Promises in Hand

I am grateful for God's promises!  They are truly powerful.  I read something recently how when Satan tempts us or we have discouraging thoughts, we should fight back by repeating God's promises.  So, to help remind me of some promises, some days I'll write them in the palm of my hand.  Thoughts arise too quickly into my brain, so having a promise at my fingertips is powerful.  Bringing my small Bible with me, or slipping pieces of paper with Bible promises on them into my pocket, then pulling them out and reading them when dispare is at the door, also really help change the situation.  God works through that and gives me strength.  Be ever grateful!

Encourage!

This blog was purposely started to give me an outlet to write, express myself, and keep my mind on being grateful.  This morning, I ran across a paragraph in a wonderful book called "Health and Happiness."  It spoke to my heart and really fits with this theme, so I am posting it here.  May it bless you as it has blessed me!

"Cultivate the habit of speaking well of others.  Dwell upon the good qualities of those with whom you associate, and see as little as possible of their errors and failings.  When tempted to complain of what some one has said or done, praise something in that person's life or character.  Cultivate thankfulness.  Praise God for His wonderful love in giving Christ to die for us.  It never pays to think of our grievances.  God calls upon us to think of His mercy and His matchless love, that we may be inspired with praise." p. 364

Shot or Stretched?

Do you ever feel like you are being "shot" with trials, unkind comments, frustrations, or other stresses?  This last week there was a day when I felt like I was being shot with difficulties.  It was frustrating!  Later that night I woke up with the thought that I needed to be grateful for the "stretching" rather than focus on the feeling of being shot with difficulties.  It's a little like a balloon.  In order for a balloon to get blown up to a nice beautiful round shape, it needs to be stretched.  Have you ever shot a rubber-band?  In order for it to go, it needs to be stretched.  I'm grateful for the reminder to look at the trials as opportunities to be stretched--learn to depend on God through it and have my character be a little more refined.  I can decide whether I'm shot or stretched.  I can look at a situation as an opportunity.  Praise the Lord!

Pleasant Picking

Experiencing the joy of fresh blackberries is like a splash of cool water on hot, playful kids.  This afternoon I was grateful for a tidy house and ready to get a break outside.  I put on my boots, grabbed a big bowl, called the dogs, and headed to the creek.  Juicy blackberries were awaiting me.  Splashing up the creek brought back memories of when my kids were younger.  We don't go to the creek quite as often now.  Instead, I end up coaxing them to go blackberry picking by the creek.  This time I heard the sounds of nature instead of my children's cries of excitement or needs.  It was so peaceful to listen to the gurgle of the water, the wind in the trees, and the dogs feet plodding through the water as I picked.  There were cobwebs here and there, a few bugs, and I've even seen a snake right up by the blackberries.  It looks like a popular spot for critters other than myself.  After a short while I had a nice amount of juicy berries, lightly pricked fingers, and messy hands.  I felt satisfied and eager to make a pie.  I'm grateful for blackberries and picking them in the shade and peace of the creek.

Camping Fun

Clear, refreshing river at Klipchuck Campground, WA

Ever feel like someone is looking over your shoulder?  I'm grateful for my children.  We had fun taking this picture.

Happy Feet

A new pair of sandals was desperately needed for my son.  His current sandals were nearly in shreds.  We had been putting off shopping for new ones for various reasons.  But the day finally came when his sandals wouldn't stay on his feet very well.

We went to four different stores last week.  It is almost the end of summer, so most stores are just about out of sandals.  We couldn't find any that were the right size, style, or durable.  Finally, we decided to go to one last store that has lots of good quality shoes, suck in my breath, and pay the price if need be. 

A nice salesman met us.  "Sorry, no sandals are on sale, we just boxed them all up two days ago," he told me.  Ok, so he brought out a couple durable sandals.  They were very good quality, not the favorite style, not quite the right size, and certainly not the cheapest.  But, just as I was swallowing hard to buy them, another salesman came around the corner holding the perfect pair--the right size, color, style, and even on sale.  He said it was the only one left that he had on sale in the back room!  I asked him if he had any more so I could buy a pair for my other son for the future, but that was in fact the only one left. 

My son and I walked out of the store very grateful and rejoicing.  I've wanted to post a picture of the happy feet, but they keep moving too fast for me to catch on camera, or maybe my camera just doesn't move fast enough from the shelf at the right time. Ever grateful for God's providence...

Powerful Plantain

It is becoming bee & wasp season around our valley!  A little boy at our house got stung by a wasp on his ear yesterday evening while they were at a playground.  He came home nearly in tears.  I had stayed home to read up about natural remedies for bee stings (one of my sons had some on his foot already from the day before).  I saw a little video about using plantain.  So, I want outside and picked a nice bunch of fresh plantain leaves and was about to blend them on low in my blender when he walked in the door.  I was so shocked to see that he got a bee sting when I had just been learning what to do.  My immediate reaction was to grab a plantain leaf, stick it in my mouth, chew it up a little, spit out the wad, and place it on his wasp sting.  He kind of blinked and was a little surprised at my quick reaction.  He dutifully let me put on two applications of the chewed up plantain before he went to bed.  He fell asleep just fine.  In the morning, his ear had no swelling and wasn't painful at all.  I put one more wad on it just for good measure for about 30 minutes.  He told me this evening, "it was all well so quick."  I'm grateful for powerful plantain--God's natural remedy and timing.

Journey to Dayton

Jane with a miniature mule.

I'm petting Izzy the camel.

A smile for you.

Jane studying the wheat.  Harvesting has started in our valley.  (Next time I'll flip this photo before uploading it)

I'm thankful for the experiences that bring a little joy to the soul!

Only Two Shoes & Socks

This evening, this thought struck me as I was folding clothes.  I'm grateful God designed us to have only two legs instead of eight.  Wouldn't that be a chore to have to fold so many socks, put on so many socks, and tie so many shoe laces?  I'm grateful today.