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!!!!!

GOOD MORNING!

I have missed a bit of time here~ not because I haven't had a grateful heart but because I was enjoying all that I have in my life to be grateful for! God surely blesses me!

Today my gratitude is beyond overflow- as I was reading this morning I read that we can experience heaven on earth. Well back up~ first on a social media sight, I read where someone said that we should not seek heaven on earth, and well, that just resonate in me. It sounded wrong... so I went searching for some answers.

I found several references in the Bible of God living in us (1 John 4:12, 1 Corinthians 6:19, 2 Corinthians 6:16, Romans 8:9 ) 

It seems to me, that if God is in us, then it is only logical that heaven CAN be here on earth. What does heaven look like? Pure unadulterated love... When we transform ourselves to love God, ourselves and our neighbors, we get to experience Heaven on Earth...

Today, I am grateful that Christ died, tore the veil that separated me from God and allowed me to come into the presence of God, to have God live in me, and let me experience Heaven here on earth,

PRAISE and GRATITUDE!

This morning I am EVER so GRATEFUL for first the Father! God is over the TOP in His love for us!
1 John 3:1
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
John 3:16 
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

I am GRATEFUL for Christ, who came and who gave up His life so that I could have that relationship with OUR Father!

I am grateful for the Holy Spirit who guides me, comforts me, and assists me in this journey on earth!

How amazing it is that God is so complete and did all this for me! and YOU!

Saturday Morning Coffee Time

Spectacular Saturday Dear Readers!

What an amazing day the Lord has made! Today I am so grateful for the seasons in life- winter is slowly going away and spring is beginning and WOW! Those who know me, know snow is my favorite weather, so I really enjoy winter.... yet there is something SPECTACULAR about spring! Oh and summer too (although I do not like hot weather I love the warm summer days that have a light breeze or being able to splash in the river... yes indeed GOOD things happen in summer!) and fall is absolutely amazing too! Seasons... THANK YOU FATHER GOD!

Our life has seasons also and as I experience each season YAY!!!! God is GOOD! Every season a little different but oh so amazing with delights unique to the season! THANK YOU FATHER GOD for the seasons of life!

This morning is a rainy spring day and I intend to make it SPECIAL! A day for making some memories of this beautiful season! THANK YOU FATHER GOD!

FUNTASTIC FRIDAY!!!!

Good Morning Dear Readers! What are five things you do that are really FUN!? I was thinking this morning that we forget to be grateful for the FUN in our lives!

For me, my top five are:

1. PUDDLE JUMPING
2. DANCING IN THE RAIN
3. SNOW PLAY (snowball fights, building a snowman, sledding, skiing, like it all!)
4. POOH STICKS
5. FLYING KITES 

Oh yes indeed I am SO grateful that I get to have so much fun in my life!

Nothing can separate me from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus my Lord.

I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
I believe the Word of God in my heart, and as I speak in faith, mountains will move and circumstances will change
God gives me wisdom in all my work and makes all my endeavors effective.
God’s love working through me makes me a blessing everywhere I go.
I’m blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.
Heavenly Father, I bless You and I praise You today, and with all that is within me, I bless Your Holy Name
Thanks be to God, who gives me the victory through my Lord Jesus Christ!
I bring the presence of God with me everywhere I go, because He is with me, and lives in me.
Christ has redeemed me from the curse of the law, and therefore I received the blessing of Abraham by faith.
The Lord God sets me high above all the nations of the earth;
I live in the obedience of faith and all these blessings come on me and overtake me.
I’m blessed in the city and in the country.
My family is blessed; the peace of God rules in my home.
The produce of my ground is blessed;
Even our family pets are blessed!
Our food supplies and food stores are blessed; we eat food without scarcity, and we lack nothing.
I’m blessed when I come in and when I go out.
The Lord causes my enemies who rise up against me to be defeated before me; they come out against me one way, and flee before me seven ways.
The Lord commands the blessing on all my storage places: My cupboards, my closets, and my bank accounts.
He blesses all the work of my hands; I do my work joyfully as unto the Lord; 
Everything I do, I do in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
I am blessed in the land that the Lord my God gives me.
The Lord has established me as holy, sanctified and set apart for Himself; I keep the commandments of the Lord and walk in His ways.
All the people of the earth recognize the blessing and the presence of God in my life.
The Lord makes me abound in prosperity; He multiplies me by His blessing on all my income-producing ventures.
The Lord opens the windows of heaven and pours out His blessing on my land and on all the work of my hands.
I have enough to give and lend, and I have no need to borrow.
The Lord makes me the head and not the tail;
I am only above and not underneath.
I serve the Lord with joy and gladness of heart for the abundance of all things.

Thursday

Let the rain kiss you.  Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops.  Let the rain sing you a lullaby.  ~Langston Hughes

GOOD MORNING! Looks like rain outside ☂ PRAISE THE LORD! Yes I really like rain! Especially this time of year! It is filling our rivers, nourishing the ground, and refreshing my day. 

Have you ever thought about being thankful for weather? Not just the sunshine but the rain and the snow and the hail and the winds and the ice and just ALL of it! Today I really want to THANK the LORD for weather... 

Wednesday

GOOD MORNING GOD!

WOW! This human experience is so AMAZING! How blessed is my life because God has chosen ME to be His daughter? Seriously! There may be a few things in my life missing that I would like to see happen, but over all OH WOW! To count the wonders in my daily life? OVERFLOW!!!!

God has made ways where I could see no way- BLESSED - God has opened the window of heaven and poured out blessing after blessing after blessing and now my cup overflows!

Even in the moments of "lack"- when things that I really think I need in life are missing- when I look back, I can see the BLESSING God was giving me during that time.

My daughter has a heart to go on a mission- she feels the tug to visit foreign countries to minister to other children, She wants to take them Jesus, food, water, clothes, and any thing else they might need that they don't have. She knows what it is to have plenty and she knows what it is to go without. She is able to relate to the needs of others because she has gone without. PRAISE GOD!

Today- as I sit in my little home, my 3 babies here with me, with plenty of food to see us through, having our basic needs met, I am SO GRATEFUL to GOD! February 14th I could never have seen that we would be here today... GOD IS GOOD! And HE BLESSES! And I am OVERWHELMED at His LOVE for me!

That LOVE is so amazing! Now, if I can just go forward and share the LOVE HE has given me with others!

Lilacs and Tea

~Good Morning~
This Morning I am grateful for lilacs and tea - there is a childhood memory of lilacs on the table while my great grandmother poured tea. I was maybe 5 at the time. I don't remember a lot about that day but what I remember was sitting with grandma having tea and lilacs in bloom...

Memories

Those delightful things that God has given us to remember all the moments of goodness and love in our life. Today I could list a million memories that are so good... Today I still love lilacs and from other memories of my life you will see me smile every time I see Eeyore, when I hear a piano playing old time Christian Hymns, when I smell the aroma of a cherry cigar or pipe tobacco...

Today I am grateful for those memories that make me smile....

Resurrection Day Gratitude List

My heart is so FULL of JOY at what the LORD has done for me! Jesus came, he lived, he taught, he suffered, he died, and then he conquered the grave and because of all of that I have a HOPE and a FUTURE and a PROMISE!

Today I am grateful on so many levels - as I listened this morning to a televised service I heard a message that reminded me that I am not experiencing anything that is new or different from what every other human being has experienced. What is different, is that I have the gift of the Holy Spirit to guide me, I have the promise of Jesus Christ to take my burden and carry it for me, and I have the promise of God that some day all of the pain and sorrow will be gone.

I am truly blessed and grateful for all the Lord has done for me!

Saturday Gratitude

I am especially blessed today- I get to start my day with coffee and God's Word! NOTHING gets a good day going in the best direction than a good cup of coffee and the Good News that is in my Bible....

Of course it is also awesome to wake up in the morning with a little guy snuggled up close and the other one patting my cheek. Reminds me that God has a purpose in my life. These children He has entrusted to my care are pretty amazing. I am grateful that every morning my 4 year old says "Good Morning God" and means it. I am grateful my daughter is able to go to a Christian School where not only is she learning the basics of traditional education but she is also learning the Word each and every day. I am grateful that each of these little ones are growing up in a home where God always comes first in our lives.

The other day, my daughter was making cards for family. She pops off she is making the biggest one for her sister, because she is the boss of her house. I ask "Who is the boss of our house?" and my son made my heart just sing with joy when he answered "Jesus".

A couple of days ago, I was feeling very sorry for myself over the demise of my marriage. God sent me a word... He reminded me that He is my first love, He is my Provider, He is my Comforter, He is my Source for all good things in my life. As long as I am keeping Him first, things like my husbands human failings and walking out on our marriage only have a minimal affect on my life.

Yesterday was Good Friday, tomorrow is Easter. Today is the day that His disciples and followers mourned at His death. Today I want ot celebrate what Jesus did for me! His death, the mourning, and then His resurrection all worked together to bring me into a personal relationship with the Father. Today I say "THANK YOU JESUS!"

Gratitude Overflow!

Today, I woke up, my little guy snuggled in my arms, my 4 year old was curled up in the small of my back, as I worked myself loose from the 2 boys I realized just how amazing God is... I have these babies who are just awesome! So loving, so kind just little miracles. God knew one day I would need the snuggles they so freely share with me. I stumbled towards the kitchen and was reminded how much God has blessed me when my coffee was sitting in the pot ready for me. Ahhh to live in a time where coffee is made before you are out of bed!

I woke up in my own house! Hey I just spent 2 weeks homeless so I PERSONALLY know how great it is to have your own house. God made things work together to make this home available to us. How truly blessed am I? I sat down at my computer and again, WOW! God is so good to me! Just a little over 7 weeks ago, I had no computer and then God in all His amazing provision gave me one. I have internet! How awesome is that? Do you know that there are those people, even here in the United States who aren't able to afford internet?  Thank You Lord! That I have electricity? That in and of itself was one of God's miracles in my life! God is so over the top in His blessings!

For the first two hours of my morning today, I was able to see that EVERY SINGLE MOMENT was truly a BLESSING in my life. Think about it... indoor plumbing? Yeah some people don't have that. Temperature controlled home? Some folks are sleeping under a bridge. Family? Some folks are all alone. Got a chair to sit in? Some folks don't. God has blessed me, God has provided for me, God has set before me this wonderful and amazing life and I am so GRATEFUL!!!!

Rejoice!

Last night I sat out on my porch and listened to the frogs out on the little pond, was able to hear some geese and ducks too and it reminded just how awesome God is that He has given us every living creature to enjoy, You think about creation and how each step was done so that we, human beings, would be cared for... just amazing to me.

Today I am grateful that God created every fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and every living creature that moves on the ground... Truly awesomeness and I am grateful (and some of them taste really yummy too!)

SHOUT TO THE LORD!

GOOD MORNING! Today's Gratitude List

1. A God who I have a PERSONAL relationship with-
2. Jesus who came, taught, died, and was resurrected so that I could have that personal relationship with Our Father
3. The Holy Spirit who has been sent to me while Jesus is away from me
4. My Bible- the Word of God that leads me in the way I should go
5. My Church Family- those folks who gather together to lift each other up and encourage one another in our walk with the Lord

1. My Parents- Although they are gone from this life, they brought me into this world and raised me as best they could to be the person I am today
2. My Brother- Love that guy- he is there through thick and thin 
3. My Children- all 7 of them! God has blessed me so much through the babies He entrusted me with! 
4. Aunts, Uncles, Cousins- although I don't spend much time with any of them these days, as a child they were all instrumental in helping me grow into who I am.
5. The brothers and sisters I have in Christ- what an amazing family!!!!!

CoFfEe MoNdAy!

GOOD MORNING!

This morning, my little guy woke me up bright and early at 4:45 am! Boy am I grateful for coffee! It does something to get the eyes open, the mind working, and the body moving... Morning Coffee is also my time with God (in between holding the toddler, changing diapers, getting him a drink, and whatever else he needs) What is awesome is God is like a best friend in that regard and just keeps listening while I chat with him and take care of the little guy.

This mornings gratitude list isn't very long- I am grateful for God and coffee and starting my day with both.

Afternoon Gratitude

AFTERNOON GRATITUDE!

I have noticed that I wake up full of hope and excitement for the day ahead and then as the day goes forward I become depressed and my joy seems to dissipate. So I am going to make an afternoon and evening Gratitude List whenever that happens. That way, by looking at the positives in life, maybe I can capture the joy I have at the start of each new day.

Today I am going to list things that make me smile.

1. Sunbeams on my face... they always make me feel like God is giving me warm kisses when the sun lands on my face
2. The sounds of a small river or creek traveling across some rocks... such a sweet sound
3. Puddle Jumping!
4. Playing Pooh Sticks at the bridge with my kids!
5. Dancing in the rain!
6. Hearing my kids say "I love you Mommy"
7. Cuddly Kittens
8. Wiggling Puppies
9. Giggling Babies
10. Rolling in the grass with my babies

So many many other things!!!! I could go on all day! God really has blessed me with so many things that make me smile... like watching a horse run across a pasture, or a duck take a bath in a pond, and there are the laughs of seeing a kitten play with a ball of yarn. Finding the perfect pair of shoes? Yeah that makes me smile! 

What about those times when you think of someone and your phone rings and they are calling just to say hi? Or cruising the grocery store aisles and bump into someone you haven't seen in a while and they share some delightful news? Then there is the times when feeling all alone, someone stops by to say "I was thinking of you"... yes those all make me smile!

That pitcher of ice cold sweet tea on a hot summer day... how can you not smile as you lift that glass, anticipating the sweet delight? 

Spring means it is time for picnics and bbq's and all sorts of outdoor play. I love the outdoors... it makes me smile! I love being with family- for sure that makes me smile! Having friends around makes me smile too! 

Sunday Gratitude List!

MEMORIES!

This morning, as God placed in my head some old songs that my Grandmother played on her piano when I was a child, I thought... WOW! How awesome that God gives us the ability to recall those good times from our past <3 a="" all="" and="" as="" by="" christian="" god="" grandma.="" have="" head="" heart="" house="" hymns="" i="" in="" is="" know="" listening.="" make="" my="" of="" on="" p="" piano="" played="" sing="" store="" the="" them="" they="">



Beautiful Memories this morning-

Sitting at the kitchen table having coffee with my Mom just chatting about the day.

The birth of each of my children and the joy my heart had that day!

Grandma teaching me to sew

Getting up at 5am to go milk goats (Really it is a good memory)

Bandit and Sir... my childhood dogs

All those long weekend drives to look at mansions my Mommy wanted to buy

இڿڰۣஇڿڰۣஇڿڰۣஇڿڰۣஇڿڰۣஇஇڿڰۣஇڿڰۣஇڿڰۣஇڿڰۣஇڿڰۣஇڿڰۣஇஇڿڰۣஇڿڰۣஇڿڰۣ

I am blessed! God has taken most of the not so good memories away and this morning I am able to look at all those amazing times that were happy/good times. My childhood and early adulthood had more good memories than I could possibly post. For that today...

GRATEFUL 

I stand all AMAZED!

I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me
Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me
I tremble to know that for me he was crucified
That for me, a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died

Chorus:
Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me enough to die for me
Oh, it is wonderful
Wonderful to me

I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine
To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine
That he should extend his great love unto such as I
Sufficient to own, to redeem and to justify
Chorus:
Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me enough to die for me
Oh, it is wonderful
Wonderful to me

I think of his hands, pierced and bleeding to pay my debt
Such mercy, such love and devotion can I forget?
No, no, I will praise and adore at the mercy seat
Until at the glorified throne I kneel at his feet

I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me
Secure in the promise of life in his victory
Thus ransomed from death I will live to my Savior's praise
And sing of his goodness and mercy through endless days

Saturday Gratitude

Good Morning Dear Readers!
This morning I sat here thinking about some of the things we take for granted-   vision, hearing, smell, taste, touch...



I can't smell things like other people. I don't smell the foul odor of the trash can, the dirty diaper, or even the fragrant smell of the roses. I can catch a whiff of the odors when I breath in through my mouth but it isn't the way other people smell. I cannot walk in a room and have aroma's make memory impressions. I have to concentrate to be able to smell and even then I will miss many aroma's. It can have advantages, but then it also has disadvantages...

How many of us have all our limbs? We just automatically take for granted that we have 2 hands and 2 feet.

So today I really want to concentrate on being grateful for all my parts, all my senses, that on a day to day basis I take for granted.

Hair- I have curly long hair and I really like my long curly hair. I take for granted that I am able to grow my hair, I complain at times about the curls, but man it is awesome to have long curly hair.

Brain- so mine doesn't always work right. Something about neurotransmitters not firing right. BUT! It really does most of what it is suppose to do. I see a keyboard and my brain transmits that information from my eyes to my fingers so that I am typing right now. Hey for some folks that gets screwed up and doesn't work so be grateful!

I also am grateful for my mental illness. For most of my life I have either ignored it or felt like it wasn't fair. Today I am able to say "Thank You Lord for giving me this affliction." It hasn't been easy, I have done some really stupid things because of it, I have had consequences that were horrifying yet through it all it has made me who I am and although still a work in progress, still changing every day I am pretty happy with who I am and where I am going.

Eyes- oh how awesome is it to watch a sunrise!!!! To see your children! To behold all the beauty the world has for us. To be able read, to be able to watch a show, so many things we do with our eyes each and every day. Think you don't? Go blindfolded for a day... THANK YOU GOD I CAN SEE!

Taste- oh how marvelous is that rich creamy chocolate pie? Those fresh from the plant fat red juicy strawberries? What about that strong cup of morning coffee? Oh how wonderful to be able to taste so many things! And that we live in a time and place where those things are available!!!!

Touch... nothing in the world can quite compare to the soft touch of flannel jammies, wrapped in a fuzzy blanket cuddling with your favorite 4 year old... all of that requiring your sense of touch to truly enjoy.

My arms and legs, hands and feet, oh how amazing are each of these! I get to go for walks, climb a hill, run a race, swim a river... oh God has indeed given me just what I need...

I am truly grateful for all my parts and all that they do!

The Word!

Good Morning Readers! Today I thought I would do a little something different~ You see God has given us His Word to guide us while we are on earth, living this life. So today I thought I would share some of my favorite scriptures. The ones that bring me hope during dark times, the ones that make my spirit soar in good times. The ones that remind me who I am and what is to become of me. I hope you enjoy.

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

John 3:16 
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Isaiah 55:12 
You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands

Psalm 40:5 
Many, LORD my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.

Psalm 36:7 
How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

Job 5:9 
He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.

Isaiah 25:1 
LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.

Psalm 139:14 
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Psalm 40:17 
But as for me, I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; you are my God, do not delay.

1 John 4:12 
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

1 John 4:18 
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Matthew 6:14
 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

Matthew 7:7 
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

John 3:36 
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on them

There are SO many more!!! But I need to get my morning moving along so that is all I am going to share today. I pray that at least one of these touched your heart and drew you closer to God.

Rise and Shine!

Good Morning Friends and Family! God has graced us with another amazing day! The sun is rising, I love sunrise! There is something awesome about watching the sun come up over the mountain tops, to watch the colors of the sky change from that midnight blue to have those shades of pink and orange as the sky becomes lighter and lighter.

Today's Gratitude List

1. Father God
2. Christ
3. Holy Spirit
4. The Word of God
5. Sunrises
6. Singing birds
7. Warm house on crisp cool mornings
8. Snuggling babies
9. Internet (so many people I love live out there on the world wide web <3 li="">
10. Soft fuzzy blankies
11. Coffee (_)o
12. Lights that turn on by a flip of a switch (love that I don't have to go outside at 5am to get the generator started so we can have electricity in the house for a few hours)
13. Water that comes out just by turning a faucet (Don't have to fill a water tower while it is freezing outside!)
14. Friends who pray!
15. LIFE!!!!!

I am excited for another new day. Although God seems to be taking His time resolving my hot water issue, I know He is up to something. It is tough sometimes to just wait on the Lord. But I am really working on the patience God requires of me to wait and take the steps He directs me to take. $1,200 is a lot of money and it is repercussions of bad choices. Yet I am confident God will provide a way where the seems no way... because that is just the nature of God!

Today- 25 things that bring me joy

1. GOD!
2. Jesus!
3. The Holy Spirit!
4. The Bible!
5. FAMILY! (those by blood, those in Christ, and those in heart)
6. Friends!
7. LOVE!
8. Rain
9. Spring
10. LILACS! (my very favorite flower)
11. Roses
12. Cherry Blossoms
13. Daffodil's (and I will always hear my Mommy's voice calling them Daff-a-dum-dillies when I see them)
14. Lavender
15. RAINBOWS!
16. Running Water
17. Electricity
18. A Home
19. Internet
20. My Computer
21. Good Books 
22. SINGING! 
23. Music
24. SNOW!
25. Coffee (_)o

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." (1 John 4:18)

I got it! God's love! Jesus's love! My Family! My Church Family! My Friends! Love OVERFLOWING!!!!!

1. Rain in due season (Lev. 26:4)

2. Fruitful land (Lev. 26:4)

3. Fruitful trees (Lev. 26:4)

4. Abundance—vintage crops (Lev. 26:5)

5. Plenty of bread to eat (Lev. 26:5)

6. Safety (Lev. 26:5)

7. Peace in the land (Lev. 26:6)

8. No fear of enemies (Lev. 26:6)

9. Evil beast will not be a threat (Lev. 26:6)

10. The sword of enemies will not be a threat (Lev. 26:6)

11. Victory over enemies (Lev. 26:7)

12. Old things will pass away and newness will replace it (Lev. 26:8)

13. Fertility (Lev. 26:9)

14. God's presence (Lev. 26:11)

15. God's favor (Lev. 26:12)

May the presence of the Lord be with you wherever you go. In this way, may people know you have found favor in the sight of the Lord. The presence of God is what distinguishes you from all the other peoples on earth. May the Lord put His words in your mouth and may He cover you with the shadow of His hand.

Awww... neglected

I feel bad~ I have so neglected my gratitude blog. I have made lists and been thankful just haven't taken the time to write <3
Life is AMAZING! And I am ever so blessed! It would take me all day and I still wouldn't be able to list all the blessings in my life! God is good to me <3

PRAISE GOD!

I woke up this morning and my heart is so full of thankfulness to my God! He has blessed my life in ways that I could never have imagined! I am in awe at all the Lord has done for me <3 I just want to shout praise to the King, to let Him know that I love Him more than anything else. To let Him know how grateful I am for the things He has done to make my life here on earth better.

It seems every day I pray, I have my little "wish list" of things I want the Lord to move on in my life (my children's salvation, getting us out of this place we live in and to a real home, healings, etc ) and although I am always thankful for that Lord has already dopne for me, sometimes while I am talking to Him I forget to tell Him. So today, instead of a wish list, I want to spend my day in praise of the Lord for all I do have in my life. So much has been given to me and I know the Lord has more that He is going to give me and so today I just want to LOVE on my God to let Him know how much I appreciate Him in my Life!

Thanks Giving November Days 1-7

Day One
Tuesday November 1, 2011

Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us
 
Day Two 
Wednesday November 2, 2011


1 Peter 3:7
Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

Thankful Today God gave me a husband who follows His word!

Day 3
Thursday November 3, 2011


Psalm 127:3
See, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

I am Grateful for my amazing children! The fruit of my womb Robert, Eugene, Joshua, Katie, Elizabeth, Allen, and Blaine and the fruit of my heart Nicole and Brandon ♥

Day Four

Friday November 4, 2012

Colossians 3:12-14
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

Today I am ever so grateful for the AMAZING people God has placed in my life to teach me these things! Through friends and family God has blessed me with I am being taught how to be one of God's chosen ones!

Day 5

Novemeber 5, 2011

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

I am THANKFUL that even in the midst of things I do not understand, I have the promise of the Lord that it is His plan to give me a hope, a future, and to prosper me

Day 6

Novemeber 6, 2011

Psalm 96:11-12
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it. Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy.

This morning I am grateful for the world around me and the way it glorifies the Lord! When I watch the sunrise, birds singing in the trees, when I hear the wind rushing by, when the river babbles as it moves along~ all of these remind me of the magnificent gift the Lord has given me in the world around me!

Day 7


November 7, 2011

Today I am grateful that my husband reads his bible and that he knows HeBrews *giggle* I really am grateful that my husbands makes the coffee every morning and even brings me coffee in bed. I really enjoy it and appreciate it and am thankful.

Sunshine, Flutterflies, and Singing Birds

I am sitting here today, the sun shining through the window warming me~ I feel like a lazy cat. Wanting to stretch out and lay in the sunbeams, soaking it in, and enjoying some quite time. Feeling the sun on my face~ I wonder if that is what a kiss from the Lord would feel like. The light so bright you have to close your eyes and you feel the warmth on your skin... ah yes... Today I am grateful for the sunshine.

Flutterflies (otherwise known as Butterflies) they bring a smile to my son's face. He is so excited about them. He told me once they were angels. Flutterly season is about over but today I am grateful for them and the smiles they give my son.

Singing birds! Oh how amazing. As autumn sets in, the days grow shorter, the nights longer, the birds are leaving and we aren't hearing their songs. But this morning I heard them singing and remembered how grateful I am for the songs they sing to me from the Lord...

Sunshine, Flutterflies, and singing birds are among the many things I am grateful for today! God is so good to me and there is such an amazing variety of things in life that I am blessed by! I know that God showers these blessings on the unbeliever too... but OH let me tell you because of my relationship with God, I am able to SEE the blessings and appreciate all that the Lord has given me. I am able to enjoy these blessings, not take them for granted and PRAISE God for each and every little thing and Great Big thing as well!

Wisdom

James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.


Praise God that we are able to ASK God and be given wisdom! I thank the Lord for this!

Going Around that Mountain for 40 years....

This morning during prayer time I realized just how ungrateful I can be...
God has blessed me so very much and som eof His blessings are TRUE miracles, yet there are times, while I am receiving the blessing, I am complaining.

It made me think of the Isrealites~ there they were out in the middle of nowhere and God was providing Manna from heaven and they complained.

I had to ask the Lord for forgiveness this morning because I have complained about the Manna God has provided. I do not want to do that. I want to shout PRAISE for everything the Lord gives me. I want to be sure that WHATEVER happens in my life, God gets the Glory! How can I be in the presence of the Lord and complain one iota about anything in my life? II feel as though I have slapped my God, my Father in heaven, in the face because I complained...

So today I am going to give praise for exactly where I am in my life at this very moment. I am going to say "To God ALL the Glory for every great and perfect Gift I have been given." Without the Lord I would have nothing. He showers the blessings on my life~ today I am ever grateful for what He has done!

Praise!!!!

Good Morning Dear Readers!!!!

What a beautiful day it is!!! This morning I realized just how amazing it is that we live in this time, in this place, where we are able to praise our Lord without fear. Others before us, others in other places, and perhaps even those here in this place that come later, they worship in secret to preserve their lives. When they share their faith, they risk their own lives. It is one of the things I am ever so grateful for. Because for several years I was wishy washy in my faith and had I not had that freedom to praise, I would have failed to be saved. But because of God's Grace, He brought me into this world in a time and place where I could become the fullest He wants me to be because of the freedoms we have.

I can turn on a radio and find worship music, I can turn on the tv and find someone preaching His word, I can step out my door and share what I have in my heart from the Lord~ YES LORD I am grateful for being born when and where I was so that I could come into a personal relationship with You and go and share it with all the world!

Faith Gratitude

This morning I am ever so blessed and ever so grateful to our Lord for the measure of faith He has given me! It is enough to bring victory over anything the world can throw at me! Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)

Thank You Lord for allowing my heart to hear Your Word so that I have the faith of that mustard seed.

morning praise

Oh Father in Heaven! I fill the air this morning with praises ~ shouting loudly my gratitude to my Lord who makes all things possible!!!!  Oh Lord thank you for all you have given us, but Lord thank you the most for Your Grace that You have granted each of us who confess You are God and accept Your son Jesus Christ into our lives as the blood sacrafice for our sins and brings us into relationship with You!

Living in Grace

God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:8

I am so grateful that I live under grace!

PRAISE the LORD!

Gratitude? I am full to the brim this morning!!! God is so awesome and His blessings are so Over the Top!!! This past weekend I was blessed to attend the Women of Faith Conference in Sacramento... Oh what an awesome time! God's presence was felt by all 10,000+ of us that attended! Many accepted Christ into their lives for the first time~ including my daughter!!!!

I don't know what God has planned for my future... but I can tell you I am EXCITED to have Him guide me through to where He wants me to be!!!

Gratitude Today

I am going to be blessed beyond what I could imagine this coming weekend! Praise the Lord for making the path for me to be able to embark on this most amazing adventure! I will be going to the Sacramento Women of Faith Conference.,.. Listening to some awesome men and women sharing their testimonies with us, sharing what God has lead them to share, worship music that fills hearts and fellowship with friends and strangers and all part of the family of Christ. Today my heart is so full of gratitude to the people who have made this trip possible and to the people who have encouraged me to attend, and to the Lord for bringing all these people into my life!

A little whine...

This morning I decided that I wanted to do some major housework and changing things around. As I looked around at what I wanted and needed to get done I had a moment of feeling sorry for myself. A little whine that it is a lot to get done and that I have to do it all by myself with the little ones needing attention too. Just one of those feel sorry for myself moments.

THEN....

Reality came crashing in!

How blessed am I that I have a home that needs to be cleaned? How blessed am I that I have furniture that needs to be rearrainged? How blessed am I that I have too much stuff and need to give some things away? How blessed am I that we have a stack of dirty dishes already this morning, even though all were washed last night? How blessed am I that I have carpets that need vacuuming?

So instead of a little whine, I am going to give a little praise that i have all this to do today! The to do list is evidence of all the blessings in my life!!!

Gratitude

When was the last time you remembered to be thankful for indoor plumbing? As the U.S. spins out of control morally and socially we forget that we were so blessed as a country. Go to other countries and they do not have near the ammenities that we have come to expect. Even the poorest among us in America have expectations for indoor plumping, electricity, and all that sort of thing.

Even the breath we take is a gift from God and yet we take it for granted.

American people call abominations "alternatives", bad behavior is justified, sometimes even glorified. It just makes me sad that as a collective group we have fallen so far from the teachings of our founding fathers, from the bases of the Bible which this country was based...

Philippians 4:8

I am so grateful that God has granted me the ability to be able to focus my thoughts on the good in life! It is one of those things we oft forget to be grateful for.  There are times when I wish the Lord hadn't given me free will but then other times I am ever so grateful for it. Because of my free will I am able to be grateful for all the Lord has done even in the face of adversity.

Dear God,
Please help me to adjust my life to you. I pray for wisdom and boldness to do what is right. Show me the way, whether I need to change jobs, make new friends, break bad habits, or whatever the case. Make me aware of how I need to change and adjust, so that I will be pleasing to you and will receive the blessings you have in store for me. May you be glorified in all I do.
With thanksgiving and praise,
Amen

Giving Praise

The last couple of days I have heard from several different sources about giving praise instead of complaints. I truly do try to keep an attitude of gratitude and try to seek the good in even the worst situations. But what about the mundane same ol same ol situations? Getting the kids up for school, every single morning it is a battle. A battle that usually has me being angry and the girls going off to school in an unpleasant mood because I have been yelling at them. In what ways can I change my attitude to gratitude instead of anger and frustration?

Thoughts...

2 Corinthians 10:5
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Today I am so grateful to the Lord for giving me the tools to take my thoughts captive for giving me the ability to think about things that build up other people and the lives of those around me. God is so good to me. It is with awe that I look at how He has designed each of us to truly be grateful, to praise, to Love...

BEAUTIFUL WEDNESDAY!

Gratitude
Today I am especially grateful for the amazing people that the Lord puts in my life!!!! My life is in a period of transition and it amazes me how the Lord brings people in and takes people out of our lives according to His plan for our transformation. He knows exactly who we need in or out of our lives to complete the work He has begun in us.

Once upon a time the loss of a friendship would have been devistating. Today, I can see that the loss of friend means that God is making room for something awesome in my life! 2009 was a year when God stripped me of all that was familare, all that I turned to in times of need, and took me out of my comfort zone. Although i began to rebuild my life almost immediately, it wasn't until the past few days that I realized exactly where God was leading me. Through all the loss of 2009 God made room in my life for some amazing changes and amazing people. People and changes that wouldn't have come into my life without all the loss.

Then the loss of a friend, a friend I really cared about. Then I realized, as if God were talking to me right there in person, this person was not part of God's plan. The person had been there in my life as part of my transition. This doesn't mean I stop loving the person or caring for them... it just means that our time of being together is over. I learned a lot about myself through this friendship. Realized some issues that I need God to deliver me from. Came to understand that for some people, there are such deep rooted issues that until they seek God to deliver them in earnest, they will stay the same living in the same cycle on the same merry-go-round and never understand why their view never changes.

Today it is with a grateful heart that I praise God for delivering me from that and bringing me to where I am on this day in the presence of the Lord and on the verge of blossoming into a new life prepared for me by my Heavenly Father to do the work He has for me to do!!!!

Little Things

How often do we remember to be grateful for those little things? Butterflies that dance in the air on a warm afternoon, lightning bugs shining their light in the cool summer evening night, the soft sound of the breeze drifting through the trees, a wild flower blossoming in a crack in the walkway... there are so many little things we see each and every day, little things that bring a smile, gladden a heart, make a memory and we forget to say "Lord Thank-You" after all it really isn't that big of a deal. Not like getting that grand job you wanted or buying that big old house or driving that fancy car. But all those little things really are what makes it all worth while....

Thoughts on Gratitude

This morning feeling gratitude is a little odd~ like I know I am grateful but there is something in the joy of gratitude missing. I prefer the gratitude that is joyful, full of hope, full of life. I know I am grateful for my children~ I love them more than life itself. They are awesome and amazing little people. Yet all the crying and fussing has me wanting a break and feeling aggitated. I don't love them any less, I am not any less grateful for them in my life, I am just missing the joy of them...

Gratitude Today!

How blessed am I to have a home! Dirty dishes, dirty clothes, see that mess all over the floor? I can't get upset because it means my family is here. How blessed am I!

All these things in my life, those daily things we don't think much about, oh how blessed am I~ there are families everywhere that don't have a home, that don't have enough food, that don't have clothes, that go without even the most basics in life. There are families who aren't together. I am blessed!

Gratitude for Wednesday September 14th

Yesterday was an interesting day... and because of it I really grew closer to my Lord. Today I am so grateful that God has brought me to a place where I can recognize unhealthy relationships and that He is getting me to a place where those unhealthy relationships will never even have a chance to grow. Praise God for bring the people into my life who are teaching me and Praise God for taking the people out of my life who are teaching me.

It was interesting, I had a chance to medititate on Luke 16:15 "He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight."

God knows our hearts. Not our justifications of action or inaction but the true motives we hold, motives that we may not even be aware of (take note of Jeremiah 17:9 where it is said "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" also Mark 7:21 & 22, Ecclesiastes 9:3 and the list goes on) I realized that we often lie to ourselves about toxic relationships, about our own toxitity in the relationship. We justify ourselves by man's standards not God's.

Today I am grateful God is still teaching me, leading me, to where He wants me to be!

LIFE!

John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

How awesome is it to know that Jesus came to give us a full, abundant life! Today I am grateful for Jesus and what He did on Calvery and that because of His sacrafice I am given an abundant life, that all my sickness are healed by the power of the Lord Jesus Christ and that my life is blessed beyond all measure~ I have a personal relationship with God becuase of Jesus. I have the endwelling of the Holy Spirit because of Jesus Christ. I have miracles daily in my life because of Jesus Christ. Truly all that I have is from God and available to me in the full because of Jesus.

Oh yes, John Doe down the street may have a bigger house, a faster car, and more money to spend but he doesn't have it to the full! It brings with it worry and anxiety. My life is free of these, I do not have to worry about anything because I am confident that the Lord will provide all my needs and I do not need that big house, that fast car or that bank account. I have what I need for today and my abundance comes from the things of the heart, the things of love, of things I store in heaven not on earth.

God is GOOD to me!

Happy Wednesday!

Have you thought about being grateful for each and every day? I got to thinking about how so many of us wish away days of our lives wanting it to be a different day. Wednesday's most folks are wishing away Thursday so it can be Friday. I am grateful for each and everyday and all that day has to bring. While I look forward to a lot of different things happening in the future, I pray that I never again wish away another day...

"Princess" Daughter of the King!

Today's Gratitude List:
I sat reading some Bible Verses this morning and realized just how amazingly blessed my life is! I am a Princess, Daughter of the Heavenly King. I am a joint heir with Christ to the Kingdom of God. I have been justified, completely forgiven and made righteous. Fully accepted by Christ Jesus free from all condemnation. I have direct access to God the Father through Holy Spirit who is always with me. I am able to approach God with boldeness, freedom and confidence! I have been given a spirit of power love and self disciplin. God has given me exceedingly great and precious promises and because of this I am a partaker of God's divine nature.The Holy Spirit empowers me to live the Christian life! How awesome is all of that! Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.


Praise The Father!!!!