"All Things Bright and Beautiful"

Text: Cecil Frances Alexander

Refrain:
All things bright and beautiful,
all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful:
the Lord God made them all.

1. Each little flower that opens,
each little bird that sings,
God made their glowing colors,
and made their tiny wings.
(Refrain)

2. The purple-headed mountains,
the river running by,
the sunset and the morning
that brightens up the sky.
(Refrain)

3. The cold wind in the winter,
the pleasant summer sun,
the ripe fruits in the garden:
God made them every one.
(Refrain)

4. God gave us eyes to see them,
and lips that we might tell
how great is God Almighty,
who has made all things well.
(Refrain)

One Thousand Gifts (Continued)

"Let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Look to the LORD and His strength; seek His face always" (Psalm 105:3-4).

It is with thankfulness in my heart that I seek my Lord.

#544) a love for animals

#545) 73 year old working hands

#546) excited siblings to send gifts to their baby sister


#547) running with perseverance



#548) relaxation



#549) one of the many signs of spring

#550) big helpers (all three of them)!

#551) big muscles

#552) fun in the pool (even though it was only 2 inches deep)!

#553) eager helpers today

#554) hand me downs from a friend

#555) horse farm

#556) Deborah's release from the hospital

#557) sprinklers

#558) short stop in visits with friends

#559) walks across the road

#560) feeding the geese

#561) great shipping weather

#562) successful school fundraiser

#563) freezies

#564) "awe" from the kindergarten students on our greenhouse class trip

#565) the gift of the Holy Spirit

"Dwell in Me, O Blessed Spirit"

"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit...When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language"

(Acts 2:1-4,6).

Today we celebrated Pentecost and after doing a bit more research on Pentecost, this is some of the information that I found:

"Pentecost (or "the 50th day" in ancient Greek) is a holiday of Christianity commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, fifty days after the resurrection. ...

The Spirit represents God as living and active in the world today. It signifies the fact that the Christian faith is not just about events that happened in the past, rather it concerns the present and the future. The Spirit is God's animating presence in the church, and indeed, in life itself. Hence, without its Spirit, the church is dead, and without the Spirit, all that is creative and wonderful in life itself ceases to exist. " (http://www.godweb.org/)

God is living and active. He has sent us the Holy Spirit, and it is my prayer that He will fill me with the Spirit, enabling me to do His work and further His Kingdom. Fill me with the Spirit, Lord, fill me.

"Dwell in me, O blessed Spirit! How I need Thy help divine! In the way of life eternal, Keep o keep this heart of mine.

Round the cross where Thou has led me, Let my purest feelings twine. With the blood from sin that cleansed me, Seal anew this heart of mine.

Let me feel Thy sacred presence; Then my faith will ne'er decline. Comfort Thou and help me onward; Fill with love this hear of mine.

Dwell in me, O blessed Spirit! Gracious Teacher, Friend divine! For the home of bless that waits me O prepare this heart of mine!" (Martha J. Lankton)

One Thousand Gifts (Continued)

"I delight in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness" (Isaiah 61:10).

I was feeling stressed, tired, mopy, etc. (maybe because it's May and I'm married to a green house grower) and I almost forgot to post my "Multitude Monday" blog. Oh my word, I'm so glad that I didn't forget, because I would have so easily dwelt on my tiredness rather than the MANY blessing that God has given me and continues to do so every minute of the day. Forgive me, Father for my ungratefulness. I have so many things to be thankful for. Here are just a few of them...

#523) when you laugh so hard, you cry

#524) the generosity of the children pooling their money together to buy a gift for their Dad


#525) 40 flowers for 40 years


#526) the love of bedtime stories

#527) candles, cake, celebrations

#528) hanging baskets

#529) planting flowers in the garden (these, particularly are such happy flowers)!

#530) colour

#531) sight

#532) a warmer long range forecast

#533) seasons

#534) family BBQ

#535) team work with my sister

#536) witnessing and celebrating our niece's Profession of Faith

#537) our niece's promise to God to follow and serve Him

#538) older siblings teaching younger sibling how to play piano

#539) last school board meeting

#540) green paint

#541) paint shirts and gloves

#542) forgiving children

#543) a forgiving God

Happy 2nd 20th!

"A friend loves at all times..." (Proverbs 17:17).

Happy 2nd 20th birthday to my best friend! For the last 20 days leading up to his 2nd 20th, he has received many surprises from friends and family. They have added enjoyment, laughter, and calories to his big day. Thanks to everyone. Some things included, 20 chocolates, thoughtful e-mails, cards, dropjes, cookies, pie, garbage bags, sparkling grape juice, night out for 20 wings, candy, babysitting services, 20 picture collage, lawn/mailbox decorations, etc. As I reflect on the them of Paul's second 20th, I would like to thank God for blessing me with such a wonderful husband and list the 20 things I love about Paul...

1) for the man God made him to be, and the man God is making him become
2) bringing me a glass of water every evening
3) dedication - to our school, church, family and his walk with the Lord
4) enthusiasm when watching sports - especially with play off season!
5) hard worker
6) loves outdoors activities
7) sense of humour
8) patience
9) practical
10) love he shows to me
11) love he shows to the children
12) cheerful (even with his limited sleep)
13) loves to have fun
14) thoughtful
15) courteous
16) generous
17) helpful
18) selfless
19) GREAT DAD
20) my BEST FRIEND

Here's to my best friend on his 2nd 20th!



(one of our favourite Gospel groups)!

Adoption Update

"My heart rejoices in the LORD" (1 Samuel 2:1).

Yeah!! We rejoice in the news that we are now legally Deborah's Mommy and Daddy! Deborah's court date was indeed successful! We now ask for more patience as we wait for the finalization of all of her documents before we can bring her home (approximately 4-6 months).

"Great is the LORD, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, His holy mountain... God is in her citadels; He has shown Himself to be her fortress...Walk about Zion, go around her, count her towers, consider well her ramparts, view her citadels, that you may tell of them to the next generation" (Psalm 48:1,3,12,13).

#501) being a Mom


#502) Mom's godly example


#503) fellow "Moms" in my life


#504) a "Proverbs 31" mother-in-law




#505) goofy brother


#506) goofy brothers



#507) more birthday surprises (limo services)!






#508) good times bowling as a family (all 23 of us)!

#508) new playground across the road (Curtis' prayer request tonight)
#509) spring fragrances
#510) creative surprises from brother and sister-in-law
#511) fun and yummy surprises from family and friends
#512) different languages
#513) tea/ water with a friend
#514) Mother's Day
#515) homemade cards, pictures, cookbook
#516) thoughtful gifts from my children (or shall I say, hubby?)
#517) healing and answered prayers
#518) safe travels for our church group
#519) peace in our hearts (especially my brother's)
#520) "this is the best day ever" (quote from the kids)
#521) breakfast in bed with all my favourites (cereal and yogurt)
#522) keen, excited, cheerful, little waiters/waitresses

Aging-inevitable; Maturing-optional

"He renews your youth- you're always young in His presence" (Psalm 103:5 The Message).

She jokes with the kids, teases the cats, has a great sense of humour, laughs often, smiles regularly, prays consistently, and gets a great game of croquet started! That's my mom. It's inevitable that we will age. Sometimes one's time on earth ends far too early in our opinion, but "our times are in God's hands" (Psalm 31:15). My mom enjoys her time here on earth and commits her life to God. She admits her faults and confesses her struggles, but over time as she is aging, she is also growing closer to God and striving to become more like Him. It's my prayer that as I am aging each day, I will continue to strive to be more like Christ, learn from my many mistakes, and use my time on earth to glorify Him.

One Thousand Gifts (Continued)

"Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness"

(Colossians 2:6-7).

#478) sweet fragrance of flowers (even if Paul thinks it's a bit overwhelming)!

#479) 15 year faithful furry follower

#480) furry computer companion



#481) Hawaiian/ beach day (great school spirit)!

#482) enthusiastic dress-up participant

#483) paved driveway

#484) proper foot work for a lay-up!

#485) deliveries (and little helpers)
#486) scrap book retreat (even if it was in my own basement on my own)
#487) Curtis' play date
#488) willing assistance of our local MP
#489) no glasses for Nicole (yet)
#490) smell of cut grass
#491) my new man of the house (who's only 10) learning to BBQ
#492) kids counting down till their sister's court date
#493) the many surprises leading up to Paul's second 20th birthday
#494) backyard fun
#495) Mom starting up a serious game of croquet with the boys
#496) undeserved mercy
#497) ketchup on Nicole's face and forehead (not sure how it ended up there)
#498) booked camping trips
#499) ceiling fans
#500) spring