Gratitude

972. The end of a work project that has taken Dan to New Jersey every week for months. All four of us are thrilled.
973. Beautiful wet fog and snow. It's very Bronte-ish outside today.

974. Snow day for Adele.
975. My sweet, encouraging BSF leader and groupies.
976. Fresh air and getting outside - therapeutic for the crazies!
977. Healthy, happy baby news for friends
978. The prospect of a week away, unplugged and relaxed.
979. British humor
980. The fruit of a good relationship with my Adele's teacher and principal.

Faith

"It is the easiest thing in the world for us to obey God when He commands us to do what we like, and to trust Him when the path is all sunshine. The real victory of faith is to trust God in the dark, and through the dark. Let us be assured of this, that if the lesson and the rod are of His appointing (not the result of our own sin or foolishness), and that His all-wise love has engineered the deep tunnel of trial on the heavenward road, He will never desert us during the discipline. The vital thing for us is not to deny and desert Him."

(T.L. Cuyler)

Giving Thanks #971

This deserves it's own slot, it's own time in everyone's spotlight. Enjoy....

971. This right here.

I'm Baaack!

I like having a blog for storing my favorite quotes, brain dumping, counting my blessings, and more. And failure is not an option! Now that I have some time on my hands again, I'm back in the saddle on my way to 1,000 things I'm thankful for....

961. The peace of January snow. December snow is exciting; January snow is peaceful (as long as you have nowhere to go, that is).
962. The drive I need to deep-clean my house, bit by bit. It comes every January - and I love it! I wrote about it here, too. Which brings me to...
963. The opportunity to write monthly for MomColored Glasses. I despise my own writing (downside of editing for a living for several years?) but it's so good for me to do. 
964. Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel of Dan's travel.
965. The anticipation of an upcoming vacation
966. How sorting through my books reveals how I've grown in life. Books that meant so much to me a few years ago are now not as meaningful. It's a signal that I've moved on/learned/grown/changed.
967. Adele reading on her own! I can't believe how much joy this brings me, her, Dan...even Jack!
968. This post. I worked a tiny bit for Dr. Grier in college, and then again years later. He was a brilliant, saintly, sweet man of God.
969. Knowing of polite, kind children of all ages. This sounds weird, but sometimes I think we easily excuse young children from basic skills of interacting with people of all ages. Lately I've been reminded that I don't need to!
970. A new back door. We needed it so badly and it's finally done! Hooray for the little things.

"Glorious"

I heard this Newsboys song on the radio yesterday. I don't usually dig Newsboys' stuff (the sound is sort of..."mehh" to me, tho' I do  like Michael Tait's voice here), but these lyrics really, really resonated with me, particularly the chorus. God remains Himself -- faithful, holy, glorious -- even when I falter or become faithless. My sin does not change Him, my lack of faith does not weaken Him. And how encouraging that is! Our souls crave a changeless anchor.


Glorious
And if I sing out in the dark of night
Or praise You in the light of dawn
Hear my song and lift me on Your wings
And if I worship You in solitude
Or join a choir 10,000 strong
Hear my song ‘til all creation sings

Glorious, shining so glorious
Though I stumble, though I fall
You remain glorious.
Towards Your light
I come running, I come running
Into Your arms
I come running, I come running.

You have searched me
You have known my heart
You’ve heard my every anxious thought
Hear my song, it’s all I have to bring
And though the battles come
This much is known:
The victory’s won by You alone
Hear my song, my Savior and my King

Every faithless mission
Every false ambition
Here, I lay them at Your feet
As in heaven, as on earth
I will ever sing Your worth
You alone make me complete

Glorious, shining so glorious
Though I stumble, though I fall
You remain glorious.
Towards Your light
I come running, I come running
Into Your arms
I come running, I come running.

Giving Thanks...(951-960)

951. Weekends away as a family
952. The colors of fall and how they cheer my heart
953. That it worked out for my schedule to join a women's Bible study
954. Cozy socks and cardigans
955. That feminine clothes are back in style for females! Go figure.
956. God's faithfulness to me whenever Dan travels for work
957. That our neighbors finally can live in their house again (fire last year)
958. Sunny breezes blowing red leaves around the yard
959. Jack's Bible group at BSF and how much they teach him in 2 hours. Ain't no nursery!
960. That Adele handles getting up early so well.

Adele's First Day of School