One Thousand Gifts (continued)

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control"  

(Galatians 5:23)

He exhibits such self-control.

He will only take one cookie, rather than two.  He will choose an apple if he hasn't had his fruit for the day.

He respects the rules.

He doesn't bang his stick or get upset from a lousy call or bad goal (of course, his father taught him the benefit of being a goalie is to take the credit if you win and to blame the defence if you lose!).

It's beautiful to see the fruit of the Spirit being produced in his life and in all of my children's lives.  Of course, his self-control is not always so evident when interacting with his siblings, but I am thankful for the man of integrity that he is striving to become.

I am thankful for the work of the Holy Spirit, producing Christian character in my children's lives and I pray that the fruit of the Spirit will continue to grow in them (and in myself as well).

Continuing to give thanks...
#4239-#4259

-his self-control

-positive sportsmanship

-his love for the game

-dedicated coaches volunteering their time (thanks, Doug and Paul)

-teamwork

-how she loves to roller blade at the greenhouse

-how she loves to "help" at the greenhouse

-how she loves to feed Albert some peanuts

-how Paul willingly takes her to the greenhouse

-school spirit on PJ / crazy hair day

-her love for crafts
-the amazing, creative minds in my winter enrichment group
-my sister-in-law's willingness to help  and her patience and creativity

-bed time routines
-enjoying Soupfest with my sister
-visiting with our kind-hearted elder
-our caring church community
-the many willing Sunday School teachers
-making a new friend through the adoption community
-how Paul gets up so early before church to shovel the driveway
-his safe travels to Pioneer camp with Jesse and his class

One Thousand Gifts (continued)

"And He said, 'My presence will go with you and I will give you rest'" 

(Exodus 33:14 ESV).

A new year has begun.  Christmas holidays are over.  There is always a lot of different places to go do and things to do during the holidays.  It is such a comfort to know that God is with us EVERYWHERE we go and His grace meets us ANYWHERE.

Continuing to give thanks...
#4140-#4181

-celebrating a new year with cousins

-the comfort in another new year, that God is always with us and His grace always finds us

-lots of laughs
-playing games as adults and children

-God's majestic handiwork displayed in the ice storm and with the blanket of snow

-for hydro workers who worked in the cold weather and during the holidays to try to restore power

-our generator which provided a bit of power during the ice storm

-making the most of the ice storm by going swimming at the public pool and using their showers!

-God's creative icicles that defy gravity

-my loud, crazy, fun family

-how Beppe loves her loud, crazy family
-the fun we always have
-how the cousins all get along

-my awesome homemade socks from my very talented mother-in-law

-celebrating our daughter's 12th birthday

-her loving, generous heart and free spirit

-how she made loom bracelets and envelopes for all the widow ladies in church

-her fun loving personality

-the fun she had in Toronto with her dad and a few friends

-the beautiful Christmas program at school
-how the band played so well for their first time ever!
-our incredibly talented, patient band teacher

-how he played in the Christmas recital, after only having 4 lessons
-his desire to learn

-enjoying her new Christmas gift

-Christmas dinner with cousins/family
-so much (too much) yummy food
-Oma's meatballs

-his diligence at shovelling the rink

-how they curl up in bed in the middle of the day and read books together

-his joy and pride over all of his creations
-how they play so nicely together in the snow

-carving out some time over the holidays to scrap book
-my sister-in-law, such great company to scrapbook with

-her fun, beautiful hair and being able to use other people's ideas/hairstyles from the internet

-how she didn't need stitches!
-our amazing health care system and our great medical clinic in town; meeting the doctor on call on Christmas day

-that all three of us ladies now have cross country skis
-snow to go skiing and cold weather to go skating!

-our own winter classic game on New Year's day

-how much fun we had, all 6 of us going sledding
-injury free sledding experience

One Thousand Gifts (continued)

"Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made know to you" (John 15:15).

He was excited to have a friend over for the day. They had lots of fun together. I am so grateful for my children's friends and for my friends as well.

 This reminded my of the hymn, "What a friend we have in Jesus". He is the best friend that we could possibly have. He's perfect, faithful, shares our sorrows, knows our weakness, carries our burdens, shields us, and gives us peace! All we have to do is take it to the Lord in prayer.

 I love the lines, "O what peace we often forfeit, o what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer"!

Thank-you, Jesus for hearing our prayers, taking our pain, and giving us peace!

526. What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Text: Joseph M. Scriven, 1820-1886 Music: Charles C. Converse, 1832-1918 1. What a friend we have in Jesus, 

 all our sins and griefs to bear! 
 What a privilege to carry 
 everything to God in prayer! 
 O what peace we often forfeit,
 O what needless pain we bear, 
 all because we do not carry 
 everything to God in prayer. 

2. Have we trials and temptations? 
 Is there trouble anywhere? 
 We should never be discouraged; 
 take it to the Lord in prayer. 
 Can we find a friend so faithful 
 who will all our sorrows share? 
 Jesus knows our every weakness; 
 take it to the Lord in prayer. 

3. Are we weak and heavy laden, 
 cumbered with a load of care? 
 Precious Savior, still our refuge; 
 take it to the Lord in prayer. 
 Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? 
 Take it to the Lord in prayer! 
 In his arms he'll take and shield thee; 
 thou wilt find a solace there.

Continuing to give thanks...
#4073-#4093

-my children's friends
-play dates
-my friends
-my sister, my best friend
-Jesus, the perfect friend
-that Jesus shares our sorrows, carries our pain, and gives us peace
-beginning the advent season

-soft, furry, intriguing creatures

-sisters, best friends

-making memories and having fun in outdoors, riding ponies and petting the animals

-ice rink preparations and nephews and a brother in law who are willing helpers

-a fun night out with friends
-laughing to tears and getting sore stomach muscles!
-gifted Christian comedians (Phil Callaway) and musicians

-hanging out at home
-her precious smiles
-her recovery from her foot injury

-Sundays- playing, relaxing, family time, worship, fellowship

-play time

-seeing my niece (visiting from out of town) and her precious baby
-proud great-grand parents