One Thousand Gifts (continued)

"Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul" (Psalm 66:16 ESV).

This past week, our school was blessed to celebrate Christian Education Week.  We are so blessed to have our children attend such amazing, God centered schools.  Christian education has always been dear to my heart, as my father dedicated half of his life to raising funds for Christian curriculum.  I still remember Christian Education week when I was in elementary school!  Bake sales, jelly bean guess, and the high light:  grandparents day!  It's because of our grandparents and their dedication to Christian education that we are able, through our schools, to tell the story -the story of God's love and His amazing grace!

 "The purpose of Christian education is to tell God’s story about living in His Kingdom, and preparing hearts, hands and minds for service. God reveals to us that He is our Lord, the creator of all things. Throughout the Biblical story, God makes clear to us that sin has completely impacted His perfect creation, yet God continues to demonstrate His grace. He promises that Christ will return again and return the harmony that was lost in creation. All are invited to enter His Kingdom. "

 "Living in the Kingdom enables us to grow in faith. Day to day experiences that affect our lives give us the opportunity to nurture faith. Children’s experiences, their joys and sorrows, mould their lives. Christian schools take these experiences and fit them into God’s story."  (taken from our school's website www.providencecs.ca)

Continuing to give thanks...
-Christian education
-Christian Education Week, celebrating Christian education
-grandparents day and celebrating grandparents and their role in telling the story!

-how they wanted to include all the boys with their dress-up idea

-fun activities during Christian Education Week

-dress a like day

-how they sang their hearts out for their grandparents

-celebrating one of my favourite movies and drinking raspberry cordial in memory of Gilbert Blythe

-enjoying a day trip with Paul

-our cool cat

-how he decides to sleep almost anywhere, including my back, and my legs when I'm sitting in the recliner

-how they're easily amused with the excitement of a police car in front of our driveway (pulling over a white van exactly like ours!)

-speech season and a captivated audience on the couch for practicing

-how they choose such mature, meaningful topics

-enjoying a nice lunch with a dear, high school friend (and celebrating Kings' Day)

-his love for Cadets and that they won first place at the cadetarama

 -how the excitement and noise level has drastically increased in our home (due to playoff season)

-the flowers are so beautiful and so ready!

 -getting his first order today!

-a beautiful day for a beautiful wedding

 -enjoying the evening with dear, old friends

 -having fun and enjoying the props from the photo booth

One Thousand Gifts (continued)

"Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered" (Proverbs 11:25-26 ESV).

The birthday chair.  

Whenever it's a student's birthday, they stand on the birthday chair and someone places their hand on them to bless them as the class sings the birthday song and the blessing song.

She stands there being blessed, but it is she who is the blessing.

She has blessed so many children (and parents) in so many ways over the years! 

She is such a blessing to our school.  She is fun-loving, sincere, and so filled with the Holy Spirit, which is evident in her words and actions.  She is such a beautiful woman inside and outside!  

What an inspiration to us!  How are we being a blessing to others?

We love you, Mrs. T!  Happy Birthday!

Continuing to give thanks..

-the blessing of our JK teacher

-her outspoken faith

-her love for Christ and her love for others

-singing about being in God's army
-how Mrs. T. makes Bible stories come alive
-the blessing of having Mrs. T. as Deb's teacher and the blessing of Deborah's fun friends

-the fun she has had with her many play dates, but also the fun she has with her best friend, Percy

-how she can make Jessie doll sing so beautifully

-being blessed by having fellowship with my awesome hairdresser
-the blessing of having lunch with a group of adoptive mommies
-being able to share stories with other adoptive moms who are able to support each other and relate with each other
-the privilege of attending workshops by C.A.S. and better understanding the layers of adoption and the effects of early trauma
-my friend who invited me to 3 weeks of training by C.A.S.
-the blessing of those who foster and and those who are working with C.A.S.
-fellowship with other Cadet and Gems families
-the dedication and volunteer work of the many Cadet counsellors

One Thousand Gifts (continued)

"There is no difference between Jew and Gentile- the same LORD is LORD of all and richly blesses all who call on Him" 

(Romans 10:12).

 Our hope is always found in the Word.  I am so thankful for the unfailing promises that God gives us. I am also thankful for the hope that is sometimes found in the words of a friend, or in my case, our church elder.  We were blessed last week with a great elder visit.  After a difficult few weeks, he gave me renewed hope by saying that God will surely bless us (as He already has), and how we often measure our blessings by successes, therefore we miss the many blessings that are already bestowed upon us.  My cup overflows with blessings!  Thank-you, God for our many blessings, and forgive me for not always seeing them and for lacking an attitude of gratitude.  I am so blessed!  Thank-you, God!

Continuing to give thanks...
-renewed hope
-our church elders and leadership
-a great elder visit

-celebrating the blessing of another year of God entrusting our son, Jesse into our care

-the blessings that he brings to our lives

-the sweet, mature, young Christian man that he is becoming

-how they all adore their big brother (most of the time)

-what a great role model he is to his younger siblings (most of the time)!!

 -his enjoyment of coaching a great bunch of guys

-a great season of hockey

 -how is able to always entertain himself

-his school project about immigration

-reflecting on the past and God's protection and faithfulness throughout the generations

 -how she plays soccer with her buddy, our cat

 -our cat's tolerance and the great pet that he is!

 -enjoying a few playdates with some special friends

 -how she has learned to write her letters so well
-practicing her letters on the driveway

 -their artistic talents!

 -first nap of the year in the hammock

 -embracing the warm weather with bubbles and the sprinkler

 -enjoying our first bike ride into town as a family
-how we never get tired of playgrounds!

 -having fun on the swings

 -a successful fundraiser for women in Uganda
-the ministry of African Soles

 -lunch with my sister, celebrating the blessing of another birthday for her

 -enjoying his press pass with his dad

-first fire in the backyard

-roasting marshmallows

 -his patience as he tries to teach his little sister to ride a two-wheeler