Weekly Gratitude Journal

With my seven year old grandson from South Carolina here for a visit we've been spending as much time as possible with the other grandkids that still live near us and having some summer fun together. Today, the cousins weren't available and Papa was working, so just he and I went on a little adventure. Recently, we discovered that we have some lovely waterfalls so ridiculously near to where we live that I can't believe we've lived here almost six years and only recently discovered them. I decided to take my grandson to see them. In walking together on one of the trails we found a beautiful swimming hole in the river that some young families and teenagers were enjoying. The waterfalls and the swimming hole have always been there, but it was only when I made an effort to explore the area that I discovered them. Similarly, it was only when I decided to explore this idea of keeping a gratitude journal, of counting at least three blessings every day, that I discovered the truth that hidden in my ordinary life were blessings I'd just never noticed before. There is always something to be thankful for!

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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)

#14.669-#14,692

7-12-2021-

-a new journal

-knowing that God is at work in us, in our family and in our church

-our tender hearted seven year old grandson

-an all clear cat scan on my husband after a little scare

-heart talks with our son-in-law

7-13-2021-

-God is able to keep/guard that which I entrust to Him

-this time with our grandson

-gathering with the women from our church

7-14-2021-

-a long walk to the river with three of the grandkids

-reading a favorite book to the littlest grandkids over and over

-a sleepover with just our youngest granddaughter 

7-15-2021-

-a lovely early morning walk before it gets hot

-a fluffy cotton tailed bunny hopping across the sidewalk in front of me on my walk

-encouraging texts from women in our church telling me the changes that God is making in their lives

-our Bible study on the book of Romans

7-16-2021-

-breakfast with friends

-our nephew inviting our grandson to spend the day playing with his son

-going to bed early with a good book to read

7-17-2021-

-my husband helping me with some chores

-him spoiling our grandson with new swimming shoes and goggles

-a fun afternoon at the lake

7-18-2021-

-unity and God's presence as we worship

-a powerful message to our church from our friend/guest speaker

-a phone call from our oldest granddaughter

still following,

Weekly Gratitude Journal

I didn't have anyway of knowing what life would look like once my middle daughter and son-in-law and four out of eight of our grandkids moved from the same town we live in to clear across the country to my son-in-law's home state of South Carolina. All I did know is that it felt like mourning, like my heart was being torn. But, since their move we have been able to fly and see them for our grandsons' birthdays, then they flew back here for our oldest granddaughter's eighteenth birthday and high school graduation. And now, my son-in-law, who still does business here is back here for some work and he brought our seven year old grandson with him. YaY! It's not the same as having them living nearby. It's not the same as being able to see them whenever we want. But, it's better than I imagined and for that I give God 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 journal.

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

#14.644-#14,668

7-5-2021-

-talking to my oldest granddaughter on FaceTime

-a wonderful time of discussion and prayer together with our Visionary Leadership Team

-seeing a doe and her two fawns on the drive home from our meeting 

-a yummy new cake recipe

7-6-2021-

-thanking God for my youngest brother on his birthday

-being able to listen to the Bible and podcasts when I'm working in the yard or on my walk

-a beautiful response to our call to fast and pray once a week

7-7-2021-

-spending the afternoon with a friend that I haven't seen since before the covid shutdown

-finding the mirror of my dreams at an antique mall for only $45 

 (It's frame was wood, but with the magic of paint 

I made it look similar to this Anthropologie mirror.)

-spending time with my four year old grandson who is having a sleepover at our house

7-8-2021-

-an unexpected cash back reward that paid for half of a gift I purchased for a friend

-fasting and praying together

-my oldest brother FaceTiming me to show me his remodeling on his house

7-9-2021-

-another beautiful summer day

-our day off!

-taking our two middle granddaughters out to lunch and to Barnes and Noble

 to buy new books to take on their vacation

7-10-2021-

-my Visionary Leadership Team and their support

-the riches of God's Word

-a walk with a friend

-such encouragement at what God is doing in His church/people

-our son-in-law and seven year old grandson safely here from South Carolina, 

(my SIL has work here and he brought our grandson out with him-YaY!)

 7-11-2021-

-beautiful worship

-such a powerful Word from God

-the youth group came and did some yard work for us!

-youngest daughter and her two kiddos came to see us

still following,

Weekly Gratitude Journal

I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July celebrating with family and friends. Obviously, our nation is flawed in so many ways, from its beginning to its present. So is every person and nation since sin twisted and broke the human race. If we waited for perfection to be grateful, thankful and appreciative we would be waiting forever-in fact, I believe we'd become consumed with bitterness. We must focus on our blessings, on the goodness of God in our lives, while at the same time facing with both realism and faith those things that still need to change. Instead of pointing fingers at others with a heart of accusation that says, "You should change things!" we must humble ourselves and pray, "Lord, change ME and show me what You want me to do to change the world around me."

On another note, I don't mean to be so hit and miss over here on my much neglected blog. I have good intentions to get back to writing, hopefully soon! 

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

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)

#14.598-#14,643

6-21-2021-

-a phone chat with my sister

-a fresh, whole salmon from a friend to grill for dinner-so delicious!

-dinner with our family, (except our South Carolina kids😢)

6-22-2021-

-God's provision for every need

-the old Asian man that always greets me when I'm out walking

-thank you God for what you are doing in our growth groups

6-23-2021-

-time to spend in your Word

-a beautiful evening walk around Lake Sacajawea

-listening to a book on Audible together in the car

6-24-2021-

-my middle son-in-law-today is his birthday!

-sweet time in the Word and prayer

-encouraging discussions at our growth groups and Bible study

6-25-2021-

-a really good night's sleep

-discovering a great new to us park to bring the grandkids to

-an air conditioned home during this heat wave

6-26-2021-

-chores done in the cool of the morning

-lunch with G.

-forgiveness and new mercies

6-27-2021-

-great time of worship and the Word

-praying with others

-lunch with my nephew and his family

-a sweet text from our daughter

6-28-2021-

-our youngest son-in-law-today is his birthday!

-God speaking to me clearly from His Word

-a sweet time gathering with our growth group at my house

6-29-2021-

-God is perfect in all of His ways to me - Psalm 18 and 145

-being able to walk outside after days of way too hot weather

-my husband being so easy to please on what's for dinner when I'm not feeling like cooking

6-30-2021-

-spending the day at the lake with the grandkids

-rocking and singing to our youngest granddaughter and her falling asleep in my arms

-oldest daughter thinking ahead on sending a first aid kit with us so we had something to take care of the bad cut our granddaughter got on her foot

-a Papa who spoils his grandkids

7-1-2021-

-facetime calls with our South Carolina daughter and grandkids

-a little summer rain shower after days of heat

-my husband cleaned the garage!

-a good report from the eye doctor

7-2-2021-

-waking up in the wee hours to spend time with God

-my yellow rose bush, that I planted with my grandson, is blooming

-heart talks with my guy

7-3-2021-

-a new day with new mercies

-sweet grandkid texts and photos

-a husband who goes to the store for me when I'm in the middle of cooking and need something

7-4-2021-

-our nation's 245th birthday

-my dad-who would have been 100 today

-playing in the sprinkler with the grandkids

-laughing so hard, playing silly games with our youngest daughter and her family and our nephew and his family

still following,