Weekly Gratitude Journal

It was relentlessly rainy last week until Friday. My husband and I had a beautiful, sunny Friday day off together which I thoroughly enjoyed. Saturday was busy with a bit of yard work and a long walk with the dog in the morning and then some indoor housework and dinner prep for Easter day in the afternoon just as the rain started up again. On Easter Sunday the weather was lovely. We had our annual church breakfast followed by our Easter service. Then our oldest daughter, her husband and our two granddaughters and my nephew and his wife and two kids came over for Easter dinner. We had a delicious dinner and a great visit together. Our oldest granddaughter facetimed us from Missouri where she is in an internship at the International House of Prayer. Our second born daughter and her family moved to South Carolina last summer if you recall. She sent us videos of our youngest grandson's first Easter egg hunt and of our grandsons all dressed up for church. Our youngest daughter who moved to Florida this year sent photos of our grandson and granddaughter in their Easter clothes and Facetimed us for a chat. Our three year old granddaughter, who looks like an angel, proved she isn't one by inserting the word "poopy" into our conversation as many times as she could, laughing at how amused she was at herself. I couldn't help but laugh, too. I love this crazy family of ours. I miss us all being near one another more than words can say-but I'm so thankful for what we do have. God is good. Christ is risen. And there is always, always, 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)

#15,601-#15,623 

4-11-2022-

-our youngest daughter-today's her birthday!

-a very unexpected mid-April snow

-God's help with notes for our monthly gathering of the women from our church

-a new baby in our church family

4-12-2002-

-during this Lent season, reading in the Bible again what Jesus suffered for me

-all of those who help me with the prep for our monthly meeting

-Sal

4-13-2022-

-such good responses in our group chats about last night's meeting

-an afternoon off with my guy

-a break in the weather to take the dog on a walk

4-14-2022-

-a FaceTime chat with our oldest granddaughter

-God speaking to us repeatedly in various ways on something He's saying to us 

-a healthy body that can still walk and move

4-15-2022-

-a really nice Friday date day together

-the words "love you, Nana!"

-rhubarb to make a rhubarb crisp for Easter dessert

4-16-2022-

-a beautiful morning to get some yard work done and to take the dog for a walk

-a friend's letting me bake at her house since my oven quit

-a centerpiece of cheery tulips

4-17-2022-

-I serve a risen Savior!

- breakfast and celebrating Resurrection Sunday with our church family

-a delicious dinner and fun afternoon with our oldest daughter, son-in-law and granddaughters and our nephew and his family

still following,

Weekly Gratitude Journal

I'm going to have to quit apologizing for my long absences from this blog and making false promises to myself and any readers who may still pop in here to be more consistent. It's been three weeks since I last posted. Our daughter from South Carolina and two youngest grandsons were here for a week. We went to the cabin on the Umpqua River for a week. Ministry life is full and busy. So, it is what it is. I'll show up here when I can!

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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)

#15,503-#15,600

3-14-2022-

-two more spring cleaning projects done

-a nice long phone chat with my oldest granddaughter

-trees in bloom

3-15-2022-

-a beautiful morning

-Ann Voskamp's Waymaker book

-our fluffy, clean pup after her first trip to the groomers

3-16-2022-

-more spring cleaning tasks done

-God's "hesed" lovingkindness (attachment love)

-the video of our grandson opening his new red crocs that Papa bought him

-good reports from a new growth group

3-17-2022-

-God's protection over our youngest grandson from what could have been a life threatening fall

-texts with my oldest grandson

-spending time with my oldest daughter and granddaughters

3-18-2022-

-a sweet slow morning quiet time soaking in God's Word and presence

-a day of rest together

-Holy Spirit insights from His Word

3-19-2022-

-getting a long procrastinated project done

-a sweet time of tea, conversation and prayer with two of our young married mamas from church

-a stormy, rainy morning that gave way to a beautiful evening and sunset

3-20-2022-

-it's the first day of spring!

-our South Carolina daughter and her two youngest boys are here for a week!

-my grandsons' snuggles

-our dog trainer and her mama coming to church

-baking cookies with my grandson

-my great nephew coming over to play with my grandson

3-21-2022-

-a second surgery on our oldest grandson's ankle went well

-a FaceTime chat with my granddaughter

-God's faithful provision and watchful care for us

-singing songs with our youngest grandson

3-22-2022-

-my friend did not get sick when I accidentally gave her something with gluten in it!

-another beautiful growth group gathering

-yummy leftovers from yesterday so I don't have to cook today

-a sunny afternoon to enjoy a walk to the park with my daughter and grandsons

-fro-yo for an after dinner treat

3-23-2022-

-tender moments with Jesus before the chaos of the day begins

-accompaning my daughter on a drive to a job site and getting to have some lunch and a wee bit of shopping together also

-help with our puppy's tummy issues

3-24-2022-

-the weekly prayer points with scriptures that are prepared for the women of our church by a member of my Visionary Leadership Team

-another sunny afternoon at the park

-a family favorite for dinner

3-25-2022-

-relinquishing a job at the church that I've been doing for years to someone else

-taking my grandson and the dog on a walk

-our daughter treating us to dinner out

3-26-2022-

-our oldest daughter-today's her birthday!

-this precious time with our daughter and grandsons

-a clean house

3-27-2022-

-powerful worship, Word and prayer time

-a safe drive to the cabin

-the flowering quince beside the cabin all abloom

3-28-2022-

-our grandson's ankle is healing

-our oldest granddaughter got to see her family for spring break

-a slow morning at the cabin

-a walk by the sea

-dinner with my sister and brother-in-law

3-29-2022-

-a lazy day at the cabin

-my friend calling to pray with me

-homemade soup for dinner

3-30-2022-

-these mornings at the cabin of heart talks with God and time in the Word

-lunch at Bridgewater

-a gorgeous sunny afternoon to walk at Heceta Beach

-a phone call from our oldest grandson

3-31-2022-

-foggy mornings on the river that give way to sunny afternoons

-a sweet lazy morning together

-another beautiful beach walk

4-1-2022-

-a huge beautiful golden colored hawk perched on a post

- a safe drive home

-our pup grew some more while we were gone!

-God's provision

4-2-2022-

-phone chats with my oldest sister and brother

-facetime calls with my east coast grandkids

-my husband sharing things God is speaking to him

-taco salad with fresh guacamole

4-3-2022-

-some timely reminders

-powerful presence of God

-new faces at church

-lunch with may sister, brother-in-law, nephew and his family

4-4-2022-

-our son-in-law-it's his birthday today!

-a visit from my sister

-help with some house projects

4-5-2022-

-taking my brother for a medical test that came back all clear!

-a break in the rain for my walk

-homemade beef stroganoff!

4-6-2022-

-this stunningly beautiful warm spring day

-two great-great nieces born in one week!

-a fun afternoon with my daughter and granddaughters

4-7-2022-

-finally getting our taxes done

-God's faithful provision

-so warm and sunny today!

4-8-2022-

-youngest daughter's in-laws safely arrived on their cross country drive to our daughter's house

-my husband's help with a project

-words of love from my guy

4-9-2022-

-new mercies for each new day

-Psalm 25 and 103

-a new lemon-y candle

4-10-2022-

-a kind offer of help

-lunch with my guy

-a bit of shopping with a friend

still following,

Weekly Gratitude Journal

I'm trying to get my weekly gratitude post done on time this week-something I've failed to do all too frequently for quite some time. This week in the middle of my list of things I'm thankful for there's something I'm thankful for that did not happen. Yesterday, our middle daughter and son-in-law had an appointment after church so they had our oldest grandson drive his girlfriend and our two younger grandsons home. On the way home they had a car accident. The car was totaled, but no one was hurt, not even a scratch! I'm so very thankful! It makes me wonder how many times God has protected us from danger and harm and we didn't even notice or pause to give Him thanks. There is always something to be thankful for and sometimes it's the things that God did not let happen!

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

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)

#15,479-#15,502

3-7-2022-

-Papa buying red crocs for our grandson

-facetime hugs and kisses from our youngest granddaughter

-God's provision

3-8-2022-

-pale pink roses and baby's breath

-a beautiful one year celebration of our growth groups

-taking communion together

3-9-2022-

-an encouraging text

-sunshine and blue skies

-a much needed nap

3-10-2022-

-flowering quince

-a shift of perspective

-a phone chat with my oldest granddaughter

-red sky at night

3-11-2022-

-Friday Date Day!

-getting our yard tidied up after the winter

-time at the cabin scheduled

3-12-2022-

-a home to have to clean

-a husband who doesn't mind fending for himself for dinner so I could go out with a friend

-setting the clocks ahead (temporary discomfort for lighter evenings)

3-13-2022-

-God speaking to me from Psalm 121

-a powerful message at church

-God's protection over our grandsons

-a lazy Sunday afternoon to catch up from the short night's sleep

-a long phone chat with my sister

still following,

Weekly Gratitude Journal

Here I am again, behind in posting my weekly gratitude journal. Last week I was blessed to watch our two middle granddaughters, ages thirteen and ten, while my daughter and her husband were out of town. I neglected to bring my computer to their house, so that's my excuse for missing last week's post.

Goodness, life is crazy isn't it?  I feel like we are smack dab in the middle of living Matthew chapter twenty four. Wars and rumors of wars, devastation, betrayal. The last two days in my morning quiet time I have been reminded that most of the time the only thing we have control over is our own self, our own attitudes, our own thoughts, our own decisions. Too often we look outside of ourselves, wanting the circumstances and people around us to change. We get disheartened and hopeless when nothing changes. Sometimes, we  choose to "run away" from it all.  We quit our job, cut off that relationship, change churches, move to a new location, hoping that these things will make a difference. But, as the old saying goes, "wherever YOU go, there YOU are." You can't run away from your old ways of thinking, reacting and responding. You can't run away from the way you respond to people and problems and stress and world catastrophes. What you can do, what I can do, is change our own thoughts, our own attitudes, our own responses and reactions. You and I can choose to love people that are hard to love. We can choose to pray instead of fret. We can quit being paralyzed with hopelessness about war and racism and crumbling economies and all the other ails of our sin broken world and choose to love and care for those God brings into our lives, the people right in front of us, even those that frustrate and annoy us. We can quit focusing on life's "what ifs," on the things we lack, on the things that disappoint and frustrate us, and choose to focus on God's blessings. We can choose to give thanks. 

I can't make world peace happen. But I can let God's peace rule in my heart and mind. I can't stop betrayal, but I can vow, with God's help, to never be a betrayer. I can't shore up the crumbling economy, but I can choose to obey God with my finances and trust that He will supply all of my needs. Helplessness brings hopelessness. I am not helpless. You are not helpless. There are things we can control and change. Why not start here, smack dab in the chaos of today's topsy turvy world, and choose to be grateful, choose to notice God's good gifts, choose to 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)

#15,436-#15,478

2-22-2022-

-a day to stay home and work on projects

-this beautiful sunny/cold day

-finally taking time to blog

2-23-2022-

-finally getting the shiplap wall repainted

-an afternoon off with my guy

-God working in relationships

2-24-2022-

-unexpected snow

-my South Carolina son-in-law being here for a few days due to work

-a clear blue hour sky full of stars

2-25-2022-

-Friday Date Day

-a delicious Thai food lunch with my guy

-our FamBam groups texts

2-26-2022-

-God's help to get my to-do list done

-D's baby shower

-getting to see my daughters old roommate and her baby girl

2-27-2022-

-my guy's birthday

-the sound of the birds-spring is coming!

-a surprise birthday dinner for my guy at our nephew's

2-28-2022-

-a strong support system

-time with my grandgirlies

-our family

3-1-2022-

-praying with my granddaughters before school and before bed

-my cheery yellow raincoat on gloomy wet days

-clearance sales

-taking my grand girlies out for Mexican food

3-2-2022-

-fog along the Willamette River

-my guy steam cleaning our carpet for me

-good reports from our church's men's gathering

3-3-2022-

-God never leaves me or forsakes me

-an early morning walk with our pup

-friends that pray with and encourage us

3-4-2022-

-drove clear to the beach with our pup and she didn't get car sick

-listening to audible books on the drive

-the sea

-pale pink clouds in a blue sky as the sun set

-knowing Jesus never lets go of me

3-5-2022-

-plans for our next trip to see our east coast grandkids

-good friends

-this sunny day

3-6-2022-

-God is completely trustworthy even with people fail or disappoint me

-lunch with friends

-planning and praying with my Visionary Leadership Team

still following,