Weekly Gratitude Journal

One of the extra blessings God gave us when our daughters got married were their in-laws. Our middle daughter's in-laws have passed away, but both our oldest and youngest daughters hit the jackpot when it comes to great in-laws. It's a real blessing to share grandchildren with people that love and serve the Lord and are amazing grandparents. 

Our youngest daughter is married to an only child. So since her in-laws are retired and their only son and their only grandchildren moved to Florida last year it makes sense that they have decided to sell their home in Oregon and join them in Florida! They are having a brand new home built and will be moving in just a couple of weeks. I'm happy for them and also for our kids and grandkids to have one set of parents/grandparents living near them. 

When our kids were here visiting from Florida they helped pack the moving pod for my son-in-laws parents. I helped watch the grandkids while they packed. Then we all had a big fourth birthday party at our house for our granddaughter followed by a lovely weekend with my daughter and grandkids staying with us while our son-in-law went to the little cabin on the Umpqua River with his two best friends. (Yes, our daughter's in-laws will be keeping their family cabin in Oregon. 😊) All too soon, Monday came and we had to say goodbye, not just to our kids and grandkids but to my son-in-law's parents. The last couple of years have had altogether too many goodbyes in them! But there's always something to be thankful for, like two more good reasons to visit sunny Florida!

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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)

#16,607-#16,655

1-23-2023-

-the antique mirror of my dreams for free by the time the vendor reduced the price and I sold the mirror it is replacing, etc.

-Matthew 17:5, John 17:23 

-a beautiful time of connection and praying for one another at tonight's growth group

1-24-2023-

-baking for my grand babies who are coming to visit from Florida

-praying with my husband

-such encouraging reports from all the growth groups

-a beautiful sunset on my walk

1-25-2023-

-an answer to prayer

-a fun day playing with my grandbabies

-my granddaughter's huge grin and my grandson's big hugs

-an adventure walk in "the woods" (near our oldest daughter's church)

-cousin time for the Florida grandkids and the Oregon grandkids

1-26-2023-

-a whole day with the grandkids!

-"Nana, tell me a funny story....tell me another one."

-two fed, bathed, happy grandkids snuggled in our bed

1-27-2023-

-our youngest granddaughter's 4th birthday

-homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast

-my granddaughter and grandson helping to decorate her birthday cake

-a houseful of family celebrating together

-our Oregon granddaughters having a sleepover with their Florida cousins

1-28-2023-

-cousins having so much fun together

-"mantime" for our five year old grandson and Papa while the girls went shopping

-time with my daughters and granddaughters

-baths, books and songs with my grandson and granddaughter before bed

1-29-2023-

-my husband playing the keyboard and leading in worship-

(he used to do so of necessity, but now it's a rare treat)

-a powerful message

-the grandkids feeding our nephew's chickens

1-30-2023-

-one last morning with the Florida grandkids and our daugher before they go back home

-a quiet evening with my guy after the  full and happy days with the grandkids

-the amazing relationships God is building in our growth groups

1-31-2023-

-a quiet morning in the Word

-our home

-texts with my granddaughter

2-1-2023-

-February 1st! "Love Month"

-knowing that God is hearing and answering our prayers

-feeling better after another cold

2-2-2023-

-a sweet time of prayer

-God's provision in the little things

-a beautiful reminder in our Bible study on what it means to be redeemed

-hope

2-3-2023-

-Friday date day with my guy

-our middle daughter getting involved in ministry again

-being certain that He Who began a good work in us will complete it

2-4-2023-

-a brunch meeting with Natalie and Desi

-pink and white tulips

-my sweet five year old grandson's amazing brain

2-5-2023-

-coffee and quiet time before heading to church

-God is doing amazing things!

-my grandson shouting "I love you, Nana!" when his mom was on the phone with me

still following,

Weekly Gratitude Journal

Yesterday was busy and full in the best kind of way, prepping and cooking for a church related gathering at our home. Most weeks this is the case, there's a growth group or a leadership meeting here. With two of our daughters and their families living on the east coast now, our house is all too rarely the place for grandkid sleepovers and family celebrations. I'm thankful that we have church family that still fills it up with food, (always food!), fellowship and connection. Today, however, our youngest daughter and her family are flying in from Florida and our house will be the place where our youngest granddaughter has her fourth birthday party this week. Today I'm doing some baking in preparation for their arrival. I often joke that feeding people is my love language. I used to mourn as a little girl that my mama wasn't more fluent in speaking her feelings or generous with her cuddles, but if anyone spoke the love language of acts of service it was my mama. How healing it was for me to realize this as an adult. To see her delicious meals, breads, cookies, cakes and pies and the beautifully sewn clothes she made us as her way of saying I love you was a lovely epiphany. I'd like to think I'm pretty fluent in speaking words of affirmation and love and generous in loving touches and spending quality time with others, but more and more I find myself speaking mama's native love language tongue. Thank you, Mama, for teaching me that feeding people truly can be a most beautiful love language indeed.

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

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)

#16,583-#16,606

1-16-2023-

-a lovely winter day

-an afternoon outing together

-a beautiful sunset on my walk

-Matthew 13:1 "Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea."

1-17-2023-

-my daughters and sons-in-law

-God's continued intervention in a loved one's life

-a great evening with my Visionary Leadership Team and Growth Group Coordinators

-friends who pray with me

1-18-2023-

-coffee and a treat and a talk with my eleven year old grandgirlie

-getting to see my oldest daughter at her job, 

meet her co-workers and I also got to see a dear spiritual daughter

-going out to dinner with my daughter and granddaughters

-hope in a situation that's heavy on my heart

1-19-2023-

-a long awaited Christmas gift card purchase

-a friend bringing me tea and rubbing the knots out of my neck when I had a terrible migraine

-it worked! my headache is feeling better!

1-20-2023-

-Facetiming with my South Carolina daughter and grandkids

-lunch and a movie with my guy for Friday Date Day

-a bit of antiquing too!

1-21-2023-

-a chat and prayer with my granddaughter

-another college football offer for our oldest grandson

-a good Saturday getting things done at home

1-22-2023-

-God speaking to our church so clearly

-God's mighty presence and the power of His Word

-snuggles with my guy

still following,

Weekly Gratitude Journal

I am so thankful to be feeling better after such a long bout of sickness. After a lot of medical tests that didn't give us any answers about what kind of virus I had, on my most recent chat with the doctor he surmised that I may have had mono. Whatever it was, I'm just glad that I'm on the mend!

I'm hoping that I'm slowly getting my blogging mojo back as well. This is the second week I've posted my weekly gratitude journal post on time! It feels great! 

Maybe I'll try my hand at actually writing again 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)

#16,561-#16,582

1-9-2023-

-finishing the notes for tomorrow night's meeting with the women of our church

-a little crafting for our youngest grandaughter's 4th birthday party

(Can't wait! They'll be visiting from Florida next week!)

-a nice long walk after being sick for way too long!

1-10-2023-

-texts with my siblings about our upcoming reunion

-a peace filled day

-a beautiful time of sharing among the women at our meeting tonight

1-11-2023-

-blue skies

-Proverbs 1, 1 Corinthians 1:24 Jesus is the wisdom of God

-God's care and provision for us

1-12-2023-

-early morning birdsong

-a nice long phone chat with my friend from California

-a walk in the rain

-praying through this week's prayer points with the women of our church

1-13-2023-

-my husband and I getting to have lunch and a good visit with my sister and brother-in-law

-my friend asking for my help decorating her new office!

-my granddaughter passing a test for her new job

1-14-2023-

-homemade sourdough bread

-a sink AND bathtub full of plants getting their weekly watering

-a relaxing hot bath after a day of cleaning

1-15-2023-

-our five year old grandson's early morning phone call about the Jacksonville Jaguars big win

-a convicting word about the power of thankfulness

-a restful afternoon

still following,

Weekly Gratitude Journal

"Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools."

 Romans 1:21-22 NLT

Honoring and worshiping God for Who He is and giving Him thanks are two pillars that are essential for a stable life, family and civilization.While I've been inconsistent in posting my weekly gratitude journal entries here on my blog in a regular and timely manner, my daily habit of giving God thanks in my gratitude journal has continued. As I've said time and again, there is always something to be thankful for! 

Today I'm very thankful that I can feel my energy levels returning to normal after battling some sort of virus for five weeks! I went on a walk today and was able to walk almost my normal distance. Seriously, I don't think I've ever skipped my regular walking routine for this long since I began walking for exercise 30 plus years ago. It felt so good to be out walking again! Thank you, God!

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

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)

#16,537-#16,560-

1-1-2023-

-this brand new year

-gathering with our church family

-our two oldest grandkids had a safe drive from Kansas City, Mo to their home in South Carolina

1-2-2023-

-forgiveness asked for and given

-a delicious new cake recipe from the cookbook my daughter gave me for Christmas

-myVisionary Leadership Team's help and encouragement

1-3-2023-

-God's provision

-decluttering and donating excess belongings

-reviewing notes from last year and being reminded of some things God has done and wants to continue to do in my life

1-4-2023-

-my five year old grandson is beginning to read!

-finally blogging after a month of being sick

-a good report from tonight's meeting

1-5-2023-

-a sweet morning of prayer and fasting with the women of our church

-all lab tests came back normal

-finding my granddaughter a mint condition American Girl Molly doll for her fourth birthday

1-6-2023-

-the full moon peekng through a hole in the clouds on an early morning coffee run

-a really nice Friday Date Day together-the first one that I've felt well enough to really enjoy in weeks!

-our family

1-7-2023-

-a nice long FaceTime chat with my five year old grandson and three year old granddaughter

-clear direction for this coming week's gathering of the women in our church

-God's peace and presence in our home

1-8-2023-

-coffee and some quiet time before church

-a powerful message to take to heart

-lunch after church with K and J

still following,