One Thousand Gifts (continued)

 "Learn to do right!  Seek justice, encourage the oppressed.  Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow" 

(Isaiah 1:17).

He couldn't resist sponsoring another child.  

He has a heart for others.  

He has a heart to do good and "to do right".  

He has a very giving heart and a very loving heart.  This spills out to his children, myself, and to others.  I feel so blessed and thankful that our children have this kind of father.  It is my hope and prayer that our children will learn from their father how to love and care for others.  

Yesterday, we celebrated Father's Day.  As I remembered my father and the fun-loving dad that he was, I also was able to celebrated my father-in-law as well as my children's father, the "Best Dad Ever"!  Our children are so blessed to have such a loving dad who brings so much joy, happiness, optimism, and fun into our home.  

Of course, my children have the best earthly father in the world (sorry to all the other fathers out there), we all ought to give thanks for our heavenly Father, the best Father! He loves us all unconditionally and He will always "Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow".  

Continuing to give thanks...

-a loving heavenly Father

 -the best dad ever!! (the mug says it all)

 -their love for games

-how he enjoys to read (when he has time)

 -their love for sports

-a visual reminder of our awesome trips to Ethiopia

-how she helped create the picture collage

-our attempt at a family picture

 -his interest in sports and the outdoors

 -her creativity

 -how she loves the extreme

 -how he plays and spends time with his younger siblings
-having a nice evening together

 -how they all look up to him

-learning about God's awesome creation and pond life
-that her daddy was able to join her on her class trip

-his love for animals

-a day of golf with my son (and nephew and brother-in-law)
-a successful fundraiser for our school

-how he managed the children and a pool party for our daughter all day!
-her great friends and the fun they have

-perfect kite flying weather

-his choice of reading material

-how he loves to do what his sister does (or encourages him to do)

-how they like to go "shopping" together
-how well they play together (most of the time)!!

-enjoying Paul's hard work (on our deck)

-craft time

-how they have so much fun together as cousins/friends

-how Paul and the older children enjoyed a time of worship with amazing Christian concerts (and rides)
-the heart for Compassion and the many children that were sponsored!

One Thousand Gifts (continued)

"This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24).

Our pastor preached about Nehemiah yesterday (my Bible hero)!  When the people were rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem, they were receiving a lot of criticism from others.  It was easy to focus on all the rubble around them, rather than their task at hand and their many blessings (and the fact that the wall was built in an incredible short span of 52 days)! Nehemiah was a man of encouragement and he was a strong, wise, Godly leader.  He always prayed first, and then took action.  He was like a motivational speaker as he encouraged all of the workers!  

Our pastor reminded us how easy it is to focus on the all the "rubble" in our lives, rather than the many blessings all around us.  We need to hear the words of encouragment from our heavenly Father in His Word, and be encouraged.

"There is something good in every day"!!  

Continuing to give thanks...

-our view from our back yard this evening

-how he puts all his effort into all that he does

-her amazing althetic abilities

-when the whole school does activities together with all the grades

-staff support and encouragement

-how our friend challenged her to a race!

-freezies to cool off

-that her dad could cheer for her and her brother
-that he's not as busy and is home much more now!
-another great spring shipping season

-how she's learning to ride a two wheeler on her own

-that he'll join us for Sunday afternoon walks (even though he just likes to act silly at the park, but that's ok!)

-Sunday afternoon naps

-playing games together (even though they were strongly encouraged by their mother) and having fun!

-still doing tricks and enjoying the beautiful weather

-how amazing it is to watch/listen to her learn new words and learn how to read

-God's beautiful creation

-how she teaches him how to play and how well she plays with him

-her concentration as she tries to capture beautiful sunsets

-the fun that she had at spring formal
-great, loving friends

-his excitement to go on rides for the first time

-how he is such a patient, supportive big brother!

-having so much fun together

-a super, fun day in Toronto at Centerville

-how he was able to take a day off and take us to Toronto!
-being able to spend more time with him
-taking walks together
-date night/ movie night!
-that the boys could babysit

-how excited she was to go to Toronto and see the CN tower

-enjoying the rides and the beautiful creation all around us

-enjoying the ferry ride (definitely a high light)

-bright flowers and how they brighten my day!
-a few nights out with my hubby!
-his help around the house and with the children
-being encouraged by women with older children who have "been there"
-that there is something good in every day!