One Thousand Gifts (Continued)

"Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free'" (John 8:31-32).

The truth has set me free indeed- in my marriage, my inner struggles, and my whole life. Give thanks for The Truth!

#1417-#1429

-The Truth
-the beautiful, terrible cross (song title sung by Selah)
-CD's that can be played over and over and I still love them (Selah)

-bowling for family day

-an interest already in bowling

-my "twin", my sister, my best friend

-cozy slippers

-getting together with cousins

-a loving, supportive husband with a listening ear

-sprititual mentors that I get to drive to volleyball with every Monday night

-cleaning out closets

-sledding with the kids and their cousins

-a constant careful watch over their little sister

One Thousand Gifts (Continued)

"We love because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19).

Thank-you, God for your love and the love of others. Help me to show my love to You and to others.

Continuing to give thanks...

#1395-1416

-homemade Valentine's cards from my children

-the love and effort put into each card

-Tim Horton's breakfast sandwich from my hubby this morning

-Paul's continuous love for me and for his children

-the many facial expressions of Deborah

-homemade sweater from my oh, so crafty friend, Leanne


-big smiles for her big brother (standing behind me)
-Jesse's help when taking pictures of Deborah

-princess dresses

-anticipation and excitement for another sewing project

-a desire to learn new things

-another completed project

-an attempt to be organized with children's homework

-my husband hanging up things for me even when he doesn't feel well

-faithful and independent learner (kinda has to be, since we can't help him)

-craft time to help pass by the time at home being sick

-hot water bottles

-recuperation from illnesses

-having tea with someone I've been friends with for plus 30 years

-sunshine

-dinner with friends
-God's unfailing, unrelenting love

Keep on learning

"Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning"

(Proverbs 9:9).

There are the sayings, "you learn something new everyday" and "you're never too old to learn something new". I pray that I will continue to learn more about my heavenly Father as I continue to study His word. I love our women's Bible study where we learn something new every time we meet and where we are able to challenge each other and encourage each other with our walks of faith. I am also enjoying reading different passages of the Bible in an attempt to read through the Bible in a year (following the schedule recommended by our Pastor) and learning more about God's plan of redemption.

Recently, I have learned something else new. I decided to buy a sewing machine (to answer my brother in law's question, "What possessed you to do that"?) because my mom is gone for a month and I have some sewing I needed her to do. Well, it is definitely something that I will learn more as time goes by, but I did enjoy making my first project- a bandanna purse. Oh, my mom will be "sew" impressed when she comes home!!! I'm thankful for my very talented friend who patiently taught me how to thread my machine and for my recent shopping trips at the fabric stores! I look forward to my mom coming home and being able to give me many more instructions as I take on more sewing projects.

Here's my first project:

Yes, Mom, this is me sitting behind a sewing machine!!

My model, who is also liking my new hobby.

Deborah's new friend

"The LORD will keep you from all harm- He will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore" (Psalm 121:7,8).

The Lord has been so good. He certainly was watching over these two little ones as they made the same trip from the same birth village to the same orphanage, to the same transition home, and to the same province in Canada.

I am thrilled that the Lord has brought little Ezra and his parents into our lives. It was so great to meet them, to share stories and to see pictures of Deborah's birth village (as Ezra's parents made the 10 hour bumpy ride to Nekemte). We are so blessed to have made this connection!

One Thousand Gifts (Continued)

"Let everything that has breath praise the LORD" (Psalm 150:6).

Another Monday... another day to be intentional about giving thanks. Sometimes we need to be purposeful in being grateful because it's so easy to be grumpy and to complain. Today I was reminded of this while I was listening to the song "We Want to Praise Jesus" sung by the Collingsworth Family.

"Sometimes I feel grumpy and I'm tempted to complain over something that's so silly and so small. But then I think of all the many things that Jesus does for me and I just have to smile and thank the Lord.
We want to praise Jesus for His many blessings. He's been so good to us. He supplies our every need above all we could ask or need so we've come to praise the Lord."

#1372-#1394

-back fields to hike through

-deep snow

-innocent pride over his boogers

-snow eating break

-jackpot...finding an amazing sledding hill in our back fields


-posing in the snow
-sharing sleds

-my 28 year old toboggan-they don't make them like this anymore!

-injury free despite many tumbles

-a slow GT snow racer (I don't why it's called a racer); perfect for Curtis

-daring boy and willing to take chances

-getting sprayed with snow

-covered in snow and LOVING it

-having fun together as siblings

-thoroughly enjoying all the snow

-having fun in her new play house

-playing with her cousin for the day

-trying different soups enjoying soupfest with my brother and sister and supporting a great cause
-safe travels for my mom and her friend

-safe arrival for friends in Ethiopia (praying for a successful court date)

-siblings standing by the piano practicing their recorder together

-smell of tomato soup on the stove

-friends looking out for each other's children

Enough

"It is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-19).

"[The Lord] said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you..."' (2 Corinthians 12:9a).

The children had LOTS of fun in the snow yesterday and enjoyed their first snow day from school in years. I must confess, however, I was a bit disappointed that we didn't get the amount of snow that was originally forecasted.

It's sad how often I complain that something is "not enough". This includes not enough clothes, time, money, etc. etc.

I am so thankful that God's grace is ALWAYS enough. When I've been a lousy wife...God's grace is enough. When I've entertained ugly thoughts in my mind...God's grace is enough. When I haven't been patient...God's grace is enough. When I haven't spent the time drawing near to my Lord...God's grace is enough.

Forgive me Lord, and thank-you that your grace IS ENOUGH!

Something Beautiful

"[God] will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy"

(Job 8:21).

(photo created by Jess)

I'm sure everyone has been around the dinner table sharing knock knock jokes (often times not making any sense, but you laugh anyways). Last night Jesse made up a rather funny joke (not a knock knock one, though)... "What's the oldest joke in the world?".... "I don't know".... "The one about Methuselah"!! (oldest person mentioned in the Bible).

I thought that was quite funny, and so did Jesse of course. His eyes started to water as he had a hard time to stop his giggling! That just made if all the more funnier!! As Newsboys sings, "When we laugh so hard we cry...something beautiful"!

I just love those moments.