Weekly Gratitude Journal

Yesterday was busy and full in the best kind of way, prepping and cooking for a church related gathering at our home. Most weeks this is the case, there's a growth group or a leadership meeting here. With two of our daughters and their families living on the east coast now, our house is all too rarely the place for grandkid sleepovers and family celebrations. I'm thankful that we have church family that still fills it up with food, (always food!), fellowship and connection. Today, however, our youngest daughter and her family are flying in from Florida and our house will be the place where our youngest granddaughter has her fourth birthday party this week. Today I'm doing some baking in preparation for their arrival. I often joke that feeding people is my love language. I used to mourn as a little girl that my mama wasn't more fluent in speaking her feelings or generous with her cuddles, but if anyone spoke the love language of acts of service it was my mama. How healing it was for me to realize this as an adult. To see her delicious meals, breads, cookies, cakes and pies and the beautifully sewn clothes she made us as her way of saying I love you was a lovely epiphany. I'd like to think I'm pretty fluent in speaking words of affirmation and love and generous in loving touches and spending quality time with others, but more and more I find myself speaking mama's native love language tongue. Thank you, Mama, for teaching me that feeding people truly can be a most beautiful love language indeed.

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

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)

#16,583-#16,606

1-16-2023-

-a lovely winter day

-an afternoon outing together

-a beautiful sunset on my walk

-Matthew 13:1 "Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea."

1-17-2023-

-my daughters and sons-in-law

-God's continued intervention in a loved one's life

-a great evening with my Visionary Leadership Team and Growth Group Coordinators

-friends who pray with me

1-18-2023-

-coffee and a treat and a talk with my eleven year old grandgirlie

-getting to see my oldest daughter at her job, 

meet her co-workers and I also got to see a dear spiritual daughter

-going out to dinner with my daughter and granddaughters

-hope in a situation that's heavy on my heart

1-19-2023-

-a long awaited Christmas gift card purchase

-a friend bringing me tea and rubbing the knots out of my neck when I had a terrible migraine

-it worked! my headache is feeling better!

1-20-2023-

-Facetiming with my South Carolina daughter and grandkids

-lunch and a movie with my guy for Friday Date Day

-a bit of antiquing too!

1-21-2023-

-a chat and prayer with my granddaughter

-another college football offer for our oldest grandson

-a good Saturday getting things done at home

1-22-2023-

-God speaking to our church so clearly

-God's mighty presence and the power of His Word

-snuggles with my guy

still following,