God had given to me in a small Bible. God has abundantly answered that promise in the many years since.

Now, 25 years later, God has led me back to Psalm 91 for an entirely different set of circumstances. Not one that is purely personal, but one that permeates every aspect of the world around me – and you.

I encourage you to spend some time praying through Psalm 91 which I’ve included at the end of this post.

I also encourage you to spend time each morning deliberately and thoughtfully putting on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18). I know some people prefer not to think about such things, but there is an intense spiritual battle raging around us. If you aren’t prepared to stand against it, then you and your loved ones are easy prey.

And have no doubt. Our adversary is seeking and finding plenty of easy prey right now.

Ephesians 6:10-18

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.

Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand.

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed,

and with your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace.

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

These are challenging words, but they are truthful words. Find refuge in God and His Word. Use all the tools He has provided for His children. He has done so for our good.

Psalm 91

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say to the LORD, “You are my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

Surely He will deliver you
from the snare of the fowler,
and from the deadly plague.

He will cover you with His feathers;
under His wings you will find refuge;
His faithfulness is a shield and rampart.

You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,

nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the calamity that destroys at noon.

Though a thousand may fall at your side,
and ten thousand at your right hand,
no harm will come near you.

You will only see it with your eyes|
and witness the punishment of the wicked.

Because you have made the LORD your dwelling—
my refuge, the Most High—

no evil will befall you,
no plague will approach your tent.

For He will command His angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.

They will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread on the lion and cobra;
you will trample the young lion and serpent.

“Because he loves Me, I will deliver him;
because he knows My name, I will protect him.

When he calls out to Me,
I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble.
I will deliver him and honor him.

With long life I will satisfy him
and show him My salvation.”

Berean Standard Bible 

I could never have imagined reaching Caroline’s 15th birthday when we were still calling her Little Miss Peanut. I remember looking at her 18 month clothes when she was first born and not fathoming how she would get that big. LOL!

But here we are fifteen years later with so many wonderful memories.

I am truly thankful for this funny, smart, creative, clever, compassionate, caring young lady. She has been a blessing from God from the moment she was conceived and sent to be the answer of many years of prayers. Her first and middle names mean “A Joyous Song of the Fullness of God” and she has been a joy and testimony to God’s wonderful work in our lives. Caroline brings the joyous song of laughter into our home every single day.

Happy 15th Birthday, Little Miss Peanut!

Daddy and I love you so much!