Through the Ages Day #7 of Thankfulness

It's my friends birthday today. 

One I see about twice a year. 

Lately one of those times each year has been a wake or funeral. 

She came to our wedding. 

She came to Elijah's funeral. 

I have known her since I was three. 

There were three of us. 

Always together. 

She is so faithful in writing and sending cards. 

My dad nick named her when we were little. 

He loved her curls and quiet ways. 

So different from his little girl.

We used to play every day as kids. 

We celebrated birthdays each year. 

She tagged along on our family holiday sing alongs. 

Gathered with us for family reunions. 

Our lives interwoven in the strongest of tapestries.

She had a little hide away nook under the stairs in her cellar. 

(that's what we called them. . . cellars)

Oh how fun it was. 

Sleeping over at her house was a treat. 

She had 3 older sisters- who I adored and admired. 

(still do)

I had none. 

We slept on the pull out couch and watched cartoons all morning!

This was not allowed at our house. 

We were up early. 

Cleaning; working. 

Preparation I know now for the life I would come to live. 

When we were 16, her wonderful daddy journeyed to meet Jesus. 

He had that C word that folks rarely talked about. 

Her mom already having battled the C word, only to have it return later in life.

Those days were hard as her family continued on. 

Learning to live with out this precious man. 

Yet they honored and remembered his memory. 

A witness of strength and close knit family. 

She faithfully stood by me as my mom battled the C word. 

Coming to visit.

Meeting for coffee. 

Letting me cry. 

She never flinched. 

She held my hand. 

And let the tears flow with me. 

I am celebrating this sweet childhood friend today. 

Even though I won't see her. 

Her quiet ways. 

Her beautiful smile that reaches her eyes. 

Happy Birthday my friend. 

Thank you for showing me and teaching me about friendship. 

~ 30 Days of Thankfulness~

I am thankful for:

Friendships that last through decades

my mom who taught me the value of friendship

memories of laughter and fun

a childhood that still makes me smile

the imaginations we had as kids; oh how we played

endless summer nights playing kick the can, chase. . . and others

winter vacations that would last a life time;

 sledding at the hill, skating on Jones' pond

living in a neighborhood that spanned the generations

marrying into a family where the generations lived close by

friends who keep in touch and make the effort

the gift of technology so keeping in touch is easier

the Art of letter writing and card sending;

 I still thrill at the sight of a letter from my friend

the friends who have walked the joyous and mundane parts of my life

the friends that have also held me through the darkest times in my life-

they are the heartbeat of life

John 15:13

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.

I Would Like a Do Over Day #6 of Thankfulness

We stand in line. 

I fuss, I fume. 

The event already started. 

And we're outside. 

I complain. 

I feel anxious. 

I question why I've come. 

I wonder why they don't have a better system. 

Many thoughts run through my head. 

It is not until I am home. 

Until it is late at night that I process this. 

I missed out on so many blessings because I stepped into anxiety. 

Instead of using the beautiful gift of gratitude

 I jumped off the cliff into dangerous water. 

I let frustration and other emotions crowd out the blessings of the evening. 

This life is a journey. 

We will make mistakes and shake our head at our foolishness. 

This morning I am shaking off what was. 

And stepping into what hasn't been. 

(really I am shaking off a late night and drinking lots of coffee)

I want this walk of gratitude to change me. 

~30 Days of Thankfulness~

I am Thankful For:

An anxiety filled night so lessons may be learned

My farmer and family taking the night off to see a concert

Learning that my farmer's last concert with Elijah was seeing Cast Crowns

the 10 year old farm girl singing the words to every song - 

even as she is falling asleep in my arms

spending time with my SIL- both deeply grieving the loss of our sons

quiet mornings to process the journey

Reminders that even though I mess up- I am forgiven

that as far as the East is from the West -

so far has he removed my transgressions

a new day dawning

10,000 reasons to sing

A niece that lifts her hands to worship - I am learning much from her

unending grace

coffee therapy

I would love a do-over of last night. 

Actually, there are many nights I'd like a do over. 

One in particular. 

While that's not possible. 

Changing my heart is. 

It's not easy. 

Be thankful in all circumstances takes work. 

So today I will attempt to fill those anxious moments with thanks. 

How is your Gratitude walk going? 

The Richness of Seeing Day #5 of Thankfulness

The farm boy headed to bible study. 

The dancer to class. 

My farmer was still caring for his ladies. 

So the youngest and I found we were alone. 

She had been up since 3:30 a.m. 

She wanted to snuggle. 

Such a rare gift. 

Knowing I love fixer, upper shows,

she put on Netflix to the perfect choice. 

One that the older daughter had shared  about on my wall just this day. 

We snuggled.

We watched. 

Just the two of us. 

While this journey of children being in

 heaven and growing up and moving on is rough. 

It's these moments that we need to cherish. 

~30 Days of Thankfulness~

I am thankful for:

Sunshine and warm days in November

A productive day of school

Washing windows

(yes! I was able to get one of the 40 done!)

A spontaneous visit with a friend

(poor girl had a double root canal!)

dinner already prepared 

a niece who will come and sit with me and eat her lunch

A daughter, even though far away, still thinks of her mama

Care packages sent

the slow pace of an evening to snuggle with the youngest

lessons I am learning in a quiet home 

that used to burst at the seam with children

eyes that see the beauty: hidden, waiting to be seen

hard discussions choosing church leadership

trusting when there is no other way

Elijah's friends who send me a note when I most need it

learning how to dance in the rain

When we intentionally step into gratitude our eyes are opened. 

We see glimpses of grace we never knew before. 

Won't you join us? 

Ephesians 1:8

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people

Babies, Snuggles, Diapers. . . Oh My! Day #4 of Thankfulness

I start the day with coffee and a scone with a friend. 

She insists on treating me to my favorite latte. 

It's so nice to be out and visiting. 

I return home to a note from a sweet mama that she is in the area. 

She and her new baby and would love to stop by. 

Snuggles and visiting. 

A perfect combination. 

Later after a silly fb conversation I receive another note from a mama

of three under three. 

She and another seasoned mama come for shortbread and coffee. 

The day has flown by. 

And there is contentment in my heart. 

There is still laundry and dishes. 

Supper to get. 

Floors to sweep and mop. 

Books to balance and checks to write. 

But there is a peace. 

A calm assurance. 

All is well. 

With my soul. 

Psalm 62:5

Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.

~30 Days of Thankfulness~

I am thankful for:

babies and snuggles

surprise visits

coffee in the living room while little ones play

the art of visiting, it is such a treasure

the moments of relief from grief

sunshine and warm days in November

memories of my son that flutter through

the grace by which I have been saved

never walking this road alone

the Ancient Word

the changing seasons

moments to breathe in deep

peace in my soul

another farmette on the way

a new day to be open to all God will send our way

strength for the journey, even when we don't like it

my farm girls who get up to help their farmer daddy do chores

milk, eggs and meat all from the farm 

The act of stepping into gratitude. 

You'll never be the same. 

I Really Don't Want to Write this Post Day #3 of Thankfulness

The day is beautiful. 

Picturesque. 

Warm. 

Colors spectacular. 

It is easy to step into Praise. 

To give thanks for all. 

But what about the hard times? 
Those days when you can hardly breathe. 

I really don't want to write about this. 

I don't want to be uncomfortable. 

How does the gratitude work when your 

son resides with the King of Kings?

When you watched your mom struggle with 

every breath her last weeks on this earth. 

When your spouse is diagnosed with cancer. 

When the finances are so bad you can barely hang on. 

When two of your friends head on ahead of you to meet Jesus. 

When you get the news your nephew now too resides with the King of Kings. 

When moment after moment the hard knocks on your door. 

How does the praise work?

How do you crawl out of bed to face a new day?

Zechariah 4:6

So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel:

'Not by might nor by power, 

but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.

It is not by our power we do these things. 

It is by the power of Christ in us. 

By the surrendering of our will. 

To be held captive by Him. 

We can't do it. 

I know I don't want to. 

Can you praise him for the difficult things? 

2 Peter 1:5-7

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love

I am working on this. 

These are hard things. 

My flesh wants answers and to understand. 

My spirit needs to yield. 

I can not see the whole picture. 

There is a plan. 

I just can not see it. . . yet. 

I am able to praise him in the storm. 

To live fully for him. 

Praising him for the storm. . . I am working on that. 

~30 Days of Thankfulness~

I am grateful for:

learning how to Praise Him for the storm

praising him in the storm

the ways in which we have grown since Elijah's home going

for the people we have met along this journey

dr's and nurses who work so tirelessly with cancer patients

a community that never lets us go

a display in the sky of God's never ending promises

3 days in a row God sent a rainbow as we celebrated Micah's life

for a sister in law that grieves displaying amazing grace

for hot coffee and time to ponder the hard

Won't you join us in 30 days of Gratitude? 

Jump right in. 

Let us know how it is going for you. 

Being Thankful is a Choice Day #2 of Thankfulness

Worship. 

An act. 

A response. 

Each Sunday for almost 48 years. 

Part of my life. 

My being. 

Deep within. 

We sing;

I surrender All. 

I think about those words. 

I have surrendered my son. 

Not willingly. 

I surrendered my husband. 

Not willingly. . . and he was given back. 

I surrender all. 

There is a lot to that act. 

It is a choice. 

One I want to embrace. 

As one begins to surrender all the hurt. . . all the ache. 

Something happens 

The Act of Praise begins to emerge. 

A beautiful work takes place.

~30 Days of Thankfulness~

I am thankful for:

Quiet afternoons where the tears can flow

Cups of tea (yes I said it. Occasionally; tea trumps coffee)

Christmas movies

Reminders of how blessed we are

heat

running water

My farmer

face time

The farmette and her mama and daddy and the new one about to be

Worship

A 10 year old who still likes to snuggle and be read to

My organizing fairy who is helping reclaim floor space

The grace by which this wretched soul was saved

The hope of eternal life

the struggles through which we grow

“I realized that the deepest spiritual lessons are not learned by His letting us have our way in the end, but by His making us wait, bearing with us in love and patience until we are able to honestly to pray what He taught His disciples to pray: Thy will be done.” 

~Elisabeth Elliot

Won't you join us in this journey? 

Leave a comment.

Post your thoughts. 

30 Days of Thankfulness. . . . Are you in?

Are you in? 

Are you willing to count your blessings? 

Can you name them. . . one by one. . . ?

When death and cancer knocked on our door;

we stepped into praise. 

When the path has seemed so long and hard;

we've stepped into Praise. 

Won't you join us on a grateful walk? 

Be purposeful in turning to praise?

No matter the walk. 

No matter how hard. 

Turn it to praise. 

I'm trying. 

Psalm 92

 It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name,

 O Most High,

~ 30 Days of Thankfulness~

I am thankful for:

The ways in which God surprises me as I walk this journey

my children and their uniqueness

Starlit nights

A home full of kids

friends who never let go

A visit from a college friend who stands at the grave and says, 

"Tell me about Elijah."

bonfires

Crisp, quiet mornings

The Ancient Word

Farming

my farmer

coffee

lessons I am learning; even in the struggle

Our new Guest House venture

knowing we are held

I'd love for you to join me in this journey. 

Share our link. 

Leave a comment. 

Let's see what God will do when we join together to be thankful. 

Psalm 107:1

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,for his steadfast love endures forever!