365 Days of Blessings - Day 15 and Day 16

365 Days of Blessings, Day 15 and Day 16

I feel a little like I've been living in the Calvin and Hobbes book, "The Days Are Just Packed." It's a good feeling, but so full that I'm playing catch up once again for my blessings so I'm combining them for the weekend.

1. The Lord answers my prayers!!!

2. The Lord is my shield, my salvation, and my rock.

3. My husband has boundless energy. Have I said that before? I could probably say it a few thousand times and not have said it enough. He is a whirlwind of love in action on a regular basis.

4. My husband wears pink shirts on Mondays. It started when he and a few of his co-workers all showed up in pink shirts one Monday and they joked about it being better than a pink slip. Every Monday for nearly four years, three of them have worn pink shirts on Mondays in camraderie, for a sense of fun, and I think a sense of thankfulness for having work in tough times.

5. My husband can wear pink, and wear it well. I'm not just saying that because he is the love of my life, but because I'm proud that he is confident enough in himself not to let other people tease him into wearing just blue all the time.

6. My daughters have fun friends.

7. We had fun at our dance pictures and extra rehearsals. Even though we were exhausted at the end, and there was some stress over a lost pair of pants which we actually need for show-time later this week, we did get to have fun most of the time. The girls are blessed with wonderful kids to dance with and have fun with at their dance studio.

8. I went to a Sunday School teacher's meeting feeling prepared, lost my footing in surprise, was a little nervous, and then God showed up (or at least I noticed His presence when He was already there) and everything went really well. In fact, I felt like divine intervention, and blessing were key parts of that meeting for me.

9. I'm excited about teaching Sunday School next year!!!

10. I've been learning a great deal about Sunday School curriculum lately. I had no idea how much there is to choose from.

11. One of our worship leaders shared about an opportunity she had to share her hope in Jesus while at work, and moved our whole congregation to tears in less than three minutes.

12. Our Pastor told us this wonderful story yesterday: There once was an old man who told his grandchildren that inside of him lived a wolf and a lamb, and they were battling within him all the time. One of his grandchildren asked him, "who's going to win?" The grandfather said, "The one I feed." We are at all times saints and sinners, and which side will win within us? The one we feed. Of course, there was more to this story and the sermon, but that part hit me in the right spot yesterday.

13. Our church's A softball team won both their games this week. Our B team - that's my team, tied yesterday in a fun, hard fought game. I'm thankful we can come together and have fun together as Christians. Our area has a huge church softball league and it is a great way for us to invite others to join us in faith and fellowship. Of course, sometimes it's hard when the fields are so busy that we have to finish with a tie, but it's ok. We all enjoyed ourselves, and encouraged one another.

14. My daughters went with a friend to see and pet some alpacas yesterday afternoon, and even had the chance to see and pet a one day old baby alpaca.

15. I had a fun conversation with a friend yesterday for about an hour.

16. My in-laws came and did a huge amount of my yardwork this weekend. I know where my husband gets his energy and his servant's heart from. They usually help us, and each of their daughters with yard work each spring or early summer. They are amazing, and I am thankful for all their help.

17. Fresh strawberries from our own strawberry plants are so sweet.

18. Hearing my youngest daughter say, "Everything we grow ourselves tastes better."

19. My daughter's helping hands with dinner last night, and breakfast this morning.

20. Those moments on my walk when all I can hear are the sounds of my dogs paws/claws on the pavement, and the huge variety of birds calling and singing in the trees that cluster by the road.

"When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?'
'Yes, Lord,' he said, 'you know that I love you.'
'Jesus said, 'Feed my lambs.'" John 21:15