Sunday, October 31, 2021

Weekly Gratitude Journal



Can you believe that I passed the fifteen thousand mark in my gratitude journal?!  I've been keeping a gratitude journal since the fall of 2009, so that means in the past twelve years I've taken note of fifteen thousand things that I am thankful for and I've written them down. Through life's best days and even on life's worst days, I've found that it's completely true-God is always faithful and there is always something to be thankful for! (And yes, once again life got busy and so here's two weeks worth of blessings!)

***************************
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)
#14,996-#15,040

Thank You, God for-
10-18-2021-
-reminding me of Your promises
-living where there are vibrant autumn colors
-heart talks with my girls

10-19-2021-
-a meeting that went well
-a fun afternoon with four of the grands





-enjoying winding down at the end of the day with my husband

10-20-2021-
-homemade soup simmering on the stove
-a beautiful time of conversation and prayer with a friend
-prayer support

10-21-2020-
-Bible verses and conversation via text with my visionary leadership team
-God's gentle correction
-repentance and forgiveness

10-22-2021-
-Friday date day with my guy
-God's help to say no!
-Christmas movies!

10-23-2021-
-a grandkid sleepover!
-the silly "Froggie" book that the grandkids love
-Papa buying the old Pippi Longstockings movie for us to watch and the littles loving it


10-24-2021-
-answers to prayer
-new mercies every day
-a beautiful time of worship together
-lunch with family

10-25-2021-
-my oldest granddaughter preaching truth to me over the phone
-baking bread
-Your word that builds, sustains and transforms me
-a beautiful time at Growth Group

10-26-2021-
-coffee and YourWord
-a friend to talk to and pray with
-my husband buying my daughter and I concert tickets

10-27-2021-
-sleeping in after a restless night
-a heart talk with my sister
-and always being able to talk to Jesus about everything!
-my oldest grandson unexpectedly did have to have surgery on his broken leg,
 but the surgery went well

10-28-2021-
-God reminding me of truths I know but need to re-focus on
-a little forest of wooden trees just waiting for the Christmas season


-Songs from the River Volume 5 by Ruth Fazel playing while I work

10-29-2021-
-breakfast, planning, laughter, tears and prayer with my visionary leadership team
-a sunny autumn after noon for a walk to the park with two of my grands, (so much laughter today with them-thank you, Lord!)
-such a great Fall Festival tonight at our church


















10-30-2021-
-today's to-do list done!
-a long heart talk with a friend
-my husband safely home from his trip

still following,



-

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Weekly Gratitude Journal



I always come here and make excuses for when I skip a week of posting my gratitude journal and sometimes I also mention that I hope to get back to writing and blogging a bit more frequently. The truth is, I laid aside some of my writing commitments because my priorities and preferences had to realign in my in real life relationships and responsibilities and ministry, which is a continual process. And boy, am I thankful for God's grace and mercy and patience with me in all of life's processes. I've long said that the most powerful prayer you can pray is, "Lord, change me." When you dare to pray it, He really does take you up on it. And for that, too, 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 journal.
(and capturing some of my blessings via my camera or iPhone)
#14,958-#14,995-

10-5-2021-
-my husband and oldest granddaughter getting to spend some time together
-my back getting better each day
-a sweet meeting with my visionary leadership team

10-6-2021-
-sweet notes from the ladies at church
-flowers from one of our church families
-Nahum 1:7 - the Lord knows those who trust in Him

10-7-2021-
-sweet time spent with the Lord
-Shane and Shane's Hymns album
-praying with my husband

10-8-2021-
-my youngest daughter and grands spending the weekend with us


-the grands being more excited to play with their mama and aunties old toys I've kept than in going to the park
-so many sweet "I love you, Nana"s

10-9-2021-
-my guy safely home from his trip
-our two middle granddaughters getting to spend the day with us
-their help making tacos for dinner

10-10-2021-
-beautiful autumn colors
-fun with $2 glow in the dark spiders (a big hit with the 2 and 4 year old grands)
-less pain and easier movement in my back

10-11-2021-
-a good night's sleep
-a day spent studying God's Word in prep for tomorrow's meeting
-my first walk since my fall (I normally try to walk 3.5 miles five days a week)

10-12-2021-
-seeing a friend's prayers answered above and beyond all she could ask or think
-my nephew fixing my drippy kitchen faucet
-God's strength in my weakness

10-13-2021-
-praying with a friend
-some needed down time with my husband
-the beauty of this season

10-14-2021-
-God's help
-laughing with our family over the fact that our two year old granddaughter 
calls her tights "sock pants"
-Thursday night after Bible study (it's our "Friday night" since Friday is our actual day off)
 
10-15-2021-
-foggy Friday morning
-coffee in bed
-a beautiful afternoon out and about together
-encouragement from friends
-our oldest grandson, a star quarterback, broke his fibula in tonight's game. 
(We're thanking God that it's a clean break not requiring surgery.)

10-16-2021-
-Your care and provision
-our home
-being able to change plans and plane tickets

10-17-2021-
-P's help to fill in last minute teaching the toddlers
-a powerful word from the Lord
-Sunday afternoon rest

still following,


Monday, October 4, 2021

Weekly Gratitude Journal


I'm a notorious multi-tasker. I'm always scurrying about doing several things at once. Saturday evening I was getting dinner ready when I decided to run out to the garage for something I can't even now remember. I hurried through the laundry room out through the door into the garage and because I was rushing instead of being careful and was in my stocking feet, I slipped and landed hard on my back right rib area on the cement step. OUCH! I was pretty sure I broke a rib or two, but x-rays revealed no breaks! I do have some back muscles that need to heal up, but I'm so thankful that I wasn't more severely injured.  I could have hit my head or my spine, or broken a hip or leg or arm. Sore back muscles aren't fun-bending, twisting and even standing up from a sitting position is painful. But, it could have so much worse. I'm so thankful to God that it wasn't!
***************************
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)
#14,928-#14,950

9-27-2021-
-God bringing order and peace to a full and busy day
-such a sweet, precious time with our growth group
-taking communion together, discussing what God is showing us in His Word, praying together

9-28-2021-
-nice long phone chats with both of my sisters
-a video of youngest granddaughter singing to me
-sweet times of tea and discussing what God is doing in their lives 
with some of the women from our church

9-29-2021-
-a slow morning after two full busy days
-playing Yahtzee with my 9 year old granddaughter
-my 12 year old granddaughter blossoming into a beautiful young lady right before my eyes

9-30-2021-
-saying yes to God about something I was struggling to let go of
-asking for prayer-and my headache left!
-a phone chat with my youngest daughter
-tea and a good time of conversation and prayer with another dear one from church
-such a great Bible study! (Romans)

10-1-2021-
-foggy mornings
-cozy candlelight


-a fire in the fireplace

10-2-2021-
-Your great love for me
-that I was not more seriously hurt when I fell in the garage
-my niece-in-law and my husband praying for me

10-3-2021-
-being able to join church via zoom when I stayed home due to my sore back
-getting an open dr. appointment tomorrow for x-rays
-my dear friend from SoCal coming by to see me

still following,