Monday, August 12, 2013

God's love notes...


The week began with a trip to the ER with our youngest daughter and ended with a long prayed for daughter of one of our church members coming to church with her and responding to God's love in brokenness and repentance.
In between those two extremes have been prayers for loved one's and friends going through dark valleys and sweet times of joy and laughter, sharing happy summer moments with our grandchildren.
Life is full of highs and lows, mountains and valleys, smooth roads and rough ones.
Yet, God's goodness and mercy follow me, chase me down and overtake me, no matter what path I find myself walking on any given day.
God's love notes are sprinkled throughout my life, on the hard days and on the joy filled days.
Some days I have to search a bit harder to see them, but I've never had a day when I couldn't find one.
These lists, found in my gratitude journal, are my love notes back to Him,
my thanksgiving for His faithful, extravagant, undeserved love and blessings.

*******************
In 2012 I followed the prompts in Ann Voskamp's Joy Dare in counting my thanks.
In 2013 I'm going back to the way I did it in the beginning,
just noticing and recording the many extraordinary blessings in my ordinary life.
And so I continue to count my thanks
piling up gratitude day by day
in my little black journal.
(and capturing some of them via my camera or iPhone)

#3633-#3657
8-5-13-


-ER Dr. who x-rayed youngest daughter's lungs even though bloodwork and listening to her lungs he was convinced she didn't have pneumonia thus discovering she did have a bad case of an uncommon type
-IV antibiotics working in her body
-a power outage when I was in Target, so they gave me a free slurpee for my sick girl and a three dollar off coupon on a five dollar purchase

8-6-13-
-suddenly remembering that my driver's license expired last week on my birthday and going to renew it (thanking God that I remembered BEFORE trying to board a flight this week with an expired ID)
-a super helpful bank employee
-youngest daughter already doing so much better
-my grandson on a friend's wedding video
(look for the cute little boy in the vest and green shirt showing off his dancing skills)



8-7-13-
-the Hubs helping me do the shopping for Sunday's BBQ
-going to the splash park and then Tebo's for dinner with oldest daughter and her family and youngest daughter



-four year old granddaughter having a sleepover at our house

8-8-13-
-four year old granddaughter being such a good girl for Nana and Papa
-how she was so excited to see her little sister when I brought her back home
-a phone call from the two oldest grands telling me all about the wonderful adventures they are having on their vacation in Southern California





-a great time of worship and prayer at church tonight

8-9-13-
-Friday!  I love the Hub's day off and our weekly "date day"!
-a long overdue cut and color before our date



-a yummy, inexpensive, healthy dinner out at Chipotle


-watching a favorite movie together
-the sky outside turning all orange before a thunderstorm

8-10-13-
-an especially sweet time in the Word as I had my morning devotions


-huge blooms on my peace rose


-a bike ride on a new bike trail with a friend



8-11-13-
-one of our church mama's daughters, who we've been praying for for so long, coming to church with her and coming to the altar, broken, weeping, wanting to be free
-a BBQ at our house for our church's children's and youth ministries volunteers and their families





-having a hard conversation that I've put off and it working out for good

Gratefully yours,

     

14 comments:

  1. I love your pics. Cute grandson. He is not shy. We do have so much to be grateful for in this life. It does a hear good to take a moment and dwell on them. :)

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  2. Your list made me happy after a long day. A refreshment.

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  3. Lovely to read of the good things happening over your way Elizabeth! Our dog had an operation and is getting better despite having an infection that most dogs die of within 24 hours. She is recovering beautifully, praise God!

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  4. I am so thankful for the wisdom of the doctors concerning your daughter. And oh, your grandson, how handsome is he?

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  5. Hi Elizabeth,

    I' so sorry your youngest daughter was in the hospital, but glad she's doing better. Fun to count gifts with you here too, and to peek into your life. Thanks.

    Have a great week,
    Jennifer Dougan
    www.jenniferdougan.com

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  6. I'm so glad the doctor figured out what was wrong with your daughter. Sweet list. That last one always brings relief.

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  7. So glad your daughter is better. What good news about the long-prayed-for gal turning to God. Loved catching up with you. So good to hear your voice on the phone yesterday.
    ~Adrienne~

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  8. What a great recap of your blessings! (And sweet wedding video! :)
    Susan

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  9. Enjoyed the video. Sweet boy! Your week of counting blessings, encouraged me today too. Glad your daughter is doing better!

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  10. Oh my goodness, what a week! Lots of ups and downs for sure...it's always good to recount our blessings, isn't it? It helps to put things in perspective. Hope your daughter is doing well. xo

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  11. If God loves a cheerful giver, then surely He loves a faithful thanker....that's you Elizabeth. Love your blog and instagram photos... xoxo

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  12. I can't figure out what is my favorite piece of thanksgiving, but I can figure out my favorite picture. It would be the one with your grandchildren in the pillory with those faces. So cute.

    I loved the one about the church member. There is nothing gives me any more joy than seeing brokenness left at the altar. I know what He did with mine.

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  13. What a busy life!
    What a great hair style!
    What a lovely back yard!
    What a wonderful Savior!
    What a Faithful Friend!

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  14. great work!! Thank you so much for this site .. you may also visit our site to know more about God's love and wisdom: http://sharegodsbook.weebly.com/#/

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