Practicing Gratitude

Hosted in September by
Iris @ Grace Alone

Happy Wednesday, everyone!!  I know, I know, it's supposed to be Thankful THURSDAY, but the host's post is up and the linky tool is available already...

I have so many things I'm grateful for and nothing really specific this week, so I'm just going to share snippets from my journal again this past week.

I'm thankful for:

• a marriage that's never been threatened by the temptation of infidelity
• God watches over and takes care of my husband even when he's on the road and I can't be there with him

• He guards the hearts and minds of my little girls in a way I just can't as well
• laughing so hard together with The 'Man that we were in tears
• waking up to a tidy house!
• the school bus comes later than it used to, so the girls have extra time to play and feed their pets before leaving for school
• taking a walk with my girls after school to visit a little flowering bush in the ditch covered with butterflies and bees
• being able to use the kiddie pool still at the end of September!
• a warm evening walk with the sunset and many daydreams
• one less skunk frolicking on the yard...
• the ministry of Revive Our Hearts and the great influence and inspiration it's been in my life since I began listening regularly two years ago

• I don't have to worship God alone and/or in secret,
• but I love time alone with God on my walks and in the dark, early morning quiet before anyone else wakes up
• that feeling of being partially awake when you can tell exactly how delicious it feels to be in a warm, cozy bed

Ahh, there's always SO MUCH to be thankful for ~ from the seemingly insignificant to the awesome and amazing!  God is so good.

 
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Seriously...

We're still picnic-ing,



And needing freezies and kiddie pools to help stay cool,



And wearing shorts for a walk and sweating like crazy,



And needing the kiddie pool at the end of the day again,



Even though the A/C's been on all day.

Just like any other normal, summer day.

BUT IT'S THE END OF SEPTEMBER!

AND WE LIVE ON THE CANADIAN PRAIRIES!!!
This is a very big deal.

 

Hard to believe...

...yesterday was the first day of fall. Other than the changing colours in many trees, you really wouldn't have known it.



The girls and I went for a little walk down the main road after school to check out a little purple bush I'd seen while driving past earlier in the day.



It was still covered with butterflies, although they weren't too thrilled with our presence and it was tough to get any pictures. They don't sit still long!



There was a variety of bees as well ~ this one was by far the biggest guy around.



We were almost too warm, even in capris, t-shirts, and sandals... ON THE FIRST DAY OF FALL!!



We could hardly believe the awesomeness ourselves.

But we thoroughly enjoyed it!

 

Practicing Gratitude

Hosted in September by
Iris @ Grace Alone

Man, I can't believe it's that time of the week again! I don't know WHERE the time is going, but I don't seem to spend much of it writing here anymore, that's for sure!

I'm sure that's a sign I'm far too busy! ;)

I'm grateful hubby and I had the perfect opportunity to go on ANOTHER date night. (I know ~ pinch me, right?  I must be dreaming!!  TWO date nights in ONE WEEK!!)  Peanut and Fidget were both invited to a sleep-over birthday party and so I rode with The 'Man for the second half of his trip from the bush up to the mill.

After he'd unloaded (pictured below), we went out for a late dinner before hopping back into the semi for the 2-hr return trip home.

I'm grateful my husband has a job, even though it often feels considerably less than ideal for everyone.  Sometimes it feels like he just can't win ~ either he's working and we've got a good, steady income but he's never home, or he's home lots but then we've got no income.  For him so often it feels like a lose-lose situation.  I'm thankful he puts in some very serious effort as the sole provider for our family.  I wish it would be easier for him.

But I'm so grateful that the reason he's gone lots isn't because he doesn't want to be at home.  I'm thankful I can reassure my girls that their daddy loves them very much even though he isn't always home while they're awake to say it himself, and that we know it's the truth.  I'm not just making something up to make them feel better.

Autumn Rose

I'm thankful for a good turn-out for our first church ladies' meeting on Monday night.  Mostly it was just a coffee and visiting night, but I gave a short devotional about how and why we need each other in the Body of Christ, as members of HIS Church. I found this handy little printable list of the "One Anothers of Scripture" that fit really well with the topic and I made it into little reminder cards/bookmarks for each of us to take home to help us remember.

I'm grateful for a small but wonderful bunch of women who love our church and I'm looking forward to a year of getting together to celebrate that!

 
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Some Thoughts from Isaiah

What feels like a really long time ago, I posted some of my thoughts about the sovereignty of God. I promised a Part II and I haven't delivered. Not yet, anyway.

Partly, it's because it's difficult to put into words and it will take time.  And I'll be honest:  I'm unmotivated to take that time.

But partly, it's also because, quite simply, I don't spend much time thinking about it anymore ~ the matter is settled in my mind. Someday, hopefully, I will be motivated to revisit and make that second installment because I really feel like there was always a puzzle piece missing that's been found.  I imagine there may be many others who feel the same way.  I'm not saying I understand it all now, but this whole subject doesn't vex me the way it always used to ~ something that troubled me before just doesn't anymore.

Anyway, my post for today over at the Through the Bible blog sort of discusses the same theme and so I thought I'd share the link if you're interested.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Practicing Gratitude

Hosted in September by
Iris @ Grace Alone

Another week, another Thursday, another chance to tell people how grateful we are!  (not that we can't do it all the other days of the week as well, of course!)

I'm thankful for a return to routine and a renewed desire to tidy up, organize, and maintain my home ~ to be a better home MANAGER.  But it's a lot of work!  I was looking forward to feeling like I could relax and read more now that the girls are out of the house all day again, but that hasn't happened yet!  Maybe once my house is organized and under control...

I'm so grateful for answers to prayer!  My best friend and I have decided to try and breathe new life into our tiny church's ladies' group.  Attendance at the monthly meetings dwindled to the point a few years ago where we just quit meeting altogether, but the last time my friend and I were together, we decided to do something about it.  This is a huge answer to prayer for me because for months now, I've been feeling like I need to be involved, possibly even lead, but I wanted to wait on God and do it His way.  My friend approaching me about it felt like confirmation.  And I'm so grateful she and I will be partners on this!

I'm thankful for completely unexpected date nights.  If we're going to do anything like that (which is already quite rare), I generally have to make the arrangements to make sure it happens.  But last weekend, The 'Man told me to keep Saturday night open and HE took care of the details ~ like hiring a babysitter!  It made me feel special and like I was worth the effort.  It really is the little things!  This weekend both girls have been invited to a sleep-over, so we could actually do it all over again!!  (provided he's home Friday evening!)

I'm thankful the sun is still warm, even though the air is cooling off.  Fall is definitely in the air.  And very abruptly, too ~ Saturday was a beautiful 30C/86F and suddenly yesterday we were down to a very cold, windy 12C/54F.  And it FROZE overnight!

So I'm especially grateful that frost is so beautiful...

Because without that, it would have absolutely no redeeming qualities at all!!  ;)

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Enough

No soul can be really at rest until it has given up all dependence on everything else and has been forced to depend on the Lord alone. As long as our expectation is from other things, nothing but disappointment awaits us.



Feelings may change and will change with our changing circumstances. Promises may seem to fail. Everything that we have believed in or depended upon may seem to be swept away, and only God is left. Just God. Simply and only God.

God is enough for time.
God is enough for eternity...

~ excerpts from The God of All Comfort

by Hannah Whitall Smith
~ photos by me, taken on my walk yesterday morning

 

Practicing Gratitude

Hosted in September by
Iris @ Grace Alone

Happy September, Thankful people!

I can't believe it's here already ~ September... and SCHOOL!!  It was the girls' first day today, but the weather we're having right now doesn't feel like EITHER should be here yet!  Hovering around the 31C/88F this time of year is a little unusual and it really feels like we should rather be at the beach than back to school!  I'm so thankful for the amazing summer we had though ~ and that it is continuing at least as far as this week!

I'm grateful my girls enjoy school, even though it's really tough for them to want to go back when it feels like summer is continuing without them!  I don't blame them.  I wish they could stay home a few more weeks, too.

The girls this afternoon -
after their first day back in school!

But I am thankful for the return to routine and time to work in and about the house relatively interruption-free.  The first day of school I usually spend fairly leisurely, but this year, I cleaned bathroom, did half the mowing, headed to town for groceries and errands, and then tackled a mountain of dirty dishes after supper.  Whew.  But it felt good to be able to accomplish so much for a change!

I'm thankful for a renewed sense of purpose in keeping my home.  It's getting easier and easier to stay away from the computer to actually get things done around here!

Tomorrow and Friday have plenty on the agenda as well, but I want to also try and spend some time working out some goals for myself ~ and maybe even a routine for the week.  I'm a list- and chart-maker, but so often, that's as far as it gets.  This fall, I'd like it to be different.  I'd like to say I'm resolved it will be, but then I'm bound to fail, so let's just say, my PLAN is to continue being more deliberate and intentional with my time!  (wish me luck...)

I'm thankful for a home and a family and I'm grateful for the opportunity and responsibility of looking after both!  Ultimately, my goal is to SHOW my gratitude to God by doing the most excellent job I can.

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Summer Goals Final Checkpoint

I didn't bother posting Checkpoint #4 two weeks ago because, well, quite frankly, virtually nothing had changed since Checkpoint #3!!  Other than one of The 'Man's sisters coming out for a quick weekend visit and an afternoon/evening at the lake with close friends one Sunday, we have done VERY LITTLE around here lately!  July was so busy; it's just felt good to relax and do nothing.  (Well, other than the normal stuff, of course!)

• Get to the local library and school playground once a week ~ July 12, Aug 9 (library only), Sep 1, Sep 6 (library only ~ and just to return two movies)
• Spend 20 minutes a day in the garden ~ Jun 28, 29, (away from home the 1st to 3rd) Jul 4, 7, (away 15-17), July 25, Aug 16... Clearly I'm not doing well with this one again!!  In my defence, hubby's been home a fair bit this summer, so he's been doing much of this.  It really is HIS hobby, not mine!
• Teach girls some simple chore routines:
• swish'n'swipe bathroom: virtually every morning since July 5!! (except weekends, and their/our absences from July 18-23 and Jul 29-Aug 6)
• make beds: ditto
• Involve girls with meal prep and dishes once a week each:

• I abandoned this as an actual plan, too.  The girls have helped with random things in the kitchen here and there, but it's almost never been a planned thing.  Will try to implement this once we're in the school year routine.
• Weekly piano lessons for Peanut ~ discarded for the summer.  Part of the reason I wanted to continue into the summer was because we only picked it up again in May and I kind of didn't want to take a 2-month break so soon after resuming.  But let's face it, summer is just not the time to insist on piano practice!
• One playdate or special activity each week:
  • July 1-3 ~ visited some relatives (incl. the girls' favourite second-cousin) 4 hrs away on the July long wknd
  • July 6 ~ had a friend and her two young children over for a morning playdate
  • July 7 ~ swimming at the lake with school friends
  • July 14/15 ~ Fidget was at a friend's place for the day and a sleepover; Peanut and I had a special supper and movie night.
  • July 15-17 ~ camping with the 'Man's family
  • July 18-23 ~ girls first ever week at Bible Camp!
  • July 22-25 ~ one of the 'Man's sisters came to visit
  • July 29 ~ rodeo parade in the morning and the midway and grandstands for the rest of the day!
  • July 30-Aug 1 ~ extended family gathering at the lake
  • Aug 1-6 ~ visiting all the grandparents, aunties, and cousins in The Big City, which included a sleep-over, several trips to local school playgrounds, an IMAX movie, and two trips to a nearby outdoor pool
  • Aug 12-14 ~ the other sister-in-law came to visit for the weekend
  • Aug 14 ~ spent the afternoon and evening on the lake with friends, tubing, wake-boarding, and swimming; joined a few other families from church for an impromptu picnic supper
  • Aug 26-29 ~ spent an incredible weekend at the lake with my dad's family; it was a 3-day playdate for everyone!!
  • Sep 1 ~ met at the school playground with friends for a playdate
  • Sep 4 ~ spent the afternoon and evening with great family friends

  

  There's SIX cats here ~ can you spot them all??

  • Sep 6 ~ spent the morning and had lunch with two little friends (and their mom!) and played on their new, awesome play structure!
• Try to head to the lake or pool once a week:
  • July 3 ~ swimmin' in the creek on my uncle's farm
  • July 7 ~ the girls and I went to the lake (some of the girls' school friends were there, too, it turns out, so this also counts as a playdate!)
  • July 15-17 ~ swimming in the lake each day while camping
  • July 19-22 ~ girls swam in the pool each full day at camp
  • July 30-Aug 1 ~ we were all swimming (or skiing or tubing) all day, every day at the family gathering!
  • Aug 4-5 ~ girls went to the pool in The Big City with grandpa both afternoons (once with their dad along, and once with grandma along)
  • Aug 14 ~ spent the afternoon and evening up at the lake
  • Aug 26-29 ~ spent the weekend at the lake for another family gathering
• MORE PICNICS!
  • at home: Jun 29, Jul 11, Aug 25
  • away: Jul 3 weiner roast by the creek; July 30-Aug 1each day had at least one outdoor meal at the family gathering!  Aug 14 picnic supper at the lake. Aug 26 picnic supper at the family gathering. Sep 6 weiner roast for lunch at a friend's house.

I can't believe it's over.  It just went by so fast.  And I don't think it's just because I have kids in school either, because I've asked others who either have grown kids out of the house or little ones still home year 'round, and everyone has said this summer has felt awfully fast.  Maybe because we finally had a beautiful sunny, hot summer for a change we were all out and about more instead of huddled indoors?  I don't know.  But tomorrow the drudgery sets in as the girls return to school!

We'll miss you, Summer ~ enjoy your time off!!  Rest up well so you can perform a repeat next year!!