Of Firsts...and things...

Thankfuls for this week:

• A week of some firsts: First meal at a Waffle House. These places seem to be on every other corner around here, and I finally went to one. I like the hash browns!
• Another first: My first Moon Pie. It will most likely be awhile before my second one. Enough said.
• More rain. Such a blessing to have rain! Maybe soon they will decide we are no longer under drought conditions here.
• Four days of work this week.
  
• A new bedspread. And, having the fun of shopping for it with hubby along, and finding one we both like. Brings a smile to my face when I see it.
  
• Starbucks skinny vanilla latte.
  
• Finding encouragement from God's word. What treasures there are that bring peace to the spirit.
  
• Having hubby do our grocery shopping on Monday while I was at work.
• Having hubby fix a lovely waffle meal for dinner on Monday...complete with fresh blackberries.
• Knowing my Heavenly Father is in the business of changing lives.
• Hummingbirds.
• Fresh fruit.
  

Of rain and roses and things....

Thankful for:

• The sound of rain- on our roof, on the skylight at work. Love it!
• A lovely new off white iron trellis for our climbing rose - it is a Cecil Brunner and has lovely small pink blossoms. Though since this is the first year there are now blossoms yet! But, there is the hope.
• Only 3 days of work this week. Calm days of work.
  
• Memorizing a verse of the Bible. Memory work does not come easy, but such a blessing to spend time going over and over a phrase...and finding practical application.
• The friendship/fellowship of ladies. As in, our monthly ladies Bible study we had this week.
  
• The capability of playing Scrabble long distance with my children. Even when I get beaten rather soundly.
• The way the Lord works out the timing of things and works out the details of schedules etc, so that even with one car we do manage to get to where we need to go. And, the willingness of a daughter to help out in the taxi-ing business.
• Contact with friends through e-mail, and Facebook.
• Freshly mowed lawn. It is a blessing to have found somebody to do it for it, and a blessing that he does such a nice job. It was a joy to come home from errands and find it all nicely mowed and edged!
• The certain knowledge that my Heavenly Father cares and is in control, and is always working to draw me closer to His loving heart.
  

Grateful heart

OK, no excuses about how long it has been...

My thankfuls for this week:

• The feel of a warm, purring cat sitting on my lap.
• The antics of said cat as he pounces out from behind furniture to play with/surprise us/attack us.
• Successfully finishing a nearly 40 hour work week this week. And appreciating the Lord's grace and wisdom to help me take it one day at a time, and make it through some stressful days. All in once piece. And having to work only 5 days, not 6. I enjoyed having Wednesday off unexpectedly!
  
• Hubby's thinking that since I was working so much this week, maybe we needed to go out to diner more often....which we did. Thanks hubby!
• Enjoying watching some "baby" mockingbirds, and their very stressed out Mommy. They appeared to be bigger than she is because their feathers are all puffed out, and it was hilarious to watch these "babies" perched on the bird feeder squawking and with their mouths wide open, waiting for Mommy to feed them with the suet.
  
• A Starbucks gift card. Ah, the anticipation of iced mocha lattes with raspberry flavor.
• Playing Scrabble with my children...on Facebook. (and the fun of doing it via iTouch!!!)
• Special Bible Verses that bring help/peace/comfort when needed.
• Knowing my Lord loves me.
  

Thankfuls

Aiden last Tuesday being cute...he likes to push this thing around.

Today, among other things I am thankful for:

• Rain today.


• A day of rest today after a very busy week. I actually worked 3 days!


• When I got called at 8:15 Wednesday morning and asked if I could go into work, I was able to be out of the house in 15 minutes. That was some fast moving! Getting dressed, packing a lunch, eating breakfast etc.


• Coming home from work on Wednesday and finding that hubby had set the table for dinner, vacuumed, and in general picked up preparing for company that evening.


• Sitting outside for dinner one evening and enjoying watching a pair of bluebirds.


• Spending 5 hours with Aiden this week, and enjoying watching him do all sorts of fun things. Like climb stairs, and climb onto furniture....


• Cuddling a sleepy Aiden who was very content to curl up in m lap and suck his thumb.


• Women's Bible Study here last Wednesday night and hugs and tears.


• Having Max around...and enjoying seeing him play. And laughing when his front half hides under the bed and he thinks we can't see him.


• Enjoying blossoming trees. Especially the Bradford pear trees. Spring is here!


• E-mails from friends.


• Memorizing some verses


• Encouragement to persevere....


• Being able to send letters to my mother and knowing that she enjoys receiving them.


• Smelling crock pot beef stew simmering away in the kitchen while I sit here writing this.


• Enjoying scrambled egg for breakfast this morning with cheese, onion and green pepper.


• Occasionally being able to beat my son at our on-line games of Scrabble.

Thanksgiving 2008

I have been thinking back over this year, remembering some of the many blessings that the Lord has poured out on us. I am so glad that we can take time to be thankful. Yes, there is much to make us concerned, but I am more than ever convinced that my Heavenly Father is in control, and that He is working out His perfect plan, for me, for my family and for this world.

Some of the things on my list for this year:

• Two trips north to visit my mother. Enjoying special family time during the visit in March. And protection during a lovely snow storm. I do not like to drive in snow, and I had the fun to not only drive in snow, but to do it in a rental car that I was unfamiliar with. But, PTL, He protected.
• His help through some very stressful times at work. I am thankful that at this point I still have work, and He is showing me how to enjoy my job. And, giving special times of laughter.
• Having my son successfully complete his police academy training.
• The joy of doing things with my daughter.
• The pleasures and delights of having a grandson, and watching all the changes this past year.
• The fun of flying out to Washington State in April for the wedding of my niece. Lots of good memories...and a beautiful wedding.
• The fun of putting together a scrapbook of that wedding!
• And the fun of having said niece now living so close by.
• Having gas prices lower - I saw a $1.73 this past week.
• Having the Lord provide so that even when the gas prices were so high, and the gas sometimes not readily available, we were able to find what we needed, when we needed it, and be able to pay for it.
• The Lord's provision of a new laptop for me this past year. What a blessing.
• The Lord's provision of new things when needed...such as an iron, a paper shredder, clothes etc.
• Protection in all the traveling we did long distance as well as the normal local traveling.
• Books to read.
• Scented candles to enjoy.
• Roses.
• The encouragement that comes from reading His word...the Bible. So grateful for the treasures He has opened up to me this past year.
• Knowing He loves me.

A Few of My Favorite Things....

For some reason I don't seem to be very faithful in my thankfuls using this method ( IE Blogging). Rest assured, I continue to be thankful. A few of my favorite things for today:

• Purple fonts.
• Planting pansies this morning, thus guaranteeing fresh vases of flowers in the house all winter long.
• Planting some daffodil bulbs.
• Taking myself out to lunch today (OK, it was a cheap hot dog/soda at Sam's but at least I took myself out to lunch.
• Choosing not to be irritated up hearing Christmas music in the stores today. Hey, they are celebrating my Lord's birthday! Let the rejoicing begin!!!
• Smiling when I saw gas prices of $1.97!!! Yes!!!
• Beating my son at Scramble...but having him beat me at Scrabble.
• A cat that likes to cuddle.
• Peacefully trusting the Lord for the future of this country.
• Having this Monday off work.
• Pecan bars.
• Roses.
• Enjoying a good time change party at Dan and Pari's Saturday, and enjoying the fact that I could attend because someone at work offered to fill in for part of my day of work so that I could leave early. Which meant I only worked 6 1/2 hours instead of 12.
• Wondering how I was going to lift 40 pounds of charcoal into my cart at Sam's and having two men come over to do it for me.
• The lovely fall colors in the leaves in our neighborhood. There are several trees with a glorious rich deep red. So satisfying to see and enjoy.

Cloudy Day Thankfuls

I am thankful for lovely cloudy Sabbath days! Good day to rest, relax, and find refreshment in body and soul.

And, I am grateful for blessings of this week:

• Finding a glass "sundae" dish at the store this week, and enjoying homemade sundaes for dessert. Makes a great Sabbath Treat!
• A day of rain..heavy rain. Wonderful.
• Saftey while on the road in said rain. And, for the driving skills of my daughter!
• Enjoying lunch at Panera Bread. So good. And bringing home Asiago bagels to enjoy for breakfast.
• Energy for a long week of work.
• Thankful that my upcoming work schedule looks less challenging than this past week has been.
• Picking fresh roses to put around the house.
• Enjoying cooler weather...I even have to put a sweater on when leaving for work early in the morning.
• Having hubby fix dinner on Wednesday. It is fun to see what he comes up with...he is very creative in the kitchen.
• Knowing that my trust is in the Lord...confident that He is in control...rejoicing in Him.
• Candy corn.