So Thankful

I've been meaning to write about this back around Thanksgiving, but I just never got around to it. I just wanted to brag on God for a little bit. God has been so good to us. He has overwhelmingly blessed our family. Just looking back over the past few years, it is amazing what He has done for us. When I was pregnant with Dalton, we decided I would stay home with him instead of working. That was a big chunk of income we wouldn't have, but we had saved and the housing market was still going strong and we believed God would continue to provide for us. HE did!! A little while after having Dalton, Shane decided that he wanted to get back into teaching and began taking classes to get his Master's degree. Then we had Colby. Finances began getting a little sticky with more bills with Shane's college and two kids, but we continued to believe God would provide for us. And HE Did!! Then, about this time last year, we were really stressing about what to do financially. As Shane would say, this boat wasn't sinking, but it had a slow leak in it. The appraisal business was really starting to slow down and it looked as if I would have to go back to work although we really were hoping I'd be able to stay home with the kids at least another year. Shane was almost finished with his degree and was trusting God to be able to teach full time because he wanted to get out of the appraisal business. It really looked like there would be no way financially for Shane to be able to teach and still allow me to stay home with the kids. I just couldn't see how we could cut Shane's salary once again and survive on a teacher's salary. We were trying to trust God for this, but I know I wasn't really believing He'd come through on this. But HE Did!!! God came through for us when things were starting to look dim. Now Shane is teaching full time and is really enjoying it. He's much happier and is less stressed out than he used to be. I'm still home with the kids and may even stay home another year. God has been so gracious and kind to us. We are so undeserving of all that He's given us. Such grace. He has blessed us more than we could have imagined.