The Gratitude List: June 13, 2011

Continuing the counting of our blessings: 

1604. This gorgeous sunset
1603. Enough Grace for everything that is on "the list"
1602. The blessing of being asked to pray for precious hearts that
         need to be held up when they are weary
1601. The trust that Jeremiah and Hannah have in the Lord to 
         bring about Samuel's birth in His Perfect Timing
1600. Elizabeth's ability to sleep after injuring her foot
1599. Safety for our up and back trip to Lubbock

1598. The love that went into the preparation of little Samuel's 
         nursery, generational love

1597. Crafting supplies from my sweet niece

1596. Elizabeth's goofy cat that likes to crawl in tiny spaces

1595. Fun the kids had swimming at the church building

1594. These little wildflowers that bloom regardless of the drought

1593. These cute little guys
1592. A surprise visit to see Jeremiah and Hannah
1591. The anticipation of seeing Caleb tomorrow!
1590. Notification that Caleb's plane has landed in Amsterdam
1589. The fact that the problem with the plane was found before
         they left Uganda
1588. Caleb's safe travel back to Entebbe
1587. A long talk with my brother
1586. Sweet bunnies in the mudroom
1585. The glorious ending of Fields of Home
1584. Kregg loading dishes in the dishwasher
1583. Another Skype call from Caleb
1582. Tributes by Josh and Ben to Caleb
1581. Enough Grace to outlast a strong will
1580. A lovely anniversary dinner with my honey
1579. Hannah arriving safely to her due date
1578. 26 years of marriage to my wonderful husband!!!

1577. A long walk with the kids
1576. The many varied bird songs heard in our neighborhood
1575. A friendly wave from the man driving the garbage truck
1574. The humor of howling hounds
1573. Watching Elizabeth try to sneak up on this bunny

Can you see him under that bush?

1572. A bunny keeping cool in the shade of a mesquite bush
1571. Conviction from the Spirit for losing my temper and raising
         my voice
1570. A dove on the wing
1569. How even temperatures in the mid nineties feels pleasant
         with a breeze
1568. A servant heart in a young son
1567. The blessing of community that is found in long time
         neighbors
1566. The sweet little twitter of the finches


The rest of my list is here. 

Superhero Flying Lessons

Josh

 We have a unique facility for a church. It was a former country club. We bought and renovated it to be an outreach campus for our community. And we are completely debt free! It has a huge swimming pool, a wading pool and tennis courts. Lots of maintenance, but these facilities offer many opportunities to invite our community to fun family events. The pool is also where we have baptisms, when the weather is warm. 


Wednesday nights, the kids meet for a Bible study, food, and (during the summer) swimming! Kregg took these pictures last night. 

Ben

Josh

Ben--I think this is my favorite--that look on his face says it all!

Ben

Ben

Ben

Ben

Josh

Josh

Josh

Ben

In case you were concerned about the "No Diving" sign posted on the back wall, they aren't diving. They're flying. :)

The Gratitude List: June 6, 2011

1565. New "love bug" pictures to add to my collection

1566. Celebrating the 57th anniversary of my precious in-laws today

1563. Peace for us throughout Caleb's trip to Uganda

1562. Our second sewing class, helping some sweet ladies learn
         how to choose fabric and read the back of a pattern
1561. A precious baptism this morning of a dad wanting to be the
         kind of man his family needs him to be
1560. The fun the kids have with new pets
1559. A wise choice by a young, growing heart to forgo something 
         wanted a great deal to do what needed to be done 
1558. Excited little faces, alight with plans and dreams
1557. A lovely visit with some lovely ladies
1556. A very productive workday on the "Conderosa"
1555. A treasure trove of crafting supplies from a dear friend
1554. Dinner out with the two youngest girls and Kregg, while the
         boys were spending the night with a friend
1553. Smelly boys in the back seat of the suburban, knowing that
         the degree of "stick" is a direct correlation to the amount of
         fun they have had being boys

1552. Finches
1551. A blessing spoken over our daughter
1550. Words filled with precious encouragement
1549. A sweet talk with a mama about outside commitments while
         she still has young children at home
1548. A heart at Peace, doing what needs to be done no matter how
         she feels about it
1547. Encouragement for my precious nephew--the Lord is relentless
         in His Pursuit of us!
1546. The safe return of Jeremiah and Hannah's Scottie, Posh, after
         she escaped from the backyard and crossed several huge
         streets
1545. Reading Caleb's blog about his trip to Uganda-so much insight

1544. Long skype call with Caleb
1543. A precious reminder from our pastor for us to be considerate
         of our spouses--I need to be reminded often in the busyness 
         of our lives
1542. New plants, a gift from Kregg




The rest of my list is here.


Have you begun the gratitude journey? Counting the ways He blesses your days? If not, start counting with us. It changes how you look at life. 

The Gratitude List: May 30, 2011

                                                                                                       

1541. Rebekah's creativity and the boys' willingness to be her
         "victims"

1540. Celebrating Jeremiah and Hannah's 2nd Anniversary!
1539. A day of rest
1538. A precious message from a dear old friend

A bench, with storage, for their little dining room

1537. Kregg's gift for Jeremiah and Hannah
1536. A quick trip to visit Jeremiah and Hannah
1535. Lingering over a precious Skype call with Caleb
1534. Listening while Mackenzy sings worship songs at the top of
         her lungs while working in her room
1533. An afternoon game with the kids
1532. Kregg's parents' plans to accompany us on vacation!!
1531. Reservations finally made for our family vacation
1530. The battery life on my Kindle :)
1529. Continued blessings over Hannah's pregnancy
1528. Conviction that I am never to do anything but focus on 
         deepening His Message in me--ministry is His
1527. Lots of helpers on a big project
1526. The Spirit's reminder to walk in gratitude, even (especially)
         when I feel grumpy
1525. Safety for emergency workers battling the fires
1524. All the firefighters that work so tirelessly
1523. Protection from all the fires
1522. "You look so pretty, Mom!" Awwwww . . . 
1521. His consistent Provision; there is enough to do what He asks
1520. A day to catch up of the "to do" list
1519. A season of profound Peace in our home
1518. The Hand of His Protection that miraculously saved the life
         of my friend's son
1517. Being able to pray, especially when things look so hopeless,
         for a precious young man who has lost his way
1516. A visit from a precious young man who, years ago, adopted
         Josh and Ben as little brothers




Counting my blessings with so many others who are learning to walk in gratitude. The rest of my list is here.

The Gratitude List: May 23, 2011

What an incredible week! So many blessings to list! All the Glory is His!

1515. A new reason to blog: Pages in Our Heritage of Faith
          A way to encourage parents to "write it down" and build a 
          legacy for their children and grandchildren!! I am so excited!
1514. Such encouraging comments from precious readers
1513. Remembering my dad on this, his birthday. He would have 
         been 86.
1512. "I miss you, Mom," from our oldest
1512. New things listed in our gratitude list for marriage
1511. My new computer! I have been editing photos all this time
         with only 1 gig of ram--found out I need at least 4!
1510. Being silly with Kregg on Skype--the "delay" is pretty funny

1509. This darling little pet lamb that thinks it's a puppy--if only they
         stayed this small

1508. Ben's cocoon imitation

1507. Making memories sleeping in hammocks in Grandma and 
        Grandpa's backyard

1506. A precious new grandniece! 
1505. Great grades for another one of our college students
1504. A pediatrician who will honor Hannah and Jeremiah's wishes
        for their baby

1503. Mourning doves on the powerline
1502. A trip to see Kregg's parents
1501. Chris Rice's album: Peace Like a River
1500. A message from Caleb!!
1499. Everything falling into place for the Tabernacle Experience
1498. Kregg taking the kids fishing--3 hours away-what a good Daddy!

1497. The enjoyment the kids have in the bunnies
1496. Cotton ball shaped clouds

1495. Protection for all our tiny, tender plants during the hail
1494. Dwelling within the desires of my heart
1493. Practice is sitting before Him
1492. Practice in trusting
1491. Practice in patience
1490. Seeing the Lord "grow up and mature" a new spiritual leader
1489. Such a rich relationship with a child
1488. The SMELL of RAIN!!!! So refreshing!!!
1487. The sound of the rain on the roof--it has been SO long!
1486. RAIN!!!!! We have had .11 inches since September 2010. I
         am guessing we might have gotten .5 inches at our house!
1485. Kregg getting to see Caleb on skype, even though it was
         only working one way
1484. A chance to bless a young family through service
1483. Special words of spoken blessings--a gift to me

1482. The fun of "all things baby"--like these little shoes!

1481. Being forced to slow down for a little while with a precious
         friend's baby
1480. Generous funding to pay the expense of The Tabernacle 
         Experience 
1479. The Tabernacle Experience is coming!!
1478. Precious phone call from my sweet sister that was filled with
         wisdom and insight
1477. A message from Caleb!! From Uganda!
1476. Great dental checkups for 5 out of 5! WooHoo!
1475. A safe trip home for Mackenzy as she drove home from KC
1474. The International House of Prayer and the precious time
         Mackenzy spent there last week

1473. The Lord's "vision casting" for precious Mackenzy, showing her
         things He has gifted her to do
1472. "My sin is always before me," as Kregg surveyed the pile of 
         his things on the counter in the closet--too funny :)
1471. Sweet friends that rejoiced with us in a safe arrival for Caleb
1470. His Peace that sustained us while we waited to hear from Caleb


The rest of my List is here.


If you haven't started your Gratitude List, could this be the week?? :)