Thanksgiving as my sacrifice...

Obviously, it's a whole lot easier to praise God and give Him thanks when life is going my way. But, the truth is, while I know, see, and acknowledge that my life is blessed, there are still a lot of areas where I feel stretched thin, a lot of prayers that I've prayed for many years that I've yet to see answers to, a lot of times that I feel overwhelmed with life in our sin-twisted world.  Choosing to offer thanksgiving when I don't feel all the feels is one way I've learned to fight against the encroaching darkness of unbelief, doubt, fear, worry and anxiety.  It's one way that I re-focus my vision and re-set my mind onto God's goodness and faithfulness and steadfastness instead of letting myself drown in discouragement.  Daily taking a few minutes to take note of God's blessings in the midst of my life's messy moments is a respite to my weary soul.

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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 journal.

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

#9807-#9833

5-15-17-

-a beautiful pheasant strutting around in our backyard

-God's faithful care of us

-peonies full of buds, beautiful irises in full bloom 

5-16-17-

-the way God brings order to a full day

-new sandals for summer!

-dreaming about my trip to Maine with my daughters this summer

-a walk between downpours

-yummy homemade soup

-my hardworking husband

5-17-16-

-the comfort of these words, "Be still and know that I am God" and "God rules over the nations"

-our youngest grandson's delight at seeing his "favorite" cousin
-Papa making a fire in the fire pit and roasting hotdogs with his grandgirlie even though it started to rain

5-18-17-
-hanging out with my oldest granddaughter after school
-praying together with other women
-the daily pregnancy status texts from our youngest daughter who is due any day now

5-19-17-
-our middle daughter's birthday
-the beautiful acapella harmony while singing old hymns
 of our oldest granddaughter's class at grandparent's day at her school
-a fun bbq at our nephew's
-our granddaughters getting to play with their cousins

-getting to see my sister and my new great niece

5-20-17-

-Matthew 11:28

-the way God knits me back together when life's bumps and bruises makes me feel fragmented

-falling asleep early

5-21-17-

-sunny Sunday!

-God's promises to us when we sing over our barrenness (Isaiah 54)

-lunch with our daughter and son-in-law

still following,