Warning: This is an extremely long post.
Time flies when life is busy, or mediocre, or exciting. . . or all of the above from one day to the next. We had an ok day followed by an exciting one, followed by a restful day, folowed by an exciting day, followed by a long day with little time on the PC, and now today. I feel like I've let myself down on the blessings count, although I have some on scrap paper and in journals scattered around the house.
This last week has me contemplating this question: which is harder, counting blessings and giving thanks on the hard days or counting blessings on the mediocre, ok to pretty good days?
What do you think?
Today I'm giving thanks for some belated blessings, and today's blessings:
1. Being able to buy my favorite teas at the grocery store.
2. Walking with an old dog, and a middle aged dog, and realizing that my mom and I kind of match the dogs' ages. There is some humor in that, although I don't either one of us is a dog.
3. Seeing the "treat" lady on the road. My dogs love her so much!
4. The enthusiastic excitement that elementary school kids have about dogs. (We were walking a little late yesterday when the elementary kids were waiting for their buses.)
5. Finishing up the "Reader's Choice" Basket for a silent auction to benefit our dance studio. Of course, now I want to bid for it. It contains a cozy blanket, book gift cards, a reading light, a bookmark, a journal, and a book bag.
6. Having a wonderful dance teacher who cares for her students deeply. She wants my oldest to rest, ice, elevate, and recover . . . so she can dance again in a few weeks.
7. Preparing for a dance recital. Excitement rules the house.
8. Inviting friends to come with us to the dance recital to be Anna's cheer buddies.
9. All the costume pieces and props were found and put in order - gloves, hoodies, belts, sunglasses, long socks with stripes, jump ropes, tricycle, and the costumes too.
10. Getting a few lessons done on dance recital morning.
11. Getting directions when lost.
12. Enjoying a beautiful auditorium.
13. More dance excitement and enthusiasm.
14. Dancers who know how to enter and exit the stage. . . they made my job backstage much easier.
15. Dancers who are ready, over and over again, no matter how many costume and hair changes they have.
16. My youngest daughter handled herself backstage very well, with help from her friends, and I think she was better without me hovering. I was way too busy to hover.
17. Awesome friends and family who came to see the show!!! Thank you!!!!
18. Little girls dancing in the aisles, dreaming of dancing on stage.
19. Fundraising enough money to save our studio.
20. Staying after the recital to clean up, and seeing the girls dance on stage just for fun, even my oldest with her crutches took a few swinging steps around the stage.
21. Rest.
22. Finding The Taming of the Shrew in a modern BBC production, online. I don't think I could show it to my Shakespeare class, but I enjoyed seeing another take on the ageless tale.
23. The blunt honesty of my Shakespeare class. They don't like that disgusting character, Petruchio.
24. Sunday.
25. Worshiping in a retreat lodge by the sea, with 80+ Christian brothers and sisters who desire to worship and love the Lord with all their hearts, souls, minds, and strength, and love their neighbor as themselves. We have a wonderful Christian family all over the world, but I am especially grateful for the one we have close to us.
26. Planting a new church with Christian brothers and sisters who want to focus worshiping the Lord - Father, Son and Holy Spirit, outreach to our immediate community and the world, and healing.
27. Stepping forward in faith, with heart pounding, to take a ministry position I never would have imagined a month ago. Worship and Music Coordinator. Wow. It's an honor, and I'm going to need lots of God's help for every Sunday.
28. Seeing a dear friend, the worship and music director at our old church, be able to worship with her family on Sunday, and knowing that she is going to do great things in Children's Ministry. (We've kind of switched spots . . . )
29. Planning worship . . . it's exciting, challenging, and thankfully I have some awesome help.
30. Blessing and releasing our old church. Letting go of the hurts, and letting healing begin for all of us.
31. Bumping into my first Christian mentor, my first Sunday School teacher, at the zoo, and realizing later in the day that God planned it all.
32. Hearing a message from a mission to Burma.
33. Spending time with my parents for a few days before they went off on their trip again.
34. My writing class is having fun with their mystery skits.
35. My oldest daughter's chemistry class made orange soda, cola, and silly putty yesterday.
36. My oldest daughter is making it through this painful time on crutches. She took a few steps today, and pointed and flexed her toes for the first time in six days.
37. Healing.
38. My youngest daughter had a chance to shine these last few days, and she has been shining with grace.
39. My daughters "blinged" their DS case, with permission.
40. Sharing a DS . . . my kids complain about it now and then, but they haven't offered to use their own money to buy a second one, and my oldest definitely has some savings. I think it is a good way of having an expensive toy, and helps me keep track of their playing time too. 20 minutes each.
41. Stamps.
42. The telegraph, which led to the telephone, which led to cell-phones. Communication is wonderful.
43. Morse code. I admit I don't know it that well, but I think it was a wonderful invention.
44. Edison.
45. Having a conversation about unions and management at the dinner table, based on current day events and the history my youngest is learning in American history.
46. Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright described by my oldest as "wonderful, horrible, sweet, and sad." The book gives a fictional glimpse at Roman life, and the life of two captured tigers, one for a pet and one for the colliseum. It's a book that makes you cry in a good way.
47. Firework by Katy Perry. I might not like everything about Katy Perry, but I enjoy this song, and seeing my youngest dance to it at her recital was sweet.
48. Pre-reading The Second Mrs. Giocanda by e.l. konigsburg for my oldest daughter's homeschool lessons. So far I'm enjoying this fictional "insider's" look at Leornardo Da Vinci's life.
49. Having a few moments to plan specifically for the second half of our homeschool year.
50. Calendars.
51. An amazing husband who cooked dinner on Sunday night.
52. Two amazing daughters who cooked dinner tonight.
53. Homemade french fries . . . yum.
54. Ginger tea for an upset stomach (not because of the french fries, but from something else).
55. Nooma videos.
56. The Case for Faith movie that I've been watching through Netflix while I exercise in the mornings. I've read the book but it's interesting to see it in video format.
57. Notepads . . . where I sketch/brainstorm my ideas.
58. Peppermint sticks we can eat (made with sugar and not corn syrup).
59. Being able to write 59 blessings in one day - wow!
60. In Jesus, there is life.
Scripture Blessings:
"In Him was life, and the life was the light of men." John 1:4
Friday, January 28, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
365 Days of Blessings, Day 241
I struggled with thankfulness today, but I realized over and over that giving thanks and praise in the tough moments is just as important, if not more important than giving thanks and praise in the good moments.
So today, I'm giving thanks and praise for these blessings:
1. The Fruits of the Spirit in Sign Language - my youngest daughter is teaching them to me this way.
2. Music stands that keep music at just the right angle for a guitar player. (Not me, my oldest daughter and my mom)
3. Veggies with hummus dip. Yum.
4. Crafts.
5. A wonderful friend who called my daughter when she was feeling blue.
6. A younger sister helping her older sister.
7. My oldest daughter's ingenuity and engineering skills. After realizing that she couldn't carry things well on crutches, she improvised with a bag and a scarf, attaching the small bag to her crutches with the scarf. Pretty, and practical.
8. Easy access to quick medical care.
9. Well wishes and prayers from friends and family.
10. Whenever we need to borrow an adjustable pair of crutches, we can call my Dad. Plus, due to my Dad's experience with crutches, and my mom's experience as a nurse, we will never (or at least not often) walk on crutches the wrong way.
11. The Lord provides.
Scripture Blessings:
"Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, 'On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.'" Genesis 12:13-14
So today, I'm giving thanks and praise for these blessings:
1. The Fruits of the Spirit in Sign Language - my youngest daughter is teaching them to me this way.
2. Music stands that keep music at just the right angle for a guitar player. (Not me, my oldest daughter and my mom)
3. Veggies with hummus dip. Yum.
4. Crafts.
5. A wonderful friend who called my daughter when she was feeling blue.
6. A younger sister helping her older sister.
7. My oldest daughter's ingenuity and engineering skills. After realizing that she couldn't carry things well on crutches, she improvised with a bag and a scarf, attaching the small bag to her crutches with the scarf. Pretty, and practical.
8. Easy access to quick medical care.
9. Well wishes and prayers from friends and family.
10. Whenever we need to borrow an adjustable pair of crutches, we can call my Dad. Plus, due to my Dad's experience with crutches, and my mom's experience as a nurse, we will never (or at least not often) walk on crutches the wrong way.
11. The Lord provides.
Scripture Blessings:
"Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, 'On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.'" Genesis 12:13-14
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
365 Days of Blessings, Day 240
Giving Thanks and Praise for:
1. My oldest daughter's 12th birthday!
2. The sweet memory of seeing and holding my daughter for the first time the day she was born.
3. My oldest daughter is 12, but she still likes to sit on my lap and cuddle.
4. My oldest daughter liked her birthday pancakes, even though they fell apart from griddle to plate so that each letter was halved.
5. Hearing my daughter tell Grandma and Grandpa about how wonderful her birthday party was last weekend, and watching her show Grandma and Grandpa all her gifts, and the amazing handmade cards her friends made for her.
6. Being able to take most of the day to celebrate.
7. Giving my daughter a fun gift, and a serious one too, trying to celebrate this time when she is in the crossover between young girl and young woman.
8. The laughter over a messed up birthday dine out dinner with family between a dance photo shoot and a dance class. Our timing was off, our favorite restaurant is out of business, and we ate at Wendy's and had burgers. However, we sang Happy Birthday anyway, ate happily, and talked, and my daughter opened presents with joy and thankfulness.
9. My youngest daughter's comment, "Wow, I guess God doesn't want us to eat at Ruby Tuesday's tonight! He must want us to eat square burgers (Wendy's)."
10. Seeing my daughters enjoying a little time with two Grandmas, two Grandpas, and a cousin.
11. Enjoying a little extra studio friend time . . . unexpectedly and the humor that comes only at the end of a long day . . . when we are all too tired to say words without turning them into something midly hilarious (to us).
12. Jesus is the way. He is the direction for our family, and everything else is a dilapidated roadside attraction.
Scripture Blessings:
"Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" John 14:6
1. My oldest daughter's 12th birthday!
2. The sweet memory of seeing and holding my daughter for the first time the day she was born.
3. My oldest daughter is 12, but she still likes to sit on my lap and cuddle.
4. My oldest daughter liked her birthday pancakes, even though they fell apart from griddle to plate so that each letter was halved.
5. Hearing my daughter tell Grandma and Grandpa about how wonderful her birthday party was last weekend, and watching her show Grandma and Grandpa all her gifts, and the amazing handmade cards her friends made for her.
6. Being able to take most of the day to celebrate.
7. Giving my daughter a fun gift, and a serious one too, trying to celebrate this time when she is in the crossover between young girl and young woman.
8. The laughter over a messed up birthday dine out dinner with family between a dance photo shoot and a dance class. Our timing was off, our favorite restaurant is out of business, and we ate at Wendy's and had burgers. However, we sang Happy Birthday anyway, ate happily, and talked, and my daughter opened presents with joy and thankfulness.
9. My youngest daughter's comment, "Wow, I guess God doesn't want us to eat at Ruby Tuesday's tonight! He must want us to eat square burgers (Wendy's)."
10. Seeing my daughters enjoying a little time with two Grandmas, two Grandpas, and a cousin.
11. Enjoying a little extra studio friend time . . . unexpectedly and the humor that comes only at the end of a long day . . . when we are all too tired to say words without turning them into something midly hilarious (to us).
12. Jesus is the way. He is the direction for our family, and everything else is a dilapidated roadside attraction.
Scripture Blessings:
"Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" John 14:6
Sunday, January 23, 2011
365 Days of Blessings, Days 238 and 239
Sunday Blessings:
1. Farworld: Water Keep by J. Scott Savage swept me into an adventure for three days, even when I shouldn't have been reading it. Yesterday, on a wonderful, relaxing afternoon (after a whirlwind sleepover birthday party from my oldest) I finished it. I am recommending it to friends, and family as a great fantasy adventure read. True, it's meant for middle grade readers, and I am a "grown up" but I love younger books. I think if a book is as well-written as this one, it is for everyone.
2. Thanks to Shannon at Book Dreaming for reviewing and recommending Farworld on her blog!
3. The website for Farworld is fun!
4. More time to read blogs. I had twenty extra minutes this morning, and used it for catching up on some reading. I have been missing the wonderful, inspiring, and sometimes quirky stuff I get to read in everyone's posts. I am so thankful for blogs, and bloggers.
5. A wonderful worship that felt like a retreat into peace and hope.
6. Fun on a rope sing!
7. The way the Lord's Spirit moves us, even when we least expect it.
8. Making a commitment to a task that only God's strength will allow me to do. I feel suspended in a moment of free fall, like the moment when I grabbed the rope swing rope, looked out to the horizon and jumped.
9. Awesome people.
10. When I uttered doubt about taking on this task, my youngest daughter said, "Mom, you know the Holy Spirit called you, because there is no way you would have taken that otherwise." And then my oldest daughter and my husband chimed in with encouragement, support, and a faith in the one who guides in all things.
Monday Blessings:
1. Still taking this moment to the Lord in prayer, and getting support from friends and family.
2. Mystery skit writing with my writer's workshop adventure class. We had fun today.
3. A few funny videos to close our our Macbeth unit in Shakespeare Class. Most notably BBC's Bitesized Macbeth which made me laugh.
4. Flocabulary's Macbeth Rap actually summarizes the play in a semi-serious way.
5. Starting in on The Taming of the Shrew - one of Shakespeare's most controversial plays. Is it serious, light-hearted, a sad look at abusive spousal behavior? Did Shakespeare really mean for Kate to be taken seriously in her last speech? We'll be debating that.
6. Writing is awesome.
7. Co-op friends are fun!
8. Chemistry class starts in 20 minutes . . . I get to facilitate, set up science experiments, have fun, and be impressed by mom who teaches the class. I should be taking notes on teaching in that class. She speaks quietly to get their attention, and they are riveted in their seats for an hour.
9. Dance class tonight - preparing for the show on Friday!
10. God is in charge!!!! Yay! Not me!
Scripture Blessings:
"After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 'Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’'
Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, 'Why are you untying the colt?'
They replied, 'The Lord needs it.'
They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
'Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!'
'Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!'
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, 'Teacher, rebuke your disciples!'
'I tell you,' he replied, 'if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.'"
Luke 19:28-40
1. Farworld: Water Keep by J. Scott Savage swept me into an adventure for three days, even when I shouldn't have been reading it. Yesterday, on a wonderful, relaxing afternoon (after a whirlwind sleepover birthday party from my oldest) I finished it. I am recommending it to friends, and family as a great fantasy adventure read. True, it's meant for middle grade readers, and I am a "grown up" but I love younger books. I think if a book is as well-written as this one, it is for everyone.
2. Thanks to Shannon at Book Dreaming for reviewing and recommending Farworld on her blog!
3. The website for Farworld is fun!
4. More time to read blogs. I had twenty extra minutes this morning, and used it for catching up on some reading. I have been missing the wonderful, inspiring, and sometimes quirky stuff I get to read in everyone's posts. I am so thankful for blogs, and bloggers.
5. A wonderful worship that felt like a retreat into peace and hope.
6. Fun on a rope sing!
7. The way the Lord's Spirit moves us, even when we least expect it.
8. Making a commitment to a task that only God's strength will allow me to do. I feel suspended in a moment of free fall, like the moment when I grabbed the rope swing rope, looked out to the horizon and jumped.
9. Awesome people.
10. When I uttered doubt about taking on this task, my youngest daughter said, "Mom, you know the Holy Spirit called you, because there is no way you would have taken that otherwise." And then my oldest daughter and my husband chimed in with encouragement, support, and a faith in the one who guides in all things.
Monday Blessings:
1. Still taking this moment to the Lord in prayer, and getting support from friends and family.
2. Mystery skit writing with my writer's workshop adventure class. We had fun today.
3. A few funny videos to close our our Macbeth unit in Shakespeare Class. Most notably BBC's Bitesized Macbeth which made me laugh.
4. Flocabulary's Macbeth Rap actually summarizes the play in a semi-serious way.
5. Starting in on The Taming of the Shrew - one of Shakespeare's most controversial plays. Is it serious, light-hearted, a sad look at abusive spousal behavior? Did Shakespeare really mean for Kate to be taken seriously in her last speech? We'll be debating that.
6. Writing is awesome.
7. Co-op friends are fun!
8. Chemistry class starts in 20 minutes . . . I get to facilitate, set up science experiments, have fun, and be impressed by mom who teaches the class. I should be taking notes on teaching in that class. She speaks quietly to get their attention, and they are riveted in their seats for an hour.
9. Dance class tonight - preparing for the show on Friday!
10. God is in charge!!!! Yay! Not me!
Scripture Blessings:
"After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 'Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’'
Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, 'Why are you untying the colt?'
They replied, 'The Lord needs it.'
They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
'Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!'
'Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!'
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, 'Teacher, rebuke your disciples!'
'I tell you,' he replied, 'if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.'"
Luke 19:28-40
Saturday, January 22, 2011
365 Days of Blessings, Day 237
Giving Thanks and Praise for these awesome, but every day blessings:
1. Conversations about dogs.
2. The cuteness of our beagle. It works for him when we have company. We've become immune due to his acts of sabotaging garbage cans.
3. The sweetness and happiness of our rhodesian ridgeback. She's shy, but happy nearly all the time.
4. Having a dog clever enough to open a lower kitchen drawer to climb onto the counter top and knock food down. It's funny 48 hours afterwards. If only we had the time, energy, and ability to use his cleverness for something good.
5. Having an 11 year old dog with bad joints and a messed up spine, who still wags her whole body with her tail, smiles for us, and brings us her toys. She wants to play, all the time. (well, when she's not taking in her beauty sleep)
6. Waking up 8 girls for breakfast, and seeing them all be pretty good company even after little sleep.
7. Having my husband back me up, when I asked the girls for the second time to go to sleep at 4:40 a.m. 4:40!!! We thought they were asleep way before then!
8. My oldest daughter is very close to twelve. Just 3 days left of being 11.
9. Birthday cake for dessert the day after a party.
10. Sunshine after many days of grey rain.
11. God has us in his hands, all the time.
Scripture Blessings:
"Into your hands I commit my spirit;
deliver me, LORD, my faithful God."
Psalm 31:5
1. Conversations about dogs.
2. The cuteness of our beagle. It works for him when we have company. We've become immune due to his acts of sabotaging garbage cans.
3. The sweetness and happiness of our rhodesian ridgeback. She's shy, but happy nearly all the time.
4. Having a dog clever enough to open a lower kitchen drawer to climb onto the counter top and knock food down. It's funny 48 hours afterwards. If only we had the time, energy, and ability to use his cleverness for something good.
5. Having an 11 year old dog with bad joints and a messed up spine, who still wags her whole body with her tail, smiles for us, and brings us her toys. She wants to play, all the time. (well, when she's not taking in her beauty sleep)
6. Waking up 8 girls for breakfast, and seeing them all be pretty good company even after little sleep.
7. Having my husband back me up, when I asked the girls for the second time to go to sleep at 4:40 a.m. 4:40!!! We thought they were asleep way before then!
8. My oldest daughter is very close to twelve. Just 3 days left of being 11.
9. Birthday cake for dessert the day after a party.
10. Sunshine after many days of grey rain.
11. God has us in his hands, all the time.
Scripture Blessings:
"Into your hands I commit my spirit;
deliver me, LORD, my faithful God."
Psalm 31:5
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