Five Days . . . many thanks . . . a tiny notebook with white polka dots on a field of blue with a fingerprint flower smiling up at me . . . a place to capture all the blessings, poems and story ideas for five days . . .
Friday Blessings
1. Cocoa muffins - made and packed.
2. Cinnamon bake - made and packed.
3. Pizza, chili, and bread - made and packed.
4. Breakfast.
5. 1 mile walk.
6. Prayed for a miracle, and husband came home just in time to help me.
7. Reservations for the dogs and cat at Bayside Animal Lodge, where they get loved as well as kenneled.
8. Youth Snow Trip!!!
9. Car ride with a friend.
10. Getting there - driving into camp in the dark, walking into a bright, big chapel filled with teens and adults from four different churches.
11. Singing a fun version of "Be Still, and Know that I am God."
12. Warm cabins to sleep in.
Saturday Blessings:
1. Taking beginner level skiers from the bunny hill to the chair lift successfully!
2. Teaching wedge turns, and seeing skiers gain more control and confidence.
3. Riding on the chair lift - I am so thankful I don't have to walk up the hill.
4. Taking a short black diamond side trip through powder with my youngest daughter.
5. Taking a boarder with three days of experience on intermediate runs, and being impressed by her tenacity and ability.
6. Watching my husband teach boarders with joy.
7. Watching my husband teach our youth director how to ride in the park.
8. The confidence of youth.
9. My oldest daughter (almost 12) taking charge of a group of level 1 skiers, and leading them on various easy runs.
10. Worship at camp.
11. A room full of different definitions of adventure - awesome definitions!
12. God calls us to the greatest adventure of all.
13. The Rainsin Sketch . . . "We are the raisins that make, the cereal taste great. Oh Yeah!" and "Spoon! Spoon! Spoon! Spoon!"
Sunday Blessings:
1. More sleep!
2. Tasty breakfast!
3. Sleepy bus ride to the mountain.
4. Skiing in the rain with enthusiastic kids.
5. Dry clothes.
6. Warm heaters.
7. The Mt. Baker lodge cat let me pet him.
8. Time to relax.
9. The "Do Run Run" rhyme game on the way home from the mountain.
10. The story game on the way home from the mountain . . . kids outside my writing class like this game!
11. Playing "Freeze!" - the improv game.
12. Awesome worship at chapel at the end of the day.
Monday Blessings:
1. Time to sleep in!
2. Chapel worship with three youth groups as a way to start the day.
3. Creative worship with sculpting, drawing, praising, praying, reading, singing, and hugging!
4. Breakfast and packing up on the last day of camp.
5. A quick car drive - traffic actually flowed, and it was a great trip back.
6. Talking on the phone with a friend about new hope in Christ!
7. Writing poetry in my head while driving.
8. My awesome students from both my Shakespeare Class and my Writing class who made my presentation table so cool for our home school cooperative open house! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
9. My youngest daughter helped me put together my tri-fold poster boards for my classes. She has a great eye for visual flow and detail!
10. The wonderful help of a parent-teacher who gave me sticky letters to use on my writing poster board! Thank you!
11. Watching my youngest daughter sing "Jesus Loves Me" in Spanish, and then watching her sign with her sign language class. She is so talented! (and I know I'm biased)
12. My oldest daughter performed with her guitar class, even though she didn't feel prepared and she didn't want to. She did a really good job, and I am proud of her for getting up there and playing.
13. My amazing and wonderful husband went the extra mile yesterday with all his hard work helping with packing up with the youth, unpacking at our house, and picking up our dogs and cat from their kennel time.
14. Our dogs looked happy and well fed! They were calm, and happy to be home. (our last kennel experience left their ribs showing, and they acted like they were panicked)
15. God sees us safely home.
Tuesday Blessings:
1. Sleeping in for a long, long time.
2. Ice, and heat make for a better day when you wake up with a sore neck.
3. Clean laundry.
4. Washers and dryers.
5. Conversations about facebook conversations . . . appropriate or inappropriate content.
6. Mint Tea.
7. My kids are dance, dance, dancing.
8. Loving up the dogs and cat after days away.
9. Just being home.
10. New hope in God's direction for life.
11. Testimony shared in a dance studio lobby!
Scripture Blessings:
"With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it." 1 Peter 5:12
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
365 Days of Blessings, Day 228
Giving Thanks and Praise for:
1. Super soft, 8 week old puppies.
2. A super cuddly puppy that climbed into my lap earlier and put her nose in my sweatshirt.
3. Friends who lean on each other, encourage one another, and pray for one another.
4. Science with home school buddies.
5. Storytelling Games.
6. On sale ski pants for my oldest daughter for $30 - an amazing deal at a Big 5.
7. Daughters in jazz class.
8. New dance costumes in today.
9. Birthday invitations.
10. Jesus is an approachable teacher.
Scripture Blessings:
"One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, 'Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.'” Luke 11:1
1. Super soft, 8 week old puppies.
2. A super cuddly puppy that climbed into my lap earlier and put her nose in my sweatshirt.
3. Friends who lean on each other, encourage one another, and pray for one another.
4. Science with home school buddies.
5. Storytelling Games.
6. On sale ski pants for my oldest daughter for $30 - an amazing deal at a Big 5.
7. Daughters in jazz class.
8. New dance costumes in today.
9. Birthday invitations.
10. Jesus is an approachable teacher.
Scripture Blessings:
"One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, 'Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.'” Luke 11:1
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
365 Days of Blessings, Day 227, Publication, and 10 Bloggers That Make Me Happy
Big title, Big stuff, Big Thankfulness today for:
Publication: So Cold is on-line today at Every Day Poets. I admit it isn't my favorite poem, and I want to re-write it, right now, again. The super short poems seem to be the most challenging for me. However, I am still thankful for the honor of being published, and I'm excited about it too. Stop by, give a read and star rating!
The Top Ten Bloggers Who Make Me Happy Award
Wow! When I most needed encouragment, I found this award waiting for me at Write Now, from Karen Lange. Karen has been a blessing and encouragement to me since the first year of my blog. I really appreciate her insights about writing. Thank you, Karen. You are definitely a blogger who makes me happy!
Now, who do I pass this to, when so many bloggers make me happy. All of the blogs I follow make me happy, and there are more than ten of them . . . but here goes:
1. Melissa at Through The Looking Glass makes me happy with her insightful, thought-provoking posts about writing that are always coupled with allegories from her favorite books, holidays, sports, and vacations. There is always something in her posts that make me smile, or laugh, and something that makes me think, and want to write. Thank you, Melissa.
2. Heather at Writer's Manna is a blog I started following recently, and I've found her posts to be very inspiring. Thank you, Heather!
3. Jill Kemerer, Author makes me happy with her fun, and insightful posts. Thank you, Jill.
4. Chaplain Mike at Internet Monk offers up inspiring and thought-provoking posts that have get me into God's word in the middle of my day and thinking over just how I may or may not be living out God's Greatest Commandment.
5. Gretchin Rubin at The Happiness Project is amazing, and I just started reading her posts. I think the title says it all.
6. Angie at Notes From the Writing Chair shares her personal journey as a Christian writer and editor with a wonderful flair for humor and introspection in the midst of honest reflection. Thank you Angie!
7. Julie Dao at Silver Lining wows me every time with her amazing writing allergories, and I can't wait until she finishes her Princess story . . . it sounds awesome.
8. Grace at a grace story is a wonderful mentor and friend in my life, and her blog posts reflect God's grace working through her grace-filled life.
9. Nevets at Nevets QST shares and honest look at the writing life, and how life and writing mix together. Thank you Nevets for your awesome posts on transitions, and your rants . . .they help me realize that I'm not the only one who feels a need to rant now and then.
10. Shannon at Book Dreaming shares thought-provoking, and fun quotes that get me thinking about my writing in new ways. She has book reviews that send me to the library, and sometimes to the bookstore . . . and she has such a joy-filled outlook that it makes me smile every time I go to her blog. Thanks Shannon!
These 10 blogs are blessings in my life, and make me very happy. So, please, if you received this award pass it along. If you didn't, please know that your blogs bless me, and make me happy too . . . but I just couldn't list them all.
Scripture Blessings:
"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I say, Rejoice!"
Philippians 4:4
Monday, January 10, 2011
365 Days of Blessings, Day 226
Today I'm giving thanks and praise for different blog posts that got me thinking creatively, prayers, song lyrics, and thoughts that inspire me:
1. Doodles, and posts about doodling. In her post, Do You Doodle? Angie shares her feelings about doodling. I happen to like creative doodling, especially when I throw words on the margins with scribbles around them. It is kind of a brainstorming exercise for me.
2. Princess stories and discussions about them, like the one started at Diamonds and Toads I started imagnining a singing Prince wooing a silent princess, who is sewing feathers into shirts for her 12 brothers . . . kind of a retold fairy tale idea that's now brewing into a short story. Wouldn't it be great if Disney did some singing Prince movies? Why is it that the Princess is always the one singing?
3. An interesting post on transitions in life and writing at Nevets Paradox made me excited about revising my own writing, and looking at transitions specifically.
4. Yesterday when I stopped by Karen's Write Now I discovered an award waiting for me! What an amazing blessing and surprise. Thank you, Karen!!! You have been a blessing to me since I the earliest days of my blog, giving me encouragement in all the right moments.
5. Inspiring posts like this one at Writer's Manna Changing the World With Your Writing make my day!
6. Signs You May Have The Writing Syndrome from The Golden Eagle.
7. Listening to the radio and hearing Hold us Together by Matt Maher at just the right moment in time, and singing it together as a family.
8. This is the first day of the rest of our lives . . .
9. The Lord makes all things new.
10. The continued prayers, encouragement, and support of my awesome Christian brothers and sisters. Thanks be to the Lord, for my forever family!!!
11. The Lyrics of Hold Us Together by Matt Maher:
It don't have a job
Don't pay your bills
Won't buy you a home
In Beverly Hills
Won't fix your life
In five easy steps
Ain't the law of the land
Or the government
But it's all you need..
Love, will, hold us together
Make us a shelter
to weather the storm
And I'll, be, my brothers keeper
So the whole world will know
That we're not alone
It's waiting for you
Knockin' at your door!
Every moment of truth
When your heart hits the floor
When you're on your knees then...
Love, will, hold us together
Make us a shelter
to weather the storm
And I'll, be, my brothers keeper
So the whole world will know
That we're not alone
This is the first, day of the rest of your life
This is the first, day of the rest of your life
'Cause even in the dark you can still see the light
It's gonna be alright, s'gonna be alright
This is the first, day of the rest of your life
This is the first, day of the rest of your life
'Cause even in the dark you can still see the light
It's gonna be alright, s'gonna be alright
Love, will, hold us together
Make us a shelter
to weather the storm
And I'll, be, my brothers keeper
So the whole world will know
That we're not alone
Scripture Blessings:
Luke 10:25-28
"On one occassion and expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. 'Teacher,' he asked, 'what must I do to inherit eternal life?'
'What is written in the law?' he replied. 'How do you read it?'
He answered: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
'You have answered correctly,' Jesus replied. 'Do this and you will live.'"
1. Doodles, and posts about doodling. In her post, Do You Doodle? Angie shares her feelings about doodling. I happen to like creative doodling, especially when I throw words on the margins with scribbles around them. It is kind of a brainstorming exercise for me.
2. Princess stories and discussions about them, like the one started at Diamonds and Toads I started imagnining a singing Prince wooing a silent princess, who is sewing feathers into shirts for her 12 brothers . . . kind of a retold fairy tale idea that's now brewing into a short story. Wouldn't it be great if Disney did some singing Prince movies? Why is it that the Princess is always the one singing?
3. An interesting post on transitions in life and writing at Nevets Paradox made me excited about revising my own writing, and looking at transitions specifically.
4. Yesterday when I stopped by Karen's Write Now I discovered an award waiting for me! What an amazing blessing and surprise. Thank you, Karen!!! You have been a blessing to me since I the earliest days of my blog, giving me encouragement in all the right moments.
5. Inspiring posts like this one at Writer's Manna Changing the World With Your Writing make my day!
6. Signs You May Have The Writing Syndrome from The Golden Eagle.
7. Listening to the radio and hearing Hold us Together by Matt Maher at just the right moment in time, and singing it together as a family.
8. This is the first day of the rest of our lives . . .
9. The Lord makes all things new.
10. The continued prayers, encouragement, and support of my awesome Christian brothers and sisters. Thanks be to the Lord, for my forever family!!!
11. The Lyrics of Hold Us Together by Matt Maher:
It don't have a job
Don't pay your bills
Won't buy you a home
In Beverly Hills
Won't fix your life
In five easy steps
Ain't the law of the land
Or the government
But it's all you need..
Love, will, hold us together
Make us a shelter
to weather the storm
And I'll, be, my brothers keeper
So the whole world will know
That we're not alone
It's waiting for you
Knockin' at your door!
Every moment of truth
When your heart hits the floor
When you're on your knees then...
Love, will, hold us together
Make us a shelter
to weather the storm
And I'll, be, my brothers keeper
So the whole world will know
That we're not alone
This is the first, day of the rest of your life
This is the first, day of the rest of your life
'Cause even in the dark you can still see the light
It's gonna be alright, s'gonna be alright
This is the first, day of the rest of your life
This is the first, day of the rest of your life
'Cause even in the dark you can still see the light
It's gonna be alright, s'gonna be alright
Love, will, hold us together
Make us a shelter
to weather the storm
And I'll, be, my brothers keeper
So the whole world will know
That we're not alone
Scripture Blessings:
Luke 10:25-28
"On one occassion and expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. 'Teacher,' he asked, 'what must I do to inherit eternal life?'
'What is written in the law?' he replied. 'How do you read it?'
He answered: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
'You have answered correctly,' Jesus replied. 'Do this and you will live.'"
365 Days of Blessings, Day 225
Giving Thanks and Praise for:
1. Two friends' gentle rebuke. It is amazing how comforting, and how right those words were to me both yesterday and this morning. Thank you, dear friends.
2. Knowing that only God is Good.
3. Knowing that God's provision is enough.
4. Knowing that God's grace is enough.
5. Knowing that God, and God alone, is just.
6. Blessing and releasing. Letting it all go, and letting God do what He does best.
7. The prayers of friends and family - thank you so much.
8. Taking with me only the good stuff, the good memories and the sweetness. Those are the right things to pack when leaving a place and moving onto another.
9. Thinking about a Go.Do.Likewise. blogfest . . . not sure what it will look like yet, but I am thinking about trying to spread the kindness.
10. Two friends of mine shared Biblical passages with me in the last 24 hours, and they made me take a step back and think.
Scripture Blessings:
Psalm 101
"I will sing of your love and justice;
to you, O Lord, I will sing praise.
I will be careful to lead a blameless
life -
when will you come to me?
I will walk in my house
with blameless heart.
I will set before my eyes
no vile thing.
The deeds of faithless men I hate;
they will not cling to me.
Men of peverse heart shall be far
from me;
I will have nothing to do with evil.
Whoever slanders his neighbor in
secret,
him will I put to silence;
whoever has haughty eyes aand a
proud heart,
him will I not endure.
My eyes will be on the faithful in the
land,
that they may dwell with me;
he whose walk is blameless
will minister to me.
No one who practices deceit
will dwell in my house;
no one who speaks falsely
will stand in my presence.
Every morning I will put to silence
all the wicked in the land;
I will cut off every evildoer
from the city of the Lord."
Psalm 39:1
"I said, 'I will watch my ways
and keep my tongue from sin;
I will put a muzzle on my mouth
as long as the wicked are in my
presence.'"
Psalm 40:1-3
"I waited patiently for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and the mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the Lord."
1. Two friends' gentle rebuke. It is amazing how comforting, and how right those words were to me both yesterday and this morning. Thank you, dear friends.
2. Knowing that only God is Good.
3. Knowing that God's provision is enough.
4. Knowing that God's grace is enough.
5. Knowing that God, and God alone, is just.
6. Blessing and releasing. Letting it all go, and letting God do what He does best.
7. The prayers of friends and family - thank you so much.
8. Taking with me only the good stuff, the good memories and the sweetness. Those are the right things to pack when leaving a place and moving onto another.
9. Thinking about a Go.Do.Likewise. blogfest . . . not sure what it will look like yet, but I am thinking about trying to spread the kindness.
10. Two friends of mine shared Biblical passages with me in the last 24 hours, and they made me take a step back and think.
Scripture Blessings:
Psalm 101
"I will sing of your love and justice;
to you, O Lord, I will sing praise.
I will be careful to lead a blameless
life -
when will you come to me?
I will walk in my house
with blameless heart.
I will set before my eyes
no vile thing.
The deeds of faithless men I hate;
they will not cling to me.
Men of peverse heart shall be far
from me;
I will have nothing to do with evil.
Whoever slanders his neighbor in
secret,
him will I put to silence;
whoever has haughty eyes aand a
proud heart,
him will I not endure.
My eyes will be on the faithful in the
land,
that they may dwell with me;
he whose walk is blameless
will minister to me.
No one who practices deceit
will dwell in my house;
no one who speaks falsely
will stand in my presence.
Every morning I will put to silence
all the wicked in the land;
I will cut off every evildoer
from the city of the Lord."
Psalm 39:1
"I said, 'I will watch my ways
and keep my tongue from sin;
I will put a muzzle on my mouth
as long as the wicked are in my
presence.'"
Psalm 40:1-3
"I waited patiently for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and the mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the Lord."
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