A Paradox

I can't believe that it is already the middle of August.  I feel like it was February just yesterday.  I don't even know where this year has gone!

It's been a somewhat intense summer for the Baum household.  We have been coming and going a lot for the past few months, and there aren't really any signs of slowing down to be seen yet.  Mostly, I feel like we've done a lot of celebrating other people's lives.  We dearly love all of our friends and family, and we are nothing short of elated to share in good times with them.  But on the few occasions when I sit still for longer than a minute and allow my mind to zero out the world around me, I feel a little bit of longing.  Longing to have something of our own to celebrate.  And here is why I will probably delete this post - that's an utterly selfish thing to want!

I am so grateful for all that we have, and I don't want to take it for granted.  So it seems, as soon as the selfish longing creeps up, I push it back down.  Because I don't want to be less than thankful for what the Lord has provided.

So there's my struggle...  How do I maintain a sense of gratitude toward Him for what I have and also remember that He loves me and wants to give me "a hope and a future".  How do you balance hope for things yet to come with a thankful heart?