Grateful Heart Monday 6.2.14

Can you believe it's June already? Happy Monday! 

Today I'm trying out something new with a weekly Grateful Heart Monday post (See the bottom of the post for info on the link-up ;). Taking time to reflect on what I'm thankful for always does good things in my heart. I hope you're feeling encouraged and empowered for a fresh, new week, friends. If you're feeling a little low today and could use a friend to talk to or pray with, I'm your girl. I needed the same thing this morning. :) Here's what I'm especially grateful for this afternoon. I'd love to hear from you, too!

1. I'm grateful for our dear friends Nick and Kelly. Back in September they were our brand new friends after we moved to the Philly area for school. One night they shared with us that they were hoping to start a family soon! Their courage and confidence was such a gift to Luke and I during that time. We had always been excited to start having babies but those plans were sort of on the "back burner" since we were in the middle of such a big transition. That night we were so encouraged and our faith was set that if we wanted to start a family, we could trust God to be our provider. Nick and Kelly have been such a gift to us as friends. Oh, and good news… today they are in the hospital awaiting the arrival of their little girl!!! Their little Charity will be about one month older than our Bekah. God is so good! We love you, guys! You are already amazing, world-changing parents and we are so grateful for you. 
2. I'm grateful for a beautiful baby shower yesterday afternoon. Yesterday after church and a few hours at home, Luke and I drove to the Lancaster area for a baby shower with our extended family on my mother-in-law's side. Luke's grandma put it all together for us and it was the perfect Sunday afternoon. We love family time. Even my Mom, who had been traveling since 4 am from her trip to Missouri, was able to make it! One of the sweetest parts of the day was overhearing our family mention Bekah's name in their conversations. It makes me so happy just imagining the days when she'll be out here running around, being silly, and interacting with all these wonderful people we're blessed to call family. Today I'm so grateful for Grammy's kindness to us and our time with family. (The picture above is Mom, Bekah, and I after the shower)
3. I'm grateful for a new hopeful perspective. I've always loved this verse in Isaiah 43:19. God reminds the Israelites of all the miraculous things He did for them and how He provided for them in the past… then He says of Jesus starting in verse 18…

“But forget all that—

    it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.

For I am about to do something new.

    See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?

I will make a pathway through the wilderness.

    I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.

You know how some things can just weigh on you? I had a situation this week where I was so hopeless about an area of my life that I felt like I kept messing up. It definitely felt like a "dry wasteland" and I wanted to give up. So God's promise here is really precious to me today. I'm choosing His perspective instead. I'm thankful for forgiveness, for grace, and for a God who can make all things new and even better than before. Today I'm grateful that the things I viewed as "dry wastelands" in my life are being turned into refreshing, overflowing, crystal clear rivers instead. :)

So tell me, what are you grateful for today? 

Love, 

Bonnie

** This post is part of a fun link-up that Ember Grey puts together each week! Follow this link to view her original post and to find the posts other bloggers are sharing about starting their week with a grateful heart.