My heart is filled with thankfulness

I have lived long enough to know that thankfulness is not something that everyone can "feel" all of the time. But by the grace of God, even when circumstances are not as we would like or when our hearts are grieving or when we can't "conjure up" thankfulness, God is able to put thankfulness in our heart and helps us to call to mind things that we can be thankful for. This song written by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend and beautifully sung by Kristyn Getty is a reminder of how God does that for us.



My heart is filled with thankfulness
To Him who bore my pain;
Who plumbed the depths of my disgrace
And gave me life again;
Who crushed my curse of sinfulness
And clothed me in His light
And wrote His law of righteousness
With pow'r upon my heart.

My heart is filled with thankfulness
To Him who walks beside;
Who floods my weaknesses with strength
And causes fears to fly;
Whose ev'ry promise is enough
For ev'ry step I take,
Sustaining me with arms of love
And crowning me with grace.

My heart is filled with thankfulness
To him who reigns above,
Whose wisdom is my perfect peace,
Whose ev'ry thought is love.
For ev'ry day I have on earth
Is given by the King;
So I will give my life, my all,
To love and follow him.

"My Heart Is Filled with Thankfulness"
Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
Copyright © 2003 Thankyou Music

When little things are really big

Lately I have been the recipient of some seemingly "little" kindnesses that spoke loudly to my heart.

Last Friday, I was casually talking about all the leaves that had fallen in my yard and a little while later, my dear coworker/friend asked me if I would like for some help with raking & bagging them on Saturday.

This would normally be a wonderful gift to get to have some help with that chore, but it was more of a necessity to have help with it this year since I've been nursing a problem with my thumb and am wearing a brace most of the time. Their help was such a gift to me!

 
And then yesterday when my sister and niece stopped into the church office on their way to Bible study, Mary Lane presented me with some beautiful sunflowers that she had picked out for me at the store. Her mom told me that Mary Lane had wanted to bring me some flowers, which was so sweet! They had no way of knowing how much I was in need of a pick-me-up! I told Mary Lane that everytime I see those flowers, I will smile and think of her . . . and I have done just that!

I need to get busy planning some trips!

Create Your Own Visited States Map

Things to think on

There are lots of things that stay regularly on my mind these days. Some of them are things I need to do or have done at my house. Some of the things make me sad. Some of the things make me smile. Some of the things on my mind are things I am thankful for.

On Saturday morning, I took some time to go to one of my favorite thinking places. I walked and thought and prayed and thanked and praised. It was a good way to spend an hour of my weekend.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."

Philippians 4:8, ESV

Memorable Halloween Costumes

There plenty other pictures I could post today of Halloween costumes through the years in our family. I wrote about some of Daniel's here. And last year I wrote about some of mine and Jeanette's from our growing up years.

Today on Facebook, I changed my profile picture to this one of me and Jeanette:

I got some fun comments and so I gave some background. I didn't really like dressing up for Halloween when I was growing up. I couldn't ever figure out what to be and our family wasn't really into buying costumes from the store. This particular year, my parents were going to be out of town on Halloween, so in preparation for us being with a sitter, we got to get some things from the store (a face paint kit for me and a "real" mask for my sister). I think I was supposed to be a hobo clown and was apparently not happy about it (hence the sad face). I'm fairly sure that Jeanette was happier with her choice and was most likely smiling behind her Raggedy Ann mask.

After I posted this picture, Jeanette posted this one of her girls from a couple of years ago.

The costumes and circumstances are different (little sister is trying to help herself to big sister's pumkin), but the expressions on Erica and Mary Lane's faces kind of reminded me of mine and Jeanette's. The dynamics of older and younger sisters don't really change over time!

Family Beach Trip

It has been a desire of mine for a long time to take a trip to the beach with our whole family. Last week, that dream came true, and it was awesome!

Here are some of the highlights:

Sunsets

Sunrises

Morning time

Clear water

Surfer girl

Ice cream

Dolphin cruise

Beach girl

Sister time!

Silliness

Getting to experience the beach with my nieces.

Time with my college guy

Sweet couple

Sisters!

Daddy and daughters

This sums up how we all felt about our time at the beach!

Friday Favorites: My College Guy

This photo was taken last year, so my college guy is looking less like a freshman these days, but I can't wait to see my sophomore this weekend! We're going to a game and are hoping for a W this week against UT-Chattanooga. Also hope it won't be a soggy mess! Go Vols!