Giving Thanks and Praise for these Blessings today:
1. Dancing in the streets of Seattle! I didn't do this, but a wonderful young woman from our dance studio did, and it is so much fun, I thought I would share:
Umbrella
2. Finding this poem in my archives.
A Sonnet of Praise
So great my mind can’t hold you or conceive
Of your vast, amazing, grace-filled being
It takes my soul a moment to believe
To surrender my notions of knowing
To the great I Am, the One who is three
singing the Word in perfect harmony.
Created, directed, redeemed by love
that lights our ways like the wings of a dove
whose feathers shimmer in the morning rays,
shining for the truth, the life and the way.
3. Reading through my poetry, I've realized that I write a lot about my dogs and this strikes me as both funny, and fitting. I grew up reading Snoopy comics, and watching the Underdog and Scooby Doo. Now, I write about my Rhodesian Ridgeback and my Beagle.
4. Christmas lights.
5. Sleeping in on a home-school morning. We are so thankful for being able to sleep in when it's needed (like when someone is sick).
6. A girl with three pony tails at dance classes.
7. My oldest daughter loves glitter and sequins. She is wearing gold sequined boots, a gold sequined scarf-belt and a silver sequined neck scarf over her dance clothes tonight.
8. The Nutcracker Coloring contest at our dance studio.
9. Giggling dancers.
10. The Lord provides us with joy.
Scripture Blessings:
"Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."
Psalm 51:12
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
365 Days of Blessings, Day 190
Giving Thanks and Praise for these simple blessings today:
1. The amazing talent of my writing class.
2. One of my writing students taking a chance on publishing. He sent out his story to a prospective on-line magazine publisher just last week. I'm gladdened by his confidence and praying that his story is accepted. He is a ten year old boy who hated writing until he started taking my class. He is now writing between 2-5 pages a week, and looks forward to hearing feedback!!! I don't know if I will ever forget my favorite description in his first story. "Lime green lamborghini" is a memorable phrase.
3. My writing class has been asked to write "Dear Santa" letters for the co-op newsletter.
4. Two of my Shakespeare students are so intrigued by Macbeth that they asked me permission to read ahead . . . maybe even the whole play this week. Wow!
5. Shakespeare uses plenty of Biblical imagery in Macbeth, and it is fun to study.
6. There are students interested in taking my Writers Workshop and my C.S. Lewis classes next year at co-op.
7. My youngest daughter may be sick, but she has an active imagination.
8. My youngest has already written the sequel to Rick Riordan's The Lost Hero in her head. She knows exactly what she wants to have happen. Too bad we won't find out for six more months. I know these aren't Christian books, but we are all reading them simultaneously and then discussing them. (arguing over whose turn it is to read is a normal activity in our household)
9. Books that capture our imaginations and help us soar creatively.
10. God Came Near by Max Lucado. Gripping, descriptive, loving and thought-provoking book that lifts me up when I read it.
11. God came near, really, literally, as a baby in a manger who grew into a man who saved us from our sins.
Scripture Blessings:
"In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn." Luke 2:1-7
From God Came Near
"Majesty in the midst of the mundane. Holiness in the filth of sheep manure and sweat. Divinity entering the world through the womb of a teenager and in the presence of a carpenter.
This baby has overlooked the universe. These rags keeping him warm were the robes of eternity. His golden throne room has been abandoned in favor of a dirty sheep pen. And worshiping angels had been replaced with kind but bewildered shepherds.
Meanwhile, the city hums. The merchants are unaware that God has visited their planet. The innkeeper would never believe that he had just sent God into the cold. And the people would scoff at anyone who told them the Messiah lay in the arms of a teenager on the outskirts of their village. They were all too busy to consider the possibility.
Those who missed his Majesty's arrival that night missed it not because of evil acts or malice; no, they missed it because they simply weren't looking.
Little has changed in two thousand years, has it?"by Max Lucado, in God Came Near
1. The amazing talent of my writing class.
2. One of my writing students taking a chance on publishing. He sent out his story to a prospective on-line magazine publisher just last week. I'm gladdened by his confidence and praying that his story is accepted. He is a ten year old boy who hated writing until he started taking my class. He is now writing between 2-5 pages a week, and looks forward to hearing feedback!!! I don't know if I will ever forget my favorite description in his first story. "Lime green lamborghini" is a memorable phrase.
3. My writing class has been asked to write "Dear Santa" letters for the co-op newsletter.
4. Two of my Shakespeare students are so intrigued by Macbeth that they asked me permission to read ahead . . . maybe even the whole play this week. Wow!
5. Shakespeare uses plenty of Biblical imagery in Macbeth, and it is fun to study.
6. There are students interested in taking my Writers Workshop and my C.S. Lewis classes next year at co-op.
7. My youngest daughter may be sick, but she has an active imagination.
8. My youngest has already written the sequel to Rick Riordan's The Lost Hero in her head. She knows exactly what she wants to have happen. Too bad we won't find out for six more months. I know these aren't Christian books, but we are all reading them simultaneously and then discussing them. (arguing over whose turn it is to read is a normal activity in our household)
9. Books that capture our imaginations and help us soar creatively.
10. God Came Near by Max Lucado. Gripping, descriptive, loving and thought-provoking book that lifts me up when I read it.
11. God came near, really, literally, as a baby in a manger who grew into a man who saved us from our sins.
Scripture Blessings:
"In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn." Luke 2:1-7
From God Came Near
"Majesty in the midst of the mundane. Holiness in the filth of sheep manure and sweat. Divinity entering the world through the womb of a teenager and in the presence of a carpenter.
This baby has overlooked the universe. These rags keeping him warm were the robes of eternity. His golden throne room has been abandoned in favor of a dirty sheep pen. And worshiping angels had been replaced with kind but bewildered shepherds.
Meanwhile, the city hums. The merchants are unaware that God has visited their planet. The innkeeper would never believe that he had just sent God into the cold. And the people would scoff at anyone who told them the Messiah lay in the arms of a teenager on the outskirts of their village. They were all too busy to consider the possibility.
Those who missed his Majesty's arrival that night missed it not because of evil acts or malice; no, they missed it because they simply weren't looking.
Little has changed in two thousand years, has it?"by Max Lucado, in God Came Near
Sunday, December 5, 2010
365 Days of Blessings, Days 188 and 189
Another double dose of blessings in one post. Tonight I'm giving God Thanks and Praise for these wonderful blessings, both big and small.
1. The Living Nativity. Praise the Lord for His Son, Jesus!
2. All the amazing volunteers who make the Living Nativity possible.
3. The Kraft Family of GoMissions. They are amazing.
4. Worship with the Kraft Family.
5. The Kids Message and the Sermon with the Kraft Family.
6. The Global Market, our church's way of having Christmas shopping and giving to people in need at the same time.
7. Making big plans, dreaming big dreams, and praying deep prayers for our faith family.
8. My husband and my kids putting up the basic Christmas tree.
9. The Mary Bridge Festival of Trees.
10. All the performers who share their talents at the Mary Bridge Festival of Trees.
11. The Jazz Swing Choir who sang and danced at the Festival of Trees this year - they took me back to high school, and wowed me.
12. "Operator, Give me Information" - an awesome jazz choir song.
13. Seeing my girls tap dance.
14. Standing on stage in front of hundreds of people, holding a bike and three jump ropes. (People actually thought I was going to do some kind of tricks with them - LOL.)
15. Wonderful good friends.
16. Sharing tears with someone who cares.
17. Trusting the Lord with our lives, and our faith.
18. A faith-filled, Christ-centered, mission-minded Pastor with a heart for families, and youth, whom we have been priveledge to know as our Pastor and our friend.
19. Teaching my youngest daughter that she can get up and move forward after making a mistake, or even two or three. (This was actually really painful today, but we made it through to the other side after a lot of tears.)
20. God leads us forth in joy.
Scripture Blessings:
"Hear, LORD, and be merciful to me;
LORD, be my help.”
You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
LORD my God, I will praise you forever."
Psalm 30:10-12
"Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his[a];
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture."
Psalm 100:1-3
1. The Living Nativity. Praise the Lord for His Son, Jesus!
2. All the amazing volunteers who make the Living Nativity possible.
3. The Kraft Family of GoMissions. They are amazing.
4. Worship with the Kraft Family.
5. The Kids Message and the Sermon with the Kraft Family.
6. The Global Market, our church's way of having Christmas shopping and giving to people in need at the same time.
7. Making big plans, dreaming big dreams, and praying deep prayers for our faith family.
8. My husband and my kids putting up the basic Christmas tree.
9. The Mary Bridge Festival of Trees.
10. All the performers who share their talents at the Mary Bridge Festival of Trees.
11. The Jazz Swing Choir who sang and danced at the Festival of Trees this year - they took me back to high school, and wowed me.
12. "Operator, Give me Information" - an awesome jazz choir song.
13. Seeing my girls tap dance.
14. Standing on stage in front of hundreds of people, holding a bike and three jump ropes. (People actually thought I was going to do some kind of tricks with them - LOL.)
15. Wonderful good friends.
16. Sharing tears with someone who cares.
17. Trusting the Lord with our lives, and our faith.
18. A faith-filled, Christ-centered, mission-minded Pastor with a heart for families, and youth, whom we have been priveledge to know as our Pastor and our friend.
19. Teaching my youngest daughter that she can get up and move forward after making a mistake, or even two or three. (This was actually really painful today, but we made it through to the other side after a lot of tears.)
20. God leads us forth in joy.
Scripture Blessings:
"Hear, LORD, and be merciful to me;
LORD, be my help.”
You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
LORD my God, I will praise you forever."
Psalm 30:10-12
"Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his[a];
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture."
Psalm 100:1-3
Friday, December 3, 2010
365 Days of Blessings, Days 186 and 187
Yesterday I didn't write. Not a single word . . . well, except for that facebook status update, but I don't think those count, not really.
For me, that makes for a bizarre day, and in the end I walked around with a small notebook and pen in my hand, planning to take a moment somewhere and just jot down a few words. I didn't do it, but having the notebook and pen made me feel better.
I guess I'm just addicted to writing. Are there Writer's Anonymous groups?
Shall I stand up and say, "Hi, my name's Tyrean, and I write every day. When I don't write, I feel lost, empty, strange, and not myself. It's been only one day since I wrote, and I don't think I'll go that long again without writing something."
When I don't write, I keep listing blessings in my head, and starting poems, thinking over characters both old and new, and mulling over just what it is that drives my writing. Some of my writing is inspired by joy, and some of it is driven by old bitterness. I have to watch that.
Yesterday, I found myself turning over moments in my life that might be useful someday to me as a writer . . . good memories, and bad ones. Someday I might have the courage to write something based on those kind of real life experiences. For now, I'm content with fiction, with some reality driven poetry in the mix. However, all that real stuff makes its way into the fictional stuff somehow, as the background experience that brings truth to the fiction.
I am thankful that God made me a writer. I know it's not an accident that I love writing the way that I do. I may not be able to claim fame as a writer, but it is who I am.
Not long ago, I read a post that differentiated writers into hobbyists and professionals. I found the post highly offensive in the marrow of my bones, the deepness of my soul, and in the way that some people find nails on a chalkboard to be aggravating. It got under my skin. After weeks of mulling it around, I think I know why. I believe a writer is someone who writes, and someone who feels passionate about writing. Writers are writers. That's it. No labels.
So, enough of my rant about writing.
Here are some of the amazing blessings that I am giving thanks for today:
1. My oldest daughter's independent hard work. She finished a number of lessons while I was sick.
2. Sisters who take care of each other, like when a big sister makes breakfast for her sick little sister. (I was in the shower, and didn't even know they were up)
3. Relief, and a sense of accomplishment from finishing National Novel Writing Month.
4. Anticipating what will happen next for my writing. Revision actually sounds fun right now. Plus, I can take moments and write on all those side ideas I had to put aside during NaNo . . . poems, short stories, devotions.
5. Friends from our Thursday Family Co-op who picked up my oldest daughter and took them with her yesterday to do a science project and have some fun.
6. My youngest daughter and I felt well enough to go to an awesome ballet last night.
7. Celebrate His Birth is the perfect intertwining of faith and ballet. A dear, wonderful friend of ours, who I admire greatly, choreographed this ballet and presents it each year with her dance company, the Metropolitan Ballet of Tacoma. There is just one more showing tonight at 7:30. If you live in the Pacific Northwest, I highly recommend it. For more details, check out their website Metropolitan Ballet of Tacoma
8. Seeing and visiting with some of our church family at the ballet last night. We have such fun, and wonderful church family.
9. Seeing and visiting with some of our Monday Homeschool Co-op family at the ballet last night. We have a great group!
10. The amazing skill and beauty of the dancers in last night's production. We are so blessed to see some of the same dancers each year, improving and deepening their performances.
11. Running into my old tap teacher, Mr. Ken, last night. He makes everyone laugh, and he has a heart for dance, and for each person he meets.
12. Memories of tap class. The fun, the laughter, and the dancers, and the tap steps too. :-)
13. Plans for my daughter's first performance of their new tap company trio routine, Bicycle, at theFestival of Trees this Sunday. Their costumes aren't in, but we are making plans to work around that, and I am excited to see them dance.
14. My daughters are going to a much anticipated birthday party tonight! (Did I say we were thankful that we are almost 100% well?)
15. My husband is gearing up for snowboarding season. He'll be going up for snowboard teacher clinics soon, and I can see the excitement that runs through him at the thought of hitting the slopes.
16. The Be Jolly By Golly blogfest! See the button on the right, and join in the festivities!
17. Bunny rabbits in the driveway, eating the bird seed we scattered last week.
18. Quinoa flakes cereal. It's a gluten free, corn free, rice free, soy free, tapioca free, oatmeal free alternative I can eat. Plus, I like it, that's good too.
19. Pink pajama pants with flowers and butterflies.
20. The Lord gives us good news!
Scripture Blessings:
"God sent the angel Gabriel to a town called Nazareth. There, he gave a message to Mary, a pure, unmarried young girl. 'Greetings, Mary! God has chosen you! You are going to have a baby boy named Jesus. He is God's only Son!'" Luke 1:26-32 (from our family advent devotional)
"Micah said, 'Out of you, little town of Bethlehem, will come the greatest of rulers, for He will be the Shepherd of all of God's people.'" Matthew 2:6 (from our family advent devotional)
For me, that makes for a bizarre day, and in the end I walked around with a small notebook and pen in my hand, planning to take a moment somewhere and just jot down a few words. I didn't do it, but having the notebook and pen made me feel better.
I guess I'm just addicted to writing. Are there Writer's Anonymous groups?
Shall I stand up and say, "Hi, my name's Tyrean, and I write every day. When I don't write, I feel lost, empty, strange, and not myself. It's been only one day since I wrote, and I don't think I'll go that long again without writing something."
When I don't write, I keep listing blessings in my head, and starting poems, thinking over characters both old and new, and mulling over just what it is that drives my writing. Some of my writing is inspired by joy, and some of it is driven by old bitterness. I have to watch that.
Yesterday, I found myself turning over moments in my life that might be useful someday to me as a writer . . . good memories, and bad ones. Someday I might have the courage to write something based on those kind of real life experiences. For now, I'm content with fiction, with some reality driven poetry in the mix. However, all that real stuff makes its way into the fictional stuff somehow, as the background experience that brings truth to the fiction.
I am thankful that God made me a writer. I know it's not an accident that I love writing the way that I do. I may not be able to claim fame as a writer, but it is who I am.
Not long ago, I read a post that differentiated writers into hobbyists and professionals. I found the post highly offensive in the marrow of my bones, the deepness of my soul, and in the way that some people find nails on a chalkboard to be aggravating. It got under my skin. After weeks of mulling it around, I think I know why. I believe a writer is someone who writes, and someone who feels passionate about writing. Writers are writers. That's it. No labels.
So, enough of my rant about writing.
Here are some of the amazing blessings that I am giving thanks for today:
1. My oldest daughter's independent hard work. She finished a number of lessons while I was sick.
2. Sisters who take care of each other, like when a big sister makes breakfast for her sick little sister. (I was in the shower, and didn't even know they were up)
3. Relief, and a sense of accomplishment from finishing National Novel Writing Month.
4. Anticipating what will happen next for my writing. Revision actually sounds fun right now. Plus, I can take moments and write on all those side ideas I had to put aside during NaNo . . . poems, short stories, devotions.
5. Friends from our Thursday Family Co-op who picked up my oldest daughter and took them with her yesterday to do a science project and have some fun.
6. My youngest daughter and I felt well enough to go to an awesome ballet last night.
7. Celebrate His Birth is the perfect intertwining of faith and ballet. A dear, wonderful friend of ours, who I admire greatly, choreographed this ballet and presents it each year with her dance company, the Metropolitan Ballet of Tacoma. There is just one more showing tonight at 7:30. If you live in the Pacific Northwest, I highly recommend it. For more details, check out their website Metropolitan Ballet of Tacoma
8. Seeing and visiting with some of our church family at the ballet last night. We have such fun, and wonderful church family.
9. Seeing and visiting with some of our Monday Homeschool Co-op family at the ballet last night. We have a great group!
10. The amazing skill and beauty of the dancers in last night's production. We are so blessed to see some of the same dancers each year, improving and deepening their performances.
11. Running into my old tap teacher, Mr. Ken, last night. He makes everyone laugh, and he has a heart for dance, and for each person he meets.
12. Memories of tap class. The fun, the laughter, and the dancers, and the tap steps too. :-)
13. Plans for my daughter's first performance of their new tap company trio routine, Bicycle, at theFestival of Trees this Sunday. Their costumes aren't in, but we are making plans to work around that, and I am excited to see them dance.
14. My daughters are going to a much anticipated birthday party tonight! (Did I say we were thankful that we are almost 100% well?)
15. My husband is gearing up for snowboarding season. He'll be going up for snowboard teacher clinics soon, and I can see the excitement that runs through him at the thought of hitting the slopes.
16. The Be Jolly By Golly blogfest! See the button on the right, and join in the festivities!
17. Bunny rabbits in the driveway, eating the bird seed we scattered last week.
18. Quinoa flakes cereal. It's a gluten free, corn free, rice free, soy free, tapioca free, oatmeal free alternative I can eat. Plus, I like it, that's good too.
19. Pink pajama pants with flowers and butterflies.
20. The Lord gives us good news!
Scripture Blessings:
"God sent the angel Gabriel to a town called Nazareth. There, he gave a message to Mary, a pure, unmarried young girl. 'Greetings, Mary! God has chosen you! You are going to have a baby boy named Jesus. He is God's only Son!'" Luke 1:26-32 (from our family advent devotional)
"Micah said, 'Out of you, little town of Bethlehem, will come the greatest of rulers, for He will be the Shepherd of all of God's people.'" Matthew 2:6 (from our family advent devotional)
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
365 Days of Blessings, Day 185
Wow, Day 185. That means I'm almost halfway to my goal. This project started with a feeling of a call. The kind of call that reaches out through two Pastors and a youth director's words and sits in a person's heart and mind, gets stirred a bit with life experiences, and then coalesces with the word of God hitting that person in the right spot at the right time. Maybe that's not the best way of describing it, but that seems to fit with how the call reached me in the seat of a church pew just 180 days ago.
These phrases from three different Christian leaders stirred me:
A gift, unopened. . .
Developing an attitude of gratitude. . .
More blessings than we could count, even if we sat and counted for all eternity . . .
Then my own experiences with thought and language resonated with their words. When I have chosen to speak and think positively and thankfully about the life I have, my life has been brighter, more joyful, and more rich with meaning and good relationships.
So, I felt compelled to take my blog in this direction for a year, for a project that focuses on counting my blessings, developing and attitude of gratitude, opening and giving thanks for the gift of life that the Lord has given me.
I've tried to count unique blessings each day, and I know I haven't held to that. God's love, water, laughter, family, and tea have been mentioned many times over, and I will probably mention them again. However, I will continue to try to find new blessings to give thanks and praise for, as much as I can each day.
I hope that this project has had a positive affect on my friends and family, and I hope that your lives are blessed richly!
Day 185's blessings so far:
1. Dog treats. They make our beagle's eyes light up with instant excitement, and obedience.
2. Dog leashes that are sturdy and wide, easy to grip.
3. Walks in the woods behind my parent's house.
4. My oldest daughter is well, even though the rest of us are sick.
5. My mom and my oldest daughter working on their guitar strumming skills together, and while discussing them, our beagle is jumping up and down in time with their hands. His name is Jumper for a reason.
6. My youngest daughter is sleeping in, and this is good, since she woke in the night with a fever. I am hoping that she can sleep off most of the sickness.
7. The wonderful anticipation of advent candles. This week we light just one candle, then next week we light two, and so on until Christmas when we light our Christmas candle.
8. Advent devotions by candlelight each night as a family.
9. Advent chocolate.
10. This awesome blog post I just read at A Grace Story
11. The Lord is our Hope!
Scripture Blessings:
We wait in hope for the LORD;
he is our help and our shield.
In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
Psalm 33:20-21
These phrases from three different Christian leaders stirred me:
A gift, unopened. . .
Developing an attitude of gratitude. . .
More blessings than we could count, even if we sat and counted for all eternity . . .
Then my own experiences with thought and language resonated with their words. When I have chosen to speak and think positively and thankfully about the life I have, my life has been brighter, more joyful, and more rich with meaning and good relationships.
So, I felt compelled to take my blog in this direction for a year, for a project that focuses on counting my blessings, developing and attitude of gratitude, opening and giving thanks for the gift of life that the Lord has given me.
I've tried to count unique blessings each day, and I know I haven't held to that. God's love, water, laughter, family, and tea have been mentioned many times over, and I will probably mention them again. However, I will continue to try to find new blessings to give thanks and praise for, as much as I can each day.
I hope that this project has had a positive affect on my friends and family, and I hope that your lives are blessed richly!
Day 185's blessings so far:
1. Dog treats. They make our beagle's eyes light up with instant excitement, and obedience.
2. Dog leashes that are sturdy and wide, easy to grip.
3. Walks in the woods behind my parent's house.
4. My oldest daughter is well, even though the rest of us are sick.
5. My mom and my oldest daughter working on their guitar strumming skills together, and while discussing them, our beagle is jumping up and down in time with their hands. His name is Jumper for a reason.
6. My youngest daughter is sleeping in, and this is good, since she woke in the night with a fever. I am hoping that she can sleep off most of the sickness.
7. The wonderful anticipation of advent candles. This week we light just one candle, then next week we light two, and so on until Christmas when we light our Christmas candle.
8. Advent devotions by candlelight each night as a family.
9. Advent chocolate.
10. This awesome blog post I just read at A Grace Story
11. The Lord is our Hope!
Scripture Blessings:
We wait in hope for the LORD;
he is our help and our shield.
In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
Psalm 33:20-21
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