Sunrise

Praise the Lord for another day! Almost every morning I am able to sit either on my porch or at my computer and watch the sunrise, just God and I with a cup of coffee. It is seriously the most amazing way to begin your day! The way God paints the sky for me each morning a little different than the day before never ceases to delight me.

In the morning when the sun kisses my cheek, the breeze caresses my hair, the birds sing their beautiful songs for me and God paints the sky in His beauty and Majesty while I sit with Him, sipping coffee and chatting about the day ahead- that my friends is the perfect way to begin the day. I am grateful that I live in a place that allows me to be part of the sunrise everyday!

April 29

Good Morning Grateful Hearts! This morning I reflected on the day ahead and I was overcome with gratitude for my children and my husband who make the mornings enjoyable. My 2 year old wakes each morning bright and early smiling and so happy for a new day. My middle schooler is an easy child to wake and goes about getting ready for her morning without much stress. Then there is my 5 year old who is a little slower to wake up but wants to cuddle as soon as he is awake. My husband also wakes up pleasant in the mornings. It really makes mornings joyful.

☀☀☀☀☀☀☀☀☀☀☀☀

I am also grateful for Tuesdays, when I am able to go be with other women who find JOY in the Lord. I am truly blessed by our group of Nine who sit together and share being a wife and mother together!

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Yesterday as I sat at my computer I watch a beautiful creature of God play on my lawn and again gratitude was swelling as I watched him. It brings to mind
Matthew 6:26
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

My Visitor!

Yes, we are more valuable than the birds! Blessed with so much in our lives! 

April 27, 2014

This morning marks the 4th anniversary of someone very dear to me going home to be with the Lord. My Gratitude list today is for those who have touched my life and passed on from earthly life into the presence of the Lord. My Mom is the one my heart misses the most followed very closely by the man my kids called Uncle JJ (whose passing was today 4 years ago) my Grandmother has been gone 20 years and yet her touch on my life lives on. The only man I ever knew as a "Dad" Big Les.  There was Bob Stokes who wasn't just my sons Grandfather but a father figure to me at a time when I needed it so! Dorothy, who was more than just a friend, she was a mentor and prayer warrior extraordinaire. Sheran (JJ's beloved wife) and Cheryl (a friend from high school) who both positively influenced my life. There are the children I carried but never got to hold, who went to be with the Lord before they were ever born. I have Aunts & Uncles and Cousins and friends and my daughters Daddy who have all gone to be with the Lord.

Each in their own way changed the course of my life, some were with me through the darkest days of my life and others were gone before they came. Each and everyone missed for the contribution they made to helping me become who I am today.

THANK YOU GOD! For each of them! And God, there may not be visiting hours in heaven, but maybe you could tell them all how much they are missed and how I look forward to seeing them someday, when my work here on earth is done....

✫ Count Your Blessings ✫

I have been looking at my gifts and talents the last few days- and realized that as some I actually had little idea I possessed, I was NOT being grateful and certainly was not counting them in my blessings! 
So now with a little help from my friends and a spiritual gifts test, here are the Gifts and Talents that I am grateful for and counting among the blessings God has given me!

1. Faith
2. Encourager/Motivator
3. Writer
4. Giving
5. Serve behind the scenes
6. Kindness/Mercy
7. Creative/Crafty

☆ ♥ ☆ ♥ ☆ ♥ ☆ ♥ ☆ ♥ ☆ ♥ ☆ ♥ ☆ ♥ ☆ ♥ ☆ ♥ ☆ ♥ ☆ ♥ ☆ 

While the list isn't long I know and understand that being blessed with these talents/gifts is AMAZING and I have a duty to GOD to develop them and use them to HIS GLORY 

  ✫            ✫
.✫...(⁀‵⁀,)     ✫
....✫.`⋎´  ✫
(⁀‵⁀,) ✫ Blessings ✫
.`⋎´ ✫           ✫

Thank You

THANK YOU!
In the course of the day, how many times do you say those two words?
THANK YOU!
To 

 Spouse who got up and made coffee before you
 Child who got out of bed on the first call
 The School bus driver for taking your child to school each day
 The clerk at the gas station who took your money
 The person who held the door open at the market
 The lady who stopped what she was doing to pick up the box your child dropped on the floor
 The man who instead of giving you a dirty look or making a snide comment about your child throwing a fit, smiled and said "You can do it Mom"
 The bagger who remembered to put the laundry soap in a different bag than the lettuce

THANK YOU!
Through out each day, we are given so many opportunities to say thank and  you, to let someone know that they are appreciated it. Please remember as you you go about your day to say
THANK YOU!

Happy With What You Have

l

GOOD MORNING! 

This morning I was reminded of a list that floated around the internet about so many of the things we take for granted making us rich. I don't recall the exacts but it included things like having a house making you richer than many and having food and being able to read and access to clean water. Of course the list that was presented had statistics that flee my mind at the moment. However, no matter the actual statistics, I know that in my life I have met some very unhappy people. Most who lived in the lap of luxury in comparison to most of the world and in comfortable ease by the U.S. standards. 

Why is it that in the midst of a comfortable life, so many are so dissatisfied and unhappy?  Why do they complain about their life when they have a home with all the traditional amenities (electricity, cable tv, clean water, internet)  plenty of food, a decent job, and family and friends around them?

Maybe because I have experienced long term unemployment, homelessness, living off-grid without basic amenities, having to walk to the store and doctors appointments because we had no car and even true hunger, maybe because of these things I have a greater appreciation for them and feel blessed in having those taken for granted things.

Today, if you will, take a few minutes to be grateful for things you more often than not take for granted-

WOW! It's been almost a year since I posted here! Not for lack of gratitude I assure you!!! Today I am doing a 100 things list not because I am working on gratitude but because my heart is overflowing with gratefulness for all that I have today!

1. My Mom - she may be gone from earth but I love her and miss her and appreciate all she ever did for me!
2. My Husband - it hasn't always been easy but it has been so worth it!
3. Robert, my oldest son. My heart aches for this child but at the same time he has taught me so much in this life. Without him I may not have understood the true depth of unconditional love!
4. Eugene, he is the child that taught me NEVER GIVE UP! No matter what difficulties you face, never give up! He is smart and if you ever can get him to sing, has a wonderful voice!
5. Joshua, this boy was always a Daddy's boy, if only he knew how much Mom loves him! He has an amazing sense of humor, witty, and super smart. Who knew one of my kids would take calculus "for fun". This kid is awesome!
6. KatieBug, my prayed for little girl. I named her after two woman who I knew had fortitude to withstand anything life threw at them and this child is more amazing than the women I named her after! She is going to do great things in her life and I love watching her grow into the wonderful woman she is going to be.
7. LizzieGrace, God's precious gift to my life. This child, unplanned and unexpected changed my life forever. With a heart that seeks God and a desire to change the world with hope & love through Jesus. At 11 she already has a plan for her future to go out in the world and love it!
8. Allen John, his smile captures the heart and I forward to watching him grow into the man God designed him to be. He is going to be a Nascar Driver when he grows up and lead worship at church! I can't wait!
9. Blaine, the baby but such a strong will and desire to explore and do so many things! He is only 2 but I can see he is going to be someone to watch in the years to come for stepping out and doing more than anyone ever expected!
10. My little Brother (or little bother) we have had our ups and downs BUT we are always there for each other!

11. My home- it's a little house and not what I dream of having someday but is perfect for this time and place in life!

12. Lights at the flick of a switch! 

13. Water at the turn of a faucet

14. HOT water without having to fire up the wood stove!

15. Warmth on cold nights

16. Heat at the touch of a button (like the wood stove but oh how convenient is central heat!)

17. INTERNET! 

18. Cable TV (although we could live with out it and be content it is nice to have)

19. Air conditioning 

20. All the traditional amenities in a home in the U.S.

21. The Seasons (of life and of weather)

22. Sunrises

23. Sunsets

24. Rainy Days

25. Rainbows

26. Snow

27. Soft breezes

28. Warm temperatures 

29. Long winters nights

30. Long summer days

31. Swimming

32. Sledding down a snowy hill

33. Dancing in the rain

34. Spring Flowers

35. Getting hands dirty in the garden

36. Sparrows playing in the yard

37. Squirrels gathering up food

38. Little ones sliding down slides

39. Cool soft grass on bare feet

40. Raking Leaves

41. Jumping in a pile of leaves!

42. Lilacs :)

43. Thanksgiving

44. Christmas

45. New Years

46. Valentine's Day

47. Easter

48. Independence Day 

49. Birthdays (studies have shown those that have the most birthdays live the longest!)

50. Birth of a baby

How have I gotten half way and not said how grateful I am for-
51. GOD!
52. Jesus and his life, death and resurrection!

53. The Bible

54. COFFEE!

55. Prayer

56. FRIENDS!

57. My computer 

58. Skype (so grateful I get to see my daughter when we chat!)
59. My minivan (sure is better than walking when it is snowing or raining!)

60. My husbands job (what a blessing that as he works we are able to provide for our family AND be a blessing in the lives of others who are struggling)

61. Growing fresh produce!

62. I am especially grateful that I live in a time and place where food is abundant- my only wish is that it could be shared in those places where it isn't as abundant. 

63. I was going to list all the yummy foods I enjoy- rather than that I will just say I am grateful for a large selection of different foods that I really like 

64. I am grateful for the presence of "convenience" foods- they may not be as healthy for us but they do make it a bit easier to put together a fast meal when needed.

65. FISHING! I put it here just because it helps feed us but oh it is so much fun!

Have I mentioned 66. butterflies and 67. frogs and 68. ducks on the pond? Did I forget to say how grateful I am for 69. rivers and streams? And 70. LAKES and the 71. Ocean and 72. all the critters who inhabit them? Did I mention my gratitude for 73. dirt roads and 74. trails? Have I mentioned the joy that I get from 75. Tall Tall Trees? 76. I am so grateful I live close to nature! Oh! and while I am talking about all that... I am grateful for my very own 77. Apple Trees! Not to mention my 78. green lawn and 79. Flowers getting ready to bloom and of course my 80. Big Red Barn

81. I am grateful I can read 

82. WRITING! Oh how amazing it is to put thoughts on paper! 

83. Blogging (my own and others!)

84. BOOKS 
85. My Computer (so many of my friends live inside it!)

86. My Cell Phone (love keeping in touch with those I love)

87. Quite times with God

88. Noisy times with children

89. Cuddle time with husband

90. Anytime with those I love

I am grateful for 91.Dreams to dream 92. Second Chances 93. Music 94. Dancing 95. Twinkling Stars that look like diamonds in the sky 96. my camera that allows me to capture our life and preserve the moments 97. People who have come and gone from my life helping me become who I am today. 98. HOPE 99. LOVE 100. LIFE!!!!!