Gifts of the Season

Monday morning came cold and frosty ...
but filled with goodness and gifts to give thanks for:

coffee perking in our blue and white enamel "camping" coffee pot (I've broken yet another glass coffee pot, and think this may be what I need to stick with.)

memories of Grandma's kitchen when the perking coffee aroma blended with the hot, steamy lemon-scented dishwater fragrance ... Comfort & Joy often comes in the most unexpected ways!

sounds of giggling girls snuggling under the covers waiting for breakfast

Advent wreath gracing our dinner table ... candles counting the weeks until Christmas

Advent calendar filled with tasty treats and little gifts to make the waiting sweeter

Jesse tree devotions and ornaments preparing our hearts for His birthday

Kind thoughts and gifts of words in Christmas cards from friends across the country

Looking forward to a different kind of Christmas ...

Our giving board for Partners International  Harvest of Hope at church ... We're challenging our family and friends to join us in giving gifts to Jesus by giving to those in need. 

 
Less buying and busyness this season, but busy hands creating simple handmade gifts for those we love

Christmas carols
cocoa
candy canes ...

so many sweet gifts of the season!

Gratitude Journal 3/8/10

Thankful today for ...

nature-
rain
birdsong
robins hunting for their breakfast in the backyard


signs of spring-
geese heading North
daffodils
freshly tilled garden soil
seedlings


comforts of home-
a quiet morning
the gentle rhythm of daily tasks
hum of washing machine
a cup of tea
cuddly quilts
good books

a reminder of whose and what I am-
Yet, O LORD, you are our Father.
We are the clay, you are the potter;
we are all the work of your hand. Isaiah 64:8

For these graces, big and small, thank you Lord.

Giving thanks with the multitudes today. If you'd like to join us, stop by Holy Experience and join the Gratitude Community.

Gifts of Grace

Giving thanks today for gifts of grace that are priceless...


Words...beautiful words in a tattered volume...gifted to my husband by a loving Mother, who was given this grace story by her own loving parents years ago.



Love-filled words from mother to son. Yes, wise Mother this is indeed the most wonderful gift he will ever receive from you; and we pray someday you will truly take the grace message of the Word of Life into your own heart.

Tattered treasures from a book sale. So many lovely books to choose from and I chose these time-worn volumes that promise many hours of enjoyment.



Ginger ready to harvest...it's been growing and multiplying under the soil while I paid no attention. Some things grow best without any "fussing over" from me. May the seeds of faith I plant in my children's life grow and multiply as quickly...




Jewel-like raindrops suspended in sunshine...oh the blessing of rain we received!

cloudy skies

puddles

raindrops

umbrellas sheltering giggling girls

cool breezees ushering in a new season

smoke from autumn fires

Father,

For these gifts I give thanks to You, the Giver of All Good Gifts. I thank you for the blessings big and small that you bestow on us so freely. Thank you most of all for the grace...my greatest need fulfilled!

Care to join us in counting our blessings? Stop by Holy Experience and join the Gratitude Community today.

Gratitude ~ Nature

Gratitude Journal

Giving thanks to the Giver of All Good Gifts for...

28. A weekend wander along the creek

29. Giggling girls hopping over laughing water

30. Friendly ducks, hungry for our leftover bread

31. New life in a tiny duckling

32. Mother duck who let her little one get "just close enough" to get a nibble of bread; but watched ever so closely, to be sure her baby was not in harm's way.

33. Time...the blessing of enough free time to wander, wade, and watch for the simple blessings so often overlooked in our hurry, hurry society.

34. Beauty in waste places...

35. Eyes to see the overlooked beauty all around, if only I will stop and really look for it

Thank You Father for these gifts, just a few of the multitude You grace me with each day.

To join us in giving thanks, stop by Holy Experience today and join the Gratitude Community.