A Two-Post Day

I am having a twinge of guilt and a tiny stirring of hope.

The Guilt: I posted briefly this morning to get it out of the way, not with any real thanksgiving.

Hope: I read Ann's Blog this morning. (Button at the side) I saw all the women who had taken the time to really bare their souls and give thanks, to practice eucharisteo. I thought maybe I can muster up the energy for this today.

I have been battling discouragement over my health. None of my issues are life-threatening, but chronic joy-stealers.
I was sitting quietly a few days ago, praying, feeling desperation.

I am in a maze made of hedges all around. Just when I think I find my way out, it becomes another dead end.
Frustrated, exhausted, back at square one, I sink to the ground.

"I can't find my way out, Lord. You will have to come to me. Come and find me Lord"

He comes and stands here, inside my little circle, saying nothing.

Are you still standing here, Lord? Today?

Eucharisteo. Real giving of thanks in the pain of delay, of unanswered prayers.

My word for this year: Disencumber.

less talk
weeding out
emptying

My daughter is taking old suitcases and transforming them into treasures. She did this one for me a few years ago. I keep past writings in it and hope that I will return every now and then to write again.

Can my ordinary, everyday life with all it's worn spots, bumpy places and unbelief be transformed into a vessel to carry treasure?

Is Eucharisteo a way through the maze?

I stand still and wait.

Placing my faint hope in the Promiser.

Last Day of Listing Things I Love

42. Just the right journal.
 I actually haven't been very happy with this journal for winter but I couldn't find anything else so it must be the one.

43. Purple pens and pens that write purple :)

Teapots

50. Teapots

One more day to go in the blog counting of things I love.

More Things I Love

38. Full-Length Mirror in my bedroom

39. Hanging mementos - a miniature glass window pane from a conference, real cotton ornament my daughter brought me from Georgia, butterfly from New Mexico, art group token, purse from New York, and keys from NM.

#37

37. Chapter 7 of One Thousand Gifts. I've read it twice, then over and over a few passages.

"Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water." Genesis 21:19

"Whenever I am blind to joy's well, isn't it because I don't believe in God's care? That God cares enough about me to always offer me joy's water, wherever I am regardless of circumstance."

"You have to want to see the well before you can drink of it. You have to want to see joy, God in the moment."

A Break in Thanksgiving

I've read posts before and wondered how they dare to be that open, but those are sometimes the ones that hold a gem of encouragement.

I have this word in various forms all through my house. Believe.
Usually they delight or encourage me, but not today. Today BELIEVE challenges me.

I am sipping gingerale, attempting to recover from the flu and I am angry. How many times have my plans been altered because of illness?
I struggle to give thanks today.

Even as I muster up the energy to type this, my eye catches the sun glinting off the page of a book lying open on the card table.
I love sunshine.

I guess that's one more to add to the list, simple as it is. Thank you Lord for sunshine.

Bags

34. I love bags. I have a drawer full and a few in a tote.

Blogs and Memory Boards

32. I love reading others blogs when I have a bit of time.

33. I saved this pic of a memory board, dream board, life map, whatever you want to call it. I was sure I would remember where I found it. But alas, life has happened since then and I only know it probably comes from a blog on my blog list. I do love making these although mine have never looked like this one. :)

Waves of Snow

28. Clear roads in winter
29. Massages
30. Waves of snow

Finished Work

16. Finishing a project
17. Hand sewing
18. Colored fabric
19. Creating
20. Working with my hands

I told you I was breaking free from perfection. These are the numbers they show up in my notebook :)

One year ago I started this baby quilt. Finally the timing was right and I returned to it. It's only the second quilt I have made so don't look too close.

For Lilyana. :)

Morning Moments

Picture borrowed from The Paris Apartment. See my blog list on the right.

"His mercies are new every morning"

As I venture deeper into One Thousand Gifts, I am inspired, challenged, hopeful. The blog is not enough space to note "eucharisteo", giving of thanks. Last night in the midst of reading a chapter, I got out of bed and grabbed a notebook. My perfectionist tendency wants to keep all of my list in one neat little place. Nevertheless, I am moving through those restraints.

Thus, my numbers will no longer be chronological because they will meld with my red notebook on the table and my purple one in my purse.

Today, # 24 is first waking moments-praying promises, covering family, gratitude.

25. I love mornings with something to look forward to.
26. Sunshine in the mornings
27. The picture above- open doors, beauty, anticipation.

Fifteen

I love my Bible.

My Bible study group gave me a gift of money a few years back and I used it to purchase this particular Bible NIV version. I have marked and written and highlighted with prayers and comments and Beth Moore quotes.

This morning I was feeling particularly heavy with a concern I had been praying about. Truth be told, I was a bit angry with God and despairing at the same time.
After venting in my journal, I heard the gentle nudge to open His Word. I opened to my favorite Psalms, then turned  to Isaiah and read all the passages I had underlined over time, pausing to pray along the way.

When I was finished a peace had settled over me.

Gratefulness.

14

Meeting Amish buggy on the road and waving.
This is not my photo because I couldn't grab my camera while driving, so I borrowed it from Google images

#13 on the 13th

There's no place like home!

That was Dorothy's mantra in the Wizard of Oz. And mine, too, this morning.

It is cold outside and I am grateful to be in my cozy home, standing beside the pellet stove with a cup of hot tea.

Number 13 of things I love is my Home.

Eleven and Twelve

Chocolate milkshakes, especially Shake-a- Sundaes (although I can't have them due to allergies now)
&
Mom

Not in that order, of course :)

#10

Watching my hubby hard at work.

Seven, Eight, Nine in the February Countdown of Things I love

7- Puzzles. This four- sided one was delightful.
8- Fresh perspective. The puzzle looks different from every angle. I love it when my heart shifts and I can see things differently
9- Old cookstoves. Note the bottom left corner.
.

#4, 5 & 6

I love a hot cup of tea. Right now my favorite is Ginger-Snappish.

I love going to a little place called the Shamrock Cafe, where I had this cup of tea.

I love my friend Barb, who took me there in the first place.

#3 of 1000 Things I Love

The view from my front window today.

I love snow days when I can truly relax.
 I loved them when my children were little. We would dig out the monopoly game, eat chocolate chip cookies and watch TV with no guilt :)

My to do list haunts me even on snow days, now that my children are no longer at home. But not today. Today is a no guilt day. I have been doing a little writing, reading and laundry :) not in that order.Every now and then I look out the window at the snow falling and smile.

#2 of 1000 Things I Love

Look closely and you will see my delightful blessing today.

I was coming out of the grocery store with much on my mind this morning. Suddenly a beautiful sound pierced through the heaviness of my thoughts. A bird was singing as loud as can be. I put my groceries in the back of my vehicle and all the while,the warbling continued.
This was no ordinary chirping, but a lovely melody of happiness.

I looked up. There were no trees around, only a solitary light post. There sat the feathered songstress singing at the top of her little lungs.

I grabbed my camera out of the car, which I keep with me at all times now. I didn't care what anyone thought of this crazy lady in the parking lot taking pictures of a bird.

God sent one of his creatures along to remind me to sing :) and to know He is thinking of me today.

1000 Things I love

 February is a month that we focus in on love.

I am reading the book "One Thousand Gifts." This is where I got the idea for February's blogging.
Each day I will share something I love. It may be as simple as a sentence.

I won't reach a thousand things in one month, but they say a habit is created or broken in 30 days. I'd love to create the habit of being thankful for everyday little things that often go unnoticed.

I know- February has already begun but I'm beginning today, because better late than not at all.

I love God's Word. I borrowed this pic from one of the blogs I follow.

Friday Favorite

http://www.plumroselane.com/

A fun site to find blog banners and backgrounds and interesting info.

Biathlon's Snow

Much of the country has been getting pounded with snow, but it's missed us nearly every time. They have had to make tons of snow for the International Biathlon taking place here this week.  Guess what? It's snowing!
Picture taken from a friend's mobile phone today.

Tuesday Treasures

My daughter's art room is like walking into a treasure chest for me. I love everything she is working on, her pictures, her desk, all of it.

This weekend was especially precious to me. I discovered she is creating a scrapbook for her daughter's high school years. It is delightful and marked with her touch of charm and her own unique artistic flair! Pic doesn't do it justice.