Blessings of Weeks 4-6

Wow, you let one week slip by and it turns into 3! 

Here are my blessings:

1. The pursuit of knowledge at any age.
2. Family.
3. Friends.
4. Laughter.
5. The sun.
6. The stars.
7. The comfort of a reread book.
8. Tax refunds.
9. Technology.
10. Silence.
11. Weekends off.
12. Budgets.
13. Giving to others.
14. Change -- I know, I was surprised too.
15. Unexpected & rising to meet it.

Blessings of Week 2

1. Income from an unexpected source.
2. The days are getting longer -- the sun shines just a little bit longer.
3. Lovely Bible Study with friends.
4. Warm, snuggly bed at night.
5. Homemade mashed potatoes...mmm.

Blessings of Week 1

1. Accomplished most of my to-do list.
2. Woke up with a cat snuggled on my lap. :-)
3. The satisfaction of seeing girls accomplish goals they didn't realize they wanted to reach.
4. The peace of spending the day at home.
5. The challenge my job gives me.

Giving thanks for

my health and the health of my family.

Thanks

5 things I am thankful for today:

1. My health, I haven't been sick since this past spring
   
   
2. My job, I am thankful that I have one and that it provides me with challenges while allowing me to provide for myself
   
   
3. My finances, see above!
   
   
4. Vacation -- upcoming!
   
   
5. Simple, happy times with friends
   

Today's blessings . . .

• The sun came out
  
  
• Three-day weekend
  
  
• Coupons

• Blueberries

Surprise

Today turned out to be surprising. I was expecting the entire day to be horrible because I started the day out behind.

I woke up at 10:40 (according to my alarm clock). This is about 40 minutes past the time I am supposed to be at work.

So I rushed through my morning prep. I was feeling a little droopy because I had slept too long. I glanced at the clock when I walked into the kitchen -- 10:05 (huge weight lifted off my shoulders). My kitchen clock is about 4 minutes fast -- ironically, to help avoid being late -- so I was only 15 minutes late for work.

Thankfully, I didn't have to open today.

Anyway, usually days that start out like today are horrible from beginning to end. Not so in this case. Besides making up the time at work I missed by being late I:

• talked to my mom for a bit (twice actually -- once in person and once on the phone)
• talked to the sister (I heart instant messaging)
• got everything I had on my list for today completed

Not too bad after such a poor start!

Doin' a jig

You can't see me right now . . . but I'm doing my happy dance.

Tomorrow it is going to be 10 degrees warmer . . . WARMER!

AND THEN . . . Friday it is going to be 10 degrees warmer than that! Almost 32 degrees. Almost freezing! Yea!

Maybe, just maybe, this weekend it will get up to 40. If it doesn't, I won't be disappointed . . . I simply be thankful for the 10 degrees warmer!

5 things I'm thankful for today

1. The innocence of children
   
   
2. The opportunity to enjoy family and friends
   
   
3. Laughter
   
   
4. Sunny days
   
   
5. My salvation

---

(11) Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. (12) This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. (Luke 2:11-12)

Not snowing yet but . . .

I should start anytime now. I'm not looking forward to this storm but I am grateful that I don't have to be anywhere.

I would like to be out at the farm with the sister but I am just thankful I am not working.

I am getting ready to head to bed and snuggle up with a good book!

---

(8) And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. (9) An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. (10) But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. (Luke 2:8-10)

5 things I'm thankful for

I took a couple days break from blogging to enjoy the holiday with my family. I hope everyone had blessings this week.

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Colossians 3:16

1. Food to eat -- especially wonderfully delicious food!
   
   
2. Good friends -- old and new
   
   
3. Joy in contentment
   
   
4. Joy in the ridiculous
   
   
5. Scripture -- especially encouraging and instructing scripture

(Photo: Library of Congress)

5 things I'm thankful for

1. Living in a country where my beliefs and opinions can be spoken without fear of prison, torture, or death
   
   
2. A job I enjoy while being able to pay my bills
   
   
3. My family -- dad, mom, the brother & the sister
   
   
4. Laughter
   
   
5. My salvation

I shall give thanks to You, for You have answered me, and You have become my salvation.
Psalm 118:21

The bad news and the good news

There are so many things about this that make me sad.

Thankfully, we don't have to 'rest on the wisdom of men, but [can rely] on the power of God.' (I Cor. 2:5)

Thrice blessed

Blessed -- divinely or supremely favored or fortunate; bringing happiness and thankfulness


Blessed by relying on God:

I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul will make its boast in the LORD; the humble will hear it and rejoice. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together. I sought the LORD, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces will never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them. Taste and see that the LORD is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! O fear the LORD, you His saints; for to those who fear Him there is no want. The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; but they who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good thing. Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Who is the man who desires life and loves length of days that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. Psalm 34:1-14 (emphasis mine)

Blessed by knowing God:

How blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD. How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, who seek Him with all their heart. They also do no unrighteousness; they walk in His ways. You have ordained Your precepts, that we should keep them diligently. Oh that my ways may be established to keep Your statutes! Then I shall not be ashamed when I look upon all Your commandments. I shall give thanks to You with uprightness of heart, when I learn Your righteous judgments. I shall keep Your statutes; do not forsake me utterly! Psalm 119:1-8 (emphasis mine)

Blessed by praising God:

Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth. Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing. Know that the LORD Himself is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100 (emphasis mine)

Thanksgiving -- the act of giving thanks; an expression of thanks; public celebration in acknowledgment of divine favor

Thankful -- feeling or expressing gratitude or appreciation

(Definitions from Random House Webster's College Dictionary)