Thankful Thursday

Today has been a nice day to be home.  I only got out to take Caleb to school and pick him up.  It is sleeting and we have freezing temperatures in the 20s. 

Today I am thankful for...

~ enjoying the time I spend with  my husband, whatever we are doing.  Last night he was helping me find something to buy with my Kohl's cash.  It took longer than we planned but I was thinking how nice it was just being together, talking and looking at what to buy.

~ my sweet boy and how he says thoughtful things at random times that touch my heart.  Earlier this week he asked me to come to his bathroom. He wanted me to see the pretty colors of the sky out his bathroom window. 

~ such a beautiful Thanksgiving holiday and the time spent with family.  It was very nice and the food was good as always, plus we got leftovers. :)  Then we spent time at the deer lease too which was fun as well.  My niece was there and I enjoyed spending time with her. 

~ washing machine and dryer and clothes line!  Earlier this week it was so pretty and wonderful for hanging clothes on the line.  (Except I need new line now!)

~ being done with some Christmas shopping and wrapping.  I have enjoyed shopping online last week during the Black Friday sales and having the packages arrive this week.  I have a couple more people on my list. 

Have a day of blessings!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1.  According to Oxford Dictionaries, the 2013 word of the year is 'selfie'.  Your thoughts?  When did you last take a selfie?  Do you post them online somewhere?  Do you prefer to be in front of the camera or behind the lens?  I don't normally take selfies.  It is funny to look at the camera or my husband's phone when Caleb does!  I don't mind being in pictures for the most part but am normally the one taking them.

2. Will you send out Christmas cards this year? If so, are they ready to go? If not, are you glad or sad about leaving that tradition behind?  Yes I send a letter and/or card every year.  I have started typing the letter but have not finished it yet.  I think every year I'd like to cut back on my send list. 

3. Do you trust easily?  I would say no. 

4. Pine-cinnamon-peppermint-vanilla (as in sugar cookie)...of those listed, which one is your favorite December scent?  I do like cinnamon but it gives me a headache and makes my eyes do funny things, so I don't have that in the house.  I do not like pine scents really. 

5. Did you do more talking or more listening yesterday? Was that by choice or necessity?  I'm answering these on Tuesday so yesterday was Monday and I did more listening.  That was because I went to a continuing education workshop on fractions.  It was very interesting, I learned new things, and I enjoyed the day.

6. What's the last song that got stuck in your head? Sorry if it's back there now :  )  Probably a song Caleb sings.  I can't really think which one.  There is one he learned in music last year from The Nutcracker that he still sings lines of often and gets in my head.  "We've got a Russian recipe! All that a recipe should be!"

7. Which world explorer (in the whole history of the world) would you most like to have traveled with, and why?  I don't know what I would have wanted to travel with any of them for very long!  Maybe Christopher Columbus.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
I'd answered most of these Tuesday night and then was gone most of the day Wednesday so I didn't get it published on the blog!  It is freezing here and icy precipitation is expected tonight and through tomorrow. 

Have a day of blessings!

Overextended....and Loving most of it!

I have finished reading Overextended...and Loving most of it! by Lisa Harper.

Book Description:
Would you consider your life stretched to the limit?

Are you a burn-the-candle-at-both-ends kind of gal with lots of room for improvement when it comes to creating margins for rest? But you actually love it and wouldn't want it any other way? Well, so does Lisa Harper.

In her humorous and packed-with-biblical-wisdom way, Lisa shows us that it is possible for a frazzled nature to be glorifying to the Lord. Every late-night conversation with a hurting friend and each precious, adopted child needing a little extra tender loving care-exhausting, yet imperative, ways to be extensions of the gospel. In each of these vignettes illustrating Lisa's overextended life, we learn that even in the middle of our own pure motives and hectic schedules, it is only by resting in God's sovereign mercy that we are able to keep risking our hearts to serve his people and fulfill the callings he has placed on us.

Real life . . . abundant life . . . godly life is about loving Jesus and the people he allows us to rub shoulders with well-which means some days you'll be stretched emotionally and physically. You'll feel overextended. Thankfully God will expand our hearts and calendars to accommodate the calling. He is in the business of supplying us with new mercies every morning . . . new candles to burn, for more lives needing his light.

My thoughts:
I enjoyed reading this book and it was a very quick read for me.  I think we all struggle at some point with feeling overextended in life.  Lisa Harper writes from her personal experiences and shares some touching stories.  I appreciated her openness at sharing things that have happened to her and the pains she has faced recently.  I liked her BLAST acronym which is helpful to remember when you are feeling overextended.  In this book she specifically talks about her adoption journey as a single woman.

I was reminded by reading this book that the things we do in this life for God do not always come easily.  Some times we are going to be really stretched to what we feel is our  max or something may come up that we think we would never be able to do.  In these times we have to learn from the process and know God is with us through it all. 

This book was sent to me by the Thomas Nelson Book Sneeze program for my honest review.

Have a day of blessings!

Book: The Noticer Returns

Have you read any books by Andy Andrews?  I was excited to find a new one called The Noticer Returns at the local library recently.  My husband read it first, and then I read it myself. 

About the book:

Perspective is a powerful thing.

Andy Andrews has spent the past five years doing a double take at every white-haired old man he sees, hoping to have just one more conversation with the person to whom he owes his life.

Through a chance encounter at a local bookstore, Andy is reunited with the man who changed everything for him – Jones, also known as “The Noticer.”

As the story unfolds, Jones uses his unique talent of noticing little things that make a big difference. And these “little things” grant the people of Fairhope, Alabama, a life-changing gift - perspective. Along the way, families will be united, financial opportunities will be created, and readers will be left with powerfully simple solutions to the everyday problems we all face.

My thoughts:
I enjoyed this book like I did the first one and wanted to share it here to recommend it to you.  Books by Andy Andrews make you stop and think about things in a new way.  They are good for anyone because I think any reader could get something out of this book.     

You can read more about this book at the website. 

I reviewed The Noticer here and The Butterfly Effect here. 

Have a day of blessings!

Giving Thanks 2013

30 days of thankfulness 

November 2013

 

11-1: thankful for the love of both of my boys as I woke up this morning, so encouraged by them both all day.

11-2: thankful for being married for 12 years 5 months today to my husband. Marriage is a blessing!

11-3: thankful for the reminder I was made by God and He has a purpose for my life.

11-4: thankful for hearing my boy singing "The Lord Liveth" as he got ready for school this morning.



11-5: thankful for lunch dates with my cute husband. (and I had a coupon so it was cheap haha!!)
11-6:  thankful for books...having the ability to read and sharing a love of reading with my husband and son.
11-7: thankful for after school snack day with my boy. We do this once a week and go to the library and get a snack he chooses. I look forward to it every week!
11-8: thankful for Friday night football with my boys.
11-9: thankful for fun day doing some Christmas shopping
11-10: thankful for fun surprises like the one today from my Secret Sister (these packages of Whoppers were on our car this morning) and yesterday one in the mail from the leader of an online discussion group I'm in.
11-11: thankful for the reminder of how many true heroes live around us and have served our country through the years. The entire school here gathered together to honor our community's veterans in a very nice program. I thought it was a wonderful tribute with student speakers, the school band, and lovely singing of patriotic pieces by the choir (which made me miss singing with my high school choir and director). Thank you to all who served and are serving. I know there are many of you in my friends list as well as several family members.
11-12-13: thankful for the many ways I can stay warm on a day like today and remember that so many do not enjoy these comforts....warm clothes and coats, an abundance of blankets, my favorite robe, taking hot baths with heated water from our hot water heater, turning on the heater as needed.
11-13: thankful for the beauty of fall. I noticed the pretty colors of the leaves this cold morning.
11-14: thankful for crayons. I've always loved coloring and haven't in a long time. I had a little picture I needed to color tonight and was reminded I should color more often!
11-15: thankful for my wonderful boy who received the citizenship award for his class for this six weeks and the kind words one of his teachers shared with me today.
11-16: thankful for the moon and seeing it tonight. It is so pretty.
11-17: thankful for a beautiful weather weekend filled with fun for us all, Caleb having a great time hunting and the stories he's told from that, and having our family pictures made today.
11-18:  thankful for my wonderful husband who works so hard to provide for our family. For example today he was at work early at 6:45, worked all day, and then went to work their booth at the resource fair. He works hard every day with little thanks or appreciation. And he always, always makes time for us which I value so very much.
11-19: thankful for how our bodies heal. I burned my pointer finger on the oven a couple weeks ago. Since it is right on top of my finger, I notice it every day and have watched it heal a little more each day.
11-20: thankful for my cozy bed.
11-21: thankful for time together making our thankful pictures. My Mom had me do this every year, and I've continued the tradition with Caleb. I need to put them all in a book so I could compare them from year to year.
11-22: thankful for my two sweet nieces and the blessing they both are to me.
11-23: thankful for time with our P family and safe trip home tonight.
11-24: thankful for laughing at various times today with my boys. Laughter is good!
11-25: thankful for a day to get caught up on some household chores.
11-26: thankful for my favorite supper made by my Momma.
11-27: thankful for seeing my cousin today. I'm thankful for all my cousins and the fun memories I have of our years growing up together. I like keeping in touch and seeing their kids on FB.
11-28:  for memories of past Thanksgivings and new memories today.
11-29: thankful for being warmed by a campfire.
11-30: thankful for the peace of God that has been with me all month long, fun memories this weekend at the deer lease, and supper plus leftovers from my Mom on our way home.

Have a day of blessings!

Thankful Thursday

Happy Thanksgiving!  I love being thankful all year long, not just on one day recognized as a day of thankfulness.  I'm glad we have this day too to celebrate.  We have so many blessings each day, and it's so valuable to stop and remember each one. 

This week I am thankful for...
~ the way my husband makes me smile and shows me his love every day!  I value our relationship more than words can say.

~ hugs and snuggles from my sweet boy.

~ time with my husband's side of the family over the weekend.  It was great to see them and enjoy a Thanksgiving meal with them.  My sweet nieces are growing up so fast.  The 4 year old helped me make broccoli salad. 

~ safety and warmth in the icy cold weather we had the past few days.  I'm thankful for our coats, gloves, blankets, heaters, warm vehicles. 

~ memories of loved ones that we miss on Thanksgiving without them here. 

Have a day of blessings!

Press Pause

You are more than likely getting ready for a Thanksgiving celebration for tomorrow with pies in the oven and plans for turkey, dressing, and sweet potatoes. It seems like everyone is in a frenzy to get through Thanksgiving so they can start the Christmas decorating. (And I know many who have already started.) Everyone is rushing around trying to have the perfect meal, best decorations, perfect gifts, or most wonderful holiday parties and putting so much into these things that the enjoyment is lost along the way.

Join me over at Laced with Grace to read the rest of Press Pause.

Have a day of blessings!