One Thousand Gifts (601-617)

Continuing my journey of counting toward one thousand gifts...

This week brought Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday and a wonderful idea from Karen Ehman. You can read her post here.

In a nutshell, Karen inspired me to write and send a card filled with encouragement every day during Lent. I think it's a wonderful idea. Was it a coincidence or God who had me send a card on Ash Wednesday to Nancy (after I saw and spoke to her on Sunday) and before I read Karen's post? I'm right on schedule with this new way of observing Lent.

#601 - 617 on my list of One Thousand Gifts. I'm thankful for:

601. this season of Lent

602. Karen Ehman and her idea of sending 40 encouraging cards during Lent

603. "winning" cards from (in)courage last month. I have a lot of beautiful, encouraging cards from DaySpring right on hand.

604. twins - Tommy and Jack, born on Friday. Sons of our nephew and niece-in-law.

605. a brief visit to the hospital to congratulate the parents and coo over the sleeping babies

606. our growing family

607. Linda and her birthday celebration at work. (Only 46? Such a youngster!)

608. a new purchase from The Vintage Pearl. "The Messy Nest." Just lovely.

609. noticing after a visit to the dentist and arriving at work....I was wearing 2 different earrings! Have you ever done that?

610. newly cleaned teeth and no cavities. (Hey, I count every cavity-free dental visit as a blessing!)

611. a dark chocolate dipped strawberry from Gertrude Hawke's. Maybe I should have taken a picture, but alas, I ate the evidence! Ha!

612. new black flats to finish off the winter season

613. a soft chair outside the sporting goods store at the mall

614. seeing two teenagers: one wearing lime green tennis shoes, the other in flourescent orange. They made my tired wintery eyes happy!

615. sending a Facebook birthday greeting to our niece Melissa. 36 years old and expecting her third child. (Yup, our family is still growing :)

616. a sermon about Jesus feeding us. (Based on Luke 9:10-17) Amen!

617. Sunday dinner with our daughter and granddaughter. (OK, so the gas grill ran out of fuel. Darn grill. Wonderful Husband brought the flank steak in and broiled it. He is my problem solver!)

This post is linked to A Holy Experience: Multitudes on Mondays, One Thousand Gifts.

How was your week?

Our Granddaughter's Baptism

I've written about baptism before here.

Almost two weeks ago our granddaughter was baptized at the 8:30 a.m. service.

The Baptismal Font at our church.




I was thankful to witness our granddaughter's baptism and to make a commitment with the congregation to love and support her parents in raising this sweet girl to believe in God and love Jesus.

Amen.

One Thousand Gifts (588-600)

Continuing my journey of counting toward one thousand gifts...

I received a Kindle Fire for Christmas. I'd loaded some books on it and set it aside while I finished "reading a book the old fashioned way."

Finally. I was ready to use the Kindle and like the convenience of thinking that the next time we go on vacation, I don't have to lug a bag full of books with me. But the challenge seems to be that I keep finding my fingers automatically going to the right top corner, thinking I will be turning the page.

It makes me laugh!

#588 - 600 on my list of One Thousand Gifts. I'm thankful for:

588. laughing at my own silliness using new technology

589. Wonderful Husband giving me flowers, candy and a card for Valentine's Day. I must have been very good this year! Ha!

590. the happiness this flower brings to my heart. Is it a mum I wonder?

591. Terri's birthday and my package to her arriving only one day late

592. a good orthodontist appointment. I still laugh when I go and although there are a few grownups (like me) as patients, I can tell he works mostly with kids since he praises me for being still. Hee hee!

593. hard eucharisteo: my small group on Thursday night. We've met twice yet I need to pray for patience toward others since I left feeling annoyed last week. Open my heart to these people Lord!

594. my belief that God places all people into my life for His purpose and my benefit

595. Wonderful Husband tossing out old papers and obsolete technology books. Spring cleaning early I wonder? Yea!

596. a washer and dryer that do the heavy work of clean laundry

597. our 3 month old granddaughter's quivering mouth after her bath. Poor baby was cold.

598. a new toothpaste that guarantees whiter teeth. (A commercial wouldn't lie, would it? Hmmmm)

599. Wonderful Husband filing our federal tax return

600. turning my focus toward Lent this week

Then he (Jesus) said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
Matthew 22:21b (NIV)


This post is linked to A Holy Experience: Multitudes on Mondays, One Thousand Gifts.

Valentine's Day 2012

I've written about Valentine's Day before here. What we've learned over the years. OK, I mean me. Things like he can't read my mind, etc.

Wonderful Husband gave me flowers, candy and a card. I must have been very good this year. Ha!

Wait a minute! Can you see the card?

Here it is closer up....

Now don't get me wrong. The sentiment/words are lovely.

But.....

GLITTER?

On the outside and the inside?

EEKS!

Oh he got me good. Even adding at the bottom of the card "and lots of glitter."

Later he told me he almost chose another card but when he saw the glittered one...he knew that was the one for me!

So let me end with this....

THE GLITTER WAR IS ON!

insert evil laugh here


P.S. Since my (adult) kids read my blog, let me state for the record: If you kids read this as a challenge and give me glitter-filled cards....you will be grounded. And yes, I realize you don't live under our roof any more. But I am still your mom.

imagine evil glittered mom eye here

So my question is...who invented glitter? The same person who invented high heeled shoes?

One Thousand Gifts (574-587)

Continuing my journey of counting toward one thousand gifts...

We have lived a celebratory life these past couple weeks. On Tuesday our daughter was married at a courthouse and afterward we went out to dinner. On Sunday our granddaughter was baptized at our church and afterward we went out to breakfast.

Events celebrated and food. It has been a full couple weeks which led me to tell Wonderful Husband that life can now settle down a bit and the old saying, "Eat less, move more," will be our focus for a while.

#574 - 587 on my list of One Thousand Gifts. I'm thankful for:

574. our daughter and Andy's wedding

575. the many women from our church mailing cards of congratulations to the happy couple. (We call it a card shower.)

576. our granddaughter's baptism

577. people congratulating the three of them after the service

578. celebrating other's milestones

579. snow on a Saturday with no worries about going out

580. emails from friends that make me smile

581. a new fellowship opportunity at my church on Thursday nights

582. Paula, Carole and Carol witnessing our granddaughter's baptism

583. God spotlighting all the women surrounding me with their wisdom, love and grace

584. my co-worker's mind-blowing (to me) story about possibly reuniting with her ex-husband. Compared to her, my life is b-o-r-i-n-g. Ha!

585. hugs from Wonderful Husband and the love I feel in his arms

586. our son calling to hear about the baptism and catch up on life

587. a mailing business that will box up birthday gifts more efficiently than I ever could

This post is linked to A Holy Experience: Multitudes on Mondays, One Thousand Gifts.

Do you overload on food during celebrations?

A Perfect Day For A Wedding

The weather was unseasonably warmish, sunny, and delightful on Tuesday, February 7th.

A perfect day for a wedding. (But really wouldn't every day be perfect for a wedding?)

Our daughter Young Sweetie married Andy, our son-in-law.

On our way up the courthouse steps, I glanced to our right and saw a wall of glass and a small group of women behind the glass smiling and waving. I waved and then told Young Sweetie, "Look to your right and wave."  She did and their smiles increased while they enthusiastically waved to her.

It was my first time attending a courthouse wedding and the judge who officiated is also a member of our church.

The ceremony was beautiful. Wonderful Husband and I had a few tears...but didn't go into full boo-hoo mode. Phew!

We pray for the newlyweds to keep God first and each other second, and are thankful to be able to witness the beginning of their lives as husband and wife.

A perfect day for a wedding!

One Thousand Gifts (563-573)

Continuing my journey of counting toward one thousand gifts...

#563 - 573 on my list of One Thousand Gifts. I'm thankful for:

563. meeting Sue for hot chocolate. It's been nine months since we last got together. We're committed to meeting again in the spring. Of 2012 :)

564. a Shamrock shake. With whipped cream and a cherry on top.

565. a visit to the florist. Beautiful colors and textures on a winter's day. A case filled with happiness!

566. our daughter's pre-wedding party. The trifecta of family, friends, and food.

567. Girl Scout cookies (Lemonades, please!)

568. sending a card to Melanie. Yes, our hope is in the Lord.

569. continually re-visiting my word from 2011. Grace.

570. mothers of adult children. We are unsung heroes!

571. asking Paula for prayer on my behalf. Anxiety eases. Amen.

572. intercessory prayer. A blessing to request/receive and give/pray for others.

573. receiving encouraging words from my sis-in-law

This post is linked to A Holy Experience: Multitudes on Mondays, One Thousand Gifts.

Was your week filled with as much sugar as mine?