Thanksgiving Week thanks...

Well, it felt good to take a little blogging break for a few days over the holiday.

We had a fun Thanksgiving with our middle daughter and her family, 

a friend of theirs from South Carolina, and our dear friend from Ghana.

We enjoyed getting away and staying in our friend's vacation house in central Oregon.

On the trip home, the mountain pass was snowy and traffic was stopped,

delaying us at the summit for an hour or so while they cleared up a wreck ahead of us.

It did give me an opportunity to take some photos.

It just goes to show you, there's always something to be thankful for!

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

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)

#5443-#5475

11-24-14-

-waking up without a backache and headache

-time with Jesus without rushing

-getting a good run before tackling a long list of to-dos before our trip

11-25-14-

-safe travels to Eagle Crest and having our two oldest grands ride with us

-beautiful central Oregon sky

-a fingernail moon

-juniper scented air

-making cinnamon rolls with my daughter's friend 

11-26-14-

-our youngest grandson's early morning sounds

-youngest daughter missing us and letting us know

-texts from my oldest daughter with a song about Jesus that my five year old granddaughter made up

-going walking/running while the grands rode their bikes

-this beautiful day

11-27-14-

-turkey in the oven, side dishes all prepped-time for a nice, long, refreshing walk

-talking to my oldest sister on the phone

-all the faces around our Thanksgiving table, our family, a friend from the other side of the US, 

our dear friend from Ghana

11-28-14-

-our youngest granddaughter's third birthday

-black Friday shopping in a smaller town with great stores 

but less crowds and getting all my shopping done except for two gifts!

-playing Clue 

-everyone rummaging through leftovers for dinner, no cooking for me!

-watching my youngest grandson pull himself up to standing

-enjoying the hot tub with my two oldest grands

-our oldest granddaughter plopping herself on our bed while she reads The Hobbit

-God speaking more to me about my word for 2015 through the scriptures in my devotions

11-29-14-

- beautiful snow

-safe travels for everyone in our family that was on the road today

-youngest daughter and her boyfriend coming over to watch the game

-a good night's sleep

11-30-14-

-God's sweet presence

-a very encouraging message

-God touching people in a very real way

-a good time of fellowship

-getting our little Christmas tree

still following,

Thanks are the highest form of thought...

I'm taking a little blog break to enjoy the holiday with my family.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving, everyone!

"Tis the Season!"...well, almost!

(edited with Kim's 99 texture, lighten, 20% opacity, and just a light touch of PicMonkey's dusk)

Since we're using a friend's vacation home for Thanksgiving, 

I went ahead and decorated our house for Christmas,

(all but the tree, since we get a real one).

I usually start decorating the Saturday after Thanksgiving, 

but we'll be traveling home that day.

It will be nice to have the decorating all done, 

well, except for the little changes here and there I'll inevitably do.

 (edited with Kim's day texture, hard light, 30% opacity)

It will be relaxing to be away from home for the holiday,

but it was quite a challenge to pack up everything needed to make Thanksgiving dinner away from home.

I had to make my list and check it twice!

I hope you enjoy the photos of some little things around my home.

I thought it would be fun to edit the pictures as though I was going to use them for a Christmas card.

(edited with Kim's simple texture, hard light, 40% opacity)

I hope each of you have a blessed Thanksgiving spent with friends and family,

good food, much fun and laughter, and a heart full of gratitude.

Still following,

texture-twist

Thanksgiving...

It's Thanksgiving week!

An attitude of gratitude is a life changing spiritual habit to develop.

In life's highs and in life's lows,  there is always something to be thankful for.

Thanksgiving should be our lifestyle, not just a day!

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

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)

#5414-#5442

11/17/14-

-the undergirding of God's Word, prayer, and words of encouragement

-youngest grandson's giggles and snuggles

-my daughter and son-in-law's help getting our friend medical help

-dinner and lots of cups of hot tea shared with my hubs

-going to bed early for a change

11/18/14-

-an encouraging phone call

-homemade chicken and rice soup with homemade bread for the two youngest granddaughters, (and the way our granddaughter ate a HUGE piece of bread 

smothered in homemade jam with such gusto!)

-the cute way our almost three year old granddaughter mispronounces words,

"go-king"=joking

"fweetie"=sweetie

11-19-14-

-good news via text

-our youngest grandson's easy going temperament

-getting out some Christmas decor since we'll be out of town for Thanksgiving

-my buddy who helps me

-us, the hubs and I, with all of our faults and foibles

-late evening devotions, not ideal, but God still spoke to me deeply

11-20-14-

-coffee with a friend who asked me to mentor her, 

(but I think I get as much out of our relationship as she does)

-getting work done at the church

-a really encouraging prayer meeting

11-21-14-

-the hubs taking me to the Christmas event at one of my favorite antique stores on our day off

-seeing a good movie together

-heart talks over dinner

-getting the groceries for Thanksgiving dinner

-watching an old Doris Day movie

11-22-14-

-sweet time in the Word

-getting rid of "junk"

-simplifying

-getting a video via text of our youngest grandson army crawling

11-23-14-

-the name of Jesus, Who He is-knowing that I can trust Him

-celebrating Bishop F's 60th birthday, (our Ghanaian brother in Christ)

-our church family

gratefully yours,

Thanksgiving...

still following,

Also happily linking up with the lovely Lisha Epperson.

Friday's Faves...Counting down to Christmas in a meaningful way

I'm pretty set on Thanksgiving having its day in the sun.

(In reality, we should have an attitude of gratitude and thanksgiving every day!)

To have a day that we set aside to give thanks as a nation is not one we should take for granted.

For that reason, I don't start decorating for Christmas until the weekend after Thanksgiving.

This year, however, we will be out of town for Thanksgiving

 and won't be back home until sometime the Saturday right after Thanksgiving.  

With the idea that I would come home tired of traveling and not in the mood to go through Christmas boxes,

 I did begin to decorate the house.

If Thanksgiving was going to be at our home, I would have definitely waited.

Here are some photos from Christmas last year.

One of my traditions that I have shared on this blog before is my version of a Jesse Tree,

an advent tradition.

I call mine a Jesse's Branch, based on the scriptures from Isaiah 11:1-4

I made 25 tags with a title of Jesus on each one,

and the reference of the Scripture that title is found in on the back.

The full scripture is written out on spiral bound index cards.

Starting December 1st I will hang a tag on the branch, 

one for each of the days of December through Christmas day.

I'm sharing this idea with you again, in case you want to find a branch and make some tags yourself,

before December begins.

It's a simple way to keep the focus on the Christ of Christmas.

Here are the 25 Names/Titles of Jesus I chose with the scripture reference.

Jesus -Matthew 1:21
Savior-1 John 4:14
Son of God- Luke 1:32-35
Son of Man-Matthew 18:11
Redeemer-Job 19:25
King of Kings -1 Timothy 6:14-15
Lord of Lords-1 Timothy 6:14-15
Bread of Heaven-John 6:51
I Am-Exodus 3:14
Alpha and Omega-Revelation 1:8
The Word- John 1:1
The Way- John 14:6

The Truth- John 14:6

The Life- John 14:6
Lamb of God- John 1:29
The Door- John 10:7-10
Good Shepherd-John 10:11
The Deliverer-Romans 11:26
Friend-John 15:15
My Beloved-Song of Solomon 7:10
Bridegroom-Isaiah 62:5
Faithful Witness- Revelation 1:5-6
My Righteousness-1 Corinthians 1:30
Wisdom of God-1 Corinthians 1:30
Lion of Judah- Revelation 5:5

Well, it's almost Friday, friends!

Have a HAPPY, HAPPY Friday

and

 a SAFE and BLESSED weekend!

http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com

Also linking to All Things Heart and Home