Thankfulness--Day 30

Good Morning!

Today I am thinking of something that is a huge, very very big thing that I am thankful for--light! I love light, and God must too because He is the one who created it! Back on the fourth day of creation, way before He created us, God created light. Genesis 1:14-18 tells us that He used light to separate the day from the night, and to mark seasons, days and years. He also gave us a big light for the day, and a nice gentle night light--the moon--for at night.

With all of our inventions, today we have harnessed the power of light and we can have light 24/7. We have candle light, which is so lovely to look at and romantic to eat by. Christmas lights are popping up all over this time of year, bringing a cheerful glow. My desk has a nice florescent light over it that I was using late last night as I finished up some paperwork. Each room in our house has a light switch near the doorway that turns on an overhead light. Our wood stove not only gives off heat, but also has it's own soft light from the glowing fire. I have a trusty flash light that I keep near my bed if I need to get up during the night. Our cars have head lights on them so we can drive after dark. There are plant lights for growing plants inside. I even have a special therapy light that I sit in front of each morning, which aides with keeping depression away! We really need light!

Without light, we are in darkness. But there is something worse than physical darkness. Jesus said "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." John 12:46

Again, in John 8:12 He said "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

Sadly, we do not always want or appreciate the Light.

"This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil." John 3:19

Jesus is our light. And if we are His followers, we are to be a light to others--pointing them to Him. "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16

I pray that I may be a light to others--a strong light, never faltering, always guiding to Jesus. The Light that takes away our sin.

Today I am thankful for light. What are YOU thankful for?

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Thank you for joining me for these 30 days of Thankfulness. I pray that somehow you will have been blessed. I know pausing to consider what I am thankful for has been a blessing for me.

Thankfulness--Day 29

Good Morning!

Today I am thankful for----yes, I know. You can tell from my picture! Today I am thankful for my dog!

This is our dog Holland II, Holly for short. We have only had her for one week, but she has already wormed her way into my heart. Those of you who know our family, know that our son has cerebral palsy--and had a legal service dog for eleven years. That dog--Lauren--just passed away a year ago. It has been hard--VERY hard, not to have her. She was just such a part of our lives, especially since she WAS a service dog--and went with us literally everywhere. Losing Lauren was like losing a person. She just had more hair!

Anyway, when we lost Lauren, I asked my son if he wanted to apply for a successor service dog. With all the things that are going on at this point in his life, he decided not to apply for a service dog right now. He can always apply later, if he chooses to. Sooooo, when he made that decision, I decided to go ahead and apply for a released dog. This would be a dog who was born into the service dog program, but was released from the training for some reason. It could be for a medical problem, or any number of other training problems that prevent a dog from becoming a service dog. There are only around 35% of the dogs in the program who become service dogs, so you can see how they do need to find good homes for the others who do not pass. Our family has a good advantage in that we would understand how a released dog had been trained, and how it was used to living--with people, and lots of interaction. They are not used to being in the back yard all alone all day, as they were specifically in training to try and become a service dog.

Well, a couple weeks ago I received a phone call from a trainer at Canine Companions. My heart stood still. My brain could hardly understand what the trainer was telling me--that they had a released dog they thought would be a good match for our family. No serious health problems. She is simply a retriever who does not retrieve! Holly has no interest in bringing someone their keys, glasses, wallet, etc. Oh dear. That would NEVER work for a service dog--but a pet dog does not need to retrieve! I didn't know what I wanted to do. It had hurt so bad to lose Lauren. Did I dare open that door of my heart up again, knowing that in this world of sin at some point I would only lose the furry one I had grown to love? Even though I had applied for a released dog, over the months that had passed my heart had closed more and more firmly. If you do not love, you cannot be hurt. Or so we tell ourselves. . .

Then I saw her face in the picture the trainer e-mailed to me. Look at her eyes. Doesn't she look as if she is asking if you would love her? Would you be her family?

I cannot help but think of Psalm 37 when I think of Holly. It goes like this:

"Trust in the Lord and do good;

dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

Delight yourself in the Lord

and he will give you the desires of your heart."

verses 3 & 4

God knew that I needed a dog to love again, and He brought me Holly--a dog who needed to be loved.

We do not always get what we want here in this world of sin. Even when what we want is a good thing--it does not always come our way. But whether those desires of our heart are fulfilled here on earth, or later in heaven, the one thing we can know for sure is that God knows what those desires are.

And we can trust Him.

Today I am thankful for my dog. What are YOU thankful for?

Thankfulness--Day 28

Good Morning!

Today I am thankful for something that kind of goes right along with the water that I was thankful for yesterday--today I am thankful for soap!

We really take soap for granted in our country. We have all sorts of soap--special formulas for special applications. There is soap for washing hands--antibacterial if you would like. Then soap for washing hair. Soap for cleaning the shower. Soap for washing the floor. Soap for washing your clothes. Soap for washing your car. Soap for washing your dishes. Soap for babies and their delicate skin. I even have special soap for washing our dog!

But there is one soap that we do not have--even with the abundance of products we have at our stores. That is a soap for washing away sin. Even if I use the strongest product I have--bleach--no matter how hard I try, I cannot wash away the dirty stain of sin in my heart. There is nothing I can buy that will work on this stain.

"'Although you wash yourself with soda and use an abundance of soap, the stain of your guilt is still before me,' declares the Sovereign Lord." Jeremiah 2:22

There is only ONE special solution for a dirty heart, and that is the blood of Jesus.

"So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people, and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." Hebrews 9:28

Beautiful, wonderful Jesus. He who was without sin, took my ugliness upon Himself, and washed me pure. He took what I deserve, so I could have what He deserves.

Today I am thankful for soap! What are YOU thankful for?

Thankfulness--Day 27

Good Morning!

Today I am thankful for something that I start and end my day with--and use all throughout the day as well! Yes, I am thinking of water! Good, clean, cool water! How important it is, and how blessed I am to live in a country where clean water is abundant. We often think of food, and how we do not like to be hungry. But the fact is that water is of even more importance to our bodies than food is.

Over the weekend, we received in the mail "ADRA's Really Useful Gift Catalog." If you are not familiar with what this catalog is, go to their web site at www.giftcatalog.ADRA.org . ADRA stands for Adventist Development and Relief Agency, and is an internationally networked humanitarian agency that works in 120 countries. Every year, ADRA helps provide for urgent needs for more than 20 million people world wide.

Anyway, each holiday season our family eagerly awaits the coming of the "Really Useful Gift Catalog." We like to look through the catalog and choose some projects that we can donate to. Certainally large donations are helpful, but it is really amazing to look through the catalog and see what even a small amount can help with. There are a wide variety of projects that need funding, but I am always struck by how many of the projects are focusing on that one thing we so often take for granted--clean water! One of the projects I looked at this morning is to provide clean water in Nigeria. In the description it said that in Nigeria, it is the girls and women that must walk several miles each day carrying water for their families. Because of this, the girls do not have the opportunity to attend school, and the women are stopped from earning an income. Also, the health of everyone is at risk from cholera, dysentery, and typhoid that is found in the ground water. With our help in funding, ADRA wants to drill boreholes in Pamfura, Kujama, and Amuzu-Arungwa and install water reservoirs with tap points on each one. The cost for one borehole is $10,925--way more than I can afford! But it breaks down to only $5 per person. Could I not donate $5? This would help one mother like me. We have four people in our family--can we not donate $20? This would help another family like ourselves. . .

Water is so important. Jesus talked about water quite a bit. He even likened Himself to water. Remember the time He was sitting by a well and came into conversation with a Samaritan woman?

"Jesus answered her, 'If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.'" John 4:9-11

Jesus also likens us to water. . .

"Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them." John 7:37-39

Today I am thankful for water. What are YOU thankful for?

Thankfulness--Day 26

Good Afternoon!

Sorry I did not get to my thankfulness post this morning--I was busy helping company get breakfast and getting ready for church. But that does not mean I haven't been thinking about what I am thankful for today.

With having just celebrated Thanksgiving Day, and the Christmas season now "officially" starting, I am seeing more and more announcements for choir programs or sing-a-longs or other musical concerts that are coming up soon to help celebrate Christmas and Jesus coming to this earth.

I am not especially talented in music. I only play a tiny bit of piano, and an equally tiny bit of mountain dulcimer. But one musical instrument that I have always enjoyed that God gave to each one of us is our voice--we can all sing! (Yes, I know some will argue with me and say they "can't" sing--but I will argue right back and say that you CAN sing!) It does not matter if you carry a tune perfectly or not--singing is something you can do. Singing expresses someone's deepest feelings--whether those feelings are happy or sad.

The Bible talks a LOT about singing. In fact, you probably already know that the Psalms are all originally songs that the people sang to the Lord. Some of the Psalms are singing about God's great deliverance--others are singing about needing God's help. Today our pastor's sermon was based on Psalms 95. It went right along with my thoughts on being thankful for singing, so I thought I would share a bit of it here:

"O come, let us sing unto the LORD:

let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving,

and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

In his hand are the deep places of the earth:

the strength of the hills is his also.

The sea is his, and he made it:

and his hands formed the dry land.

O come, let us worship and bow down:

let us kneel before the LORD our maker."

Psalms 95:1-6

Today I am thankful for singing. What are YOU thankful for?

Thankfulness--Day 25

Good Morning!

Today I am thinking of something I use each day. . . something that helps me organize things I need to remember as well as save money and keep in contact with my family and friends. That's right--my computer! I am very thankful that I have a computer to use for different activities. I grew up in the "dark ages" when no one had a computer at their home--and the only computers that existed were the ones that took up whole rooms in the research labs of the scientists!

Now a days, it is very common for people to not only have a computer in their home, but many people have more than one! As a teacher, my husband uses a computer daily--all day long, to write his lectures, create power points, make up home work assignments. As a home school teacher, I purchase home school curriculum that is a download--never even having a paper copy of the curriculum at all.

My computer helps me organize and keep things I need to remember. It contains my shopping list, my e-mail addresses, etc. If my computer dies--I am in big trouble!

With as many things as I feel I have to keep track of, have you ever thought of how many things God needs to remember? The Bible tells us:

"And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered." Matthew 10:30

The very hairs? Of each person? In the whole world? How can God remember all that?! Does He have a big computer????? If He does, I am glad that it must work better than mine! Mine will occasionally have glitches and freeze up, becoming useless until I turn it off and things reset themselves. How thankful I am that God does not lose track of me, if His computer decides not to work! He knows right where I am and what I am doing. Whether He has a computer or not, He never loses track of where I am. If He knew Jonah was in the belly of the whale, He knows when I am sitting in gridlock traffic. He loves me so much, He numbers the very hairs on my head. Wow!

Today I am thankful for my computer. What are YOU thankful for?

Thankfulness--Day 24

Good Morning, and Happy Thanksgiving!

With today being Thanksgiving and all, I cannot help but reflect on the start of our country and the people who founded it. Different people had different reasons for coming to this land, but many of them did make the journey into an unknown and sometimes hostile wilderness so that they could worship God according to their conscious.

Of course, if it had not been for the kindness of the Indians--even after they, perhaps, had not been treated kindly--some of the settlements of pilgrims would have never survived. When Samoset introduced Squanto to the settlers, there was no reason Squanto should have helped them. Afterall, it was white men who had kidnapped Squanto years before, enslaving him and separating him from his people. And when he finally arrived back in his own country, it was only to discover that sickness had wiped out his entire tribe. He was the only one left--and yet, in spite of this, Squanto took the Pilgrim people into his heart and lived with them and taught them how to survive in this new world.

Yes, many miracles happened in the development of our nation. I am so thankful to have been born here--where religious freedom is still proclaimed across the land. But even though I love my country, I am still looking for a better one.

"Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them." Hebrews 11:16

I want to be ready to be a citizen of the better country--heaven.

Today I am thankful for my country. What are YOU thankful for?

Thankfulness--Day 23

Good Morning!

Today I am thankful for something that I was longing for last night---my pillow! I was sitting at my desk trying to do some book keeping, and my thoughts kept coming back over and over to how tired I was and how I just wanted to lay down with my pillow and go to sleep.

Pillows are such comforting things. People can become very attached to "their" own pillow. My mom will travel to my house from several states away--and will often bring her own pillow with her!

The Bible tells the story of Jacob who--when fleeing from his brother because he had deceived him, lay down and had only a rock for a pillow. "When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep." Genesis 28:11 That does not sound very comfortable to me!

I feel very blessed to be able to lay down at night and sleep with a comfortable pillow. But I still look forward to not needing one. Did you know that there may not be pillows in heaven? I can't say this for sure--but the Bible does tell us that there will be no night there. "The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there." Revelation 21:23-25

I am looking forward to heaven--being with God, and not ever getting tired. But in the meantime, while I am still living in this world of sin, I am thankful for my pillow. What are YOU thankful for?

Thankfulness--Day 22

Good Morning!

Today I am thankful for something that I never leave home without--my shoes!

I am so VERY blessed. So many many people in this world do not have shoes. They wrap their feet in rags to try and help protect them from cold or heat. Not only am I blessed to have not just one, but many pairs of shoes, but I also am blessed to have custom made inserts that help the shoes fit my hard-to-fit feet shape.

Shoes are very important, as they protect our feet. Wars have almost been won or lost due to armies being without shoes. With a good fitting pair of shoes, you can accomplish much in a day. But if you are wearing shoes that hurt your feet, you will hobble around and look forward to sitting down. Something that is supposed to be helpful to you, can turn out to be causing you harm instead.

Makes me wonder. Am I the kind of person who goes around helping others, or hurting them? The Bible says "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'" Isaiah 52:7

May I bring good news today, where ever my shoes take me.

Today I am thankful for my shoes. What are YOU thankful for?

Thankfulness--Day 21

Good Morning!

Today I am thankful for a really handy little device that helps keep me from getting lost--or at least gets me "unlost" once I am mixed up in where I should have turned. Yes, I am thankful for my GPS!

I know the person who invented this wonderful little machine was not doing it thinking of middle aged moms getting lost as they drove, but it sure does come in useful for that! I love that not only will it tell me the path I need to stay on, but if I stray from that path it will even give me an alternate route to get me back on the chosen road. Sometimes I stray from the chosen route on purpose--such as when there is construction or some other reason that I cannot follow it's original plan. Sometimes I stray by mistake, as I miss a turn. But always it tells me "recalculating" as it guides me back in the direction I should go.

My son does not use his GPS for driving, but for his hobby of geocaching. If you have never heard of geocaching, people hide little containers that hold a log book (and sometimes trade items) and register the coordinates of where their cache is hidden. Others will use their GPS device to help them find where that cache is so they can sign the log book and perhaps leave a trinket for others to find. Sort of like a world-wide game of hide and seek. Personally, I think my use of a GPS is much more practical, but the purpose is still the same whether you are using it for driving or geocaching--it directs you where you should go.

I have another GPS. This one is the best--absolute best. It always works, and is never out of commission due to low batteries.

"Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I." Isaiah 58:9

It not only helps me find my way, but provides for all my needs.

"The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." Isaiah 58:11

I am always thankful for my heavenly GPS. Without Him, I would be truly lost.

Today I am thankful for my GPS. What are YOU thankful for?

Thankfulness--Day 20

Good Morning!

Read any good books lately??? Ask any of my friends, and they will definitely tell you--I LOVE books. I love books much more than other activities. I have to be careful, because I can happily spend the day reading--all day long and not get anything else done that I need to do! One time when I was talking to a friend of mine, I referred to my books as being "friends," and my REAL friend--the human variety--laughed and laughed and laughed at me! She just could not understand how I could feel that way about my books--but it's true! Well, not ALL my books are my friends. . . just some of them!

In books you can read about far away places, places you have never visited and perhaps never will. You can learn how to build things. How to cook. You can find out how others are living somewhere else, and what you can do to help them. So many, many wonderful and useful things can be discovered in books. I even became a teacher specifically because I wanted to be able to teach others how to read! (I told you I love books!)

But reading Dick and Jane books are not going to change your life. They are not going to heal relationships. They are not going to show you the way of life. But there is one book that will.

A couple days ago I told you how I was thankful for bread--and I am! How Jesus even referred to Himself as the Bread of Life. . . But physical bread is not going to save a person, and an infinite number of books will not either. No matter how many words are in those books.

Jesus said in Matthew 4:4 "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Words from the mouth of God. That sounds like the Bible to me. That one most precious book, the one book that WILL change your life--and it was written by your friend. Your very best friend.

Today I am thankful for books--especially the Bible. What are YOU thankful for?

Thankfulness--Day 19

Good Morning!

Today I am thinking of something I am thankful for. . . no, no, no. It's not horses, though I admit I do think horses are a wonderful creation. I'm thinking of something that you can't see in my photo here. Actually, I am thinking of something you can't see in any photo. What I am thankful for today is my angel!

There are MANY stories of angels in the Bible--you can find them doing all sorts of things for people. Carrying messages, bringing food, protecting, etc. But my absolute FAVORITE story has got to be the one of Elisha and his servant.

You see, the king of Aram was trying to capture Elisha. He had been told that Elisha was in the town of Dothan, so he sent his army there and by night they surrounded the city with horses and chariots. When Elisha's servant woke up the next morning and saw the surrounding army, he cried out to Elisha "Oh, my lord, what shall we do?" And then--here comes the good part--Elisha answered him. . .

"Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." And Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes so he may see." Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha." 2 Kings 6:15-17

Horses and chariots of fire. And who do you think were driving those horses and chariots of fire? Not a regular army, that is for sure--but an angel one, sent by God to protect them from the king of Aram.

So today, I am thankful for a big big VERY big thing--my own special angel, and all the rest that work for God and follow His bidding to protect and guide and help me. Even if I do not see them with my eyes.

I am thankful for angels. What are YOU thankful for?

Thankfulness--Day 18

Good Morning!

Today I am thankful for. . . . .Oh, I'm sorry! Am I making you hungry with my picture? Well, I'm not TOO sorry. I love bread! Actually, I love baking, but years ago realized that it wasn't going to be in my own best interest or that of my family if I used my love of baking to frequently make cakes or cookies--so I turned my baking love more in the direction of bread. (I have to confess here that this particular picture is not bread that "I" made--this photo is clip art!) Anyway, I make cake and cookies sometimes--but I make bread ALL the time!

Recently I was able to take a bread making class at my church, taught by two young mothers with toddlers hanging on their legs. While some questioned my signing up for THAT class since they knew I already make my own bread--I knew that I wanted some NEW recipes. I was not disappointed at all--and my family is now reaping (or is that EATING?) the benefits of my taking that class. . . Sweet Potato Sweet rolls, anyone????? Really. They are absolutely WONDERFUL. And I can count them as a health food, can't I???? I mean, they DO have sweet potatoes in them!

Bread is pretty important. Around much of the world, bread is one of the main parts of a person's meal--sometimes the only part. The Bible talks a lot about bread. Jesus even used that word as a name for Himself. . . "Then Jesus declared, 'I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.'" John 6:35

As important as eating good, wholesome bread can be, it is even more important for me to eat of the Bread of Life every day. Have you eaten of your daily Bread ? Your daily Jesus?

Today I am thankful for bread. What are YOU thankful for?

Thankfulness--Day 17

Good Morning!

Today I am thankful for something that I used a LOT yesterday--my washing machine!

I did not have a washing machine when I was first married. It has been a while, but I still remember very well gathering up the dirty clothes and bringing them all to the laundromat. Inevitably it seems like I would get home only to find a stray sock that didn't get washed with the other clothes! Sometimes I would run out of quarters. Sometimes I just ran out of time, and did not feel like I could take the time out of my day to go and sit with the clothes while they washed and dried. How happy I was when we finally were able to get our own washer and dryer! I really do not mind folding clean clothes--it's the dirty ones I do not want to touch!

I am so very thankful that Jesus does not mind touching dirty lives. He who is without blemish, does not shy away from the most awful, sin stained life. He picks me up from where I am, but He does not return me the same as He found me. "Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow." Psalm 51.7

Today, I am thankful for my washing machine. What are YOU thankful for?

Thankfulness--Day 16

Good Morning!

Today I am thankful for something I use every single day--many times a day, in fact. I am thankful for my phone!

Whether it is a cell phone, a land line, or gasp--a pay phone (can you even FIND pay phones any more?), phones keep us connected.

I can call my friend to ask her for a recipe or advice on homeschooling. Yesterday I called customer service of a certain local store to ask if they had any coupons they could send me as I am looking at making a major purchase in their store--they are sending me one in the mail! My husband called me from the doctor's office to let me know the doctor prescribed some medicine for our son and they were going to stop at the pharmacy to pick it up. Upon occasion, I have even called AAA to tell them my car broke down and I need a tow truck! Phones are useful for so many things--both large and small.

But wonderful that they are, they do have some drawbacks. Phone bills for one! Cell phone minutes can run out. No change for a pay phone, or even no connection as your phone searches for coverage. Our phones can fail us.

I love having a phone, but how thankful I am that I do not have to use my phone to communicate with Jesus. It doesn't matter if I have paid my phone bill, or if I am hemmed in with tree cover. My heavenly connection is always there, instantly and crystal clear. "Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me." Psalm 50:15

My phone calls to Jesus are never interrupting Him. In fact, He is waiting to hear from me. Waiting to hear from you.

Today I am thankful for my phone. What are YOU thankful for?

Thankfulness--Day 15

Good Morning!

How do you like my lovely picture here???? Oh, wait--you are right. It isn't so lovely. . . in fact, it looks quit discouraging and depressing now that I think about it. Dirty dishes--yuck. Is it possible to be thankful for dirty dishes?

A bit too often in this past week this is exactly how my kitchen has looked. My son has been sick, and I have GREATLY missed his cheerful help in cleaning around the house. (Hint, hint! Get well soon, honey!)

But instead of allowing myself to feel grumbly inside about my having to do "everything" around the house, I decided that one really can choose to be thankful about the mess. This pile of dishes is a testimony to the fact that our family ate a really nice Sabbath meal together. We even had the meal on my nice china--there are some of my pretty plates peeking out under the red bowl on the left. If we had no food to eat, the dishes would stay all washed and clean up in their cabinet. I think I prefer to eat and have dishes to wash!

The Bible tells me that God "gives food to every creature. His love endures forever." Psalm 136:25 This meal was from Him. Even the dishes were a gift from Him--I am glad I did not have to hold all my food in my hands as I ate it. I'm glad I have food to eat. Every day. Never once in all my years of life have I had a day without any food--not unless I was purposely skipping eating that day for a medical procedure, or something like that. But never once have I gone without food because I had no food to eat.

Today, I am thankful for dirty dishes--because it means God is blessing me abundantly. What are YOU thankful for?

Thankfulness--Day 14

Good Morning!

Today's "thankful" thing is something I was especially thinking about all day yesterday--leaves! We live in a part of the country that has four distinct seasons, and we all LOVE LOVE LOVE the Fall season. I love the beautiful colors the leaves turn, my daughter loves to rake and jump in the leaf pile. Well, she loves the jumping more than the raking, but the later motivates her to do the former quite well! She is one who will be out in the yard with her rake as soon as there are two leaves on the ground--really! The rest of us will look up at all the rest of the leaves just waiting to come down, and say that it is not time to rake yet. But she will be out there "starting" her leaf pile anyway!

Yesterday my daughter and husband both spent time raking up a humongous leaf pile, and while they were doing that I was walking through our woods and planting the rest of those daffodil bulbs I told you about. I was surrounded by golden yellow, punctuated by a few bright reds here and there. It was that perfect "inbetween" time--where there are enough leaves still on the trees to be pretty, but also a healthy covering on the ground. Just enough to crunch on as you take each step through the woods. Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.

I love those leaves. I am in awe of their beauty. They are something that you can't really hang on to--you just have to enjoy them while they are here. Did you know that the Bible talks about leaves in heaven? It sounds like some pretty special leaves are up there. Just listen to this passage:

"Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations." Revelation 22:1,2

I do not pretend to completely understand what the apostle John is trying to describe here. How can leaves of a tree be for the healing of nations? I do not know. But I do know that it sounds lovely, and I can't wait to find out!

Today I am thankful for leaves. What are YOU thankful for today?

Thankfulness--Day 13

Good Morning!

Today I am thinking of something I am thankful for which is wonderful when it works--but terrible when it doesn't! Yes, I know you guessed from my picture, but today I am thankful for cars!

Good old Henry Ford. Without his hard work and determination--as well as a handful of others who were also experimenting along the same lines--we would still be dependent upon horses for travel everywhere. Much as I like horses, and though I do appreciate that horses wouldn't end up costing you an arm and a leg in gas and insurance costs, they are still not without cost and besides that--they are slow!

I love the daydream of never really needing to go anywhere in an urgent way, but that is not my reality. When my oldest child was born premature, if it wasn't for a car to take us to the hospital--and even an ambulance which took me from that hospital to another, larger better equipped hospital--I don't know that my child would have survived birth, as early as he was. And then there are the miles and miles and miles that I have ended up driving him for therapies. Yes, it would have been nice if the therapy places had been located nice and close to our house, but again, that was not my reality. And even if you are not thinking about medical needs, just social ones--you still cannot help but appreciate the car. In times past when people moved by wagon train from the east coast to the west, they realized as they said "good by" to their loved ones that they truly would never see each other again. Ever since I married almost 22 years ago, my husbands work has taken him to states that are far away from where I grew up--and I am so thankful that I have still been able to see my parents on vacation times. My parents are the couple being chauffeured around in the Model T in the above picture--don't they look like a fun-loving couple? I am so thankful that I have still been able to visit with them, and they with me--even if it is not as often as we would like.

But in spite of the wonders of the automobile, I am also thankful that God is not dependent upon one. For His purposes, a car would simply be too slow! Similar to me when I think of having to always use a horse, a car would definitely slow God down. The story of Daniel comes to mind--one day he was in prayer to God, and before his prayer finished--there was an angel with the answer to his prayer!!! O.K., even if you assume that Daniel prayed a long prayer, all the way from heaven to earth in one "prayers worth" of time is still really really fast! You can read about it here:

"While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to the Lord my God for his holy hill--while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. He instructed me and said to me, 'Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding. As soon as you began to pray, and answer was given, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed.'" Daniel 9:20-24

Did you catch what Gabriel said? "As soon as you began to pray. . . " Wow. That is FAST. And God is not dependent upon gas stations being open along the way either! "As soon as you began to pray. . . " How foolish we humans are that we pray so little, and as a "last resort."

Today I am thankful for cars. What are YOU thankful for?

Thankfulness--Day 12

Good Morning!

Today I am thinking of something that is a big big VERY big thing that I am thankful for--I am thankful for my friends! Some are friends I have known all my life. They and I were children together. Others are friends that I met as we were young adults, in that time of our life "before children." And still others are recent friends--ones I just met! All are precious. All are irreplaceable.

The picture here is showing one of our family's newest friends--Becky! When my husband was invited to speak at a church in a nearby state, Becky offered to house the speaker and his family in her home. What a brave woman--taking in four complete strangers into your home for the weekend! Alison and Becky hit it off right away. In fact, this picture was taken last Sunday morning as we prepared to leave Beckys house and drive back home--and Alison cried and cried because she did not want to leave her! You can see Alison's red eyes in this picture--she was trying hard to be brave and smile for the picture.

I have heard it said before that strangers are all friends that you just haven't met yet. Beautiful thought, isn't it? How much lovelier this world would be if everyone treated everyone else as a precious friend that they just hadn't met yet. . .

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!" Ecclesiastes 4:9,10

And speaking of friends, of course there is that one most precious friend. The one that will never leave or betray us.

". . . there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24

Today I am thankful for my friends. What are YOU thankful for?

Thankfulness--Day 11

Good Morning!

What are you thankful for today? I am thinking of something that most people usually complain about. We fret and worry and cover it up. Yes--today I am thankful for gray hair.

But before you decide I am completely off my rocker, hear me out. First of all, I am just plain thankful to HAVE hair. Even if it is not beautiful or naturally curly like I might like, at least I HAVE hair. Two of my dear sisters-in-Christ have children who are struggling with leukemia. Chemotherapy means hair loss. I am thankful that I am well and healthy and just plain HAVE hair--no matter what it may look like!

But I think it is important to also be thankful for GRAY hair in particular. The fact that I have gray hair means I have lived for a while. I did not die as an infant, as so many premature babies do. I made it through childhood, unlike many in countries with not enough food. I have been blessed to live to be an adult--and I hope and pray that my days have been used for useful activities.

Would you like to know what God thinks of gray hair? All right, here it is: "Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life." Proverbs 16:31

What do you think of that verse? I'm not making it up--go ahead and look it up for yourself! It certainally does not sound like God is ashamed of gray hair. Do you know what color God's hair is? Well take a look at these verses:

" As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze." Daniel 7:9

"His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire." Revelation 1:14

There you have it. God has white hair. And it doesn't bother Him to be called "ancient," either!

I am not promising that I may never decide to color over my gray hair. Who knows what life will bring, and if at some point I feel the need to color my hair I think that is just fine. But even if I choose that option at some time in the future, I want to know in my mind that God thinks my gray hair is beautiful.

That's my story, and I'm sticking with it!

Today, I am thankful for my gray hair. What are YOU thankful for?

Thankfulness--Day 10

Good Morning!

You may all feel like throwing your pillows at me when you hear today's "thankful," but today I am thankful for my alarm clock. O.K., o.k., I am ducking now to avoid being hit by all those pillows. But hear me out for a minute first!

I have not always been thankful for my alarm clock. Truly, I am NOT a morning person. I much prefer staying up late (too late!) at night, and once the little one is in bed I start feeling like I "could" get so much done if only I would stay up a little longer. . .

But when you really think about it--an alarm clock is very much a blessing from God. I mean, my alarm clock indicates that I have things to do. Many things. Reasons to get up out of bed and get on with my day. It's not the poor little alarm clocks fault if I went to bed late and am reaping the repercussions of that!

I am thankful that I have a reason to get up in the morning. I am thankful that there are things for me to do. I am thankful that I have people I can help or teach or feed today.

Now. I just have to remember to first turn my "to do" list over to Jesus, and ask Him to scratch off or add on as He sees fit. Because there is no way I can do it ALL. And He does not ask me to.

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven." Ecclesiastes 3:1

Today I am thankful for my alarm clock. What are YOU thankful for?

Thankfulness--Day 9

Good Morning!

I know I have sort of already listed this as something I am thankful for. . . but yesterday as I was shopping at our home improvement store I ran across large bags of tulip and daffodil bulbs all at 50% off! I couldn't resist--I bought two large bags of daffodil bulbs to add to my collection that I am planting out in our woods. I have done this every fall since we moved here four years ago--at least tried to add a few daffodils. I would love to plant tulips out there as well, but our local deer population keep me from doing that! But the daffodils I have planted so far have all done very well. . . and yesterday I was able to add an additional 100 bulbs to my woods garden!

As I planted one of the bags of bulbs, the golden leaves from the trees swirled around me on the warm breeze. I felt like I was in a golden wonder land, and I dreamed of more gold in the spring when these flowers emerge from their winter sleep. I know heaven will be ever so much more beautiful than earth is, but yesterday in the woods was lovely, and the spring time will be as well.

"See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land." Song of Songs 2:11

Today I am thankful for sales on daffodils. What are YOU thankful for?

Thankfulness--Day 8

Good Morning!

Today I am thinking about something I use every single day. I won't even walk across the room without it. Yes, I know you guessed from the picture--I am thankful for my glasses! I have terrible vision, and I am so so so so thankful to have glasses (and contacts!) to help me see.

When I was a child, my parents didn't know I needed glasses. "I" didn't know I needed glasses. Finally, in third grade, I went to the eye doctor and walked out of his office with my first pair of glasses. I couldn't believe what I could see! Did you know that trees had leaves on them? And you could SEE those leaves even from across the street??? I was constantly in awe of what I was able to see with those glasses. I knew I may get teased at school and called "four-eyes," but I did not care if it meant that I could SEE.

Later, as a young adult, I worked as a camp counselor at a summer camp. One week out of every summer there were children from a school for the blind that would come to camp. We set out special guide ropes and helped plan experiences for them that they never would be able to do at home. Many could see just a bit--they were actually harder to keep track of than the totally blind campers, because they would always take off on their own! How I wished that they all could see--and see WELL. They were delightful campers, and I was very blessed by their cheerfulness and enthusiasm.

I know that some day I will see perfectly, even without the aid of my trusty glasses. My blind campers will see as well. When Jesus was here on earth, He had compassion on them and healed the blind. One former blind man was taken to the Pharisees and grilled about the miracle Jesus had done for him. The Pharisees kept saying how Jesus was a sinner, trying to discredit Him. I love the simple answer of the now seeing man--"He replied, 'Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!'" John 9:25

There are many things I do not understand. But I know Someone who does. Someday I will not only see physically, but spiritually as well. And like the blind man, I will be able to say "I was blind but now I see!"

Today I am thankful for my glasses. What are YOU thankful for?

Thankfulness--Day 7

Good Morning Everyone!

Guess what I am thankful for today? Yes--quilting! I absolutely love to quilt, though I hardly squeeze in any time for it at all it seems. Too busy with meal prep and homeschooling and cleaning and a thousand other things. You know how it is. . . But when I DO get a chance to work on a hobby, quilting is usually it. I think part of the reason is I enjoy a hobby that I can put a certain way and it actually STAYS that way. I can cook or bake, but it gets eaten up immediately and I need to do it again. I can clean the house, but it gets messy again. But when I quilt, it actually stays that way even if I do not get back to it until a month later! Besides that, it's fun to play with pretty colors and put them the way you want them.

This quilt shown in this picture is actually one I am making for Alison. She picked out all the colors herself. It is VERY much her--bright and happy and busy! They are not "my" colors at all--I prefer softer, quieter colors. But it is fun to make it for her and I enjoy seeing her happiness as parts get finished. In case you do not already know, the pattern here is called "Trip Around the World."

Quilting as a hobby really does not make any sense any more. People used to quilt out of necessity--taking clothing that could not be used any longer and salvaging what they could out of it to make quilts to keep their family warm at night. I do not have to quilt or have my family freeze (thankfully--at my speed they would definitely be cold!), but I do enjoy creating something beautiful. But really, when you think about it, a quilter takes a perfectly good large piece of fabric and cuts it all up into tiny pieces and then sews it back together again. Does this sound like an intelligent person to you???

But I enjoy it. And I know God understands. After all, I really think He is a quilter too. He takes the scraps of our lives, mixes them with His healing power, and turns out something stunning. The Bible tells us "He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." Ecclesiastes 3:11

Today I am thankful for quilting. What are YOU thankful for?

Thankfulness--Day 6

Good Morning Everyone!

You are going to laugh at me today, I know. But that's all right. Remember I did tell you that my "thankful" listing this month would be in no particular order? And some things definitely are BIGGER "thankful" things than others? Well, this may be a little "thankful" thing--but I am VERY thankful for dental floss!!!!! It is probably my very favorite personal care item. . . I'll skip sunscreen or makeup or whatever, but give me my dental floss!!!! I cannot stand the feeling of food stuck between my teeth. . . .

And you are wondering if I can possibly come up with a Bible verse to go along with THIS item I am thankful for? How about this verse. . .

"Arise, O Lord! Deliver me, O my god! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked." Ps. 3:7

O.K. So the verse didn't exactly mention dental floss. But it DID mention teeth. Close enough! ;) Today I am thankful for dental floss. What are YOU thankful for? Leave a comment and let me know. :)

Thankfulness--Day 5

Good Morning, and Happy Sabbath!

I thought I would share a beautiful butterfly I found in our yard just a couple days ago. Remember how I said that we had some zinnias that were still blooming in spite of several light frosts? Well the Monarchs seem to be enjoying them. Almost every day as I look out the window I see two or three of them fluttering around the flowers. I am assuming they are probably on their way to places warmer than here, but I am tickled that I have something to offer them on their journey. God is watching over them as they travel all the way down to Mexico. He knows just what they need. Yes, sin has taken it's tole on God's beautiful creation. But there is still so much beauty remaining. Just think what this world was like when it came fresh from the Creator's hand. . .

". . . and who gives food to every creature. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever." Psalm136:25,26

Today I am thankful for butterflies. What are YOU thankful for? I would love to hear about it!

Thankfulness--Day 4

Good Morning!

I am thankful today for something that some of you may find strange. But it really is true. I am thankful that I get to return tithe.

I was shopping with my seven year old yesterday, and as we were browsing around in a nearby thrift shop, she commented to me that she wished she did not HAVE to PAY tithe out of her allowance. When I asked her "why" she was feeling that way, she said "Because then I could save up money for Christmas shopping faster." Honest answer, though I do not feel she was seeing everything clearly. It is sweet that she is trying to save her allowance for purchasing gifts for others. But I took a moment and talked with her about how all of "our" money belongs to Jesus anyway, and He only asks that we return back to him the portion that is called the "tithe." How do you explain to a child who is only learning basic addition and subtraction how God can take less (the 90%) and turn it into more than if you hadn't returned the tithe in the first place? Hummmm........

Examples. I tried explaining to her how God stretches our money when He is blessing us, and then I started reminding her of specific examples. Like when we found a very nice winter coat for her--LLBean brand, even--at that very thrift shop for only 50 cents. We bought it, she wore it a couple winters, and this year we were even able to pass it on to another family. Or when I wanted a bread machine, and found a brand new one on clearance for only $25, and it is still working 14+ years later. We have had a dining room table and matching chairs given to us free. When I needed a place for guests to sleep, a day bed and trundle came my way free. Once, I wanted a grain grinder--so I researched on-line as to what brand I would like, and then left as I needed to do my regular weekly shopping. I am not making this up--that very day, no more than 30 minutes later, I was standing in a thrift shop and there was a grain grinder the VERY brand I had decided I wanted--for only $25! (I used to joke that God always knew how much was in my wallet, because He often brought me things for $25!) I used that grain grinder for years before it finally quit. Even yesterday, when we moved from the thrift store on to our regular grocery shopping, I was able to purchase $55 worth of groceries for only $13.75, thanks to sales and coupons.

So I tried to explain this the best I could to my daughter. I don't know how much it sank in, because it does not always add up like 2+2=4. But this I do know--I cannot afford to not return tithe. And I am thankful to return it and reap the many many blessings that come pouring down on our family.

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." Malachi 3:10

Today I am thankful that I get to return tithe and see the blessings come pouring out upon me. What are YOU thankful for today? I would love to hear from you! :)

Thankfulness--Day 3!

Good Morning!

Today I am thankful for our cats--even though SOMETIMES they can be bad kitties. . . or at least, ONE of them can be bad. . .

This is Pumpkin. He is my cat, and he is the good, good, VERY good kitty. He was a stray in Fort Worth who was trapped as a tiny kitten and taken to an animal rescue group. I adopted him there, and he has considered me his "mommy" ever since. Sometimes I wake up at night feeling this heavy feeling on my chest and I am having trouble breathing deeply--then I realize it is Pumpkin! He lays on me and purrs and purrs and purrs! I told you, he thinks I am his mommy.

This is our kitten Wiggles. He is the bad kitty. I know you won't believe me, because he looks so very sweet and innocent here, but trust me. He was a very bad kitty yesterday and I was really mad at him. Give me two or three more days, though, and I will have forgotten all about that and I will think he is a good kitty once again! :) He was a rescue kitty from Chattanooga. He takes good cat naps (When he is napping, he is always good. It is only when he is awake that he gets into trouble!). He was napping here on the couch when my daughter thought he needed tucking in with a blanket. Then she decided he needed a teddy bear, so she went and took her bear away from Pumpkin and tucked it in with Wiggles.

As much trouble as ONE of our kitties can be, I still love him. I love both of them. They make me laugh, I enjoy spending time with them. It warms my heart when they want to spend time with me.

Our kitties are a gift from God. The Bible says so, in Genesis 1:25. "God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good." I love and enjoy the gift of our cats, and I still love them even when ONE of them is bad. And I am so thankful that God loves ME, even when I am bad. . .

Today I am thankful for cats. What are YOU thankful for today?

Thankfulness--Day 2

Good Morning!

What are you thankful for this morning? Today I am thankful for my house. It is not huge by any means, though so many poor in this world would think it a mansion. My house is old. The windows are drafty and in the winter time we get a nice little coating of ice forming on them due to the air leakage. But when it is cold outside and you come inside, it is a whole lot warmer inside the house than out! Even with drafty windows! It is a retreat from the world. A place we can rest, play, study and sleep. And I am thankful for it--it is a gift from God.

I'm sure you already know that the Bible talks about houses. Here is one of my favorite "house" verses:

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." John 14:1-3

Home. A place to be together. A place to live with God.

What are YOU thankful for today?

Thankfulness--Day 1

Happy November Everyone!

I thought that this month would be a good month to concentrate a little extra on all the many many blessings God has given to me.

So, as I have the time, I will try and post something that I am thankful for each day. I am sure there will be some days that I will not be able to get on the computer. But as I can, I will. And why don't you think about what YOU are thankful for each day as well, and share it with me! :) I would love to hear from you.

In no particular order at all--I realize there are things that are way more important than this--but today, I am thinking about how I am thankful for flowers. There are SO many varieties that God made. Why? Just because he loves us.

"The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God." Isaiah 35:1,2

Today, in my yard, I still have zinnias blooming--in spite of several frosts. Today, I am thankful for flowers. What are you thankful for?