The Joy of Easter

The top of my list of Thankfuls this week is the truth of Easter. I serve a risen Savior. He died for me. He is now alive. He loves me. He forgives me. He changes me. How grateful I am for the hope I have. PTL.

I am also thankful for:

• Knowing that the Lord is in control of my mothers situation, and that He knows the number of her days.


• Having my needs met daily. He truly provides my daily bread...just what is needed for each day. And, I can have peace in trusting in that fact.


• Learning to be flexible when one has car problems, and is without a car for a day or two. And, thankful for daughters that help transport when needed and daughter-in-laws who bring grandsons to house for babysitting while car was in "hospital" And, thankful that said car seems to be healed...for now.


• Enjoying warmer weather. What a boost to the spirits. Lovely warm sunshine.
• Warm cranberry pecan muffins.
• Peace for my work situation, knowing more changes might be coming.

More Thankfuls

Another week has gone by, and my heart is filled with more thankfuls. I am grateful for many things:

• Listening to Mocking Birds, watching them enjoy the bird bath and seeing them flying around the back yard.
• Having some help with yard work this week. Our Crepe Myrtles are pruned for another year, and the lawn had the first mowing of the season.
• Fresh insights from the Lord's Prayer.
• More time with Aiden.
• Subway sandwiches.
• Flavored creamers for my coffee.
• Enjoying crocheting.
• A phone call from a friend.
• Protection during storms.
• More rain this week.
• Having good music to listen to, and the fresh courage that comes from hymns and the glorious truths expressed in them.
• Putting in a few extra hours at work this week, and enjoying fellowship with co-workers.
• Enjoying the beauty of sheet lightening as I came home from work last night.

Of Snow, and Bradford Pear Trees and Things....

Really, spring is coming here, but this morning I looked out to see snow flurries! I know that those of you in the north are used to such things, but it was a little bit strange to see the white stuff come down. I am still thankful though...it was pretty to see, and it won't last! And, the Lord is in control of the weather, so if He chooses to send me snow, that is just what I need!

A big delight of the week was to watch the unfolding of the blossoms on the Bradford Pear Trees in this area. One of the unexpected pleasures I discovered the first spring after we moved down here was the Bradford Pear Trees. These huge trees are covered with white blossoms, and it is really impressive to see...one of the first signs that spring is really coming. And this week I watched the trees go from being bare, to one or two blossoms, to being filled with blossoms. A sure sign that winter is past. And, a reminder that "winter" always ends. Whatever "winter" experience I am going through, the Lord has "spring" at the end of it.

Other delights and thankfuls of the week past:

• Time spent with our precious Aiden. And enjoying his smiles!
• Having some lovely rain this week on several occasions. What a blessing it is to hear that rain come down.
• Enjoying my Thursday mornings at work. 5 hours at a very low stress spot. PTL
• Time to crochet. Very relaxing to sit and make afghan squares. I am thankful for a nice big project that I am currently working on.
• Yet another visit to the dentist completed.
• Fresh insights on the Lord's Prayer, thanks to Revive Our Hearts that I listen to via Podcast.

Yes, Spring is Coming....

Of Dentists and Roses and Things....

Another week, and more things to be thankful for:

• Another visit to the dentist. And, I still do not like going to the dentist. This time hubby had a nice yummy dinner ready for me when I got home. That was nice.
• Getting our rose bushes pruned for another year. We worked together and got the job done fairly quickly. Now, I am ready for some roses! But, that will take awhile. At least all the bushes have good growth and new leaves popping out.
• Enjoying cherry blossoms and daffodils.
• Celebrating our favorite son-in-law's birthday today. And, thankful we live close enough to do something together as a family.
• More Aiden time this week. What a precious little bundle.
• Adjusting to my new work schedule. And getting things organizied for my new routine. PTL for daytimers.
• Enjoying Sudoku. I am not very fast, but that is OK. I can have fun with it anyway!
• The peace that comes with trusting the Lord, even when I don't see answers, or can't figure things out. I just know He is in control.

New Friends

My new friends that I met over the weekend.

Happy Things

My happy list for the week. IE...things I am really thankful for.

• Spending time with Aiden. And, having him smile at me. That blessed my Grandma heart!
• Having a purring cat on the back of my chair.
• Ladies Bible Study on Wednesday night, exploring the treasures of James 2.
• My Thursday morning work hours. Five low stress hours. What a blessing.
• Yankee Candle "Fresh Cut Roses".
• Lots of rain this week. I love hearing the rain come down.
• Knowing that my loving Heavenly Father is in control, and that I can trust Him even in the middle of hard things.
• Remembering my father. 46 years ago yesterday the Lord took him home very unexpectedly. I am so grateful for the good memories. And that the Lord gave me a Godly, loving, earthly father.
• One more difficult dentist visit over with. I am thankful for dentist, but sure do not like the process of having teeth worked on. But, the Lord's grace is sufficient -even for time spent in the dentist chair.

Still Thankful

PTL for His blessings of this past week. It has been a busy week. And, a hard week. But, once again I can enjoy a restful Sabbath.
My Thankfuls for this week:

• Making it through another 2 hour visit to the dentist. Not one of my favorite things to do. But, I am grateful that some very neccesary work is being done on my teeth.
• Thankful that I only work part time. Took awhile to recover from the 50 plus hours of the week before. And, thankful for help in adjusting to the new work schedule at work.
• Enjoying watching the Killdeers in the field accross the street from our house.
• Visiting a few minutes with our "new" next door neighbor. Her mail got put in our box, so that made a good excuse to go over.
• Chocolate
• Having some lovely spring weather- as well as some really cold days. (OK, cold is relative, but for here it felt cold.)
• Being able to talk with my mother on the phone for a few minutes. And figuring out why I haven't been able to talk with her on the phone for several weeks. Her phone is dead! So, a new one is forthcoming, but meanwhile the nurse helped her call me from the nurses station so I at least heard her voice.
• Getting a nice box in the mail full of new supplies for making cards and doing scrapbook pages. Such fun sorting through the new things. I am thankful for this "hobby" the Lord has made availabe to me.
• Getting tickets for flying out to attend my neice's wedding in April. And being able to fly out with my daughter and son in law.
• Lessons the Lord is teaching me. And, that He loves me enough to keep teaching me what He sees I need to learn.

Of Bible Verses, Bluebirds, and Stress.....

Another week.

I am tired.

But, I am still so very thankful for the Lord's many blessings, and the ways He constantly encourages us, and meets our needs.

My thankfuls:

• A special verse that the Lord gave me in the middle of the night one night last week. I was feeling extra tired and stressed, and crying out for help. He woke me up with "My Grace is sufficient for you." Amen.
• Seeing a bluebird on our cherry tree on Thursday morning. He stayed awhile so I could admire him.
• Changes and stress at work. Yes, I guess I am thankful for the stress. It does draw me closer to the Lord, and makes me realize I can't do things by myself. And, creature of habit that I am, I do know that changes are good. And, I am thankful for the Lord's help up to date with the changes that have happened, and that will continue to happen for awhile. At least my new schedule has me working shorter days! 5 hours one day, and 7 another. So, two shorter days a week instead of one long. That will be a blessing. And, I will end up with a few more hours on each paycheck.
• Seeing a forsythia bush starting to blossom. There are several bushes at work that I can see from where I sit, and it was with great joy that I noticed the blossoms yesterday. Helped me get through my 12 hour day.
• Hubby's expertise in fixing dinner on Friday.
• Enjoying having hubby take me to work, and having him waiting for me when I come out at 10 PM, or 10:15, or .....

Of more rain, grilling and things

I am so thankful for more rain this week. What a blessing! I love listening to the rain come down. Other thankfuls for the week include:

• Grilling Chicken. It has been awhile since I wanted to grill- too cold etc. So, I really enjoyed grilling...and enjoying a nice grilled chicken salad for dinner. Yum.
• Celebrating hubby's birthday yesterday.
• Having 6 young people here for awhile on Wednesday. Hubby enjoyed teaching them a class, and we also enjoyed visiting with them during lunch time. Good group!
• A card making class on Tuesday evening. I really like to make cards, and it was fun to get some new ideas, and have fellowship with the other ladies while doing it. Thanks Elaine.
• Being able to hear trains. I know I have mentioned this before, but I do enjoy hearing the sounds they make- the whistles etc.
• Dark chocolate.
• Pastrami and swiss cheese croissant sandwiches.
• White chocolate mudslide creamer for my coffee.
• Scrapbooking pictures from last year. I love the memories, and the fun of decorating the pages.
• Anticipating a full week of work next week. Very full....nearly 50 hours in seven days.

Of Aiden and 18 degree weather and dentists...

Last evening I had a good chance to hold Aiden for awhile. I love his little hands! Penny had fun taking pictures with my camera- here is one result. PTL for such a cuddly little bundle. He was content to sleep, though I kept encouraging him to wake up and smile at me. He wasn't a bit interested or cooperative.
Other Thankfuls for the week:

• Dentists. I am in the process of getting a new crown on one of my teeth. I do not like the process. Sigh. But, PTL that dentists are around to take care of problems. From the looks of things I will be getting a good chance to spend time with this particular dentist in the next few weeks/months.
• We do get cold here...more than one morning it was down to 18 degrees when I looked. Sigh. I am ready for warmer weather.
• Working 2 days last week. PTL for work. Even if it is very high stress at times.....
• Our Women's Bible Study on Wednesday evening. Such a good time going over James 1. PTL for the riches in His word.
• Card making supplies and the fun of making cards.
• Knowing that I can trust my faithful Heavenly Father, and that He loves me.

Of rain, and creme horns, and snow.

PTL, we are getting some lovely rain! What a blessing from the Lord. And, I am thankful to be all safe and cozy inside, as this rain is now turning to sleet, and probably will be snow before the day is done.

My heart if full of lots of thankfuls from this past week:

• Chocolate Creme Horns.
• Some repair work done on our car this week. And, being able to borrow our son's car so we could get around while the repair work was being done. PTL for a repair shop so close to home.
• Finally being able to go the dentist- and getting started on getting my teeth taken care of. Will take awhile....sigh. Not my favorite thing in the world to be doing.
• Snow. And, maybe more snow today?
• The Lord's help in setting up things on my new computer. When one's old computer dies, it takes with it some valuable stuff. (Note to self- please remember to always back up pictures.....iTunes songs.....etc.) At least our finance stuff was on a flash drive. That was a challenge to get moved over, but the Lord helped me figure that one out.
• Podcasts to listen to while cleaning house etc.
• Chatting with my mother on the phone. What an amazing 98 year old lady.
• Valuable lessons from the Lord from reading James 1
• Gingerbread flavored creamers.
• Shopping with hubby.

Yes, we do have snow

Snow! What a novelty...it was fun to watch faces of some children as they enjoyed playing in this white, cold stuff. The first picture was taken looking out our glass front door.

I decided I probably would not grill anything for dinner tonight.

OK, now I have seen my quota of snow for the year. And, yes, I know this really doesn't compare with all the stuff you people in New England have, but hey, we do have snow!

Thankfuls For This Week

Another week has passed by, it is a lovely sunny mild day, and I am full of thankfulness to the Lord for many blessings of this past week.

• Rose scented Yankee Candle.
• Lots of rain.
• Having hubby cook dinner last night. I wasn't feeling great as I am fighting a cold, so it was a wonderful treat to have him cook. He sure does make yummy burritos.
• The lovely surprise of shopping for, and getting a new computer for me. It is red! And, what a blessing. I appreciate all the hours my son put into helping me find it, and getting it set up so I can use it. It is a huge blessing to have a computer that works well.
• Having hubby's old computer to use until I got my new one. Yes, it was hard to use, and inconvenient, but at least it was available, and with a little patience, I was able to do what I needed to do.
• Getting cards congratulating us on being grandparents.
• Looking forward to a trip to Washington State in late April. For a wedding. Yes!!!
• Enjoying the eccentricities of Max.
• Enjoying studying the first chapter of James. What riches are there.
• All the hours my faithful son-in-law put into trying to resurrect my old computer. Unfortunately it was terminally ill, but he sure put in a valiant effort. Much appreciated.

Starting 2008 with Thankfuls

Thankfuls at the start of 2008:

• Good bonding time with Aiden yesterday. He was awake, looking around, and just content to lie in his Grandma's arms. What a precious bundle.
• Enjoying the joy of Kristi and Dennis.
• Knowing I can trust the Lord with all the unknowns. He knows. That is enough.
• Shopping with hubby and finding some new decorating touches to put around the house.
• Eating breakfast out with hubby.
• Surviving the news that my laptop had a terminal illness, and knowing that the Lord will provide a new one when He sees it is time. And, meanwhile, learning contentment using hubby's old and ancient desk top, that has, shall I say...... issues.
• Nate's many hours put in trying to resuscitate my laptop. He made a valiant effort that is very much appreciated.
• Being able to talk by phone with my mother a couple of times this week.
• Knowing that my Heavenly Father loves me.

More Thankfuls

Well, another week. And, of course more Thankfuls.

I am so grateful for and thankful for:

• The safe arrival of precious Aiden.
• Seeing my son a Daddy.
• Seeing hubby a Grandpa.
• Enjoying Christmas with family...twice.
• Being able to give gifts.
• Receiving thoughtful gifts.
• Being wonderfully surprised by hubby's special gift this year.
• Having lots of wonderful rain, and enjoying hearing it come down.
• Rose scented Yankee Candle.
• Holding Aiden and watching him sleep and make cute faces while sleeping, and listening to his little noises.
• The incredible love of my Savior.

Aiden

We got to meet Aiden today. What a cutie. A very adorable Christmas gift...even if he did come Christmas eve! We are grateful for this precious bundle from the Lord.

God is Good.

And being a Grandma is fun.

Merry Christmas Everyone

I am rejoicing in the joy of the birth of our Saviour.

I am also rejoicing in the joy of the birth of Aiden Charles Murray Pass, born 12/24/07 at 11:59. It is fun to be a Grandma!

Merry Christmas everyone, as we celebrate the birth of the King.

Of computers, turning 98 and other things...

I have decided that I am really very spoiled. We are a two computer family, which is a huge blessing that I am very grateful for. However, this week, my trusty laptop decided to go on strike. Sigh. My capable son - in -law is working on it, trying to convince it not to be on strike, but meanwhile, hubby and I have to SHARE! Thankfully, he is willing to let me use his some, so I am not totally lost. But, it is not quite like sitting in my comfy recliner with my own computer, set up the way I am used to!

In other things, I am thankful for:

• My mother. She turned 98 this week, and I was able to contact her by phone 3 times on various days, which was a huge blessing to me, as she often does not hear her phone, or is away from it, sitting in her wheelchair.
• My neice- who went to see her Grandma twice this week. What a blessing that was for Great Sweet Grandma to enjoy her great grandchildren.
• Two days of work this week. I am very thankful for my work, even though it is high stress at times. And, I am very thankful that I am back to my normal schedule now of only one day of work a week!
• Enjoying Christmas lights. A bonus of driving home after 10 at night- seeing all the lights still on! One place we pass by has a huge display of white lights that is breathtaking.
• Having nearly all of my shopping for Christmas done. Always such an answer to prayer, having the funds, and having the ideas of what to do for who. Now, I must get busy and wrap.
• Enjoying Christmas music. And being reminded over and over the real Reason we celebrate this season.

Of decorating, cookies, robberies and such...

This week I enjoyed decorating some for Christmas. This season is such a joy, celebrating the birth of my Saviour, and it is delight to me to be able to do things around my house to remind me of that first Christmas. Our olive wood nativity scene came from Jerusalem- thanks to Penny!
Other Thankfuls:

• Baking Christmas cookies yesterday in anticipation of our annual Cookie Swap this afternoon.
• Successfully finishing extra long hours at work this week.
• Safety for us when the bank next to where I work was robbed on Thursday.
  
• Rejoicing in the joy of my niece who is now officially courting! (And looking forward to her visit in a few weeks!)
• Shopping with hubby.
• Enjoying the breakfast burritos hubby made for dinner last evening.
• Knowing that I can trust the Lord for wisdom. He promised to guide and instruct me, and I am so thankful. I need His direction daily, and am so thankful I can rely on Him. He is faithful.
• Enjoying the progress of the house being built in back of us.
• Pine scented candles.
• Rain! Lovely, wonderful, rain.
  
• Jalapeño flavored Pringles.