Flooded...

with tears, with heartache, with exhaustion.

with emotion, anxiety, fear.

trickle here, dripping there...

the rush does come.

it comes and consumes.

paralyzing the soul,

I know not how to survive,

except to climb aboard the raft of faith.

and so I continue to remember the blessings...

161.  safe arrivals

162.  a bearded Jeff, tanned and toned from hard work

163.  young hearts excited to do the work

164.  potty training a fast learner

165. a giggling Jack-Jack

166.  old hymns and the reminders they carry

167.  homemade pasta, meatballs

and the dear friend who made them

168.  a hot sun to dry up the wet

169.  teachable souls

170.  another day to be reminded and remember

Going Without

For the last two summers these two have experienced amazing adventures in the Canadian Wilderness.

They were excited about going again this summer.

But God had a different plan.

I'll let you know more about that next week.

Today I am counting the hours and minutes along with the blessings.

161. Jeff and Mac

162. The Yahoos

163.  Air-conditioning

164.  Quiet play time

165.  Smart phones

166.  Neighbors

167.  Grammy visits

168.  Weekly Lunch with Patty

169.  Sprinklers

170.  A Good Book



One Hot Day....

and ten more to add to the list....

151. lots of purple cone flowers

152. old college buddies that come for a visit

153.  old college buddies that breathe new life into a weary soul

154.  looking back and seeing how far you have come

155. An evening shower after a hot day

156.  cookie dough ice cream

157. Jeff's hummmmm 

158.  one true love

159.  today

160. I AM

It's been too long...

Time to start counting again.
I need to give thanks in the midst of the good and the bad.
It's a rambling list...

141.  Hot summer days, so hot you cannot breathe.

142.  Giggles from our littlest yahoo, and she stalks me from behind.

143.  Sobering discoveries that lead to repentance, healing, and eventually, independance.

144.  Purple cone flowers.

145.  River running across pebble, sand and stone...

146.  One lone catfish that makes the row worthwhile

147.  Silence.  Complete and utter silence.  A gift from Jeff, just for today.

148.  Freedom

149.  Another day

150.  A frog.  In a cave.

The Hard Stuff

It is really hard to be thankful for the things you wish were not so.

Thousand Endless Gifts

131.  Pain

Reminds me of our imperfection,

and the need to be healed

132.  Fear

that I might diligently Hide in Him

133.  Weariness

that I might rest in Him

134.  The Unknown

teaches me to trust in Him

135.  Humility

puts me in my place

and He in His

136.  Heartache

Woos me to our One True Love

137.  Hunger

so I might feast upon His word

138.  Barrenness

that I might opens my heart to His children

139.  Insecurity

so I might discover the peace that surpasses understanding

140.  Darkness

so I might search for His light

Shepherds, and Pastures, and Cups Overflowing....

When my heart is tipping over with grief, and consumed with worry over the future,

Our gracious Heavenly Father bestows upon me a reminder of His goodness in Psalm 23. 

How could I sit in my angst

when He promises us...

Endless Gifts...



121.  Our own personal shepherd...on duty...24/7

122.  We shall not "lack"...for anything...

ever

123.  green pastures

124.   quiet waters

125.  Our own person tour guide...on duty...24/7

(who stakes HIS own reputation on our ability to navigate life)

126.  no.more.fear

127. guidance and discipline 

128.   A feast in the midst of a battle

129.  overflowing cups

130.  Goodness

Lovingkindess,

Dwelling in His house

Forever!

First signs of Spring...

We usually think of a few robins flying about.

Or crocus peeking through the snow.

But for us, it is a sure sign of spring when the yahoos pull out their favorite vehicles

and start racing around the front sidewalk.

There may be bits of snow on the cold ground,

but that will not stop them!

Thousand Endless Gifts!

101.  yahoos on rollerblades and scooters

102.  Li shouting that she has seen Gypsy!

(another sure sign of spring)

103.  tiny baby feet

104.  tiny baby socks

105.  darkness coming an hour later

106.  Words that are hard to hear but challenge the heart

107.  Hershey's Candy Coated Milk Chocolate Eggs!

108.  giggling with a co-worker

109.  mint green, pale blue, lilac, yellow and pink!

110.  Jelly Bellys!

Philippians 4:6-7

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication

with thanksgiving

let your requests be made known to God.

 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension,

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Thousand Endless Gifts

91. old love letters

92.  old pictures

93.  musing over memories

94.  DC Talk

95.  the hard stuff that draws them in, instead of pushing them away.

(why are we so afraid of the hard stuff?)

96.  tears and repentance...and a new heart

97. my dear sisters in Christ

98.  the unique and gentle voice of a dear friend, and her love for my children

99.  Mae's arm wrapped around mine

100.  we are at a hundred, and there are so many more!