PTL for Blessings

God Is Good! PTL for:

• Two 10 hour days of work...though one turned into nearly 11 hours, with no break. These old bones can't do that very often! But, His Grace is sufficient.
  
• The enjoyment of watching the new growth on our rose bushes.
  
• The blessings of warmer weather, and trying to feel not guilty about it as I think of family and friends "enjoying" the snow in NH.
• The Lord's faithfulness in meeting our needs for another week.
• The delight of listening to the Mocking birds. They sometimes sit on our chimney which makes it sound like they are in the house! Lovely!
• White pansies and petunias in planters in the front of the house.
• Prospects of heading north in April to spend some time with my mother.
• Good co-workers.
• A day to rest.

God is Good!

Blessings of Another Week

God is good! I am so thankful for His faithfulness through another week. PTL for:

• Two days of work...even if one of them was way to busy and stressful. His grace made it possible for me to make it through the day.
• Wonderfully warm sunny weather for most of the week. What a delight to be outside soaking in the warm sunshine. It did turn cooler yesterday though...I had to wear a sweater when I was outside doing some work in the yard!
• Watching the progress of the blooming of Bradford Pear trees. They have a beautiful white blossom and it has been great fun during the last week or two to watch the progress of the opening of the buds. Next week they should be in full bloom. What a delight to the eyes!
• Enjoying planting flowers in a nice big pot that is sitting in front of our house. I like gardening in containers!
  
• Enjoying Hubby's dinner last night that was yummy. Raisin pancakes! And decaf coffee! Perfect.
• Having such a convenient craft area where I can work on Scrapbooking and making cards. What a blessing to have all that space and the blessing of having an abundance of supplies to work with.
• Chocolate flavored coffee beans to grind for a special Sabbath morning coffee.
• Being able to talk with my mother on the phone nearly every day.
  
• The joy of anticipating the return of my Lord and King. It won't be long now. What a glorious day that will be. Amen, come Lord Jesus.
  

Of Roses, new hairstyle and storms

I am thankful for many things from this past week. God is Good!

• Our roses are planted....and I have noticed new growth starting on some of them.
• Trying out a new hairstyle, and getting some positive feedback!
• Safety during the wild weather in our area on Thursday. I had to work that day which made it very interesting to say the least. We were under a Tornado watch for most of the time I was at work, but all we got was heavy rain, PTL. And thankfully when I left at 10 that night to come home, even though I got soaked getting to the car, the rain lightened up enough so that I didn't have much of a problem getting home.
  
• From my desk at work I can look out our big front window and enjoy seeing Forsythia blooming!
• Surviving a staff meeting at work this morning, starting at 8. Sigh. But, it was the only time my manager could get us all together to go over some issues. We are open 7 days a week, and usually during staff meetings one or two people are busy up front. But, on Saturdays since we don't open until 10, everyone could be there. At least now I can relax and enjoy the rest of my Sabbath.
• Spending time shopping with my daughter.
• Celebrating my s0n-in-law's birthday at a nice local eatery. Good breakfast and conversation!
• Hubby having a good appointment with his endocrinologist. (IE, his diabetic Dr.)
• Watching a mocking bird enjoy the suet I put out this week. A friend gave me a suet feeder and some suet to see if I could attract more birds. At least the mocking bird is enjoying it!
• Very thankful that the Lord gives us wisdom and direction. So many times this week I cried out for understanding and wisdom to know what to do...in things little as well as big. And He faithfully guided and led, and worked out details and attitudes. He is good.
• Discovering dark chocolate covered Altoids. Oh, my.... yummy.
  

Service Engine Soon

Last Friday when I started our car to head out for work, this warning light stayed lit. Oh, dear. Now what do I do. There really wasn't time to do much at that point, or I would be late to work. But, driving home after 10 at night would not be a good time to have car trouble. So, I prayed. And, the Lord brought peace that it was OK to keep going...after all, it just said "soon"...not immediately. So, off I went, didn't fret about it at work, and got safely home that night.
But then I started imagining all sorts of horrible reasons why that light was on, all involving lots of money, going with out a car for days, etc. At that point the Lord reminded me that it was His car, and He had abundant resources to care for the need. Again, an incredible peace came over my spirit.
Tuesday hubby took the car in to our local friendly auto "fix-it" guy. He hooked the car up to his computer to figure out what the problem was and found.........the gas cap was loose. What??? Yup, the light came on because yours truly had not completely tightened the gas cap the last time she got gas! Oh, my....blush. But at least hubby had a good time visiting with the auto "fix-it" guy, as well as J.. A....... who stopped in at the same time.
Also, there was no charge to dispense this diagnosis. What a blessing!
Note to self: Please tighten gas cap securely ...at least 3 clicks. OK self, will do.

Promise of Things to Come

New rose bushes! For Christmas we got 5 new rose bushes. That is, we ordered them, or had them ordered for us, but had to wait two loooooong months for them to arrive.
Well, yesterday they arrived! What fun it was to plant them in the pots we had all ready and waiting for them!
They don't look very special at the moment, but before long these pots will be filled with some marvelous bushes, with lots of gorgeous roses!
Promise of Good Things to Come!
Will keep you posted on the progress!

The strange workings of this female mind....

This morning I decided it was high time to clean my oven. I hadn't done it since we moved in nearly a year and a half ago, and I noticed over the weekend that it was starting to look dirty!

Since it is warm enough outside to have windows open, and since Hubby was going to be gone for awhile and thus would not have to endure the odors that didn't waft out the windows, it seemed like a very appropriate time to get the job over with. So, I went to my files to get the instructions for the stove so that I could figure out which buttons I should push etc. I did realize I could figure this out by myself, but it would be so much easier with clear instructions. But, when I looked in the "S" file for stove, lo and behold, the instruction booklet was not there.

Then I figured that maybe I had filed it with some of the other instructions. I looked under dryer, washer, freezer, refrigerator, dishwasher...no stove appeared. By this time I figured maybe I was losing my sanity. I KNEW I had the instructions when we first moved into this place. So, I started thumbing threw different places in the files...and stumbled accross, in the "G" section, the instructions to my stove! I never would have thought to look there! ( to sort of justify myself, the booklet did say "gas range", so that is why I labeled the folder as such and put it there. But why I thought that was a logical label......I will never know.)

The folder with that booklet is now safely labled as stove, and filed appropriately. Sigh.....And, the oven is being cleaned as I write. And the fresh air coming in the open windows is wonderful.

PTL for.....

• New sandals. I have a hard time finding shoes that fit, so I am really grateful for finding some new sandals that are sooooo comfy.
  
• Extra work hours this week. LOTS of extra work hours. As in 40 hours of work in 4 days. One of my c0-workers was in a car accident Tuesday on her way to work (she is fine, just sore and a few bruises) so I had to fill in for her the rest of the week. Now I am really thankful that I only work one day a week most of the time!
  
• The knowldege that my Heavenly Father hears and answers.
  
• A Sabbath rest after the work week.
• Listening to the meadowlarks. They have such a wonderful song! And what a joy it is to see them up close right underneath our kitchen window!
• Going barefoot outside to fill the bird feeder.
• Flowering cherry trees.
• E-mails from friends.
• Knowing that God cares, and that He is in control.
• Books to read.
  

Of Burritos, Peanut Butter Cups and Coffee Pots

Basically this has been an uneventful week, which is a good thing. My grateful list includes the following:

• Another meal of yummy burritos made by hubby last night. He used Allspice as one of the seasonings, and they were so good. I am planning on having one of the leftover ones for breakfast later this morning.
• A nice supply of mini peanut butter cups from hubby for Valentine's day. He knows my love of chocolate and peanut butter!
• The trauma of breaking my glass coffee carafe, and finding out I did break it when I was washing the inside of it and wondered why there was something sharp against my finger. And when I found the size of the hole, I was really grateful that I only had a small cut on my finger...it could have been much worse. And, because the carafe was a unique size, I "had" to go get a new coffee maker. It is much smaller, easier to clean, takes up less space on the counter, and makes a better cup of coffee. Yeah!
• Finishing my scrapbook of pictures from 2006. I printed up about 100 pictures, so it is a small album, but it was fun to put together, and relive the memories and blessings of the past year.
• Having the energy to work 10 hour days! I only worked one day this week, and it went well. I am so grateful for the Lord's help. And, it is an extra blessing that I get extra money for working evenings!
• The Lord has faithfully met our needs for another week.
• Reminders that I serve a Heavenly Father Who is responsive to my needs. He inclines His ear, listens to my cries, and sends all the help He sees that I need. I am so grateful.
  

Max and Friend

Max, who is an inside cat, occasionally has visits from his neighbors. This was the first time I had seen this one come calling.

His most common visitor is a lovely black cat.

So convenient that the window on the door is just the right height for Max to enjoy the views!

Reflecting on blessings...

Sometimes it is so easy when reflecting back on a week to remember the hard things- they are always there! But, the Lord does richly bless us in so many ways, it brings fresh courage when we take extra time to reflect on the good things.

My list for this week:

• Hubby's delicious vegetable soup that he made for dinner last night. He is such a good cook! It is so much fun to see what he comes up with each week.
• Sunshine today after rain yesterday.
• Three days of work. And going through the roller coaster of emotions on Monday when I was informed in the morning that because of reducing the hours that the clinic was open I would no longer be needed for my usual 10 hours on Thursdays. But, then in the afternoon, we were told that the hours were going back to the old schedule , and that I would still be needed on Thursdays!
• Dark chocolate M & M's
• Having it warm enough on Wednesday to sit outside to eat my lunch and read for awhile. What refreshment that brought! I loved listening to the birds and enjoying the fresh smells in the air. Spring is coming.
• Pretty pink blossoms on our flowering cherry tree.
• Special encouragement at church last Sunday to "Sail On". In other words, don't quit, keep on going on. I have been blessed all week long as I have reflected on that message, and finding blessing in going on.
  
• Enjoying hot drinks yesterday as it turned colder again.
  
• Knowing that despite the differences in temperatures outside, whether it is hot or cold, the Lord stays the same, constant and loving and in control. I am so grateful for His steady faithfulness.
  

Of birthdays, frozen pipes and candles....

PTL for:

• Several days of celebrating hubby's birthday...including eating out 3 times!!!!! That doesn't happen very often! I know he appreciated all the prayers and love sent his direction.
• Only minor excitement on Monday when we woke up to 17 degree temps, and remembered that we had forgotten to turn off the water to our outside faucets. One was frozen, but with a few minutes of heat applied from my hair dryer, the water started flowing again. At least now the water is turned off to both faucets!!!
• No ice or sleet or snow from the latest storm that hit our area on Thursday.
• Flocks of mourning doves and meadowlarks enjoying our back yard. I love to hear the meadowlarks!
• Where I am working now closes at 9 instead of 10 at night. Course that means an hour less of work each week, but I like the earlier hour! Except that this week we didn't really leave until 9:40 as we still had patients to see!
  
• Enjoying the scents of Yankee Candles. Specifically "Fresh Cut Roses" and "Spring Blossoms". Both are wonderful! (and no, I do not have both burning at the same time! They are actually in two different rooms!!)
• The Lord's continued protection for my mother, who fell again this week, but is fine. ( getting a call from the nursing home at 7 am in the morning is one way to get the adrenaline moving. I do not recommend it for starting out a new day.)
  
• Having the Lord meet our needs for another week. What peace it brings to fully trust in Him, knowing that He is in control, managing all the details of our lives.
  

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.
  

Thankfuls

Where does the time go!! Here we are almost to 2007. Gulp. Anyway, here is my final thankful list for 2006.

• Having the men's year end convention in Georgia, which means we have a houseful of guests!
• Enjoying a wonderful Christmas...the joy of giving gifts, and the joy of receiving gifts. God is good.
• Not having to work this week! Nice to have a week off!
• Finding out that the new love seat we got for the family room fit through the door- with 1/4 inch to spare. (That was a wee bit too close!)
• Having help moving furniture around. Thanks Sa.. A, and St.. A. What a blessing to have friends nearby to help out!
  
• Picking fresh pansies on Christmas day.
• Enjoying standing outside eating ice cream at our favorite local ice cream place...with our good friends Sa..A, and St.. A. What fun. And 3 cheers for the best waffle cones in the world.
• Enjoying the scent of candles. PTL for lovely aroma's.
• The joy of anticipation...new roses bushes that will be coming in a couple of months. (Maybe we will really get a red one this year....)
• A heart full of thankfulness for too many things to mention. God is good.
  

Happy Birthday Jesus

"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing."



Amen. You are worthy, Jesus. Thank you for being willing to come...for me.



And, a glorious Christmas day, full of peace and joy to you all.

Merry Christmas

I am so grateful for the message of the angel. "...good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a savior..." We have a Saviour, and that is such wonderful news and brings great joy. PTL for the hope we have and the joy we have. And, He is returning again. What incredible glories wait for us. Thank you Jesus for coming...for me.


My weekly thankfuls also include:

• Max...who loves to sleep under the tree.
• And who also loves to redecorate by taking off ornaments, and placing his toys under the tree instead.
• Working an extra 12 hours this week.
• My 10 hour day on Thursday was an unusually quiet day which was a huge blessing and a wonderful answer to prayer.
• The fun of going shopping with hubby. We were able to find some things we had been wanting and had a great time doing it.
• Christmas cards...so nice to be in touch with friends.
• Making Chrismtas candy.
• Sunshine after rain.
• Hubby making his potato salad again. Yummy.
• My latest great -nephew. Welcome Jackson.

I am Grateful for....

Another week has gone by, and I am grateful for so many things....

• 

Snowmen,


and their wonderful smiling optimisim.

• Warm weather! Temps in the 60's and even low 70's. Course this makes a problem when I insist on wearing Christmas sweaters while doing shopping...I end up using the a/c so I am not too hot.
• Having our extremely busy son take some of his precious free time to pop over and fix hubby's computer. Thanks Brad!
• Enjoying hubby's latest meal...he fixed yummy waffles, and knowing I love fruit on top of them he even bought fresh raspberries! Yum! I have decided I love breakfast for dinner! He had whipped cream for the fruit,pus bacon, and coffee. Three cheers for hubby.
• Working 3 days this week. PTL for the job He has provided for me.
• Getting Cards in the mail from friends.
• Realizing that I know that Jesus in all His incredible glory is returning. What a day that will be.
• Enjoying Christmas lights...and being reminded of the Light of the World.
  
• Very thankful that there is no snow.
• Browsing with hubby in the biggest "western" type store I have ever been in. An incredible array of cowboy boots, hats, saddles, belts, clothes, jewelry, and all sorts of things too inumberable to mention. I loved the smell of leather that permeated the place!