Day 18 or so...

Ok so I have kinda been slacking on the whole Thankfulness thing.  I just haven't been feeling it...and yes I know that's kinda the point. As we sang in Church this morning...

1. When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
   When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
   Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
   And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
   • Refrain:
     Count your blessings, name them one by one,
     Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
     Count your blessings, name them one by one,
     *Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
     [*And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.]
2. Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
   Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
   Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
   And you will keep singing as the days go by.

I am thankful for our Church.  The Church family.  Last night we had a great Church Fellowship Thanksgiving dinner.  But today I want to say how thankful I am for our Pastor and his wife.  Today Pastor officially announced his retirement in the coming year at the end of service.  It has pretty much been common knowledge for a while now that he would be retiring in the coming year.  Yet as I sat there in the pew, listening as he read his letter, I felt overwhelmed with emotion and sadness.  Pastor Kelvin has pretty much been my Pastor for all my Christian Life.  He said today that he has been at our church for 21 1/2 years.  I was 11 years old when he came to Kirkville.  As he said in his letter today he has shared a lot of happy times and also sad with the members of our church.  Definitely true for myself. Pastor and JoAnne have been such a big part of my life.  It is hard to imagine Community Wesleyan without them. But we are all so very blessed to have had them for so long.  And even though we still have a good 6 months left before they retire, I wish them all the best and am praying for their future.  As well as the future God has for His Church in Kirkville. :)


On a complete sidenote...this is my thanks from Thursday...My sister gave us her old couch for our basement. :) Mom and Dad dropped it off on Thursday night. I spent most of Monday cleaning out the room downstairs to make room for it! :D The before pictures are pretty embarrassing...  
 
The After...still not perfect or completely done but a vast improvement...  

 And a note of thanks from yesterday, I booked a new pampered chef party... kinda stoked about that :D and praying for a sign that I should stick with it.  I love Pampered Chef but have seriously been thinking about quitting...

Give thanks....

It has been a rocky emotional week for me but here are some of the highlights...

I am thankful for...

• My november devo series so far...its been spot on and excellent...
• Preschoolers, and their hugs, giggles and grins
• I am thankful for my crockpot..
• Libraries
• I am thankful for my lil Sunday school class ♥ :D
• Thankful for the delicious Apple Crisp Donuts the Mr and Mik brought home for breakfast ;P
• the Mr took Mikayla out to breakfast this morning
• cozy blankets
• time to watch CASTLE with Mikayla
• God is my constant  

I can’t think about that right now. If I do, I’ll go crazy. I’ll think about that tomorrow. 

– Scarlet O’Hara, Gone with the Wind

I have felt a bit like Scarlet O'Hara lately.  I find myself feeling overwhelmed and thinking, I won't worry about it right now....I'll think about it tomorrow. Its not very effective.  The worry is still there tomorrow.  And no easier to dismiss. :( 

But God is there.  God is constant.  He keeps bringing His promises to mind.  I am trying to hold on to them.

Two I read today:

 And my God will meet all your needs 

according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.  --Philippians 4:19

So do not fear, for I am with you;
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10 

This morning I came across this on pinterest... a haven seems to be just what I am seeking right now.  Week 1's challenge seems simple enough, get a great candle.  Light it when you are home.  Every time you look at it, pray for peace in your home.

Source: womenlivingwell.org via Amy on Pinterest

I finally got my fall table runner stitched up this morning.  I looked around town for a new smelly candle to grace my table.  There were none suitable to be found.  I have a small red jar candle sitting on my dresser that I figured might do in a pinch...although it would look dwarfed and kinda ridiculous on the kitchen table.  Upon returning home I remembered an orange pillar candle in my bathroom that might be suitable.  At least until I can get to a better store and purchase a delicious smelling large jar candle.

So here it is... Also I am resolving today to do a better job of keeping the table clean.  I tend to pile all manor of junk upon it as the day progresses. 



Today I am thankful for our home. That we have a cozy place we call our own. A place to dwell and be.

Days of Praise: Laughter

Today I am thankful for laughter!

I had a great time helping out in the Church kitchen today. We put on a little luncheon for the Reflections of the Heart Fashion Event that was going on.  It was a lovely event for young ladies {ages twelve and up, and a few a little younger}.  From what I saw it looked like everyone had a good time.    We certainly  had fun in the kitchen and we laughed... I love our Church. {This maybe a recurring theme through the month}.  It was also great to spend some time with a new-ish friend...getting to know her better.

I also got to spend a little quality time with Mikayla in the afternoon.  She and I hit the grocery store, and then bnacl to church to prepare communion for tomorrow.  And visit one of her new favorite store Plato's Closet .  A very cool little store, but seems to be very busy and crowded.  At least it has been when we have stopped in! She was able to get a couple new Tshirsts. :)

Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”   Psalm 126:2

How are you doing on your Joy Journey this month.  I came across this Bible reading calendar this week that I shared with my Bible Study group.

Source: thebettermom.com via Amy on Pinterest

Pastor also posted one on his Blog that goes along with her message series this month. :)

Happy JoY hunting!

days of praise...

I am thankful for my girlfriends. <3 My sisters in Christ...some of the very best pictured above.

Though one may be overpowered,
    two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Ecclesiastes 4:12

many reasons...

When Rhett and I went to Ryan's parent teacher conference we got quite a kick out of reading Ryan's Thankfulness Composition...

I am thankful for a such a darling boy to call my son.

Life's too short...

...to fret and stress and complain.

Life is good, God is good and we are so blessed. So very blessed.

Don't get me wrong I get caught up in the stress and pace of life moves at as well. In fact today I was on the verge of loosing it. At one point I locked myself in the bathroom for a "time out" ;P But really in the over all scheme of things. My life is pretty darn good. I am healthy, my family is healthy. I have a wonderful loving husband. We share three marvelous children. We have a fabulous little house that I love and have transformed into a HOME. We have enough. We are fed. We are warm. We are happy.

I had another time out this evening. But the good kind. In spite of the fact the kitchen was piled high with dirty supper dishes, and homework was yet to be done. I stopped and took the time to play a game with the youngest two offspring. Things like this make it all the trivial stuff fade away.

So ...

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
~Matthew 6:34

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
~ 1 Peter 5:7

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
~Jeremiah 29:11

Look for the good in today, and treasure it! Especially if you have little ones, for all too soon childhood will be behind them. And these are the days their memories are made of.

family

We had a wonderful dinner here yesterday. I am thankful for every family member who could be here. We missed those who were not. I am thankful for the home we have that we were able to share. I am thankful for the abundance of turkey and the all the trimmings. I am thankful for the conversations and the laughter.

children

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Matthew 19:4 niv

Today I am thankful for children. Their innocence. Their joy. Their laughter. I am thankful for each one that is apart of my life.

Digital collage generated with Smilebox

redemtion

I am thankful that there is nothing to broken for God to restore and redeem.

this guy...

I love him more than I can express. I am happy he is my husband, the father of my children and my best friend.

Last night I also had the privilege of attending a vow renewal ceremony of two dear people.
Its nice to be able to focus on the positive once in a while, the love and life long commitment. I hear of so much heart ache divorce and separation.

But today I only want to think of the good. Of my own family and marriage and how far we have come. Of those I know of who are working hard everyday to strive to make their marriage better and stronger everyday. Its hard but it also so worth it.

Link to my entry on our own vow renewal a couple years back is HERE.

days of praise...day 4

Today I am thankful for our great country, and the little corner of it where we dwell. I am thankful for all the men and women who sacrificed to give us this great land we live in.

Specifically for my mister. And my other favorite my Marine, my little brother.


(Christmas Eve 2003)

this is home

What a marvelous day it ended up being. :) I love days like this.

Hannah had preschool this morning. I headed out to do some running around. My first stop was the library. I had lost a magazine, it was due today. I feared going into the library and confessing I had lost it. How embarrassing. Now I lose things on a regular basis. But usually I am able to locate them sooner or later. No such luck, I sincerely think during my brief bout of organizing it was discarded, mistaken for own of my own magazines. I decided I needed to own up to or never set foot in a Onondaga County Library again! Clearly that was not an option. But of course the past six weeks had made much more of the situation than it really was. The girl at the desk didn't even bat an eye, and even offered to renew it for an additional month to give me more time to find it. I opted just to pay to have it replaced today, my fee being a measly TWO DOLLARS! I couldn't believe it! I happily paid and ended up wandering the library leaving with a stack of books, movies and CD's. Two new crochet books boasting projects easy enough for beginners. ;) I really do <3 the library and it is so relaxing being there alone!

Driving around today I found myself basking in the season, and our location. I just love where we live. I love the fall, the sights, the sounds, the smells. Even the impending snowy winter weather can not dampen my love for CNY today.

Later in the afternoon Hannah coaxed me into sitting out on the stoop and watching her ride her scooter. She happily chattered away. It just does not get any better than this.

days of praise...day 3

Sisters! I have one sister and she is awesome, one of my best friends. And I love her...tons! <3





My mom and her sister, my Aunt Sue

My beautiful daughters, so happy they each have an awesome sister in each other.

Sisters rock! If you have one make sure you tell her you love her today! <3

days of praise... day 2

Source: writenowisgood.typepad.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Books! Glorious Books! The above is just a picture I found on pinterest. It would be totally awesome to have shelves like that though!

I just love books. I think in my heart of hearts I too am a librarian like my sister. I however lack the funds and ambition to actually go to school for it. So I will settle for being the librarian of our little corner library in our Church. <3 Even my home library is sadly lacking, my one bookshelf is slowly being over taken my the Mister's odds and ends, most of my books are either stacked next to my bed or still in boxes in the basement. I must obtain some shelving soon.... but I digress....

I love books, I love libraries. This week I actually slipped off to the library myself while Hannah was in school. It was wonderful to peruse the books of my choosing without having to constantly correct and chase after children. I do love sharing the library and my love for books with my children as well, don't get me wrong. I've been privileged to have some quality book time as of late with Miss Hannah. Her preschool teacher informed my earlier this week that she had some great pre-reading skills and would probably enjoy those level one early reader books. I promptly checked some out of the library. She and I had quite a reading fest that night. We snuggled and read 6-7 in a row, with some repeats, ;) during homework time. She delighted in being able to fill in some of the words that were quite repetitive in those early reader books ;) We particularly enjoyed one about a backyard. I love backyards too...but that is a post for another day. ;P

I am encouraging Ryan in his reading as well, as he has fallen quite behind in his independent reading. He is required to read 25 books on his own for school. Nearing the end of the 1st making period he informed me he was in danger of getting a ZERO in reading as he had yet to finish a single chapter book!! gasp! He reads every night in bed, takes stacks of library books to bed with him. But he has been neglecting the chapter books, and books on his level which would qualify apparently. This saddens me as he is very adept at reading, just chooses to forsake it for other activities! But we're working on it. His reading log is now posted on the fridge to remind the both of us to keep on track with his reading.

Source: google.com via Amy on Pinterest

Snuggle up with a blanket, and hot beverage and enjoy a good book this weekend. ;)