Weekly Gratitude Post

Where I live, in the southwest corner of Washington state with just the Columbia River separating my city from Portland, Oregon, we are not used to, nor prepared for, significant snow. But wouldn't you know that this winter, after a year of pandemic losses and shutdowns, relentless social unrest and violence in Portland and Seattle, and after a summer with the most horrific wildfires ever in our area, that this would be the winter when we have a real snowpacalypse. What we usually get is 24 hour news coverage of possible snow that actually ends up being a light dusting. But beginning Thursday evening, it began snowing and didn't stop at our house until we had about 14 inches of snow. South of Portland, Oregon, they didn't get as much snow, but they got much worse-freezing rain that ended up coating everything with an inch and a half or so of solid ice. It brought down trees and power lines and left  hundreds of thousands without electricity for days. Some areas still don't have their power restored.

We lost power for only about an hour.  My children who lost power were able to get to our house and stayed with us until their power came back on. Our oldest daughter and her family, who had a pre-scheduled trip to Hawaii planned, were still able to fly out and are currently enjoying the sun. Four wheel drive vehicles made necessary trips to the store and trips between our home and our local daughter's house possible. Meanwhile in our church, growth group leaders and members were in frequent contact with one another to check on each other and Zoom made Sunday gathering still possible. There is always something to be thankful for and, personally, I am thankful for being snowed in with my three year old grandson, two year old granddaughter, youngest daughter and son-in-law, for the grandkids coming over to play in the snow and watching them make a seven feet tall snowman and ride my kayak down our steep driveway like a toboggan, for making a big pot of chili and a pan of cornbread to feed them afterwards-in spite of the storm, there is always so much to be thankful for!

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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)

#14,168-#14,188

2-8-2021-

-insight from Is. 43:18-19 as I look up the original word meanings

-a sweet time of prayer on my walk

-God's help getting so much done today

2-9-2021-

-phone conversations with my siblings

-God clarifying my thoughts for tomorrow's message to our church's women

-communicating my heart to my daughter and her understanding my heart

2-10-2021-

-peace and assurance about God's leading me

-many hands make light work-all those who helped me with tonight's meeting

-thank you, God, for a beautiful time together 

2-11-2021-

-holding my youngest grandson and singing with him

-SNOW!

-our warm, cozy home

2-12-2021-

-a lazy snow day at home

-Psalm 46:10 and Isaiah 43:19-the same word KNOW is used

-dinner at our daughter's and getting to see our oldest grandson who has been out of state

2-13-2021-

-a great turnout for our church's men's prayer in spite of the weather

-a fun afternoon/evening with our grandkids playing in the snow

-our youngest daughter and her family staying with us while their power is out

2-14-2021-

-a sweet Valentine card from my guy

-our oldest daughter and her family getting safely to Hawaii

-our church meeting via zoom together

still following,