Weekly Gratitude Journal

It's May! It's going to be a crazy full, busy month exciting month. It's graduation and wedding season and then May is also full of birthdays in our family, Life in general is full, busy and exciting. God is up to good things and it's an honor to be a part of His kingdom and a part of what He is doing in the earth. 

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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)

#15,624-#15,669

4-18-2022-

-God's provision

-God speaking to me about how our flesh always wants to take the path of least resistance

-a long procrastinated task done

4-19-2022-

-God's new mercies

-the crabapple tree all abloom

-flowers from my guy

4-20-2022-

-our freshly mowed yard

-spending the afternoon with my daughter and granddaughters

-God's good work in our growth groups

4-21-2022-

-Your Word

-Your mercy and help

-my friend bringing me a tea from Starbucks

4-22-2022-

-a sunny Friday Date Day

-a delicious lunch out together

-listening to a book together on Audible as we drive

4-23-2022-

-an answer to a prayer for a need

-this beautiful, sunny spring day

-a fun afternoon antiquing with my friend

4-24-2022-

Your wonderful word and presence

-a delicious lunch together

-my Visionary Leadership Team

4-25-2022-

-Your provision for us

-my oven is fixed and at a reasonable price!

-our growth group's prayers for one another

4-26-2022-

-a good night's sleep

-hope

-delicious gluten free/sugar free berry crisp made by a friend

-my nephew

4-27-2022-

-a friend's deep insight

-praying with my granddaughter who is sick over FaceTime

-facetiming with my youngest granddaughter

-a fluffy clean Sal, our labradoodle pup

-my hubs picking up dinner for us

4-28-2022-

-morning birdsong

-spring blooms

-deep cleaning done before a very full weekend

4-29-2022-

-lunch with friends

-our church 

-all of the work my nephew did for a big weekend at our church

4-30-2022-

-the beautiful, flawless, trustworthy heart of God

-the way God sees us and bears our burdens

-a heart talk together

5-1-2022-

-it's May!

-a beautiful, love filled, hope filled atmosphere

-the Word of the Lord that builds us

a big answer to prayer for a loved one 

still following,

Weekly Gratitude Journal

It was relentlessly rainy last week until Friday. My husband and I had a beautiful, sunny Friday day off together which I thoroughly enjoyed. Saturday was busy with a bit of yard work and a long walk with the dog in the morning and then some indoor housework and dinner prep for Easter day in the afternoon just as the rain started up again. On Easter Sunday the weather was lovely. We had our annual church breakfast followed by our Easter service. Then our oldest daughter, her husband and our two granddaughters and my nephew and his wife and two kids came over for Easter dinner. We had a delicious dinner and a great visit together. Our oldest granddaughter facetimed us from Missouri where she is in an internship at the International House of Prayer. Our second born daughter and her family moved to South Carolina last summer if you recall. She sent us videos of our youngest grandson's first Easter egg hunt and of our grandsons all dressed up for church. Our youngest daughter who moved to Florida this year sent photos of our grandson and granddaughter in their Easter clothes and Facetimed us for a chat. Our three year old granddaughter, who looks like an angel, proved she isn't one by inserting the word "poopy" into our conversation as many times as she could, laughing at how amused she was at herself. I couldn't help but laugh, too. I love this crazy family of ours. I miss us all being near one another more than words can say-but I'm so thankful for what we do have. God is good. Christ is risen. And there is always, always, always, something to be thankful for.

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

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)

#15,601-#15,623 

4-11-2022-

-our youngest daughter-today's her birthday!

-a very unexpected mid-April snow

-God's help with notes for our monthly gathering of the women from our church

-a new baby in our church family

4-12-2002-

-during this Lent season, reading in the Bible again what Jesus suffered for me

-all of those who help me with the prep for our monthly meeting

-Sal

4-13-2022-

-such good responses in our group chats about last night's meeting

-an afternoon off with my guy

-a break in the weather to take the dog on a walk

4-14-2022-

-a FaceTime chat with our oldest granddaughter

-God speaking to us repeatedly in various ways on something He's saying to us 

-a healthy body that can still walk and move

4-15-2022-

-a really nice Friday date day together

-the words "love you, Nana!"

-rhubarb to make a rhubarb crisp for Easter dessert

4-16-2022-

-a beautiful morning to get some yard work done and to take the dog for a walk

-a friend's letting me bake at her house since my oven quit

-a centerpiece of cheery tulips

4-17-2022-

-I serve a risen Savior!

- breakfast and celebrating Resurrection Sunday with our church family

-a delicious dinner and fun afternoon with our oldest daughter, son-in-law and granddaughters and our nephew and his family

still following,

Weekly Gratitude Journal

I'm going to have to quit apologizing for my long absences from this blog and making false promises to myself and any readers who may still pop in here to be more consistent. It's been three weeks since I last posted. Our daughter from South Carolina and two youngest grandsons were here for a week. We went to the cabin on the Umpqua River for a week. Ministry life is full and busy. So, it is what it is. I'll show up here when I can!

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

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)

#15,503-#15,600

3-14-2022-

-two more spring cleaning projects done

-a nice long phone chat with my oldest granddaughter

-trees in bloom

3-15-2022-

-a beautiful morning

-Ann Voskamp's Waymaker book

-our fluffy, clean pup after her first trip to the groomers

3-16-2022-

-more spring cleaning tasks done

-God's "hesed" lovingkindness (attachment love)

-the video of our grandson opening his new red crocs that Papa bought him

-good reports from a new growth group

3-17-2022-

-God's protection over our youngest grandson from what could have been a life threatening fall

-texts with my oldest grandson

-spending time with my oldest daughter and granddaughters

3-18-2022-

-a sweet slow morning quiet time soaking in God's Word and presence

-a day of rest together

-Holy Spirit insights from His Word

3-19-2022-

-getting a long procrastinated project done

-a sweet time of tea, conversation and prayer with two of our young married mamas from church

-a stormy, rainy morning that gave way to a beautiful evening and sunset

3-20-2022-

-it's the first day of spring!

-our South Carolina daughter and her two youngest boys are here for a week!

-my grandsons' snuggles

-our dog trainer and her mama coming to church

-baking cookies with my grandson

-my great nephew coming over to play with my grandson

3-21-2022-

-a second surgery on our oldest grandson's ankle went well

-a FaceTime chat with my granddaughter

-God's faithful provision and watchful care for us

-singing songs with our youngest grandson

3-22-2022-

-my friend did not get sick when I accidentally gave her something with gluten in it!

-another beautiful growth group gathering

-yummy leftovers from yesterday so I don't have to cook today

-a sunny afternoon to enjoy a walk to the park with my daughter and grandsons

-fro-yo for an after dinner treat

3-23-2022-

-tender moments with Jesus before the chaos of the day begins

-accompaning my daughter on a drive to a job site and getting to have some lunch and a wee bit of shopping together also

-help with our puppy's tummy issues

3-24-2022-

-the weekly prayer points with scriptures that are prepared for the women of our church by a member of my Visionary Leadership Team

-another sunny afternoon at the park

-a family favorite for dinner

3-25-2022-

-relinquishing a job at the church that I've been doing for years to someone else

-taking my grandson and the dog on a walk

-our daughter treating us to dinner out

3-26-2022-

-our oldest daughter-today's her birthday!

-this precious time with our daughter and grandsons

-a clean house

3-27-2022-

-powerful worship, Word and prayer time

-a safe drive to the cabin

-the flowering quince beside the cabin all abloom

3-28-2022-

-our grandson's ankle is healing

-our oldest granddaughter got to see her family for spring break

-a slow morning at the cabin

-a walk by the sea

-dinner with my sister and brother-in-law

3-29-2022-

-a lazy day at the cabin

-my friend calling to pray with me

-homemade soup for dinner

3-30-2022-

-these mornings at the cabin of heart talks with God and time in the Word

-lunch at Bridgewater

-a gorgeous sunny afternoon to walk at Heceta Beach

-a phone call from our oldest grandson

3-31-2022-

-foggy mornings on the river that give way to sunny afternoons

-a sweet lazy morning together

-another beautiful beach walk

4-1-2022-

-a huge beautiful golden colored hawk perched on a post

- a safe drive home

-our pup grew some more while we were gone!

-God's provision

4-2-2022-

-phone chats with my oldest sister and brother

-facetime calls with my east coast grandkids

-my husband sharing things God is speaking to him

-taco salad with fresh guacamole

4-3-2022-

-some timely reminders

-powerful presence of God

-new faces at church

-lunch with may sister, brother-in-law, nephew and his family

4-4-2022-

-our son-in-law-it's his birthday today!

-a visit from my sister

-help with some house projects

4-5-2022-

-taking my brother for a medical test that came back all clear!

-a break in the rain for my walk

-homemade beef stroganoff!

4-6-2022-

-this stunningly beautiful warm spring day

-two great-great nieces born in one week!

-a fun afternoon with my daughter and granddaughters

4-7-2022-

-finally getting our taxes done

-God's faithful provision

-so warm and sunny today!

4-8-2022-

-youngest daughter's in-laws safely arrived on their cross country drive to our daughter's house

-my husband's help with a project

-words of love from my guy

4-9-2022-

-new mercies for each new day

-Psalm 25 and 103

-a new lemon-y candle

4-10-2022-

-a kind offer of help

-lunch with my guy

-a bit of shopping with a friend

still following,

Weekly Gratitude Journal

I'm trying to get my weekly gratitude post done on time this week-something I've failed to do all too frequently for quite some time. This week in the middle of my list of things I'm thankful for there's something I'm thankful for that did not happen. Yesterday, our middle daughter and son-in-law had an appointment after church so they had our oldest grandson drive his girlfriend and our two younger grandsons home. On the way home they had a car accident. The car was totaled, but no one was hurt, not even a scratch! I'm so very thankful! It makes me wonder how many times God has protected us from danger and harm and we didn't even notice or pause to give Him thanks. There is always something to be thankful for and sometimes it's the things that God did not let happen!

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

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)

#15,479-#15,502

3-7-2022-

-Papa buying red crocs for our grandson

-facetime hugs and kisses from our youngest granddaughter

-God's provision

3-8-2022-

-pale pink roses and baby's breath

-a beautiful one year celebration of our growth groups

-taking communion together

3-9-2022-

-an encouraging text

-sunshine and blue skies

-a much needed nap

3-10-2022-

-flowering quince

-a shift of perspective

-a phone chat with my oldest granddaughter

-red sky at night

3-11-2022-

-Friday Date Day!

-getting our yard tidied up after the winter

-time at the cabin scheduled

3-12-2022-

-a home to have to clean

-a husband who doesn't mind fending for himself for dinner so I could go out with a friend

-setting the clocks ahead (temporary discomfort for lighter evenings)

3-13-2022-

-God speaking to me from Psalm 121

-a powerful message at church

-God's protection over our grandsons

-a lazy Sunday afternoon to catch up from the short night's sleep

-a long phone chat with my sister

still following,