Sunday, May 18, 2014

A whole lot of thanks...


What a wild, wonderful, chaotic week it's been!
A week ago our new grandson was born 5 weeks prematurely.
Thank God, he's doing great and shouldn't be in the NICU too much longer.
Unfortunately, my son-in-law's father passed away this week as well.
He had to fly across the country for his father's funeral, leaving baby and mama in the hospital,
and the two oldest grandkids with us.

Life is so unpredictable.
Times of great joy and and times of great sorrow don't always happen when it's convenient.
Yet, though it all, God's faithfulness, goodness, love and grace remain steadfast and reliable.
Through it all, He's worthy of praise, worthy of my gratitude.
And so, I give Him thanks.

**********************
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 little black journal.
(and capturing some of my blessings via my camera or iPhone)

#4621-#467
(posting two weeks of my gratitude list, since I was at the hospital getting a grandson last Sunday!)

5-5-14-
-a day to stay home
-baking cookies


-going on my run
-God's help with preparing my Mother's Day message for church

5-6-14-
-waking up with a big to-do list on my mind and God's help getting them done
-meeting with a blog friend
-a husband that's easy to please when it comes to meals 
(bacon, lettuce, tomato, avocado sandwiches for dinner)

5-7-14-
-my pregnant daughter's blood pressure being stable today
-inexpensive and comfy casual shoes


-a husband who stops at antique stores for me


-my favorite meal at our favorite restaurant at the coast
-a really long, lovely walk on the beach



5-8-14-
-a retreat with all of our church leadership
-the couple from our church who cooked all of our fabulous meals


-my oldest daughter, son-in-law and two youngest granddaughters getting to join us



5-9-14-
-a beautiful home to have our retreat at
-our son-in-law's message to our leaders

5-10-11-
-a safe, very rushed trip home from the retreat due to our daughter's worsening preclampsia symptoms, necessitating an early delivery of our grandson
-my daughter's best friend being there for her the whole time
-a few hours sleep on the waiting room couch

5-11-14-
-getting to go home for a shower and going to church to preach the Mother's Day message
-rushing back to the hospital and the hub's preaching my message instead,
(I got lots of texts that he did a great job!)
-our grandson! (4 lbs 9oz, 17 1/2 in.)


5-12-14-
-my oldest grandson's tenth birthday


-his daddy and Papa making sure he had a great birthday,
(in spite his mama being in the hospital with his new brother)
-my oldest daughter making him a birthday cake and all of us celebrating together at the hospital


-friends and family buying unexpectedly needed preemie size baby clothes
-my daughter getting to hold her son of the first time


-spending the night in the NICU with my grandson, 
(because his mama isn't discharged from her room yet and his daddy needed some sleep),
and getting to hear his little noises and cries

5-13-14-
-my daughter feeling better and stronger
-my grandson's breathing improving


-the She Reads Truth devotional of Nehemiah


-running a few errands and getting a bite to eat outside of the hospital on this beautiful sunny afternoon
-the view of the full moon from my grandson's room in the NICU


-the NICU doctors and nurses

5-15-14-
-holding my grandson for the first time


-his improvements each day


-our oldest daughter coming to visit him
-stories about our funny youngest granddaughter


-our youngest daughter home from a trip to Missouri

5-16-14-
-my son-in-law's dad, now with Jesus
-going to grandparent's day at our two oldest grandkids' school



-our grandson getting to be off his breathing machine



-my youngest daughter getting to see him for the first time
-my daughter getting to breastfeed him for the first time

5-17-14-
-my son-in-law getting to go to his dad's funeral
-our grandson's first bath


-Papa getting to hold him for the first time


5-18-14-
-our church
-our faithful God and His wonderful Word
-our family

gratefully yours,
http://www.aholyexperience.com


22 comments:

  1. Your new little grandson looks amazing, such a blessing that he is doing so well. It's been quite an amazing two weeks for you all.

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    1. It's been an amazing and exhausting time! Our little guy is doing great and might get out in the hospital in a day or two. We are so thankful.

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  2. Oh, Elizabeth, the gifts from sad to joyous made me tear up. Beautiful post. A great Father who loves us beyond measure. Hugs.

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    1. Thank you, friend. I'm already smitten by our little guy and am happy to say he's doing so well that he should get out of the hospital in a day or two.

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  3. Now that IS a whole lot of thanks! You've packed a heap of living in a very short time...

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    1. And it's been wonderful as well as exhausting! Our grandson is doing so well that he should get out of the hospital in a couple of days. Praise God!

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  4. What amazing pictures, and such a gorgeous baby - he seems to be coming on in leaps and bounds, thank God. It's so great that you're near enough to be able to help out. Hugs, Chris x

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    1. Chris, I think he's going to get out of the hospital in a couple of days. YAY!

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  5. What a beautiful week and you captured it well! It will be hard to beat that one if you were counting--smile!

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    1. Dianne, our little guy is doing so well that he should be out of the hospital in a couple of days. I'm praising God!

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  6. What an amazing week for you all - great photos!

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    1. Thanks so much, Jill. It has been an amazing and exhausting week. Our grandson should get out of the hospital in a couple of days, and we are so thankful!

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  7. What a week it's been! I love your photos and the praise behind your words.
    ~Adrienne~

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  8. When I read your blog just now...Blessed Be Your Name began playing in my head. How wonderful of you to continue to count your blessings & share them with us. You are honoring our Heavenly Father by continuing to share the blessings He bestows in your life with others. Praying for you & your beautiful family.

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    Replies
    1. I thought of that song as well! Thanks so much, Krista!

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  9. The other day a friend wrote in the blog that he doubted God was Perfect whenever he saw pictures of mothers crying, specially in places with armed conflicts and wars. He even doubted His Existence.
    I replied with a long comment that ended along these lines "whenever I see the misery on those pictures and contemplate the perfection He Operates in Ly Life I'm so sure not only that He Exists but how perfect His Presence is in my Life. Because I allow Him to Be part of it".
    Had I had your post last year and I would only repply with a link forwarding him to these Blessings and your Inspiring Words.
    Wishing Blessings upon your Hearts and Lives,
    Teresa

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    1. Thank you so much, Teresa. Our grandson should be getting out of the hospital in a couple of days. We have so much to be thankful for!

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  10. So much to rejoice over in these wonderful photos.

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  11. Such a wonderful gratitude post! Praising the Lord with you in all these things. Your grandson is precious!!! I hope he comes soon :)

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  12. Physics actually supports what Jesus said.
    http://mysteriousworldjlc.blogspot.com/2014/05/jesus-and-physics.html

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