THINE OWN DEAR PRESENCE

Numbers 91 - 100

2010-11-22T09:44:00.005-05:00

91. The first snowflakes

92. In the pickup, on the way to hockey, with Jon & Jake & Jared.... it's quiet, and I'm in the back seat, looking at their silhouettes from the lights of the dashboard.... I am filled with such awesome love for them. [You too, Blake, even though you weren't there physically... I was thinkin' 'bout ya!]

93. The ability to help a sick dog

94. Orange sweatshirt hand-me-down

95. A surprise sister gift of a hot cappuccino

96. To have a heart and mind full of gratitude, timely reminders from Focus On The Family (aired Nov 22, 2010 - Cultivating Gratitude In Your Family) and Ann Voskamp's A Holy Experience.

97. Windshield wipers

98. Christmas lights

100. The "stir" inside of you when you hear the season's first Christmas songs

Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.
Psalm 84:4

Numbers 81 - 90

2010-07-05T14:20:00.001-04:00

81. deep-toned wind chimes

82. Frosted Corn Flakes

83. an art project from youngest's days at kindergarten... a painted mason jar

84. sitting on our deck with my sisters and their families

85. the sound of birds chirping and chattering to one another

86. big green grapevine leaves

87. a fresh breeze

88. clean bed sheets

89. tree tops waving at me as they sway back and forth

90. a little girl and a guitar (video)

To read a devotion on finding something to praise God for, click here.

Numbers 71 - 80

2010-06-14T14:38:00.002-04:00

71. the dog chasing and barking at fireflies at midnight

72. the second hand on a clock

73. Mama Robin building her nest

74. brand new bright shiny green leaves on the deck's grapevine

75. a deck to sit on and relax

76. visiting with long-time-no-see cousins around an open campfire

77. cucumbers, on a tuna sandwich.... Mmmmm

78. Welch's Grape Juice

79. worship music

80. Ann Voskamp from A Holy Experience. Ann, you are such a blessing. (The Fish Principle)

Numbers 61 - 70

2010-05-09T19:03:00.003-04:00

There is a hope that is eternal. It's our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

61. Water to drink

62. Flannel blankets

63. My best friend

64. Morphine and Gravol

65. My wedding ring, a symbol of Jon's commitment to me

66. Elevators

67. A free television in a hospital room, so I can watch those hockey playoff games

68. Responsible children

69. Tim Horton's French Vanilla Cappuccino

70. Praying family and friends

Thank you for your patience while I took a short leave of absence from this blog. It certainly was not because I was not grateful for anything.... in fact, just the opposite. There's been a tremendous number of things that I'm grateful for. And I'm happy to be back to continue to share with you. May God continue to bless you as you count your own blessings.

Numbers 52 - 60

2009-11-23T12:03:00.008-05:00

Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. Song of Solomon 2:12

photo by Michelle

52. sons and "adopted sons" jumping from the Milford Bridge

photos by Michelle

53. beauty arranged by an unknown community volunteer

photo by Michelle

54. the sound of teenage boys laughing and giggling in their beds.... when they're supposed to be going to sleep

55. my husband's hands, crease-filled with oils and greases, not afraid of hard work.

56. the approaching dusk at Milford Millpond

photo by Michelle

57. the recycling truck

58. sounds of snapping cedar in the woodstove

59. classical music

60. the smell of a newly lit fire, warming the home

For what we have received, O Lord, make us truly thankful.

Numbers 41 - 51

2009-11-11T08:58:00.005-05:00

But godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Timothy 6:6

41. Katarina, our kitty cat.... cuddled on my lap, purring... just content to sit with me.

42. Seeing some 'meat' on Blake's bones.... his health continues to slowly improve (Thank you, Lord).

43. The freshness of a frost-coated sunny morning.

44. Singing with my sisters and Mom.

45. My accountants, with brains jam-packed of wisdom.

46. Remembering the soldiers from the past, who fought for my freedom.

47. Poppies.... blowing..... between the crosses.... row on row.....

48. Canada, our home and native land....

49. Remembering the soldiers of today, who continue to fight for my freedom.

50. God's Word.

51. A cup of tea.

For what we have received, O Lord, make us truly thankful.

Numbers 36 - 40

2009-10-10T14:17:00.003-04:00

I'm thankful this week for the people and the instruments that the Lord gives us for healing.

36. Kind, knowledgeable, full-of-wisdom Doctors and Specialists

37. Caring, compassionate, kind-hearted, sweet Nurses

38. Healing medicines

39. Blood received from a very caring person who took the time to donate

40. I.V. Medication Safety System (for dispensing medications via intravenous)

Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise. Jeremiah 17:14

Thankful for the healing that has already begun in Blake!

Numbers 31 - 35

2009-09-29T18:01:00.000-04:00

So many blessings surrounding me.........

31. the scent of cedar wood

32. Jared sliding in soccer and hockey to "make the save"

33. Jacob head-bunting the soccer ball

34. Blake putting smiles on people's faces when he breaks loose on that fiddle

35. a husband who, in public or in private moments, and despite whether I'm happy or grumpy, always tells me he loves me.

I am so blessed.

Numbers 27 - 30

2009-09-24T12:21:00.000-04:00

27. pink flowers in my flower bed that come up year after year

28. the sound of a cricket chirping

29. a small breeze moving the morning's fresh air

30. a field full of sun-touched corn tassels

Day By Day (#26)

2009-09-08T14:48:00.001-04:00

26. Old hymns, filling us with an awareness of how much our Lord is in control, at all times.

Can I hear an "Amen"?

Food (#21-25)

2009-09-05T23:53:00.000-04:00

I am so thankful for food.

I'm really a meat-and-potatoes kind of girl, but I love this time of year when corn and beans and tomatoes and cucumbers and many other fruits and vegetables are vastly available.

And, of course, I'm always thankful for #25. Why put that 2-litre back in the fridge, Wannett? Just set it on the table between us. And bring the LARGE glasses, please.

Father, thank you for:

20. corn on the cob

21. tomatoes

23. popcorn

24. peach yogurt

25. and thank you for that fuzzy, biting, burning sensation as PEPSI hits my throat. Ahhhhhh.........

For what I have already received, O Lord, make me truly thankful.

Peace (#11-20)

2009-08-31T15:59:00.001-04:00

....I'm currently experiencing God's peace during some anxious times.

It's a rare thing for me, as I'm usually a fretter.....

....but I sooo enjoy this feeling.

Father, help me to always trust You, as I do now....

....to experience Your peace in times of turmoil.

11. deep sense of God's peace

12. a praying church family

13. cumulus clouds

14. the sound of waves crashing into the shore

15. fiddles

16. wooden crates

17. watching my boys (and my "adopted sons") fishing

18. Susan's gift of a kidney to her friend Rodney

19. colour of the sky in a sunset

20. handmade blankets

For what I have already received, Lord, make me truly thankful.

Being Thankful (#1-10)

2009-08-26T13:00:00.005-04:00

I do take things for granted, and I know I shouldn't.

I am becoming more and more aware of the fact that I need to look deeper at what I already have and not give a second thought about what I want or what I think I need.

This is my Gratitude Journal, inspired by A Holy Experience. Ann wants us to be aware of what God has already given us and for us to be truly thankful to our Lord for these gifts.

I will be following the footsteps of a multitude of many who are listing their thankfulness, a process of training themselves to have a heart of gratitude to our Lord and Saviour, Who gives us just what we need.

The goal is 1000. Then I suppose it's 10,000! In a nutshell, all our days should be giving thanks to our Father.

And, so begins my list:

1. three adorable sons

2. two babes in Heaven that I long to hold

3. snapdragons

4. prayer

5. hard-working husband

6. dollar-store eye spectacles

7. Golden Retrievers

8. bluegrass music

9. the smell of lumber

10. fresh water

Lord, for what I have already received, make me truly thankful.

Project Under Construction

2009-08-20T14:50:00.002-04:00

This blog's purpose is for me to list my Gratitude to our Lord for what He's already given me.

Please join me in a few more days, as I am currently constructing this new site. I'll invite you to read my list, as well as give consideration to starting your own Gratitude list.

A good way to begin is to start where I did..... please visit Ann Voskamp at A Holy Experience. She's delighted to show you how to begin your One Thousand Gifts.

See you soon.