A quick gratitude post...

I'm popping in here for a quick gratitude post today. My husband, middle daughter and son-in-law, and the team from our church arrived home from Ghana on Saturday.  After twelve days of taking care of the grandkids at their house, I've got a lot of things I want to get done at home.  But first, my gratitude journal from the past seven days...

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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)

#10,684-#10,705

4-23-18-

-a beautiful sunny day

-stopping for Starbucks treats on the ride home after picking the grandkids up from school

-our almost four year old grandson's bedtime routine-three books, three songs, and prayer

4-24-18-

-YaY! our grandson has been staying in his own bed at night!

-a day at home while G. watched my grandson

-our small group gathering 

4-25-18-

-another 80+ degree day

-a beautiful day to take my grandson to play by the river

-the two oldest grands laying on the foot of my bed and chatting after youth group

4-26-18-

-the way God works when we cast our cares onto Him

-G's help with the oldest grandson's math

-when my teen grandkids say, "I love you, Nana" 

4-27-18-

-our almost four grandson singing, 

"Praise be to the Wounded One, All glory and honor to the Son" 

-a good support system

-the team is on their way home from Ghana

4-28-18-

-my guy is home!

 (And the whole team.  No one got sick. Projects accomplished.  Praise God!)

-our home

-a cup of my favorite chai tea

4-29-18-

-the sweet presence of God

-a great message from our assistant pastor

-lunch with our daughter and grandkids

-Sunday afternoon rest

still following,

Just Sing!

Our middle grandson, who will be four years old next month, sings in his bed until he falls asleep at night. In the morning, the sound of him singing in his bed is how you know he is awake. He has great pitch and will pick up a tune right away. When he hears a song at church, even if it's just a time or two, you will hear him attempting to sing it.  He may stumble to get the words right, but remembers the tune perfectly. I think he was born with the heart of a worshipper.

I love to sing as well. When I'm doing something I love to do, usually something creative, I find myself singing, whistling or humming. I vividly remember getting in trouble in first grade for subconsciously humming as I did my work. But, it was spending the past twelve days taking care of my grandson, while his parents were on a missions trip, that made me realize that I haven't been singing much lately. He sings constantly and wanted me to sing with him.  We sang when I tucked him in. We sang when we drove somewhere in the car. The more that we sang together, the happier my heart felt.(Join me for the rest of this post on Sunday, April 29th, at Woman to Woman Ministries where each Sunday I share a bit of Sunday Soul Food!)

still following,

Also happily linking up with the lovely

Susan B. Mead
and

Sunday Scripture Blessings

Friday Faves...Blue and White

I love to decorate with blue and white.

To me, it's classic and timeless.

When we bought our leather furniture nineteen (!) years ago we chose navy blue.

I've never ever regretted that decision and would do it again in a heartbeat.

To add pops of warmth to the cool palette of blue and white 

against gray, or "greige", walls with white trim, I add a few pops of red.

Texture added through the use of a lot of natural wood,  

as well as pillows, throws and quilts also warms up a room decorated with cool colors.

What are your favorite colors to decorate with?

Have a HAPPY Friday

and

a safe and blessed weekend!

 

             

A summer-like spring day on the Columbia River...

The weather was in the eighties today and will be again tomorrow.

But, never fear, Friday will bring much lower temperatures and more spring rain.

That's why I decided to take our middle grandson for a bit of fun by the river.

It would be a shame not to enjoy this sun!

still following,

songography at "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out"

image-in-ing:Variations

http://www.lifenreflection.com

buckaroo mama

peabea

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY at CREATE WITH JOY

A Busy Nana's gratitude post...

I'm a day late posting my weekly gratitude list.  I'm on "Nana duty" for almost two weeks while my husband and our second born daughter and her husband and a team from our church are on a missions trip to Ghana. So, with two busy teens, an almost four year old, and a ten month old new to them dog to keep track of, I've not had a lot of down time for things like blogging!  Thank God that our almost four year old grandson's "nanny", our unofficially adopted granddaughter that I've mentioned here before, can help me out on occasion, and today she is on duty so I can catch up on things like small group prep, check book balancing, bill paying and even a bit of blogging!  

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

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)
#10,960-#10,684

4-16-18-
-a quiet morning to sleep in after a middle of the night run to the airport
-watching the movie WONDER with my oldest granddaughter
-news that our team arrived safely in Ghana

4-17-18-
-the loud chirping of the birds just before sunrise
-texts from my hubs that everyone arrived safely in Kumasi
-singing, "I have decided to follow Jesus", with Nehemiah
-homemade broccoli cheddar soup and homemade bread-the grands loved it!

4-18-18-
-a beautiful spring day for a walk around the park

-photos from Ghana
-our grandson's handsome new haircut-first time he wasn't afraid of the clippers!

4-19-18-
-good reports that the projects are going well in Ghana
-apple blossoms on our neighbor's tree

-G's help with the grandkids

4-20-18-
-the neighbor's bringing the grandkids' dog back when she jumped the fence
-our grandson worshipping when we sing "I love you, Lord" before bed
-sharing a favorite movie with my granddaughter

4-21-18-
-phone calls and texts from my hubs
-"Nana, you're like an angel!" (Oh, the things that an almost four year old says!)
-all three kids worn out and in bed early!

4-22-18-
-Sunday lunch outside in the sun
-God working when I pray, and repent, and let go, and trust Him
-going out for child sized Wendy's Frosties with my grandson
-working together on chores with the grandkids
-good news from someone I was concerned about

still following,

The hungry soul...

I have a fitness app on my phone on which I keep track of my exercise and eating.  It gives me access to helpful tips as well, and one of those tips was that if you are actually hungry then you will be willing to eat a piece of fruit or some veggies. It said that if you're unwilling to eat something healthy, then what you are experiencing is not true hunger.

Our small group is studying the Sermon on the Mount.  How many times have I read through Matthew chapters five, six and seven and picked out the tasty bits of what Jesus said, but turned my nose up, so to speak, at the tough parts?  I really love the part where Jesus tells us to not be anxious and reassures us of His provision and care for us.  I even have that part memorized!  But, then there's that part where He tells us that anger in our heart towards our brother is equal to murder and must be dealt with swiftly and not harbored. That part was a bit more difficult for me to swallow.

(Join me for the rest of this post on Sunday, April 22nd, at Woman to Woman Ministries where each Sunday I share a bit of Sunday Soul Food!)

still following,

Also happily linking up with the lovely

Susan B. Mead
and

Sunday Scripture Blessings

Spellbound by the sea...

The little cabin on the Umpqua River in this post is only about twenty miles inland from the beach. Our favorite little beach town is about another twenty miles north. When we visit the cabin, my husband and I usually take an afternoon to drive there, eat lunch at our favorite spot, do a bit of antiquing and looking in the shops, and of course, walk on the beach.

Those of you who've read my blog for any length of time, know that I think a walk by the sea is a good cure for just about whatever ails you.

I'm not sure when the sea first cast its spell over me, capturing my heart forever. I've always wondered if it's simply in my DNA.  My mama was born on Prince Edward Island and her relatives still live in the family farmhouse where mama was born.  My grandparents then moved from P.E.I. to the shipbuilding town of Bath, Maine, where Mama grew up.  Mama was born surrounded by the sea and grew up by the sea. Maybe I inherited my longing to be near the sea from her.

I grew up 80 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean, and we are living about that same distance now. That's not near close enough in my opinion, but I'm thankful it's close enough for day trips and frequent visits. In our early years of marriage we lived in a coastal town for about five years. I loved it.

(The Heceta Head lighthouse can be seen in the distance in this photo.)

 When I was a little girl I thought that living in a lighthouse would be the best life ever. I guess I'll just have to settle for frequent visits to the beach and as many walks by the sea as this inland girl can squeeze in.

still following,

songography at "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out"

image-in-ing:Variations

http://www.lifenreflection.com

buckaroo mama

peabea

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY at CREATE WITH JOY