Category Archives: gratitude

September 28, 2009 · 6:00 am

Our Weekend In Pictures.

I’m officially the mother of a seven year old.

JH - 7yo wp

Er, soccer is back.

Anna - weekend wp

Daddy Bryan came out to celebrate.

Bryan - JH weekend wp

So did Nan.

Mom - weekend wp

My husband rocks. 

Kris - JH weekend wp

But, he rocks every weekend.

And, this is what 15 ½ weeks looks like.

Pregnant 15 wks wp

Well, it’s what it looks like on me. 

Let’s be honest.  There are probably a few of Kris’ homemade cinnamon rolls in that picture, too. 

It was a fun weekend filled with a ton of love.  I am thankful for a Nan is who continues to be a great mom.  I am thankful for a daughter who lets her fun personality show in her pictures.  I am thankful for a son who makes my heart melt.  And, I’m thankful for two dads who love that one son so much that they even enjoy one another.

Oh, and I’m thankful for the littlest Takle.

That’s my weekend.

How was yours?

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September 10, 2009 · 6:00 am

How Fragile We Are.

Angela, a friend of mine, posted this on Facebook yesterday:

“Had a young client today age 9 who has cancer, and I had to shave her head.  She will get her wig from Locks of Love within 4 months.  I have thought about her since she left.  It makes you stop and thank God for a healthy child.”

It makes me stop and consider how consumed I can become with things that, at the end of the day, really aren’t so significant. 

How even when one of my children are home sick with a cold, my life stops and centers on him or her. 

How even in our weakness, He is still so very present, and so very strong.

How precious.

How fragile.

How sweet.

Life really is.

Can we all just take a moment out of our day and pray for a little girl most of us have never met?

Father, we lift up this young girl to You.  You know her name.  You even know the number of hairs on her precious, little head.  Touch her body.  Heal her.  Comfort her.  Restore to her health.  In Your Name that is above ALL Names.

Amen.

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September 2, 2009 · 6:00 am

How Does Your Heart Beat?

The nurse listened for the heartbeat.  There was nothing.  She was certain the doctor, skilled and experienced in finding those little heartbeats, would capture it.

There was nothing. 

While we knew this was not unusual, our doctor still expressed concern and ordered an immediate ultrasound. 

Kris and I waited a grueling forty-five minutes for peace of mind.  We sat quietly, but our minds could not have been louder.  What if?  What happens if we lose this baby?  Do we try again?  What’s the follow-up procedure? 

What if?

I had just written the post on Fear.  And, I was feeling it.  Those scriptures came swirling through my mind.  “When you walk through the fire, I will be there…”   

I felt a calmness in the midst of my sudden upheaval.  No matter what happened that day, His presence would never leave me.  No matter what happened, I would not stop running after my Father. 

You see, I decided a long time ago that there were no deal breakers for me following Christ. 

None.

My heart beats for Him.  For HIS glory.  Not mine.  And, every single thing and every single person in my life are added blessings.  Because, if He never did anything else for me but give me eternity, that would be enough.

But He does more.

Because, He is so good.

Forty-five minutes passed, and we entered the room.  The technician placed the instrument on my bare belly, and we looked on a monitor and saw a vibrant, little life.

And heard the sweetest, little heartbeat.

A heart that beats for Him.

So many of you prayed.

Thank you.

We love you all,
Dusty and Kris

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August 31, 2009 · 6:00 am

Family Time And Gratitude.

Our kids had their first tubing experience this weekend.  Well, John Henry tubed once when he was two and was completely unimpressed.  So, that hardly counts.  Friends invited the four of us to enjoy their lake house, amenities, and friendship.  Our kids had the best time.  And, we had the best time watching them.

Tex 1

Tex 2

Tex 3

Tex 5

It’s nice to get away occasionally and have uninterrupted time with the people you love most.  Away from the laundry.  Away from the phone calls.  Away from the things that compete for your attention.

Away.

It’s in those times you can see your son.  I mean really see your son and soak up his expressions and wonder about his thoughts.

Tex 4

It’s in those times you can appreciate the character of your daughter.  Where you imagine what she will be when she grows up or you just smile, because, you recognize how much she loves life.

Tex 6

It’s in those times you can hold your husband’s hand without a thought of tomorrow’s bills or who is picking up the kids from school. 

It’s in those times you refill your gratitude tank.  You thank your heavenly Father that you get to wake up with these people every single day.

And, you know…..

Tex 7

Life is good.

And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Ephesians 5:20

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June 30, 2009 · 6:00 am

Taking Notice.

Kris and kids

Here’s is what I’m noticing.

I’m not noticing.

Not lately.  I’m not noticing

the dimple on Anna’s left cheek.

the way John Henry still snuggles up to his Moosie and Mimi.

the way Kris’ hand rests tenderly on my knee.

the little things.

That really are the big things.  I generally try to be intentional about noticing these things.  And, the usual crawl of Summer should provide me every opportunity soak up these precious, fleeting moments. 

So, today, I’m taking notice.

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May 29, 2009 · 6:00 am

Where Is the Light?

I’ll be short.  I am thankful.  I am thankful that I get to be a wife to Kris.  I am thankful that I get to be a mom to John Henry and Anna.  I am thankful.

I am thankful that I get to sleep in with my children.

I am thankful that I if I ever need to work full-time, I can.

I am thankful.

I am thankful that I have clean water.

I am thankful that I can go to a local grocer and feed my family.

I am thankful that I live in a country that was founded on the Word of God.

I am thankful.

I am thankful that I have a father who proclaims the Gospel of the Kingdom.

I am thankful that I have a mother who reminds me that I serve a faithful Creator.

I am thankful that I have friends who not only hold me accountable to live a life that brings glory to Him, but who LOVE me.  I mean really love me.

I am thankful.

When things seem dim, or dark, or questionable, I remember.

I am thankful.

Because, I am a child of God.

I am thankful.

So, when you are struggling seeing the light at the end of your tunnel, remember.  You are a child of the most high God. 

Who was bought with a price.

So, let’s just be thankful.

M’kay?

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May 28, 2009 · 6:00 am

Worship.

Last night at Eagles Way Church, the youth joined the regular Wednesday service for a time of worship.  I have engaged in worship services for as long as I can remember.  As a matter of fact, my mom still has a cassette tape of me singing worship songs at only four years of age.  I played it for my own children and was excited about their reaction.

“Okay.  We hear it.  Can we listen to Brandon Heath now?”

Not the response I was looking for.  But, hey, my martial arts moves don’t impress them either.

I’m pretty sure that we are born with an innate response to God through worship but still it is something we practice or develop.  I do know that I love to worship my Creator.  And, I can’t imagine not doing it.

When I spoke at EWC on Mother’s Day, I shared a story about how Kris invited one of his pilot friends to the previous Easter service.  Kris doing the whole invitation thing is, in his words, “not his gig.”  I truly love his honesty. 

But, I “encourage” him to do it still.

So, he did.  And, his friend sat beside me.  I was all caught up in worship.  I left the service still caught up in that transcendent moment with God.  When we got into the car, I noticed Kris staring at me with a bit of bewilderment.

“I finally invite someone to church, and there you go double-fisting it God.  What about being seeker-friendly?”  He told me.

I couldn’t help but laugh.  His candor in how he perceived my untimely worship was humorous.  But, also his use of the term “double-fisting it” gave it an entirely new meaning.

Now, let me explain that Kris was not upset.  He was quite funny in his delivery.  However, he was still a little flustered and concerned how his friend may receive my expressions in worship.

I totally get where Kris is coming from.  I just can’t help but to worship my Creator.  The One who holds all things together.  The One who healed my broken heart.  The One who comforts the weak.  The One who makes all things good. 

The One.

In Luke 19, many of Jesus’ disciples were praising Him, and the Pharisees there told Jesus to rebuke them, and Jesus said, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

Our Creator is to be worshipped.  We were created to worship Him.  Whether we make the choice to worship Him ourselves or not, He is still worthy.  And, He WILL be praised.

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May 13, 2009 · 6:00 am

A Little Gratitude Goes A Long Way.

Yesterday, my husband bought me lunch. 

I told him, “Thank you for lunch, babe.”

It wasn’t anything out of the ordinary for Kris to buy me lunch.  And, it wasn’t anything out of the ordinary for me to thank him.  I just think it’s important to always verbalize my gratitude to him. 

Whether he is taking the trash to the curb, washing Anna’s hair, or flying a trip to provide for our family, I want him to know I’m thankful. 

So, I tell him. 

And, an added bonus?  It keeps our hearts soft toward one another.

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April 16, 2009 · 6:00 am

So far this week….


Anna has insisted on wearing two pairs of underwear so she can “hold my pee longer.”

When John Henry and Anna disobeyed and were awaiting their impending discipline, John Henry said, “I forgot, Mom.  Can’t you please understand,” through his pitiful tears.

I had to discipline still, and it broke my heart.

I’ve had to remind myself of the “We Won’t Always Understand” more than once.

I got a little emotional over Matt’s save on American Idol….even though I text my vote for Kris one or one-hundred times every week.  (Not the husband Kris.  I can hardly encourage his vocals in the shower.)

I’ve watched my warrior of a husband get hit from all sides and still draw back his arrow, aim, and shoot. 

I’ve read “Purplicious” more times than I would have cared to.

And, I’ve thanked God that I am a Christ-follower, a wife, a mother, and an American Idol fan.  So, I didn’t thank God that I’m an American Idol fan.  But, I am pretty excited to watch it every week.

And you?  So far this week?

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March 25, 2009 · 6:00 am

That’s My Boat

The title is clearly lost if you don’t read in your best Forest Gump voice.  Here are a few more photos from the Takle Family Spring Break 2009.

 

shrimp-boat-wp6

Kris’ response to this shrimp boat was “I’ve got twelve Jenny’s.”  We were told by a tour guide that the shrimping industry will be obsolete in ten years due to the ease of today’s farm-raised shrimp.  Kind of sad, huh? 

cargo-wp3

This thingamabob does something with cargo ships.  Lifts the boxes?  I really paid attention.  Well, I did pay attention to the fact that it was shipped to Amelia Island from Singapore already assembled.  Okay.  It’s a boring picture, but you have to admit that it’s pretty impressive.  Yes?  Or, maybe when you are consumed with a 4 year old who only wants to wear purple now, you’re easily impressed.

Back at the grandparents’ house, Anna discovered her inner Audubon with a little bird watching.

anna-bird-watching-wp10

And this one finally got his hair cut short.

jh-haircut-wp4

Memories were made.  At one point, I looked at Kris on our getaway and just said, “We are so blessed.”  I’ve had my share of struggles.  But, scripture reminds us to rejoice in tribulation, because it produces perseverance, perseverance produces character, and character produces hope.  And, hope does not disappoint.  Had I not endured a broken heart, there would be no Anna Takle. 

You see how good God is?

 

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