Blessed Blog Award and Double Blessings

It's Blessed Blog Award Time! I wish I could keep to my once a week schedule with these, but they've been a bit more sporadic because it is so hard to choose . . .there are so many awesome blogs that I am thankful for each week.

This time, the Blessed Blog Award goes to Melissa at Through the Looking Glass for inspiring me to write really good characters, and sharing her insightfulness with humor and well-crafted posts! Thanks for being a blessing, Melissa!


Double Blessings, for Days 132 and 133
I'm focusing on three categories of blessings today that I'm thankful for: people, animals(zoo) and random. Is random a category? Well, it suits me.

People
1. My husband is an everyday hero with a cakeface beard, so heroes can have beards.

2. My daughter Anna's quirky humor and big smile.

3. My daughter Trisha's everyday singing. We actually burst into song in our household randomly, and I love to hear her sing. Yesterday, her song was "I have a bed, I love my bed . . . and I don't remember all the words, but it was a fun, silly, night-time song.

4. My mom's ability to draw people into conversation.

5. My dad's smile at the zoo yesterday . . . he's still a kid at heart.

6. The zookeeper yesterday who gave the Asia talk about the tigers. Very knowledgeable, funny, and passionate about his work.

7. The Grandad, with his two grandkids at the zoo, who stopped to tell us about his experience seeing a Kiwi in the wild, when he was younger.

8. The zoo volunteer yesterday who has dedicated his retirement to volunteering with the Red Wolves. He has supported the Red Wolf program since it started in the 70's.

Animals
9. Tiger cubs cuddling with momma tigress.

10. Papa tiger's bond with the zoo keeper. He watched his every move with devotion, and it wasn't a hungry devotion, but a devotion that I've only seen in dogs or cats for their human friends. (Backstory: Zookeeper has worked with the tiger for a while, and the tiger has cancer.)

11. Clouded leopard cubs sleeping on the thin limbs of their tree house.

12. Seeing the "poster child" for red wolves - a male wolf that has been photographed many, many times for the benefit of his species. Red Wolves were declared extinct in the wild in the 70's, and Pt. Defiance Zoo started a breeding and release program. Today, around 200 red wolves live in captivity, and around 100 have been successfully released into the wild.

13. Frogs.

14. Pygmy owls.

15. Turtles.

16. The thrumming purr of my cat, as she sits just out of reach from where I sit.

17. Chipmunks, scurrying about their fall business.

Random
18. Baked potatoes.

19. The highway exit sign for Ikea, labeling it as a tourist destination. It makes me laugh every time.

20. God's infinite creativity.

Scripture Blessings:
"And God said, 'Let the water teem with living creatures and let bird fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky.' So God created the great creaturss of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kidns and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:20-21

365 Days of Blessings - Blessed Blog Award, and Day 104

The Blessed Blog Award is back!!!

I had planned to give out the Blessed Blog Award at least once a week, but I admit I have fallen behind on my commitment to giving the award. There are so many candidates with so many wonderful, blessed blogs that it becomes hard to choose. Plus, I admit, my life has been busy lately.

If you receive this award, know that you have blessed my writing and my life by inspiring me with your words, and your insights. Please feel free to pass it on.

This week, this award goes to Jill Kemerer for inspiring me three days a week with her wonderful posts. Jill's "One Goal" Friday posts have been a huge blessing for me. Thank you Jill!!!


365 Days of Blessings, Day 104

1. God works through reluctant heroines like Esther.

2. In the midst of prayer, worry, and planning, I felt God had the Sunday School meeting in His capable hands last night.

3. Knowing God is with me as a storm looms on the horizon.

4. Knowing that God can give me courage to deal with with possible confrontations.

5. God's word is true, and right, and helpful in times of trouble.

6. Trusting God's timing.

7. Having a prayer warrior mom.

8. A calm husband who supports and encourages me.

9. My dad's hugs.

10. Fresh air.

11. Finishing three days of home-schooling, keeping good notes on our efforts, and feeling successful at the end of each of those days. We have many days ahead of us, but this part of my life looks like smooth sailing right now.

12. Only 5 days until my next publication! (a poem in an online magazine)

Scripture Blessings:
"Praise the Lord.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is
good;
his love endures forever.
Who can proclaim the mighty acts of
the Lord
or fully declare his name?
Blessed are they who maintain justice,
who constantly do what is right.
Remember me, O Lord, when you
show favor to your people,
come to my aid when you save
them,
that I may enjoy the prosperity of your
chosen ones,
that I may share in the joy of your
nation
and join your inheritance in giving
praise."
Psalm 106:1-5

"Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only ot put them in a purse with holes in it." Haggai 1:5-6

"'But now be strong, O Zerubbabel,' declares the Lord. 'Be strong, O Josuha son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,' declares the Lord, 'and work. For I am with you,' declares the Lord Almighty. 'This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains in you. Do not fear.'" Haggai 2:4-5

365 Days of Blessings - Day 84

Every week, I'll be giving out a Blessed Blog Award! If you receive this award, know that you have blessed my writing and my life by inspiring me with your words, and your insights. Please feel free to pass it on.

Today this award goes to Tamika at The Write Worship
for inspiring me to write with faith, and for blessing me with her beautiful writing about the writing life. Tamika creates beautiful word pictures that stick with me for weeks after reading her posts. Thanks for being a blessing, Tamika!

Shared Blessings:
Angie from Notes From the Writing Chair says, "Some of my blessings today: the county fair--so much fun, and our last trip to the pool before school starts next week."
Thanks for sharing Angie! I agree, the fair, and swimming are wonderful summer blessings!

365 Days of Blessings, Day 84

1. God loves us so much that he doesn't just want us to feel good, he wants us to feel good about being good. Not that we are capable of being good on our own, but with salvation through Christ and God's Holy Spirit, we can step onto the right path.

2. The book of Amos in the Bible gives a prophesy of God's righteous justice that is clear, and loving. God doesn't want his people pillaging, looting, engaged in prostitution (both physical and spiritual), trampling on the poor, raping, engaging in incest, sacrificing our children (again both physically and spiritually), and commiting other acts of violence and injustice. God loves us enough to give us forgiveness, but he also loves us enough to expect us to repent.

3. Conviction, repentence, God's forgiveness, and peace.

4. Working through a problem/disagreement with someone, and finding not only peace, but friendship as the outcome.

5. Forgiving.

6. Being forgiven.

7. Letting go of past bitterness, so the joy of the present can fill me.

8. Writing about all of the above, and keeping that focus first in my writing.

9. Writing for fun, at the same time. Is it possible? Yes.

10. Today's technology that allows me to write, think, pray, connect . . . all in in just a short moment.


Whew! All those blessings I wrote about today were a surprise to me this morning. I planned to write about my birthday blessings from yesterday, but then I read my Bible, and conviction happened.

So here are some other, extra, birthday blessings . . . like I planned to write before God's word grabbed me.

Extra/Completely different/Birthday Blessings:
1. A restful, relaxed morning.
2. Baking a cake with my daughters. Everyone helped, and we had fun.
3. 4 colors of neon icing used to make a very colorful butterfly cake.
4. Gluten-free, egg-free, corn-free, rice-free cake that tastes really good!!! Most people who are brave enough to try it, like it.
5. All the wonderful presents given to me. I can't help it . . . I like getting stuff, especially beautiful, good, thoughtful stuff.
6. All the amazing birthday wishes that came to me yesterday - in person, on the phone, here on my blog, and on facebook. Thank you everyone!
7. Dinner with family.
8. A movie with family and friends.
9. Laughter in the movie theatre, and laughter afterwards.
10. Enjoying the sweetness of a day well spent.

Scripture Blessings:
"Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing
without revealing his plan
to his servants and the prophets.

The lion has raored -
who will not fear?
The Sovereign Lord has spoken -
who can but prophesy?

Proclaim to the fortresses of Ashdod
and to the fortresses of Egypt:
'Assemble yourselves on the mountains
of Samaria;
see the great unrest within her
and the oppression among her
people.

They do not know how to do right,'
declares the Lord,
'who hoard plunder and loot in
their fortresses.'"

Amos 3:8-10

365 Days of Blessings - Day 62

Every Friday, I'll be giving out a Blessed Blog Award! If you receive this award, know that you have blessed my writing and my life by inspiring me with your words, and your insights. Please feel free to pass it on.

Today this award goes to: Angie Lofthouse, from Notes From the Writing Chair
Angie's insights on writing and editing are treasures, and she has a gift with encouragement. Thanks for being a blessing, Angie!

365 Days of Blessings, Day 62
1. When we place all of our trust in the Lord, we become more trustworthy.

2. Pillows. Wonderful, soft, pillows. (I slept in this morning)

3. Blankets. In the Northwest we have some very cool, gray mornings that burn off into sunny afternoons. Plus, many people in the world do not have the luxury of blankets like we do in the United States.

4. Quilts. They have meaningful designs, and are often made with loving hands. My church makes nearly a hundred every six months and gives them to a world relief organization that delivers them to people in need. I don't sew, but I help pack up the boxes for shipment, and pray over them.

5. Alarm clocks that have snooze buttons. Two out of four people in my house wake up instantly . . . my husband and my youngest daughter. My oldest daughter and I need about an hour to have full thought capacity. Which is why it is dangerous for me to write these posts when I first get up. Usually I try to get in a walk, or at least a long stretching session, and some Bible study beforehand.

6. Cloud cover that rests among the tops of the trees by my house, so that we are surrounded by a gray-white blanket. There is a softness to these gray mornings that is somehow comforting in a way I'm not sure I can describe.

7. Variety in every day's weather. Yes, some places have more distinct seasons, but where else can you have cloud cover, rain, sunshine, and rainbows throughout each day? Plus, go from 55 degrees to 78 degrees from morning to afternoon?

8. Recently, our regular "lawn mower guy" at our church has fallen ill, so my husband has been filling in. My husband is the kind of guy who will mow the church lawn, and not necessarily mow our lawn. Sometimes that's aggravating, but yet, I love his passion for serving too.

9. Cool floors under bare toes.

10. Stretching. It's a must for me and my back, but it feels good too.


Shared Blessings:
1. Karen, a wonderful writing friend, has a new niece!
2. Another friend of mine shared her joy of hearing her daughters giggle together.


Scripture for the Day:

"For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11