Weekly Gratitude Journal

I have two weeks worth of gratitude journal entries to post again this week. We took some time away for our anniversary last week. We usually take our vacation the last week of August-first week of September but this year our vacation isn't until October. (Because we want to see Maine in autumn! I can not wait!) We've been going through a lot of transition in our ministry the last several months, it's been good, but we're tired! We both realized that we needed a few days away in order to face our very full September calendar. While our getaway to the cabin with our seven grandkids was full of fun and memory making, it was not a time of rest and relaxation. What a blessing for just the two of us to getaway to the little cabin on the Umpqua River and what a blessing to be back home again and fully immersed in the busyness of home and family and church life.

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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)

#12,421-#12,467

8-26-19-

-a great night's sleep

-sunflowers growing by the neighbors mailbox

-a billing error rectified

8-27-19-

-a crabapple branches bouquet 

-our two oldest grands first day back to school

-spending some time with my little buddy

8-28-19-

-listening to sermons online

-our church family's support for parents of newborns

-the three lush green ferns growing in our backyard flowerbed

8-29-19-

-waking up to a good old, very loud, old fashioned Mid-West style thunderstorm

-my daughter's leg injury requiring rest, not surgery

-a really good time of prayer

8-30-19-

-Friday date day

-fried okra dipped in spicy ranch

-God's miracle of Hope City's new building

8-31-19-

-this morning that God made

-"You finish what You start in me. My heart will be an offering." -Always Good by the McClures

-a nice long phone chat with my sister

9-1-19-

-God's presence even when we are going through a sad farewell

-a safe drive to the cabin

-sipping hot tea and listening to music while sitting on the deck overlooking the river

9-2-19-

-devotions out on the deck

-river otters splashing and playing near the shore

-the morning song of the birds

-kayaking way up river

-a beautiful walk by the sea at Winchester Bay

9-3-19-

-God hearing and answering my grandgirlie's childlike prayers 

-a beautiful day-we took a picnic lunch and drove to Bandon by the Sea

-a maple nut ice cream cone

9-4-19-

-remembering on our anniversary Your faithfulness, provision, protection, forgiveness, mercy and grace in our lives

-the 15 of us-our three daughters and sons-in law and seven grandchildren

-a wonderful time together at our favorite restaurant in Florence 

-ending the day together standing on the deck and looking at the sky full of stars

9-5-19-

-fog capped mountains with blue skies overhead

-a hawk fishing for its breakfast

-a huge heron flying back and forth in front of the cabin as I sit on the deck

-an evening thunderstorm producing the most beautiful pink sunset

9-6-19-

-a safe drive home

-hugs and kisses from our two youngest grands 

-both of us loving to come back home

9-7-19-

-waking up in the wee hours to spend time with Jesus

-a huge pot of mums for the front porch

-God working in our church

9-8-19-

-water baptisms

-a great youth leaders/student leaders lunch and meeting at our house

-a nice long visit with R and N

still following,