Since starting to count my blessings, I don't think I have ever gone four days without jotting something down... But as I am learning, the blessings abounded, even as the days spun past...
Friday...
218. Finishing week 3 of school
219. Having friends over to play and share lunch before they go back to Maryland
220. Cinnamon, the poodle, not limping anymore
221. Chasing rabbits, again, and catching them
222. Helping a friend make a cute headband for the high schoolers going to camp this week
223. Dinner with dear friends, and for laughing at their impersonation of the baby lizards they are raising
224. Kids who enjoy sharing time with adults
Saturday...
225. Spending the day with E's parents on his mom's birtday
226. Giving a haircut and shave to James, my father-in-law battling brain cancer
227. Watching my children cherish the time they have with their grandparents
228. Homemade pizza
229. Pineapple Upside Down Cake
230. Squishing onto the couch to cheer Team USA on in swimming and gymnastics
231. Getting to bed early before church
Sunday...
232. Cuddling sweet babies in the church nursery
233. Getting to sing silly songs to the little ones and watch them smile
234. Serving in ministry with friends who love the Lord
235. Grocery shopping alone in the afternoon
236. Greek yogurt for a snack
237. Choir practice before evening service (I love making a joyful noise unto the Lord!)
238. Starting to organize a Homeschool Choir with friends from church
Monday...
239. Sharing breakfast with our Maryland friends heading home this week
240. Watching a movie in the afternoon
241. Catching up with two friends who called in the afternoon
242. Sharing a "John the Baptist" lunch with the kids (fruit, nuts, yogurt)
243. Reading the Bible right when I woke up, and for God's grace in rekindling my desire to be in His Word
244. Meeting with our builder to go over house plans and totally rearranging everything
245. Going to bed before midnight
... and the blessings rain down...
Monday, July 30, 2012
Every four years...
I am not a huge fan of television. When I do turn it on, I feel like I spent more than half my time covering my eyes and waiting for undesirable commercials to pass than I do watching whatever it was I turned it on for. We don't really keep up with sports either, I never know what sport is even playing until the unavoidable hype of the finals arrives.
But every four years, there is something about the Olympics... Maybe it is remembering how I learned how to do a front handspring in my front yard after wishing I could be Mary Lou doing the floor exercise in gymnastics. Or was it my courage to try a flip off of the diving board at my neighborhood pool after watching the amazing (yet dizzying) dives from the high board... Being inspired to swim harder at my next team practice, and wondering, "could I ever be good enough for the Olympics?" In high school, I remember being glued to the TV watching Women's Volleyball, trying to improve my game by observing the best of the best in the world, thinking "Maybe that could be me..."
As an adult, I still love the games, though all illusions of being an Olympian have passed. I recognize what a sacrifice those families made to see their child rise to that level of competition; the hours of practice, the monetary sacrifice, the giving away of childhood simplicity in exchange for that hope of glory. The next two weeks I imagine the kids and I will cuddle up to watch the athletes try to secure gold medals for Team USA. I hope the children become inspired by the stories of the athletes, their drive and determination and relentless hard work. We've already had conversations about pride and humility, sacrifice and courage. I have enjoyed having a good reason to turn on the TV, even if it only comes once every four years.
But every four years, there is something about the Olympics... Maybe it is remembering how I learned how to do a front handspring in my front yard after wishing I could be Mary Lou doing the floor exercise in gymnastics. Or was it my courage to try a flip off of the diving board at my neighborhood pool after watching the amazing (yet dizzying) dives from the high board... Being inspired to swim harder at my next team practice, and wondering, "could I ever be good enough for the Olympics?" In high school, I remember being glued to the TV watching Women's Volleyball, trying to improve my game by observing the best of the best in the world, thinking "Maybe that could be me..."
As an adult, I still love the games, though all illusions of being an Olympian have passed. I recognize what a sacrifice those families made to see their child rise to that level of competition; the hours of practice, the monetary sacrifice, the giving away of childhood simplicity in exchange for that hope of glory. The next two weeks I imagine the kids and I will cuddle up to watch the athletes try to secure gold medals for Team USA. I hope the children become inspired by the stories of the athletes, their drive and determination and relentless hard work. We've already had conversations about pride and humility, sacrifice and courage. I have enjoyed having a good reason to turn on the TV, even if it only comes once every four years.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
When I don't understand...
... I can rest in knowing that God does.
Isaiah 55:8-9
For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9
For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.
Even in trials...
One of our puppies got hurt today, we are not sure if it was while he was chasing after the rabbits who escaped, or if it was when the youngest dropped him in the kitchen...
A friend who lives overseas kept me updated on some emergency surgery her child was having...
Another friend just got some hard to hear news about her youngest child and his medically uncertain future...
And yet, in it all, God is God and He is using these things. From the mundane to the tragic, He has orchestrated each of these events to teach us more about Him, to conform us into the image of Christ, His Son. And all the while, through the sorrows and the joys He is revealing how He is sending blessing in the everyday things around us, if only we will take notice...
211. Fresh fruits and veggies to enjoy at every meal
212. Being able to trust the Lord no matter the circumstances
213. Laughter with friends
214. Snickers dip with Granny Smith apples
215. Praying for friends who are dealing with medical emergencies
216. Repentance, and God's mercy shown through little children
217. Clean laundry piling up in the red chair in my living room
A friend who lives overseas kept me updated on some emergency surgery her child was having...
Another friend just got some hard to hear news about her youngest child and his medically uncertain future...
And yet, in it all, God is God and He is using these things. From the mundane to the tragic, He has orchestrated each of these events to teach us more about Him, to conform us into the image of Christ, His Son. And all the while, through the sorrows and the joys He is revealing how He is sending blessing in the everyday things around us, if only we will take notice...
211. Fresh fruits and veggies to enjoy at every meal
212. Being able to trust the Lord no matter the circumstances
213. Laughter with friends
214. Snickers dip with Granny Smith apples
215. Praying for friends who are dealing with medical emergencies
216. Repentance, and God's mercy shown through little children
217. Clean laundry piling up in the red chair in my living room
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Awesome day...
204. Getting some great deals on a lot of wonderful fresh fruits and veggies thanks to an early morning trip to Sprouts on "Double Ad Wednesday"
205. A child thanking me for correcting their school work with a sweet attitude
206. Children content with a simple lunch of fruit and nuts (our "John the Baptist" lunch)
207. Excitement and anticipation about my Fall schedule for kids' art classes I host at my house
208. A long FaceTime call with a friend in VA, and praying for her as she and her sisters leave for a missions trip to Africa next week
209. Coffee to sip throughout the afternoon as we read Johnny Tremain aloud
210. Watching the "Loopy Project" pile grow as the children save up potholders to make place mats for each other
205. A child thanking me for correcting their school work with a sweet attitude
206. Children content with a simple lunch of fruit and nuts (our "John the Baptist" lunch)
207. Excitement and anticipation about my Fall schedule for kids' art classes I host at my house
208. A long FaceTime call with a friend in VA, and praying for her as she and her sisters leave for a missions trip to Africa next week
209. Coffee to sip throughout the afternoon as we read Johnny Tremain aloud
210. Watching the "Loopy Project" pile grow as the children save up potholders to make place mats for each other
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Seven more things...
197. The napless boy-wonder falling asleep flat on his face in the middle of the living room at 5pm
198. Helping a friend with scheduling for the nursery, only to be inspired to work on the schedule for the media team (You know I like making charts, right?)
199. Praying for a friend ministering to young ladies
200. Two happy dogs who love to cuddle and play
201. Already having the children's homework checked before bed
202. Chocolate with nuts and marshmallow homemade candy (also known around here as "Rocky Road")
203. God's Word, a balm for the hurting and a comfort to the weary
198. Helping a friend with scheduling for the nursery, only to be inspired to work on the schedule for the media team (You know I like making charts, right?)
199. Praying for a friend ministering to young ladies
200. Two happy dogs who love to cuddle and play
201. Already having the children's homework checked before bed
202. Chocolate with nuts and marshmallow homemade candy (also known around here as "Rocky Road")
203. God's Word, a balm for the hurting and a comfort to the weary
Late night chats...
190. An afternoon with a friend, sharing life - both the fun and the struggles and pain - encouraging one another with God's perfect and true Word
191. Dinner out with my family, for healthy appetites
192. Children happily working on school work, even on disjointed, running behind days
193. Finding cute backpacks for the kids that weren't covered in cartoon characters, peace signs or skulls
194. Knowing that I can trust God with all things, big and small, happy and sorrowful, now and forever
195. Being rewarded with a free coffee after patiently waiting an hour for the espresso machine to be fixed at my neighborhood Starbucks
196. The richness of fellowship with like-minded believers and being reminded that maturity in Christ has less to do with age and more to do with intensely seeking to please to the Lord in every area of my life
... twenty-eight days of counting my blessings... and fifteen days of daily being in the Word of God... more things to be thankful for...
191. Dinner out with my family, for healthy appetites
192. Children happily working on school work, even on disjointed, running behind days
193. Finding cute backpacks for the kids that weren't covered in cartoon characters, peace signs or skulls
194. Knowing that I can trust God with all things, big and small, happy and sorrowful, now and forever
195. Being rewarded with a free coffee after patiently waiting an hour for the espresso machine to be fixed at my neighborhood Starbucks
196. The richness of fellowship with like-minded believers and being reminded that maturity in Christ has less to do with age and more to do with intensely seeking to please to the Lord in every area of my life
... twenty-eight days of counting my blessings... and fifteen days of daily being in the Word of God... more things to be thankful for...
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