Scrapbooking Until it Hurts

Today, I stayed home and scrapbooked to my heart's content - or rather, until my hands hurt, my eyes started blurring, and I ran out of tape - amazing how it all happened at the same time. :)

448.  I am thankful to have had a day, pretty much to myself, without anywhere to go, no one to see, and nothing else to do. OK, I really should have cleaned house, but I played "hooky" instead! I looked through pictures, tried to remember names of people from six years ago (my memory is not so good, these days), and tried to come up with creative ways to display them in my scrapbook. Did I say I "played" today? I take it all back...This creating thing is hard WORK!

I am exhausted, and ready to relax on the couch with a good movie or a good book. Or, maybe I'll just enjoy watching the backs of my eyelids. =D

What a great day! I am blessed...

A REALLY old picture of me doing the limbo on a cruise we took BEFORE kids. I better start practicing...leaving in 3 weeks. YAHOO!

A Different Thanksgiving and Black Friday

This year, Craig and I spent Thanksgiving at the home of  friends and with their extended family. We were not the only "orphaned" family they took in this Thanksgiving.

My character and thankful attitude was challenged on several occasions - yet, I still praise His name!

440.  Failed pie crusts are just a cup of flour an a little shortening - thankful it's easy to start again, and thankful for the www. to figure out what went wrong! (I've made dozens of pies, so I was stumped!) Could it be the old, old flour?

441.  Pumpkin pie mix spewing out of the base of my blender splattering everything within a square foot area. I had checked the seal but failed to see the huge crack through the plastic blade mount. *sigh*  I guess it served me well for the last 25 years. I'm thankful it's easy and inexpensive to replace, and I now have something on my Christmas list. :)

442.  "Helping" Craig carry in our food, only to spill turkey juice down the front of me before we got to the house. Thankful that a little water and rag got it out, though it was a little sticky when it dried.

443.  Being unbelievably embarrassed in front of a roomful of people I had just met by something I had no control over. Nothing like a BIG dose of humility and being thankful to be an adult and not a teenager. Some day I'll get over it and may even be able to laugh about it.  :-/

444.  Thankful for gracious hosts and the opportunity to meet and get to know some new people.

445.  Thankful for phones and phone calls from my kids. And thankful they miss being with me- almost as much as I miss being with them.

446.  Calling our very best neighbors ever and having a long conversation to catch up. We'll never forget them even though they live across the country. It's still fun talking to them and we're so thankful for the impact they had on our young family.

447.  Spending the day scrapbooking and visiting with my sister, thankful I was not out navigating the crowded streets, parking lots, and stores. Just being with her is the BEST! (But I actually accomplished something, too.)

Sometimes, you don't appreciate things until you don't have them, anymore. I have always been thankful for my family, but never so aware of the void they fill as this Thanksgiving when we weren't able to be together.

This may shape future Thanksgivings...

With Thanksgiving

Giving Thanks with a Grateful Heart for:

421.  My God and Savior, Jesus Christ, without whom I'd have no hope in this world or for the next.

422.  My one and only husband of 25 years...and they said it would never last! Thankful for the adventure we're in.

423.  My "kids" excited to spend a few days together; excited to cook, and bake.

424.  Seeing my children grow up and what they are becoming. It's a blessing to see that them making some of our values their own.

425.  Seeing my children flourish where God  has placed them and knowing that even though they are so far away, they are right where God wants them and trusting Him to care for them.

426.  My Dad recovering from a mild stroke.

427.  The love and support of my family and extended family.
428.  Many happy memories of large family Thanksgiving gatherings.

429.  People who look out for my kids while they are so far from home.

430.  Blessed to have been able to stay at home and raise my children - the memories are precious, irreplaceable, and forever.

431.  Sitting under the teaching of a godly pastor for the last 4 1/2 years. 

432.  Old vehicles that are paid for and still get me to where I need to go. (And a husband that can figure out how to keep them running!)

433.  Learning to be content in all circumstances. 

My new job at the NEW GM - Who could ever imagine that I could get back into a career after 20 years of retirement AND back with that same company I started with 25 years ago?! 434.  Unbelievable in human terms, but predictably a "God thing".

435.  Awesome, helpful co-workers!(Thanks Jess and Joan for all the "training".)

436.  Financial provision to be able to help our kids pay for college so they won't graduate with a load of debt.

437.  Seeing people grow in their faith as they read, study, and "do-do" the Word.   :)

438.  Mentors and mentees who challenge me to live out my faith loudly, and encourage me in word and deed.

439.  Friends who open their homes and hearts to others.

Have a Blessed Thanksgiving!

Sending Dad "Butterfly Kisses"

420. Yesterday, Dad (Gramps) gave us a scare. I am thankful for my dad and so thankful we are a family that expresses it often and in many ways. We don't just wait for holidays or Hallmark Days to say, "I love you, Dad." or "I've been blessed to have you for my dad."

I remember the flood of tears that flowed the first time I heard this song - it reminded me of my relationship with my dad: 

You did lots of things right - I LOVE YOU, DAD!

Silver and Gold Friends

"Make new friends,
but keep the old.
One is silver,
the other is gold..."

Today, I'm thankful for the gifts of my Forever Friends, and for the Spirit that binds us!

These are the gifts I received yesterday:

416.  A Facebook message from a "golden" friend introducing me to another song with the same title as the one I posted. 

417.  A visit with a "golden friend", my "Bible study mentor. We can pick up just where we left off, a year and a half ago, we speak the same language, I love her heart. I am moved by her passion. I left with a knitted hearts dishcloth and a scrumptuous recipe I can't wait to try - Cupcake Bites - simply sinful! They are like chocolate truffles...Maybe I'll share the reciple. ;-)

418.  Walked four miles while talking with a silver friend. It was a beautiful fall day to enjoy together.

419  Spent the evening with a circle of silver friends. These are precious women I meet with every week to share what God is teaching each of us, to hold each other accountable to live according to His Word, to encourage each other to "hang in there", and keep the focus on the One who is able to do abundantly more than we could ever ask or imagine!

 

Why Go to Church?

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV)

These are a few of the blessings I received because I was in "church" yesterday-not in any particular order: 

410. Getting to hear a young man share his gift of music as he shared a piano solo during corporate worship. It is a huge encouragement to see families involved in worship, serving the Lord and His people together; their love for the Lord radiates and invigorates! 

411. Talking to a young gal who would like to learn to knit. (She is desperate, if she's asking me, but I would LOVE to spend time teaching her the little that I know.)  :)

412. Encouraging others and being encouraged to "fight the good fight, finish the race, keep the faith". 

413. Catching up with friends who have been traveling or recovering.

414. Getting lots of hugs. (We need 4 hugs a day for survival, 8 hugs a day for maintenance, and 12 hugs a day for growth. ~ Virginia Satir)

415. The blessing of being led in worship through the gift of song:

Amen!

Led with Stong Hands

409. This week I was blessed to listen to my husband's end of a difficult telephone conversation.  I came away praising God for the work He has done in my husband because I observed a godly (not perfect) man who has been transformed by the grace of God, speaking with great patience and restraint, love, and wisdom - Biblical wisdom.

There is nothing more appealing to me, a woman who loves the Lord, than to see my husband walking with Him, growing in Him, and leading under His authority.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV)

Lord,
I am in awe and forever grateful for your grace and mercy to us, who are lost and without hope in this world. Thank you for the change you've made in my life and in those most precious and dear to me.  Lead me in your way, everlasting!  Amen!

Sometimes It's the SimpleThings

These seemingly simple things are treasured gifts in the busyness of this life I now live.

399. Getting a full 8 hours of sound sleep - two nights in a row!
400. Being able to finally leave work on time.
401. The excitement of receiving vacation details and confirmation packets in the mail.
402. Relaxing, face to face (well, foot to foot) and talking with my hubby under the cozy cover of one of our wedding afghans, without any other distractions-no t.v., radio, projects...
403. An invitation to join another family's Thanksgiving dinner and celebration.
404. Washing floors and doing household chores while listening to an exciting Michigan Football game on the radio. Brought back lots of memories of my high school Saturdays on "the farm" in Fenton.
405. Working in the kitchen side by side with my mom, baking an apple pie from scratch as we caught up on life.
406. Watching my dad and hubby having some side-by-side time, sighting in firearms off the deck, and the look of pride on my dad's face as his first shot was reported a bullseye!
407. Enjoying leftovers with company - more like enjoying company while eating leftovers. No need to get fancy after a busy day of chores.
408. Corporate worship and the confirmation of the Lord's Word to me all week through song:



My Scripture memory for this week:
"Jesus said to her, 'Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'"(John 4:13-14 ESV)

Lord, I know you are more than enough - help me live like you are more than enough!

The Gift of Freedom

Blessings I'm counting today...

391.  Having the freedom to work out of my home.
392.  Getting a paid "Holiday" from work just to vote!
393.  Living in a country where I have the freedom, the right, the responsibility, and indeed the privilege to vote - to have my opinion count in the selection of the leadership of the greatest country in the world!
394.  Getting a tip from a friend about how to get coupons for Restaurant Deals and Discounts!
395.  Enjoying a leisurely lunch with a friend.
396.  An amazing dessert that isn't even chocolate! (And enough to feed four easily! A take home treasure.)
397.  A brisk walk in the brisk fall afternoon with a dear friend and her dog. I miss my Lucky. :-(
398.  Three calls from my daughter friend just to catch up on life. :) <3

I had to go to my archives to find this song, but it's been on my mind all day:

"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." (Romans 13:1 ESV)