Beautiful October week thanks...

Maybe this is the secret to staying young in spirit,

 hang around those in the generations younger than you.

This week we spent the better part of three days with members of our church's worship team at a retreat,

teaching, worshipping, praying with and ministering to these volunteers who give of themselves to lead our church in praise and worship.

The youngest ones were still in their teens, the oldest was the Hubs, (with me a close second), 

most of the rest in their twenties and thirties.

But, together we all touched heaven and God touched each of us.

Thanks be to God.

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

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)

#3891-#3915

10-14-13-

-sunbeams on the wood floor

-fiery trees and blue skies

-the sound of lawnmowers as the Hubs and the neighbors take advantage of the good weather

-oven fried zucchini - a winner!

10-15-13-

-another beautiful fall day

-gathering some fall leaves and berries while out on my run

-middle daughter and her family over for dinner

10-16-13-

-baking for our church worship team retreat

-going on a run as the moon came up full and round

-talking and praying with Rhonda Quaney on the phone, my (in)courager group co-leader

10-17-13-

-stopping at Sisters on the way to our worship team retreat

-the beautiful scenery on the drive

-roadside assistance coverage when our car battery died

-praying over and ministering to our worship team with my friend

-the use of a beautiful home for our retreat

10-18-13-

-the smell of the juniper

-the unique beauty of central Oregon, so different than our side of the mountains

-worshipping together

10-19-13-

-driving home another way, with different but equally beautiful scenery

-"our" Mt. Hood

-stopping for a late lunch with the Hubs on the way home

-getting some household chores and laundry done, then enjoying a hot bath and getting to bed early

10-20-13-

-an awesome morning at church

-the way the two oldest grandkids greet me at church, (and say goodbye afterwards), 

with big hugs and enthusiasm, (as if they haven't seen me in a long, long time)

-meeting two or our daughters and the two youngest granddaughters for thai food 

gratefully yours,