You can't out give God...

(Portland, Oregon-Mt. Hood)

I'm glad I remembered to put my "big girl camera" in the car that afternoon I drove up to "Pill Hill".

My sister had phoned from her town in southern Oregon asking me if I could visit a young mama who was here in Portland at the children's hospital with her very sick month old baby.

(downtown Portland-Mt. St. Helens)

She was open and friendly and so glad to have a visiter since she has no friends and family nearby.

Her baby was adorable and improving enough to be moved out of ICU later that day.

I enjoyed our visit so much that the drive across town through the traffic

 and the other things I could/should be doing faded from my mind.

When I left, I pulled over at a viewpoint overlooking the city and captured these photos.

The day was so clear that the photos look almost surreal.

The rest of the drive home, my heart was full of gratitude for the way God blessed me,

probably more than my visit had blessed that sweet young mama.

Later that day someone reminded me that you can never out give God, and I believe that's true.

Perhaps we think of it most often in regards to giving money,

but I believe it holds true in giving time, or kindness, or an encouraging word.

You can't out give God.

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

Since 2009 I've been counting my blessings thanks to the prompting of Ann Voskamp.

 I continue to count my thanks

piling up gratitude day by day

in my little black journal.

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

#4520-#4545

4-7-14-

-beautiful sunny weather

-delicious London Broil - the first bbq of the season with the family!

-the three oldest grands spending the night

-sleeping bags spread out all over our bedroom floor and 

catching five year old granddaughter asleep with her arm around her cousin

4-8-14-

-pancakes, sausage, bacon and scrambled eggs for the grandkids

-a grandkid dance party

-the way my grandson held his cousin's hand while walking in the parking lot

-how my oldest granddaughter helps her younger cousin get ready

-cheap fun via the Target dollar bins and cheap lunch at the Costco food court

-Ollie-the riding toy my younger granddaughters play on

that's an exact replica of a riding toy my own daughters used to play on at my Mama's

-dandelion wishes

4-9-14-

-listening to my favorite new Don Potter album on my run

-visiting S. and her baby at Dornbecher Children's Hospital

-the view from "Pill Hill"

4-10-14-

-having lunch and running errands with my Hubs before he leaves for Ghana in the morning

-a super encouraging prayer night

4-11-14-

-my youngest daughter's birthday-thank You God for our girl!

-the beautiful sunrise when I drove the Hub's to the airport

-going to Slappy Cakes with the family to celebrate my daughter's birthday

-going birthday shopping with my girl

4-12-14-

-a baby shower for a dear young mama from our church

-a FaceTime call from the Hub's saying he arrived safely in Ghana, West Africa

4-13-14-

-great worship and a great message from our Truelife Latino pastor

-God's healing work evident in one of our dear church leaders

-a little Sunday afternoon nap

-God's provision every step of the way

gratefully yours,

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