WOW!

I just saw that I haven't posted in here since the 19th!!!!! It isn't that I haven't been grateful for things, or sharing them (Thanksgiving time of course everyone wants to know what you are thankful for right?) So that is my excuse, I was out and about in the workld so much sharing my gratitude that the list just slipped by without update... my apologies!

As many know, who read my blog, I tend to look at the normal everyday stuff to be grateful for~ sunrises, snowflakes, hot cup of coffee (a new appreciation for it right now). I do this because God has been so gracious in providing so much in life that we overlook. Always wanting the next "thing" whatever it is, that we forget to just enjoy the stuff we have right here, right now, the stuff that makes our heart smile a little, brings a little joy, however momentary it is, to our lives. In capturing those little things it makes the "big" things just not so important.

Romans 5:3

Not only so,

 but we also rejoice in our sufferings,

 because we know that suffering produces perseverance;

Now myself, I haven't yet learned to rejoice when I am suffering, but I have learned to be thankful for whatever little things I can be thankful for.

But today~ Today I am actually grateful for one of those extraordinary blessings God pours out in our lives. God has blessed my life in ways I never could have imagined and now, the blessings just keep pouring out and I will be having another baby! I feel old to be doing this agian, but then I remember Sarah and how God blessed her with Jacob~ so I am excited and I am pleased! God is AWESOME!!!!

November 19, 2010

Today's Gratitude List

My Mom~ today would have been her birthday and it just reminded me how much I have to be grateful for having her as my Mom for 41 years. She was an amazing lady. Sure she had faults and there were times we would fight, oh boy could we fight. But Mom was always Mom, always there for me, my biggest supporter, my most valient champion, always advocating for me.

Today I really want to say "Mom, thank you!"

November 15, 2010

Today's Gratitude List

1. God calls us as He sees us~ not as we see ourselves

2. That God has taught me forgiveness

3. That in forgiveness, Satan has no weapon against it. 

4. God has taught me Trust

5. The real enemy is lack of trust, not people

6. The strengths and talents God has entrusted me with

7. Faith that God has given me truth in the Bible and so I know that

I can trust Him in ALL things~ that He is working all things together for His people

November 7, 2010

Gratitude For the Storms

How often do we ask God why?

We don't understand, the storm is overwhelming,

we feel the water rising, we are frightened...

When I am in those horrible moments where I am not sure I can keep going...

I think of Joseph~ how he was first tossed into a pit, then sold as a slave

works hard to move himself up only to be tossed in prison

he was betrayed by those he helped

He went through a lot before he finally got to realize the dream that God had placed on him

all those years before.

We know today that each of those things Joseph experienced was part

of God's plan. However unfair it might seem

that someone had to go through all that

it all came together perfectly to fulfill God's plan.

So today, I am giving gratitude for all those things that seemed horrible at the time

but served to get me where I am~

1. 1978~ moving to Lassen County~ how could I know then as I struggled with it all, that this would become HOME and that my life would be made full because we live here
2. That first committed relationship that fell apart before my very eyes. Even though I was trying to keep all the pieces together. Aside from my son coming from that, there were things I learned that I wouldn't use until much later in life and there were people who I met because of him that are still counted among my dearest friends!
3. The move to Southern California~ oh how I hated my exile to the desert! However I learned just how precious home really was and that it did not matter that others wanted out of home so bad~ it was my life and I was happy and content to just live in our little town and treasure it, not whine.
4. My terminal divorce (it was a joke because it took 9 years for it to be final) but it taking so long saved me some from very serious mistakes in life
5. My relationship with Ronnie~ 26 years of crazy~ who knew at my lowest moments in that relationship God was working miracles!
6. My Mom dying~ oh Lord how I did not know if I would actually survive losing her. Here I had a brand new baby, my life was a disaster and she went and died. God gave me what I needed to get through it and although it still hurts in my heart today to not have her here~ I am a different person a better person from that devastating part of my life!

100 Things

Can you think of 100 things in your life that bring you joy, that you are grateful for?

I can! and here is my list to share with you!

1. God~ without Him, I would have nothing, be nothing~ God is my everything!
2. Jesus~ His sacrafice that day on the cross gave me the chance to have an intimate relationship with my Father in Heaven
3. The Holy Spirit~ my personal comforter and guide in this crazy life
4. My husband~ what a joy and a blessing to be with someone who loves me and shows me he loves me in so many ways!
5. Robert~ my oldest son
6. Eugene~ my next son
7. Joshua~ my 3rd son
8. Katie~ my oldest daughter
9. Elizabeth~ my youngest daughter
10. Allen~ my baby boy
11. My Mom~ she may be gone from this world but she is ever present in my mind and I thank God that she was my MOM
12. All the extended family that has been there, blessed me, encouraged me, challenged me
13. Friends past, present, and future~ how glorious is it to have friends that step up even when you do not know you need them, to be there for you and to allow you to step up and be there for them when they need it
14. Enemies~ sometimes it is difficult to be grateful for the people who do wrong to us, who aim to cause us harm. Yet they to have a special place in our lives to teach us something God wants us to know.
15. My Church Family~ how blessed am I to have these amazing people to help me on my journey to know God more intimately!
16. Celebrate Recovery~ a blessing indeed! The big group and small group have changed my life dramatically!
17. Those souls in life, who have no idea that they impact your day. A simple smile, a courtesy, what might be considered nothing by others but have a positive affect on your day.
18. A baby's giggle~ it is the sound of the angels laugh I am sure
19. Hugs and Kisses from small children~ they are so honest and sincere in giving hugs and kisses that you know you have been blessed by them!
20. Snuggle time with a small child!
21. Hot cocoa on a cold winter afternoon
22. Hot tea with lemon and honey when you are feeling snuffly
23. Hot Fresh Coffee the first thing in the morning~ mmmm good stuff!
24. Drinking that coffee out of  a cup that reminds me to Rejoice in the Lord!
25. My husband bringing me coffee in bed~ how sweet is that?
26. Electricity in my home
27. Running water
28. Internet
29. Cell phones
30. Cable that allows my family to watch something other than trash tv
31. My computer
32. My coffee maker
33. All those little electronics we take for granted~ vacuum cleaners, cameras to take pictures of our family, can opener, crock pot, those little blessings are so awesome
34. Cooking without having to make a fire (especially in the summer)
35. Washing clothes in a washing machine (imagine having to go by the river and beat your clothes on a rock)
36. Fresh clean clothes dried on a clothes line!
37. Crisp cool sheets to crawl into on a warm summer evening
38. Soft warm flannel sheets to crawl between in the winter
39. Having a bedroom not shared by the entire family (or worse yet a tent!)
40. Clothes that we wear (some are not as lucky as we) that are climate appropriate
41. SHOES! Athletic shoes, dress shoes, snow boots~ seriously how amazing it is that we women can have 20 pair of shoes (maybe a little gluttony there :) )
42. Personal hygene things~ think about it~ shampoo that smells delicious, face wash that keeps our skin young, body wash that is pleasant and refreshing or soothing according to our purchases, toothbrushes, toothpaste that is minty fresh, footpowder, deoderant~ seriously people how awesome is it that we have all that?
43. Hot showers that envelop you, energize you, get your day started!
44. Bubble baths in candle light!
45. Foot baths with just a hint of peppermint that make your tired achy feet feel oh so good!
46. Pedicures~ painted toes~ really a foofoo thing but I am so grateful to be able to do it
47. Lotions and Potions that bring amazing aroma's to our bodies
48. Being able to have a manicure! How good does it make a woman feel to have pretty nails?
49. A good chiropractic adjustment! Getting your body all lined back up the way it is suppose to be!
50. A full body message that gets your blood pumping and makes you feel oh so good
51. Winter
52. SNOW!
53. Building snowmen
54. Having snowball fights
55. Sledding
56. Sitting by a fire while it snows outside
57. Did I mention SNOW!?!
58. Spring
59. The rebirth of all the all the critters and plants
60. Lilacs
61. Roses
62. Daffodills
63. All the amazing flowers of spring!
64. Trees that turn into big flowery bushes with spring~ promising delicious fruit in summer
65. Summer
66. Days at the river
67. Fishing!
68. Swimming!
69. Days at the park!
70. Long walks in the woods
71. All the amazing things you can do outdoors in the warm weather
72. Camping
73. Running barefoot in cool grass
74. Watching the children play!
75. Fall
76. Oh the glory of the trees, in all their fall colours~ it is awe inspiring to see the vivid hues of fall on them
77. Playing in a big pile of fall leaves
78. Those cool autumn mornings, so wonderful
79. Seeing the deer that come to the yard because it is autumn and that is what they do
80. Scammpering squirrels any time of the year
81. Puppy kisses
82. Cuddling a puppy
83. A fat cat laying on your lap purring
84. Seeing a dog run after a ball or frisbee~ pure joy and excitement that they exude!
85. Standing at my kitchen window watching the sparrows gather their nesting supplies
86. Watching all the different birds, flit from here to there~ how amazing that they can fly!
87. Sitting on a river bank, watching the fish jump, frogs jump, and just enjoying the beauty God has given us
88. Laying on your back in the grass, watching the clouds drift by, imagining that this cloud is a bunny, that cloud a truck, and just enjoying the moment for what it is
89. Dinner with the family~ it is great to spend dinner time with the family all together!
90. My husband cooking breakfast for all of us
91. My husband washing dishes (what an awesome man!)
92. Sitting on the sofa, snuggled up with my husband, knowing that in that moment all is perfect in my world
93. Having my daughter reach for my hand as we walk. She is growing up so fast, but she still reaches out for her Mom's hand <3
94. Reading to my little ones
95. Watching the joy on my children's faces when they discover something new or conquer something they have struggled with
96. Seeing my beautiful daughter becoming an amazing young woman, making good choices and turning into someone I am truly proud of
97. Watching my son as his personality develops and he grows from "baby" to "boy"
98. All the moments in life that bring so much joy and happiness
99. Memories~ all of my memories make up all the things on this list & so much more
100. Every Blessing God has poured out in my life~ truly they are too many to count!

It is so wonderful to sit and see that God truly has given me spirit of joy~ where I can appreciate all the awesome and amazing things He has provided for me in my life and in the lives of everyone. My heart truly rejoices at all the blessings in my life. When trouble comes, as it always does, God has given me the ability to find the good in it all. While sometimes it seems that no good could possibly come from the horrible situation that has arose, God has blessed me with the ability to see that even though I may not understand it, he is using the challenge I am facing to bring Glory to His kingdom, to form me into a mighty woman of God, to be a positive influence in the life of someone else.

Truly I am blessed and give thanks to God for all of it!

November 4, 2010

Today's Gratitude List

1. My Husband!

For ALL he does! He is AMAZING!

He bring sme coffee in bed, he helps me with housework,

he is loving and affectionate

He is perfect for me!

Never in all my dreams could I have dreamed of someone so amazing.

2. My children!

Each of  them brings a special something to my life.

Robert, Eugene, Joshua, Katie, Elizabeth, and Allen are totally amazing and wonderful!

November 3, 2010

Today's Gratitude List

1. That my family has all their needs taken care of
2. That we are able to share with others
3. That we have been given many of our wants in life
4. Our home~ that we can have others share it with us
5. Plenty of good food
6. God's blessings that just rain down like fall leaves into our lives~ it is so easy to forget all the little things that happen each day that just blesses us. The parking spot where we want to park being available, the line we are in going faster than the one next to us, the light staying green as we go through it, the gentelman stopping to allow us to go in front of him, the coffee being poured faster than we can drink it at a restuarant, 1000's of little things every single day!

November 1, 2010

That list of the 10 things I am Grateful for having happened in 2010

1. Custody of my daughter
2. Engagement to my husband (he gave me my ring on the anniversary of my mothers death. Made a very sad day into one that has good memories
3. Marriage! My husband is awesome!!!
4. Learning to be content in a house I thought I hated~ I was so sure God should give us a new house and was feeling resentful when He didn't until I realized, until I became ok with this situation God is not going to move me into another because soon I would not be thankful for the new home either.
5. Having a car~ we spent most of 2009 without one so it has been AMAZING to have one in 2010
6. Financial Prosperity~ certainly we are not "rolling" in riches, but God has been faithful to provide all our needs and many of our wants and desires.
7. Renewed Faith in the Lord! Blessed is my life because of this! That even if I must walk through the wilderness, HE is with me!
8. Return to Celebrate Recovery! How awesome to get back among friends, to be in a place where my heart sings with joy because I aam among friends.
9. Finding a new and totally awesome home curch! God is good to provide this body of Christ for my family and I to fellowship in!
10. Bringing Forgiveness into my heart... my lif eis forever different because God taught me to forgive.

November 1, 2010

This year is flying by~ 60 days and it will be 2011~ how did that happen?

Take time with my today to think of your 10 fondest memories of 2010!