Three thousand gifts and still counting...

I feel a little teary eyed thinking about sharing my 3000th gratitude, (and beyond), 

 here on my blog today.

It's been just over three years now that I've been counting my blessings 

and writing them down in a journal that I keep just for that purpose.

I'm on my second journal, yet the truth of it is, I've missed so much.

So many of His blessings go by me unnoticed, unwritten, unappreciated.

But, 3000 acknowledgements, 3000 thank yous, is a whole lot better than none.

And so I'll keep up my feeble attempt to count His blessings,

 though they are, in truth, too numerous to count.

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

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)

#2974-#3003-

4-1-13-

-an impromptu decision to take the two oldest grandkids, (who are on Spring Break), 

to the beach for a couple of days

-an indoor pool for them to enjoy

-a foggy evening by the sea

4-2-13

-having devotions while watching the grandkids swim

-sea lions on the shore

-a long walk on the beach

-a bit cloudy, but warm enough and not windy so we can enjoy being out

-only grandson watching Seattle Mariner's baseball with Papa before bed

-oldest granddaughter, who never wants to stop swimming

-at home, Auntie taking 4 years old granddaughter to the Children's Museum, and us getting texts about funny things our granddaughter says

4-3-13-

-sunshine by the sea!

-the tsunami warning siren going off...and it being just a test

-taking the grandkids for haircuts before taking them back home to their mama

-meeting their new "old" dog adopted from the pound

-a little, vintage, Brownie camera-a gift from a friend

4-4-13-

-choosing to trust instead of worry about something, 

and feeling God's peace come into my heart and mind

-seeing His evident care and provision for us

-our son-in-law on his birthday

4-5-13-

-a lazy, stay- at- home morning

-practicing my photography and editing

-youngest granddaughter feeling better from cold and tummy issues after prayer

-a fun evening with old friends

4-6-13-

-two sweet gals from church taking me antiquing with them

-still managing to get some things I wanted to do around the house done

 in spite of being gone most of the day

-ending the day with quiet time, worship and the Word

4-7-13-

-the Presence of God when we worship

-God's beautiful Word

-lunch with the Hubs at Chipotle, which I love and he tolerates, 

(because he's good to me like that)

Gratefully yours,

Jeremiah 15:16....

I love this verse because God's Word truly is the joy and rejoicing of my heart.

It has sustained me through difficulty, given me wisdom, counseled me, 

revived me, restored my soul and renewed my mind.

I am so very grateful that God gave us His Word. 

I am thankful to live with the freedom to read it and that it is readily available to me.

I know many people live where that is not so for them,

 and who knows, that may not always be the case for me.

I want to hide it in my mind and heart where nothing and no one can take it from me.

Still following,

(this photo was editing using one layer of Kim Klassen's

1612 texture, lighten mode, 10% opacity

and 

one layer of 1412, multiply mode, 20% opacity)

Friday's Favs...Post Easter Mantel

I just made a few simple changes to my mantel since Easter is over.

I'm in the mood for simple and not overly crowded or cluttered.

I kept everything fairly neutral, without a lot of color.

Calm and peaceful.

My sweet, little, vintage Brownie camera was a gift from a friend at church.

I love it!

Well, it's almost Friday already!

Have a HAPPY, HAPPY Friday

and

a BLESSED weekend!

              

                                            

Also linking to Jennifer Rizzo's Fabulously Creative Friday

So you can see an answer to prayer...

I wrote about my fear before going on our first missions trip to Ghana, West Africa here.

I wrote about our experiences while we were in Ghana here and here and here.

I wrote about how God showed us how we could make a difference in Ghana here and here.

So, I thought it only fitting to share with you what God has done
in the construction of the well, water tower and irrigation system for the village of Homabenase, Ghana

and a little peek into what He has put in our heart to do next.

http://youtu.be/_kXRm2_zB8k

Still following,

Ranunculus...

The fact that the Hubs remembered the name ranunculus when he stopped at Trader Joe's 

to get me some flowers is amazingly sweet.

I had mentioned that I liked them and would like to find some.

They are a soft stemmed flower, rather like a tulip, so the flowers eventually droop.

 The bouquets aren't as long lasting as a hardy bunch of mums or carnations.

They don't really have a fragrance either.

But, they make up for it with their showy fullness, rather like a peony.

I love the simplicity of an all white bouquet.

But then again, a little pop of red is quite lovely, too.

Still following,

              

Ranunculus and a little Shakespeare...

Quote by William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet.

Photo edited with Kim's 1612 texture, hard light mode, 30% opacity.

Still following,