Belated Gratitude Post-

I try to publish my weekly gratitude post every Monday, but sometimes it just doesn't work out that way. Tomorrow is my husband's birthday and Monday was the only evening that worked for us to have his family birthday dinner. It's always a blessing to us when we get to have our whole family together, (though one son-in-law had to be out of town this time), and we don't take this blessing of having our children and grandchildren living in our area for granted. I cannot look at the fifteen of us together, hear the noise of the grandkids playing together, and not feel so very thankful for God's blessings.  With that said, here's last week's gratitude list - better late than never!

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

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)

#11,768-#11,791

2-18-19-

-a day to have some peace and quiet

-a walk and prayer time with my friend

-our daughters' wisdom

2-19-19-

-all of the helpful Bible study tools right at hand on my phone

-trusting God on the messy journey that walking in unity requires

-our small group

-a phone call with my big sister

2-20-19-

-waking up to birdsong-spring is nearer!

-a visit to see our sweet youngest grands

-taking youngest grandson on his favorite-a nice long walk!

2-21-19-

-God's help and wisdom when we ask Him

-tiny gray and black chickadee 

-this sunny, blue sky day

-"knowing you, Jesus, knowing you, there is no greater thing"

-good news about a friend's ultrasound

2-22-19-

-good news on a friend's medical test

-Friday date day with my guy

-two youngest grandson's playing at the park together

2-23-19-

-painting

-Tiffani Kilgore's book, Misfit Table

-reading bits aloud to my husband and both of getting tears

2-14-19-

-God is at work!

-miraculous provision for a young couple in our church

-family group texts with grandkid photos

still following,

The Lord is good and does what is right...

If only we were immovably, unshakably convinced of God's goodness. If only we really, truly believed that there is no shadowy, scary darkness, nothing shifty, lurking in His character. If only we knew without a doubt that everything He does is right, He really does work everything together for our good, and He only does what is beneficial for us. If only we really knew beyond a shadow of doubt the limitlessness of His love for us and that nothing can separate us from His love.  (Join me for the rest of this post on Sunday, February 24th, 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

Friday Faves...Blooming Branches Indoors

Last week on a gray, rainy day I clipped some budding branches found in a vacant lot,

desperate to bring some early signs of spring into my house.

A warm house, a vase and some water is all it takes and a week later, the buds are turning in to blooms!

Pussy willows are another sign of spring. I didn't forage these branches, I bought them at Trader Joe's. I don't want the pussy willows to continue to change so I did not give them any water. I've had them for a couple of weeks now and they look as good as the day I bought them.

Today, the sky is blue and the sun is out, but tomorrow the rain is supposed to return. These blooming branches are a good reminder that spring is only a month away!

Have a HAPPY, HAPPY Friday

and

a BLESSED weekend!

        

             

Monday Gratitude...

Happy Monday, everyone! The day has slipped away from me and it's time to make dinner so I'm just going to get straight to posting last week's gratitude list! 

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)

#11,742-#11,767

2-11-19-

-a sweet quiet time in God's presence

-making soup and baking cookies with our two middle grandgirlies

-oldest daughter and her husband and the girls staying for dinner

-an encouraging text from our son-in-law

2-12-19-

-Colossians 3:3-7 

-an early Valentine's date with my husband since we are watching the grandkids this weekend

-my daughter getting a great Craig's list find for our granddaughter's new bedroom

2-13-19-

-the reality that I am adopted by my Father God. I am as much His child as Jesus is.

-my photographer friend taking our new grandbaby's photos

-signs of spring coming in spite of this week's snow and rain

2-14-19-

-Valentine's Day-thank you, God, for Your love, for my husband, for our family, for our church

-foraging flowering quince branches to bloom indoors

-our grandkids here for the weekend

-"Nana, do you know that I love Jesus?" - our four year old grandson

2-15-19-

-our granddaughter's 10th birthday

-"Nana, you're my favorite Nana because you're so kind and nice" - another grandson quote 

(and I'm his only living nana so of course I'm his favorite one! Ha! Ha!)

-all of the grandkids together for the first time since the youngest was born

2-16-19-

-a wonderful prayer time

-baking with my oldest granddaughter

-a great evening with our church leadership
-singing worship songs with the grandkids on the car ride home

2-17-19-
-powerful worship
-God at work in our church
-new families

-God answers prayer

still following,

Fully known and dearly loved...

 "For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim, (blurred), reflection [of reality as in a riddle or enigma], but then, [when perfection comes],we shall see in reality and face to face! Now I know in part, (imperfectly), but then I shall know and understand fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been fully and clearly known and understood by God."

 1 Corinthians 13:12 AMPC

This journey we have embarked on when we accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord is one of getting to know and grow in relationship with the God Who loves us and Who we have chosen to love in return. The most passionate of us in our pursuit to grow in our understanding of God will still only barely scratch the surface of the fathomless wonder of Who He is. When we enter eternity with Him, hopefully we will have come to know Him well enough that our greeting to Him is one of satisfied wonder, "I knew You were like this, and yet You are so much more!", and not one of puzzlement, "This is what You're like?" 

Meanwhile, here in our life on planet earth, while we are pursuing to grow in our knowledge and understanding of God, we can take comfort in this truth. Your Creator fully, wholly, and clearly knows you. He "gets" you.  (Join me for the rest of this post on Sunday, February 17th, 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 - Keto Chocolate Peanut Butter Candies

I love to bake sweet treats for family and friends, 

but my husband cannot eat sugar. 

So for Valentine's Day I looked up some Keto, (very low carb), candy recipes

and did a little tweaking until I made one that even I thought tasted yummy.

They are so quick and easy!

My husband was very happy 

to have something sweet to nibble on with his coffee.

Keto Chocolate Peanut Butter Candies

1/2 cup natural peanut butter

4 Tablespoons coconut oil

4 Tablespoons butter

3 Tablespoons baking cocoa

Melt in microwave for one minute. Stir well.

Add 15 quick squirts of liquid Stevia 

and

1/2 teaspoon vanilla 

Stir well.

Pour into silicone candy molds and put into freezer for 30 minutes.

(A glass measuring cup with a pour spout works best for this.)  

 Unmold and store in airtight bags or container in the refrigerator.

Happy Valentine's Day

and

have a HAPPY, HAPPY Friday

and

a BLESSED weekend!