Of bluebirds, pancakes and paint....

Praise the Lord for:

• Seeing a bluebird this week. We don't get a big variety of birds in our yard, but one day last week I took a little extra time and looked closer at some of the birds that were flying around, and sitting on branches and fences. To my delight I spied a bluebird! (Lesson...take time to look around at the blessings the Lord has right there!)
  
• Hubby's latest meal. Breakfast for dinner! He makes the best raisin, apple, pecan pancakes in the world! What a treat to come home from work to find that delicious meal waiting for me yesterday!
• I had the fun of painting the patch on our living room wall. Looks much better now!
• Finding out on Thursday that they needed me to work Friday, so I had an extra 5 hours of work this week.
• Rose scented candles.
• Remembering the life of one of the Lord's Worthy Women. Eunice Jewell was such a special lady.
• The joy of hearing trains go by. I still love hearing the whistles, and the sounds the train makes going over the tracks. Nice to live close enough to hear them, but far enough away they are not a problem!
• Knowing that my loving heavenly Father is in control, and that He orchestrates things perfectly.
  

Of leaks fixed, work hours, and low gas prices

I am thankful for:

• Our leak is fixed! The walls are patched, and now I need to paint. Dilemma-do I just paint the small 2 foot square patch with the same boring blah color that is on the living room/dining room walls, or do I paint both rooms with a lovely light green. Course keep in mind the fact that there is an 11 foot ceiling in this BIG room, and that there is no way I could do this by myself. Hmm.....maybe I should invite all our Friends over for a painting party.......
• My "normal" work hours have now been doubled. Instead of being on the schedule to work 5 hours a week, I am on for 10 hours a week! That is a step in the right direction.
  
• Hubby bought gas for $1.99 earlier this week. Three cheers for lower gas prices! I even saw it down to $1.93 yesterday when I was out.
• Hubby fixing dinner yesterday. He makes really yummy burritos!
• The fun of trying new recipes. I have been so tired of the same old menus...so have challenged myself to try one new recipe a week. I am not sure how long this challenge will last, but am having fun for awhile anyway.
  
• Sunshine after rain.
• Remembering my heavenly Fathers many blessings. We were encouraged in church last Sunday to remember where He has met our needs. I was blessed by hearing where He had met others, and encouraged by remembering my "Ebeneezer's" of the past. And, finding out that He is still meeting our needs...such as getting water leaks fixed with minimal damage, getting more hours at work etc. And, bringing fresh courage and peace when it is needed.
• Enjoying reading blogs.
• Having a great time using my new stamping supplies. It is so much fun to create new cards, and to have some new stamps to work with. And, to have such a marvelous space to work in...I can leave projects part way done, and come back to them when I have time. Thank the Lord for alcove additions to bedrooms!!!
  

Water Leaks

On the left....wet spot.....in the living room...more wet spots were found in the garage, laundry room and back hall...

not a good thing to find.....














Notice the nail in the sheet rock......











Notice the stream of water coming from the pipe. When the sheet rock is nailed on, and a nail hits a pipe, this is what will eventually happen.

Please note....putting nails into pipes that carry water is not a good thing.


And, thank the Lord for willing hands belonging to Joe A as he fixes this problem for us!

My Weekly Thankfuls

My heart is full of thankfuls again this week:

• Actually working 2 days this week! It was good to get back into the routine again.
• Coming home from work yesterday to find a lovely large box that had just arrived, full of new stamping supplies. I am savoring having an abundance of new stamps and paper to work with. My mind is full of ideas, which will keep me busy for weeks to come! (Those of you who enjoy stamping will understand what I mean...those of you who do not might not fully understand my joy!)
  
• Treasuring the truth of Psalm 32:8. "I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go." He is so faithful to instruct and teach.
  
• Having a library system that has an abundant supply of good Christian writing- and being able to reserve books on line!
• Taking pictures with my digital camera.
• Enjoying a lovely birthday celebration for Z last weekend. His mom is a wonderful cook!
• Another pleasant thing to come home to yesterday...hubby had vacummed the floors and spent quite awhile organizing the bookshelves upstairs!
  
• Trying out a new recipe for Tex-Mex Lasagne. Very yummy.
• Enjoying starting a new year of reading the Bible through. This year I am reading some from the Old Testament and some from the New Testament each day and finding His Word speaking to my heart in fresh ways. I appreciate my Bible.
• Having able and willing help in yard work this week. Thanks Z and St.....!!!!
  

Of rainbows, cherry trees and mockingbirds

I have many things to be thankful for from this past week.

• Seeing a wonderful rainbow yesterday. We were out in a rainstorm doing errands, there was a break in the rain, the sun poked out, along with a beautifil half rainbow. God is good.
• Getting another tree for our back yard. This time we are trying a flowering cherry tree. Should be beautiful!
• Enjoy the fact that the mocking birds have found our feeder...and realizing that they are very territorial. Was quite amusing to watch one attack a poor innocent meadowlark that ventured too close to the feeder....
• Playing some great games of Uno with a marvelous group of ladies last weekend.
• Enjoying a visit from Dan and Ellen and five of their children. They were able to come for lunch on Thursday- so nice to have friends!
• Not having to work again this past week!
• Enjoying scrap booking. I am getting pictures from last year put in an album. Great fun.
• Seeing a flock of robins.
• Knowing that I can trust the Lord to meet our needs.
• Finding Him to be a very safe refuge.