Multitude Monday - Blessings!

Monday again?  Did I blink?  Seems that way sometimes, doesn't it?  We wait and wait for Friday to arrive so we can enjoy the weekend and then the next thing we know, we're waking up on Monday morning again ready to start a new week.  I wish I could figure out a way to "hold on" to the times with loved ones a bit tighter...and for a longer time...

At any rate, I wanted to continue with my blessings list, beginning with #91.  If you haven't heard about One Thousand Gifts, be sure to visit Ann Voskamp's website and see what it's all about.  The basic premise is that we all have so many blessings in our lives each and every day.  Her writings are an inspiration!  

It's been good for me to think on the blessings the Lord has rained down on me, no matter how little or seemingly insignificant, and to thank Him for all He has given me.

One thousand gifts continued...I'm thankful for...

91.  A compliment from my oldest daughter over the weekend

92.  Spontaneous hugs from my girls

93.  The aroma of freshly brewed coffee in the morning

94.  Hearing the laughter of my Mom and Dad as we catch up over the phone each weekend

95.  The knowledge that the Lord loves me even when I am completely unlovable to others

96.  An e-mail from a sweet friend who said she missed me while I was gone on my trip

97.  A good book to read

98.  Looking at a table of desserts and having the willpower not to eat any of it (that's the Lord in me, not my own willpower!)

99.  My oldest daughter, Julie, sitting in service with us - having her put her head on my shoulder and her arms around me and looking up at me with a sweet smile (she's 11 years old).  Ah, my heart was bursting!  

100.  Watching our youngest daughter, Heather, get excited about her new Bible this weekend - she couldn't put it down and has been excited to talk about what she is seeing in it!  Thank you Lord!

101.  Listening to Heather play the piano and get better and better every time she plays

102.  Feeling the little hands in mine when my girls grab my hands in the parking lot

103.  My trip with my Momma (last week) - that was our first trip together, ever!  

104.  My sweet husband clearing the table for me while I washed the pots and pans from dinner

105.  My Grandpa calling me "Suz"

106.  A warm and cozy home to enjoy, especially as the weather turns colder

107.  The blessing of giving to others

108.  Forgiveness

109.  God's provision in the way of my husband's job and the jobs the Lord has given me from home

110.  Two vehicles that are still running

What are you thankful for today? 

 Scripture Reading Update

I must confess, I am still in Job!  Yes, Job.  I am stuck on the dialogue between Job and his friends in the first few chapters.  I want to understand it and figure out what it all means and it's been slow going for me.  I do hope you're doing better than me with the Reading the Bible in One Year challenge!  The way I see it, it's a good idea to keep up, but also to understand what I'm reading.  To that end, I am behind right now according to the schedule, but perhaps there will be another time to "catch up". 

All my best to you on this Monday morning!

Multitude Monday

This past week, I took some time to relax.  Does that sound strange?  For those close to me, they would understand that it takes a lot for me to sit and do something I truly enjoy.  Relaxing is difficult!  Especially when I know there are a million (ok, maybe not a million, but it seems like it sometimes) other things that need to be accomplished while I sit there "relaxing".  **sigh**  I am praying the Lord will teach me how to relax, despite the ongoing to-do list; despite the fact that my house is not perfectly organized and immaculate.  Well, you get the idea...

Continuing with the counting of one thousand gifts this Monday morning...
 
21.  Date night with my sweet loving husband of 15 years
22.  My daughter's joy when she was able to sleep in her loft bed (that Daddy built for her) for the first time this last week
23.  Discovering that decaf coffee doesn't have to taste bad (yea, Winan's!)
24.  Singing praises to the Lord in choir
25.  Celebrating the elimination of credit card debt just this last week (freedom!)
26.  Feeling the "touch" of God's hand on my heart when I need Him most
27.  Being able to freely approach His throne with prayers and praises
28.  Our jobs, especially in this economy
29.  My sweet cat, Toby, snuggling with me at night when I finally sit down
30.  Finding the perfect seamless, adjustable straps camisole (finally!)
31.  Holding hands with my husband
32.  Feeling the hand of my almost-11-year-old daughter slip into mine while we're walking (and in public too!  Thank you Lord...)
33.  The simple words..."thank you Mommy"...
34.  A vacuumed and cleaned out vehicle
35.  The scent of freshly mowed hay field wafting through the air
36.  A gentle breeze that makes the pine trees seem to "whisper"
37.  The crunching of gravel under my feet when I walk down my parents' driveway, reminding me of the many times I walked that driveway growing up...to the bus...to the mailbox...or just walking...
38.  A hike in the country
39.  Lettuce finally growing out back
40.  The sweet ladies at our local library - they greet us, chat with us, have prayed with us, hugged us, and have become a part of our lives over the last 13 years (watched our girls grow up!)

I hope you are reflecting on your blessings today.  If I can think of just one during the day...I feel thankful.  In the midst of so much busyness in this time of my life, I find that I sometimes have to search for what makes me feel blessed.  Sometimes it's a knowledge that I am blessed rather than a feeling of being blessed.  God's Word tells me in so many ways that I am blessed!  You are too!

All my best to you today,