Summer blessings...

the sound of the lawn mower

sprinklers on the back lawn

burgers on the grill

icy cold watermelon

homemade ice cream atop berry cobbler

berry stained little faces and hands

s'mores by the bonfire

root beer floats

picnics

floating down the river

splashing in a backyard pool

swimsuits and goggles

family reunions

beach days

rolling down sand dunes

late evening sunsets

cotton sundresses

saltwater sandals

church camp

summer weddings

flowerbeds full of color

farmer's markets

yard sales

sailboats on the Columbia

dinner outdoors

open doors and windows

fans blowing

flip flops

The list of summer blessings could go on and on,

things I may have forgotten to write in my gratitude journal,

but things I'm savoring as summer will be over all too soon.

*****************

In 2012 I followed the prompts in Ann Voskamp's Joy Dare in counting my thanks.

In 2013 I'm going back to the way I did it in the beginning,

just noticing and recording the many extraordinary blessings in my ordinary life.

And so I continue to count my thanks

piling up gratitude day by day

in my little black journal.

(and capturing some of them via my camera or iPhone)

#3611-#3632

7-29-13-

-my "crabby" pillow, handmade for me by a sweet friend

-the two oldest grands over for a yummy breakfast of homemade multigrain blueberry muffins and eggs

(muffin recipe is on my blog sidebar under categories)

-going on a walk to the playground with the two youngest grands

7-30-2013-

-taking a picnic to the river with the two oldest grands

-a boy and his critters-only grandson capturing a bullfrog tadpole for a pet

-a yummy dinner experiment-

(turkey burgers with chopped basil, garlic, feta cheese and toasted pinenuts in them)

7/31/13-

-taking youngest daughter to the doctor meant a nice quiet time to catch up on my Bible reading while I waited

-four year old granddaughter wanting me to play "spa day" with her

(I had to call her Miss Susie while she rubbed lotion on my feet and calves.

When I told her not to forget the toes, she said "We don't do toes at this spa.")

-on a walk with the two youngest grands past the fire station just as they got a call

(the firemen waved at us as they drove past us)

-the Hubs helping me get the house "back to normal" after all the grandkids went home

8/1/13-

-a rainy day! 

(after July was the second driest on record for Portland)

-the book Bread and Wine, coming in the mail to me from a sweet friend

8/2/13-

-my birthday! 56 years of God's love, care, protection, provision, grace, faithfulness...

-so many kind birthday texts, messages, phone calls, cards

-brunch at La Provence with the Hubs and second born daughter and her family

(they brought me bunches of flowers too!)

-the Hubs planned a special dinner out with friends at a delicious Lebanese restaurant

(Middle Eastern or Greek food is my favorite!)

8/3/13-

-an easier than usual house cleaning day because of deep cleaning last Saturday

-She Reads Truth devotional on Priscilla-a woman leader in the early church

-a yummy and healthy salad for dinner,

 (after overindulging on rich food on my birthday yesterday),

 and going on a run afterwards

8/4/13-

-new faces at church and some "old" ones who haven't been there in a while

-going to the east side of town this afternoon to look at some of my favorite shops

-savoring the summer while it lasts

gratefully yours,