Labor Day gratitude...

Today is the last day of my husband's and my annual anniversary/pre-busy season getaway.  My girls and I were blessed to have a wonderful week in Maine to celebrate my 60th birthday, but my husband hadn't had a vacation yet this summer, so this time away of rest was especially needed for him. (And no, last week's little getaway with the grandkids was fun, but it was not a resting vacation!)  Now, in the beginning year for both of us of our seventieth decade of living, (That's how it works, right? When you turn sixty you begin your seventieth decade?), we find we have to be more diligent about eating healthy, exercising and staying active, but also of making sure we are taking time to rest and recreate. With that said, after a week of relaxing in beautiful central Oregon, we are feeling ready to head home tomorrow morning and dive into the fall schedule of pastoral ministry.

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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)

#10,194-#10,219

8-28-17-

-the Lord is good! Psalm 135

-washing all the windows outside with the help of our oldest grandson

-our friend's help putting in the glass in our upper kitchen cabinets

8-29-17-

-texts from our girls telling us to have fun on our getaway

-the seriousness of forest fires up close as we went drove through the mountains-

thank God for those who spend their summers fighting them

-an afternoon nap

-new books and a favorite magazine for vacation reading

8-30-17-

-a wonderful slow morning and unhurried quiet time on the deck of the condo 

-antiquing! 

-a wonderful walk before dinner-saw two deer up close

8-31-17-

-a sweet time of prayer

-the smoke in the air from the forest fires is clearing up

-reading a good book while my husband watches football

-fun group texts with the girls

9-1-17-

-September!

-the coat I've been wanting for 50% off, plus $10 more off, plus I had a birthday gift card to buy it!

-a delicious lunch at our favorite Mexican restaurant

-a beautiful walk during golden hour

9-2-17-

-my nephew and our friends working on our kitchen backsplash while we're away

-a text saying how our three year old grandson keeps yelling "Don't hurt my brudder!"

 at our oldest grandson's football game

-surprising my hubs with ribs for dinner

9-3-17-

-our son-in-law has a contracting job in the area so he and our oldest grandson stopped by to see us

-photos of our white subway tile backsplash with the gray grout in-it looks so good!

-going out for pie together-not on my diet, but a fun treat!

-knowing that the church is in good hands when we're gone

still following,