Showing posts with label gratitude. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gratitude. Show all posts

Monday, November 26, 2012

Simple Gifts

'Tis a gift to be simple,
'Tis a gift to be free,
'Tis a gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
It will be in the valley of love and delight.


Our family is really trying to simplify our stuff this year and part of that is not adding more.  Initially that made us think that we should not add anything.  Just experiences...  Aunt C pointed out a simple idea that she had seen on Pinterest.

  • something they WANT
  • something they NEED
  • something to WEAR
  • something to READ
And possibly:
  • something to WATCH
  • something for DRESS UP
  • something to LISTEN TO
  • something to EAT
  • something to CREATE 

So, since half the family still wasn't sure about the no gift idea, we decided to try it.  We assigned (they chose) a single category for each relative and they will find a single gift for each of our three kids in that category.


Saturday, May 12, 2012

Blessed Beyond Measure

The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.

Just wanted to share some ways that I have been abundantly blessed.  It is good to keep track of these things you know!!  Then when you do go through the "valley of the shadow of death", you can remember! (starting with some little things, that are still fun to record)

~  My mom acknowledged that, yes, my hair is getting more curly, and she even took a picture!  (my mom and sister both have wavy/curly hair, and mine has always been pretty straight, but theirs started out that way to, so it is a dream come true...partially)

~  Our extended family loves God, loves family, and loves our girls enough to want to care for them over the weekend and take them to see their great-grandparents!

~  I met a sweet lady last night who was passionate about African Violets.  Can others see my passion?  Do they know by just one meeting that I love God, and love and care for my family, my friends...?

~  I made a connection at the local Red Mango and my gluten free months were helpful...I think to her daughter's newly diagnosed gluten intolerance.  And they stayed open late when my friends and I walked in at a few minutes to closing time.  Thanks!  (another past helpful but painful experience)

~  My husband got a raise.  Wow.  So, what to do with our excess now...
              - side notes:  Have you heard of the book 7 experimental mutiny against excess by Jen Hatmaker?   Very thought provoking.
              - a family we know is planning on leaving to re-enter the mission field with Wycliff Bible Translators, they plan to leave soon (2 weeks) and don't have all their funds...which in this case means they can't go...I think that is what I heard.  Their last name is Voss, you can search for them here.  

~  SUNSHINE!

~  Just emailed a new/old acquaintance, soon to be great friend, I am sure, just to see if we could get together and if she liked to sew.  She does!!  So, thankful for friends that sew and kids that nap.  It is a great combination!  

~  I guess I could go on and on, but ... I have some dishes to wash so the ants don't come back in full force.  They were gone for a week or so, and then...here they come, one by one...

Monday, September 19, 2011

Gratitude

  • A wonderful husband who takes such good care of me when I am very ill.
  • Two lovely daughters that are relaxing with their mama before temporary daycare begins again tomorrow, they were especially helpful by taking a two hour nap with me this morning!
  • Left-over anti-nausea medicine from previous ER visit to keep me out of the ER two more times!
  • Doctors that understand that if it has helped three times in the past nine months it may help in the future...thus giving me a prescription with refills.
  • Doctors in general!!
  • Good medical coverage!!
  • A friend who knows how to check the furnace we thought was broken...no longer broke, and not needed with the change back to summer weather again.
  • The thought of having my mom's homemade chicken soup the next time we visit her...at my request...when I couldn't think of eating anything else, that made me want to get to her house right away! Mmm, mmm good!
  • Lovely friends - we dropped the kids off at their house for a doctor's appointment and they fed them supper and didn't mind that the doctor's visit took so much longer because I needed IV fluids. Kevin says as we were driving towards the doctor's office, "Everyone should have a R.'s family in their life!" I thought, "I hope we are that family to someone!"
  • A flexible friend, willing to find alternate daycare for a temporarily weakened daycare lady.
  • Windows open to hear the outdoor noises of fall.
  • The bank statement in the mail today so I can toss the excess receipts we've had around here.
  • Energy to do little bits of tidying.
  • Our first homestudy visit tomorrow night. Glad they don't grade us on dust or toy dispersion or piles of laundry that will probably still be around.
  • Health.
  • Strength.
  • Daily food.
  • Music.
  • Praise.
  • Laughter.
  • A little time for some girly movie watching.
  • Girls chattering during naptime...probably because they slept this morning already...Are they thinking, "At least we have each other."
    holy experience