Thankful Thursday

Sonya at Truth 4 The Journey has invited us to join her and list of five things for which we are thankful.




1) I am thankful for how faithful God is to lift me up when I get to thinking too much about me. That's usually when I have a tendency to get down. Today He used a fellow blogger to touch my heart with a video to remind me how my life is about Him and what He wants for my life . How much He loves me and wants me to let Him lead my life and then things will be so much better for it.

2) I am thankful for those generations of faith who came before us. And now our family is living in the benefits of knowing Christ. That seed has been passed on. In knowing that what we do each day, the decisions we make, will affect our children, and grandchildren and their grandchildren... Psalm 102:18 "Let this be written that a future generation, that a people not yet created, may praise the Lord." Again, it's not about me...

3) I am thankful for those who have a heart of encouragement. There is so much tearing down in the world today-- everyone needs to be lifted up now and then.

4) I am thankful for the time that we had with our kids last Sunday. A shower for Brooke and Tim ( a coed shower:) was held at our house. The guys weren't sure about coming to a shower, but I think they enjoyed it, too:) And of course, Grammy and Papa love any time spent with Sam. He is talking in short sentences now and is so fun.

5) I am thankful for the circle of friends that Tim and Brooke have to support them. At the shower, we were invited to petition the Lord in prayer for them and their upcoming marriage. I was brought to tears while listening to, and agreeing with the blessings and petitions for Tim and Brooke. These are young friends (& Tim's siblings also), some single, and others who are newly married themselves--had scriptural wisdom of what the Lord intends for a marriage that just overwhelmed me.-- hearing their sweet blessings and guidance for the serious responsibilities that come with being a husband or a wife seeking to live for Christ. As one of their friends said, "Lord, you invented marriage..." Anyway, it touched this mother's heart.

Brooke and Tim reading messages on cards and opening gifts. Their big day is a little more that two weeks away.

Wordless Wednesday - Days of Summer

Link up with Heather over at Simply Joyful Photos over the summer months to share you pics for Wordless Wednesday.

The Simple Woman's Daybook- July 20, 2009

Peggy over at The Simple Woman's Daybook is on a well-deserved summer vacation. Ladies who want to join in a "summer daybook" can link up at Grandmother Wren's. Thank you Grandmother Wren!





For Today... July 20, 2009

Outside my window..More beautiful, sunny, pleasant weather for us this week - with scattered showers thrown in. We do need the rain.

I am thinking... about trying some new recipes with summer veggies.

I am thankful for...the time this summer that I can "hang out" with our daughter Amanda. I love her sense of humor and her soft heart. She is a great help to me here at home and a blessing.

From the kitchen... I am planning a menu for the week. There's a possibility that my sister and mom will come up for a visit this week! Grocery shopping later today...

I am wearing... pj's:)

I am hoping... that the teaching materials that I gave to a homeschooling friend will be a benefit to her daughter this summer.

I am hearing...it is very quiet, except for morning traffic outside. Right now I am not even hearing the birds chirping. They must be busy finding breakfast...

I am praying...a safe trip for Mom and Missy if they make the trip up, that our son Jonathan is not lonely this summer and finds some fun things to do along with his full time job- so thankful for that job! He is living in his college town apartment and working away from home this summer--growing up...and so it goes:)

Around the house... didn't get to the deck railing project-- and the intermittent rain forecasted throughout the week might hinder it for this week. Getting the house ready for company early this week and a co-ed wedding shower for Brooke and Tim next Sunday afternoon- the guys are invited too:)--should be fun. I am looking forward to seeing one particular "little guy"- Sam:)

One of my favorite things...fireflies, lightning bugs - whatever you call them in your area-- they make us all feel like kids again:) The memories of chasing them on the summer evenings of our youths... the "magic" of that blinking little bug...what a Creator we have!

A few plans for the rest of the week...spending time with Mom and Missy (if they come) and enjoying this pleasant weather. And getting ready for the shower:)

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...*

Our little bathing beauty ready for the pool:)
We will get to be with her for the first time next month!
Hi Sophie:)

Have a wonderful week:)

Thankful Thursday

Sonya at Truth 4 The Journey has invited us to join her and list of five things for which we are thankful.




1) I am thankful that the Lord uses the chirping of birds around our house and yard to bring my mind around to thinking about Him and his awesome creation. This morning they are really chirping away. I often wonder what they are saying to each other...

2) I am thankful for our daughter's friends. They are a close group who love to do things together and most of them are in the same youth group- so they also encourage each other in their walk with the Lord. What a blessing.

3) I am thankful for the high level of health care and excellent hospitals that are available in our area. Our university hospital was just given a high rating in a national award.

4) I am thankful for summertime and the change in schedule and the wonderful seasonal veggies! Farmers Markets are such a blessing to us city dwellers:) uh-hem- I'm a country girl at heart:)

5) I am thankful for this refreshing, comfortable summer weather we are having. It doesn't drain your energy or your pocketbook (for a/c) as badly as hot summers. If you are having high temps, I hope some of this weather front reaches you soon:)

Have a happy Thursday!

The Simple Woman's Daybook- July 13, 2009

Peggy over at The Simple Woman's Daybook is on a well-deserved summer vacation. Ladies who want to join in a "summer daybook" can link up at Grandmother Wren's. Thank you Grandmother Wren!





For Today... July 13, 2009

Outside my window..I'll tell ya, we are going to get spoiled with this BEAUTIFUL, low humidity, sun-shiney, July weather! Love it!!

I am thinking... that I need to get some shopping done this week. Still need a dress for Tim's wedding-- along with all the usual shopping.

I am thankful for...my sister and the great relationship we have. I treasure our phone calls--either the ones where we vent- or the ones where we laugh so hard we cry- or blow iced tea out our nose:)

From the kitchen... It's gonna be have to be inventive today, until I do grocery shopping this afternoon... our shelves are looking more and more like Old Mother Hubbard's cupboard-bare:) Grocery shopping needed.

I am wearing... pj's-I couldn't sleep last night -wide awake for some reason- and I'm paying for it this morning.

I am hoping... to find some things for my home schooling friend in my "teacher stuff", stored in Rubbermaid bins. Also that Amanda hears word that she is in the medical study that she wants to get into for some college money.

I am hearing...a fan- windows are open and the a/c is off--for a while. Birds are chirping and the coffeemaker is sputtering.

I am praying...for Brooke and Tim as they plan their wedding.

Around the house... laundry- and a big project- painting the deck railing.

One of my favorite things...watermelon...mmm mmm mmm:)

A few plans for the rest of the week...getting Amanda to help me with some rearranging of rooms and a trip to GW to deposit some clothes and to do a little browsing:)

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...*

Our cherry tree is full of beautiful red cherries... that are the worst tasting thing that you ever put in your mouth! ( If you look closer, you can also see how loaded our apple tree is with apples this year-- those are great apples!)

Even the birds are slow to eat them this summer:)

Does anyone have information on growing cherries and why this happens? The tree was here when we moved here almost 23 years ago... so I don't know the name of the tree.

Thankful Thursday

Sonya at Truth 4 The Journey has invited us to join her and list of five things for which we are thankful.











1. I am so thankful for this beautiful, low humidity- pleasant temperature- weather that we are being blessed with. I am so not a hot weather girl:)


2. I an thankful for the great time that we had last weekend with a visit from Kristen's family from Ohio. It was so nice spending time with her sweet mom Kim and her brother and sisters. Kim is an amazing mom and woman of God.


3. I am reminded again and am blessed so much by our three precious DIL's - Kristen, Jess and Lisa. And next month, Brooke will join our family-- four dear young women after God's heart, who love our sons. Thank you Lord...


4. I am thankful for the comfort in knowing of God's close watch-care over us. For prayer, and that He is aware of every detail of our lives and shows us His love in so many ways.


5. I am thankful for the connections that I have through this blog world with amazingly talented women. Yes YOU!!:) You who use those gifts and talents for their families and churches, and also encourage and uplift their bloggy sisters all over the country.
I know you encourage me more than you'll ever know!

Wordless Wednesday - Generations

My mom, son Daniel and grandson Sam...

The Simple Woman's Daybook- July 6, 2009

Peggy over at The Simple Woman's Daybook is on a well-deserved summer vacation. Ladies who want to join in a "summer daybook" can link up at Grandmother Wren's. Thank you Grandmother Wren!


I forgot to link this post with Grandmother Wren's this morning--I must have been sleepy:) Anyway-here we are tonight:)

For Today... July 6, 2009

Outside my window...beautiful sunny day-it looks like another great week of sunshine and very little rain this week!

I am thinking... how much fun we had yesterday. Our DIL's mom and young siblings are here visiting from Ohio- their first trip to Wisconsin. We had a great time grilling out and visiting with Nathan and Kristen and Kim and the kids- Lexie, Katey and Andrew!:)

I am thankful for... God's watchcare over our son Jonathan and his friend Josh when they had a flat tire on the way home from a music festival in Illinois- 4 hours away from home- on Saturday. They were kept safe, and roadside assistance arrived quickly. They were able to find a Super Walmart (it was a holiday and all other shops were closed) to buy and install a new tire- then get back on their way home. They arrived much later that expected, but safe and sound. I am also thankful for cell phones for these occasions!

From the kitchen... Probably no cooking today:) Leftovers from dinner on Sunday. We enjoyed our first sweetcorn of the year, and also some sweet watermelon, cantaloupe and blueberries. Hubby grilled some great hamburgers, hotdogs and brats!

I am wearing... pj's-yep!

I am hoping... to get some needed shopping and errands done early this week.

I am hearing...birds singing, and the traffic of people headed back to work this morning.

I am praying...provisions for extra expenses coming up and for guidance in a future venture.

Around the house... laundry, planting some flower pots. Replacing the finch feeder that our local squirrel destroyed- rascal.

One of my favorite things...hearing my childrens' laughter- no matter what their age:)

A few plans for the rest of the week..working with my flower pots on the deck, enjoying this beautiful summer weather!:)

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...*

A picture from Amanda's graduation--
I call it "Jubilation!"!:)

(Amanda later told us that she kept her eye on her hat- she wanted it back!:)

Wordless Wednesday - Red White And Blue- And My Two Favorite Little "Firecrackers"

Please stop by and visit Dixie over at French Lique, Texas for more pictures on Wordless Wednesday where today's theme is Red, White,and Blue.