I love Christmas
and
I love decorating my home for Christmas.
I am discovering that the more simply I decorate,
the more I love it.
It's almost FRIDAY, friends!
Have a HAPPY, HAPPY Friday
and
a BLESSED weekend!
Thursday, December 6, 2018
Wednesday, December 5, 2018
Making known God's doings...
Just popping on here quickly to post last week's gratitude journaling, three days late. I've had a busy few days with all of the good things that normal life as well as the Christmas season bring-a Christmas party with the ladies from our church, hosting our youngest daughter's baby shower, babysitting the grands and a small group gathering at our home to name just a few. Today is my day to breathe, catch up on a few things, and get a little rest. One of those things to catch up on is posting this gratitude list, not to give myself some sort of recognition for keeping up with my gratitude journal, but to give God the recognition He deserves for His faithfulness and all of the daily blessings, big and small, that too often go unnoticed, unrecognized, and unappreciated. I want to make His doings in my life known, and to encourage you to pause and notice and give thanks to God for what He is doing in your life.
******************
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)
#11,470-11,492
11-26-18-
-peace in God's presence
-God's daily bread
-a sweet afternoon with my two youngest granddaughter's
-the biggest chocolate cake ever for our youngest granddaughter's seventh birthday family dinner
(a couple days early)
-all of my grandkids together
11-27-18-
-my car running much better after some work on it
-an invite to meet for lunch from one of my good friends from church
-the option to go to bed early!
11-28-18-
-our youngest granddaughter-it's her birthday today!
-having our friends from So. Cal over for dinner
-finding just the right gift for a Christmas wish
11-29-18-
-1 Peter 5:7
-a walk with a friend from church on a new to me trail
-learning to yield, surrender and trust as God is at work in us
11-30-18-
-Friday date day with my guy
-our oldest grandson coming over to watch the Pac 12 championship with Papa,
(YaY Washington Huskies!
Our oldest granddaughter and middle grandson watched Christmas movies with me in the other room.
I'm not a big sports fan.)
-my guy excitedly making Rose Bowl plans with a friend
12-1-18-
-it's December!
-God's help with a busy day! I even got my walk in and had time to take a hot bath!
-a fun ladies' Christmas party
12-2-18-
-the waitress we met at last night's party came to church today
-powerful worship
-a wonderful baby shower for youngest daughter and our soon to be born granddaughter
still following,
Saturday, December 1, 2018
Pursuing a peace filled Christmas season...
Last week on my weekly Sunday Soul food post at Woman to Woman Ministries, I wrote about choosing peace. (You can read that by clicking here. ) The main point I wanted us to grasp is that Jesus thought peace was important enough that He made it part of His last will and testament to us. His peace is our portion, our inheritance.
Today is December first. We are now in full blown Christmas mode. December is busy for most of us because there are extra holiday events added to our already full calendars. I am assuming that, like me, all of you crave a peace filled Christmas season. If peace is our portion, then what does it mean for us to pursue peace this season. (Join me for the rest of this post on Sunday, December 2nd, at Woman to Woman Ministries where each Sunday I share a bit of Sunday Soul Food!)
still following,
Monday, November 26, 2018
Thanksgiving week blessings 2018-
We had a beautiful, non traditional Thanksgiving at the beach with our middle daughter and her family. I did no cooking, as my daughter had purchased a pre-made Thanksgiving dinner to bring with us. Instead we played games with the grandkids, took beach walks and relaxed. As always, I am blessed above and beyond what I could ever earn or deserve by our loving, gracious God. Every day should be thanksgiving day-a day filled with gratitude to 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)
#11,445-#11,469-
11-19-18-
-a four mile walk all over my little hometown with the grandkids
-all of today's errands done
-God's faithful provision
-delicious homemade Hawaiian food with the young married couples from our church
11-20-18-
-She Reads Truth Give Thanks devotional
-making homemade hand pies
-a need to trust God to meet
-our small group
11-21-18-
-a cup of Starbucks for the road
-a safe drive to the beach
-being with our second born and her family for Thanksgiving
11-22-18-
-Thanksgiving Day!-Thank You, Father for your love for me! Thank You, Jesus, My Savior and Friend!
Thank You, Holy Spirit, for dwelling in me.
Thank You, Holy Spirit, for dwelling in me.
-a rainy beach walk with the family
-an easy, peasy restaurant pre-made dinner
-playing the memory matching game with my four year old grandson, who always wins!
-another beach walk to walk off the pumpkin pie!
11-23-18-
-Amazon Black Friday shopping in my pajamas while sipping coffee!
-a safe drive home from the coast
-snuggling in bed with a cup of hot tea and a Hallmark movie to watch
11-24-18-
-Jesus' peace is my portion (John 14:27)
-a friend running an errand for me
-an invitation to go to the movies with the grandkids
11-25-18-
-worship!
-lots of ladies' signed up for our Ladies' Christmas party
-snuggles with youngest grandson-which is rare since he's always moving!
still following,
Saturday, November 24, 2018
Choose peace...
Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]
John 14:27, especially in the Amplified Bible, is a lifeline verse for me. I meditate on it and pray it aloud almost every day. I've also shared it on my own blog and at Woman to Woman Ministries on more than one occasion. Yet, I felt that, especially during the busyness that the holidays bring, this verse was worth sharing again.I have some pretty strong Martha tendencies. You know her, don't you? She was the busy beaver sister of Mary and Lazarus. She was busy in the kitchen while her sister was sitting in the living room attentively listening to Jesus. Resentment started bubbling up in Martha's heart, so she put a bug in Jesus' ear and asked Him to make Mary lend her a hand. Instead, Jesus responded, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things." Then He told her that Mary was making a far better choice. Both Martha and Mary had made a choice. And in John 14:27, Jesus again is talking about choices for those of us who, like Martha, struggle with being anxious and troubled about many things. (Join me for the rest of this post on Sunday, November 25th, at Woman to Woman Ministries where each Sunday I share a bit of Sunday Soul Food!)
still following,
Tuesday, November 20, 2018
An autumn walk with the grandkids...
Our middle daughter, her husband, oldest granddaughter, oldest grandson and middle grandson live just five minutes away from our house. Our oldest daughter, her husband and our two youngest granddaughters and our youngest daughter, her husband and our youngest grandson live a five minute drive from one another, but a twenty minute to over an hour drive from us, depending on traffic.
After our walk, we took my grandson back home for his nap and the grandgirlies and I had some lunch and did a little shopping. I'd say, a good time was had by all.
still following,
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