A Busy Nana's gratitude post...

I'm a day late posting my weekly gratitude list.  I'm on "Nana duty" for almost two weeks while my husband and our second born daughter and her husband and a team from our church are on a missions trip to Ghana. So, with two busy teens, an almost four year old, and a ten month old new to them dog to keep track of, I've not had a lot of down time for things like blogging!  Thank God that our almost four year old grandson's "nanny", our unofficially adopted granddaughter that I've mentioned here before, can help me out on occasion, and today she is on duty so I can catch up on things like small group prep, check book balancing, bill paying and even a bit of blogging!  

****************

Since 2009 I've been counting my blessings thanks to the prompting of Ann Voskamp.

 I continue to count my thanks, 

piling up gratitude day by day in my journal.

(and capturing some of my blessings via my camera or iPhone)
#10,960-#10,684

4-16-18-
-a quiet morning to sleep in after a middle of the night run to the airport
-watching the movie WONDER with my oldest granddaughter
-news that our team arrived safely in Ghana

4-17-18-
-the loud chirping of the birds just before sunrise
-texts from my hubs that everyone arrived safely in Kumasi
-singing, "I have decided to follow Jesus", with Nehemiah
-homemade broccoli cheddar soup and homemade bread-the grands loved it!

4-18-18-
-a beautiful spring day for a walk around the park

-photos from Ghana
-our grandson's handsome new haircut-first time he wasn't afraid of the clippers!

4-19-18-
-good reports that the projects are going well in Ghana
-apple blossoms on our neighbor's tree

-G's help with the grandkids

4-20-18-
-the neighbor's bringing the grandkids' dog back when she jumped the fence
-our grandson worshipping when we sing "I love you, Lord" before bed
-sharing a favorite movie with my granddaughter

4-21-18-
-phone calls and texts from my hubs
-"Nana, you're like an angel!" (Oh, the things that an almost four year old says!)
-all three kids worn out and in bed early!

4-22-18-
-Sunday lunch outside in the sun
-God working when I pray, and repent, and let go, and trust Him
-going out for child sized Wendy's Frosties with my grandson
-working together on chores with the grandkids
-good news from someone I was concerned about

still following,

The hungry soul...

I have a fitness app on my phone on which I keep track of my exercise and eating.  It gives me access to helpful tips as well, and one of those tips was that if you are actually hungry then you will be willing to eat a piece of fruit or some veggies. It said that if you're unwilling to eat something healthy, then what you are experiencing is not true hunger.

Our small group is studying the Sermon on the Mount.  How many times have I read through Matthew chapters five, six and seven and picked out the tasty bits of what Jesus said, but turned my nose up, so to speak, at the tough parts?  I really love the part where Jesus tells us to not be anxious and reassures us of His provision and care for us.  I even have that part memorized!  But, then there's that part where He tells us that anger in our heart towards our brother is equal to murder and must be dealt with swiftly and not harbored. That part was a bit more difficult for me to swallow.

(Join me for the rest of this post on Sunday, April 22nd, at Woman to Woman Ministries where each Sunday I share a bit of Sunday Soul Food!)

still following,

Also happily linking up with the lovely

Susan B. Mead
and

Sunday Scripture Blessings

Spellbound by the sea...

The little cabin on the Umpqua River in this post is only about twenty miles inland from the beach. Our favorite little beach town is about another twenty miles north. When we visit the cabin, my husband and I usually take an afternoon to drive there, eat lunch at our favorite spot, do a bit of antiquing and looking in the shops, and of course, walk on the beach.

Those of you who've read my blog for any length of time, know that I think a walk by the sea is a good cure for just about whatever ails you.

I'm not sure when the sea first cast its spell over me, capturing my heart forever. I've always wondered if it's simply in my DNA.  My mama was born on Prince Edward Island and her relatives still live in the family farmhouse where mama was born.  My grandparents then moved from P.E.I. to the shipbuilding town of Bath, Maine, where Mama grew up.  Mama was born surrounded by the sea and grew up by the sea. Maybe I inherited my longing to be near the sea from her.

I grew up 80 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean, and we are living about that same distance now. That's not near close enough in my opinion, but I'm thankful it's close enough for day trips and frequent visits. In our early years of marriage we lived in a coastal town for about five years. I loved it.

(The Heceta Head lighthouse can be seen in the distance in this photo.)

 When I was a little girl I thought that living in a lighthouse would be the best life ever. I guess I'll just have to settle for frequent visits to the beach and as many walks by the sea as this inland girl can squeeze in.

still following,

songography at "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out"

image-in-ing:Variations

http://www.lifenreflection.com

buckaroo mama

peabea

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY at CREATE WITH JOY

A great way to begin a new week...

A few days ago we got a text from our oldest daughter saying that our two youngest granddaughters wanted to be water baptized.  She was concerned if, at ages 6 and 9, they were old enough.  The consensus from her dad and I and her sisters, (our family has a perpetual group text going at all times), was that if the girls understood and could articulate what this public confession of their faith meant, then they were old enough.  And so, on Sunday I was able to sneak away from our church, (unfortunately my husband was preaching and couldn't do so), and to attend our son-in-law and daughter's church for the baptism.  What a wonderful beginning to this new week! It definitely helped my spirits after last week's loss.
(Here's a link to the best video I've seen for explaining water baptism to children - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0kzf9fHcKY)

****************

Since 2009 I've been counting my blessings thanks to the prompting of Ann Voskamp.

 I continue to count my thanks, 

piling up gratitude day by day in my journal.

(and capturing some of my blessings via my camera or iPhone)

#10,938-#10,959

4-9-18-

-taxes done for another year, Praise God!
-a bouquet of dandelions from my grandson

-this warm sunny day before a very rainy forecast

4-10-18-
-taking my youngest daughter to get her birthday gift
-homemade spaghetti sauce simmering on the stove with homemade french bread in the oven
-our small group

4-11-18-
-our youngest daughter's birthday
-a slow, lazy morning after a late night
-God provision
-birthday dinner at a favorite restaurant with our girl and family

4-12-18-
-my oldest niece, healed and whole in the arms of Jesus
-an answer to prayer about the visas for some of our Ghana team members
-my husband telling me to stay home from our midweek prayer service and rest after the loss of my niece

4-13-18-
-the passports and visas all arrived safely and on time
-my husband surprising me with a new Rae Dunn mug
-a good day off together

4-14-18-
-writing time
-God speaking to my heart from Psalm 37:7
-dinner with our church's Homebuilder's group

4-15-18-
-our two youngest granddaughters got water baptized!

-a good report of how things went at our church 
when I was at our daughter and son-in-law's church for the baptism
-a fun lunch with our grandgirlies to celebrate 

still following,

Be still and rest in the Lord...

I came home from four wonderful days away at our youngest daughter's in-law's little cabin on the Umpqua River feeling much better from the weariness I'd been struggling with.  Two days after we arrived home we got the news of my husband's spiritual mentor's death, and four days after that news of the death of my oldest niece. I'm currently feeling a bit like a deflated balloon-unable to pump myself back up to normal. 

Psalm 37 is one of my favorite Psalms. Today, verse seven really spoke to me.  It gave me permission to just rest and lean on the Lord during this time. It brought to my mind the picture of holding a baby or toddler. Once they begin to rest in your arms, and perhaps even fall asleep, they become dead weight. They are no longer helping to support themselves, instead all of their weight is resting on you.

I'm not very good at allowing myself to be weak.  (Join me for the rest of this post on Sunday, April 15th, at Woman to Woman Ministries where each Sunday I share a bit of Sunday Soul Food!)

still following,

www.justfollowingjesus.com

Also happily linking up with the lovely

Susan B. Mead
and

Sunday Scripture Blessings

At the little cabin on the Umpqua River....

I never tire of the scenery from the back deck of the little cabin on the Umpqua River.

We were so blessed to spend a few days at the cabin, owned by our youngest daughter's in-laws, last week.

We arrived there just as the sun was going down.

 The next morning we saw the moon bright and clear in the sky 

for quite some time after the sun had already come up.

Most of the days we woke up to fog which would clear up after a few hours.

I'm so pleased with how these blue hour photos turned out.

Our last day at the cabin it rained most of the day-

a good excuse to stay in our pajamas and spend most of the day reading and napping!

still following,

songography at "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out"

image-in-ing:Variations

http://www.lifenreflection.com

buckaroo mama

peabea

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY at CREATE WITH JOY