More Gifts

There are so many gifts we are given each and every day!  Most of them are taken for granted and we never think to give thanks for them.  This is a practice of counting my blessings, even the things I never stop to think about as being blessings!  I don't always get pictures to go along with the blessings.

If you are late to the party, it began here.....and continues!

November 22nd

 13. Falling leaves in autumn

Can you see the leaves that are falling?

14. Leaf-covered paths

15. Glimmering, golden leaves

16. Fellowship with Christian friends

We met with our church family and other ministry friends

for supper at Carriage House restaurant.

November 23rd

17. Rain

18. Painting projects

(shown step by step process)

First layer for background

Second layer for background

Added stenciling to background before painting tree and snowman.

Adding details

19.  Snowmen

Finished project

November 24th

20.  Lunch at church

Bro. Hall passed away and the funeral was today.

We fed the family in the fellowship hall.

21. God's Word

22. A bed to rest my aching head

23. Learning of former SS children being blessed and led into ministry.

November 25th

24. Nights of rest

25. Sunny days

The morning sun shining in the living room window.

26. Quiet house

27. Speechless TV

28. Ticking clocks

29. Rushing traffic

30. Comfort

31. Tiny details etched into a small box with secret power hidden inside

Another Italian box I found at the thrift store

32. Games with hubby

33. Church family

November 26th

34. Restful nights

35. Birds singing in the morning

36. Sump pump working

37. Kleenex

38. Kisses

39. Breath

40. Eyesight

41. Glasses

42. Pen and paper

43. Fire pit meals

The naked eye view was better than I could capture with my phone

Selfie with hubby, 

Roasted veggies and pork chops and ......

fry bread.  I've never heard of this.  But, I made biscuits and then you fry them in oil. 
Not very healthy, but good.  Mark cooked them while I worked on the veggies and pork chops.

Watching the fire is so relaxing.  Here's a video to relax you, too!  You're Welcome!

Thank You, LORD, for allowing me to see more and more gifts you bless me with each and every day!

One Thousand Gifts And More

Who doesn't want to experience abundant blessings?  No one.......said no one EVER!

I'm reading a book, One Thousand Gifts, by Ann Voskamp.  The premise of the book is if we want to experience abundant blessings we must look for them.  We must pay attention to the thousands of gifts that the LORD bestows on us every single day of our lives.......even in the days that you wouldn't COUNT as blessings normally!

We ALL need to learn to count our blessings!  Practice makes perfect, so they say.  So, I've already begun to practice looking for blessings, gifts from the LORD, in unexpected places.  Will you join me on this journey?  Not just my journey, but to begin one of your own?

Count your blessings, NAME them one by one!
Count your blessings, SEE what God has done!
God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.  2 Corinthians 9:13
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.  Amen.  Ephesians 3:20, 21
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.  James 1:17
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.  I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.  John 10:10
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  Matthew 6:33
You crown the year with Your goodness, and Your paths drip with abundance.  Psalm 65:11
But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.  Matthew 5:44, 45

My Countdown of Gifts:

November 19th

1.  Books that help me grow spiritually

2.  Good friends

3.  Good food

4.  Craft supplies

November 20th

5.  Indoor plumbing

6.  Heating

7.  Quiet time

8.  Texts from my husband

9.  Good sales

November 21st

10.  Beautiful autumn mornings

11. Warm(er) waiting rooms

12. Graduation to heaven

Thank You, LORD, for your blessings on me! 

What were you thankful for today?

Weekend Blessings

The plan:  Liz and Brad are planning Ryan's birthday celebration to be a paint ball party back in our woods next month, so they wanted to come and get an idea of the area that the boys would be using.  While here, they would be doing some riding and we decided to cook at the pit.  So, we invited Noah to spend the night on Friday since he and Ryan get along pretty well.

On Friday, I picked up Ryan and Abby from their school at 3:30 in Rockwell.  Hannah had basket ball and could not come.  I drove back and picked up Noah after he arrived home from school around 4:30.  We drove home and the kids changed clothes.  Papaw Mark was going to the woods and the kids wanted to go with him.  So I began preparations for the chicken stew that would be part of the food for Saturday.  We also had hot dogs, cheddar brats, chips, s'mores fixings, and pumpkin pie planned.

When everyone came back from the woods, we ordered pizza, which I didn't dare eat since my stomach had been in a quandary for a couple of days!  Afterwards, we played games.  Everyone loves playing UNO Attack!

We watched movies and it ended up being midnight or after before we got in bed.

Saturday, November 9

Everyone slept in.  Abby was up pretty early, but that is nothing new.  Papaw was up around 8:30 so he could go to the shop to build a stand for a soup pot down at the fire pit area.  I got up around 9 and watched cartoons with Abby til around 10 when I made the boys get up and I fixed breakfast for everyone....bacon and eggs and toast and chocolate milk.  Mark came back from the shop just as we were finishing up.

Liz and Brad, Hannah and Emma (Hannah's friend) arrived around 1:30.  They had a surprise for the kids (Hannah finding out first since she didn't stay with us).  An early Christmas gift.....a brand-spanking new 4-wheeler!  So they all got to test drive it, even Abby!

So, the rest of the time was spent down in the woods around the fire pit and on the trails.

After they arrived, I gathered up all of the food and Liz and I drove down to the fire pit so I could get the chicken stew started.  Here's the recipe (from asouthernsoul.com):

To make the process quicker at the fire pit, I cooked the chicken at the house and shredded it and put it in the fridge overnight.  Then prior to coming to the pit, I mixed the flour and milk, salt and pepper in a bowl to add when I got to the pit.  I also had the chicken stock saved in a bowl and had the whole milk in another container. 

When I got to the fire pit, Mark had the coals ready to begin cooking the soup.  So I put the shredded chicken and chicken stock into the pot and covered it with a lid to bring it to a boil.  Then we took the pot off of the fire so I could add the milk and thickener and get it mixed with the chicken well.  Then we put the pot back over the fire, but up a little higher so the milk would not scorch.

About 4 o'clock, the soup was ready, so we all ate soup first and then hot dogs and s'mores!  We were too full for the pumpkin pie!  I have to say the chicken stew was really good and everyone liked it!  There were no leftovers!

Here are some other pictures taken during our time down at the pit.

Liz, Hannah and Emma

Brad, Noah, Ryan and Mark.  What a handsome group of guys!  

Mark kept the fire stoked!

Emma and Hannah

Both fire pits.

Here's the rack Mark made.  It worked great!

It was a beautiful day but pretty cold away from the fire!

Abby bundled up in Papaw Mark's coat.

Liz and Brad and family headed for home around 5:30, I guess.  Noah, Mark and I played cards during the evening and ate some of the pumpkin pie.  It was very good from Costco.

Noah spent the night again and we took him home after church tonight.

It was a quick weekend!  Thank You, LORD, for the blessing of family!

One Thousand Gifts

Today I began reading "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp.  I will be participating in an online Bible Study and this is the featured book.  The Bible Study is a reminder for us to be grateful.  What better time to do that than during the month of November.  It actually runs from November 18 - December 22.  That's good!  It will bring into focus another Gift, the absolute best Gift ever, that was given to us, I'm sure!  You can find out more about the Bible Study HERE. 

When I purchased the book and Bible Study guide, I also bought a gratitude journal.  I began reading the book today and made my first entry into the journal.  It's never too early to be thankful, right?

Today I am grateful for "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp because I'm reminded why I'm not writing my story, (and I quote)....."He (God) knows how it all works out, where it all leads, what it all means.  I don't."  Hopefully, prayerfully, I will be even more thankful from now on for the story He is writing!

Thank You, Lord, for the blessings You have written into my story!  Help me to remember You are the One Who knows how it all works out!  "For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."  Jeremiah 29:11

Fire Pit

We are really enjoying the fire pit!  Especially the food that is cooked over it!  Last night we fixed pork chops, mixed veggies and garlic toast.  YUM!  It was DELICIOUS!  No leftovers tonight!

The Menu, all seasoned and ready to go!

It was a beautiful evening!

Building the fire to get some good cooking coals!

Mark watched the garlic toast closely while I worked on the pork.

He also helped keeping the mixed veggies stirred.

Still don't know why the Lord blessed me with two good men!  So much more than I deserve!

Mark did a lot of work cutting down and chopping up trees that had fallen and brush and debris that had come down during last week's rains.  Some of it is still damp and does a lot of smoking when added to the fire, til the moisture is burned off!

Well, the Christmas wrapping has begun!  The last several of years money has been the gift to the grandchildren.  This year there will be gifts.

Let the gatherings begin!  I thought this cartoon was so funny.....and true!  Christmas is WAY TOO COMMERCIALIZED!  It is time for Americans to get back to remembering to be thankful for all that the Lord has done for our Country!  And, PLEASE don't call it turkey day........it is THANKSGIVING!!!!