Counting My Blessings - Day 8

39. A morning walk - I have really missed these since starting work. This morning after Hubby and the boys left early for church, J and I set out! It was a beautiful day for a walk. I loved the warmth of the sunshine, but I also loved how cold my cheeks felt because of the breeze. It is a blessing to have such a wonderful place to walk, to have the ability to walk, and to have had TIME to walk! I did some much needed stretching for my back when I got home, got ready and made it to church on time. Once there I was amazed how that short time I took before coming prepared my heart for worship and today's message. Thank you God for meeting with me in creation and by your Spirit.

Daybook - Last One of October 2010

Outside my window… bright beautiful sunlight, a cool autumn breeze and my 2 pumpkins are still there (they haven’t been the victim of a smashing)

I am thankful for… quiet moments, lots of blogging time being thankful through Branch of Wisdom’s Month of Thanksgiving

I am wearing… flannel pajamas

Some plans for the rest of the week… a play-off game, not much so maybe I’ll have a chance to get some projects completed in my classroom

I am hoping… Hubby’s plane is on time tonight!

On my mind… blogging, making a synonym/antonym game before I start cleaning the house

Hearing…. Not a lot. M and I are the only ones here and he is still sleeping. I can hear the air purifier in the living room.

I am praying that…… lately I have been praying quite a bit for a family member, a neighbor, and for the safety of Hubby and our boys.

From the kitchen... uggh! I need to do some planning today. The only thing that’s going to be coming from the kitchen in the near future is leftovers and trying to whittle down the half-eaten boxes/bags of crackers and chips that are in the pantry!

Around the house… Aunt’s things since she’s been staying with us while Hubby was away. The dining room table is piled with laundry again!

One of my favorite things… flannel pajamas! The ones I have on probably should be thrown out, but I can’t bear to part with them! I like my fleece jammies too.

From my picture journal…

To view more daybooks visit Simple Woman's Daybook.

Counting My Blessings - Day Seven

38. Light - Hubby is always reminding me to turn off lights. I really do want to be financially responsible, but I love light! During the day, I love all the natural light and at night I either want lamps on or all the bright lights on in every room of the house, depending on the mood I'm in.

This picture isn't the best one displaying light, but it meant something to me this morning because as I sat down in my rocker this was what was streaming through our front east window.

It was especially bright and glowing this morning. When I was reading, the pages of Isaiah were illuminated brightly. (The following wasn't what I was reading, but I found it to be beautiful when I checked Biblegateway.com)

Isaiah 42:16

"I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them."

How even more precious is the light of Christ than the earthly light I love!

Counting My Blessings-Day Six

37. Hubby - I'm thankful every day for what a wonderful husband Hubby is. He's my biggest supporter and encourager. He's one of the most compassionate people I know and always strives to be like Christ.

38. Community - I'm thankful to live in such a wonderful town. There's always something going on to bring people together and I love the way the schools and town partner to highlight the same character quality each month. Currently, our high school band is raising money to go to the Rose Parade. It seems everyone is chipping in to hold fundraising events.

This picture is from the 5th graders at M's school last year doing the Veteran's Day assembly. (He's the last one, top right, by the balloons.) Can I just say, Wow!? I was so impressed that such young people could be so honoring of those serving in the armed forces past and present. This event is something my Dad still talks about. Since he doesn't really remember current events any more, I'm pleased that this meant something to him.

Counting My Blessings - Day Five

36. Fresh Fruit and Vegetables - I'm grateful to be able to get food from my garden, farmer's market (though I need to take more advantage of both of these) and my local grocery. I have a wide variety of fruits and veggies that are safe, affordable, and good for me.

Lately at the grocery I have been sad that fruit and veggie seasons are changing and my most favorites are either not available, too expensive, or poor quality. Tonight however, I tried a "new to me" veggie, butternut squash. A made an "inside out cabbage roll" recipe that called for it - had to watch the how to peel a butternut squash video on the internet and everything. All went well. I was surprised at how pumpkin-like the seeds and pulp were on the inside. I didn't need the whole squash for the recipe so I baked what was left with cinnamon and nutmeg and then mashed it with butter. Yummy!

Oh, the inside out cabbage rolls were pretty good too. (Aunt and I wanted to try them because we grew up with our Mom making cabbage rolls. She learned it from her German grandmother. I have made them on extremely special occasions.) Both boys tried the dish - here are their responses: L - "They're okay. Not the best dinner you've ever made Mom" and M "They're good." Of course he didn't eat a whole lot and now is looking for more food! I just love their honesty and that they ate green peppers, butternut squash and cabbage!

Check out Branch of Wisdom each day til Thanksgiving for a Month of Thanksgiving.

Counting My Blessings - Day Four

35. Scouts (I realized yesterday that instead of counting new each day, I should be doing a running tally. Hence the number 35 and not 1.). We've been a part of either Cub Scouts or Boy Scouts (or both) for almost six years now and it's been a blessing in the lives of our whole family. The boys have learned many new skills, had lots of fun and made new friends. They've practiced many qualities including leadership, persistence, and respect. We've all had quality family moments together camping, building pinewood derby cars, making cakes, completing service projects, and doing other activities. Hubby and I have had the opportunity to teach "God and Me" and "God and Family" classes several times to both churched and unchurched boys. Scouts has been a blessing to our whole family for many years and hopefully for many more to come.

This picture is from 2008 before a Blue and Gold Banquet. M was a Bear and L. a Tiger. In March I posted pictures from M's Arrow of Light at my former blog, Butterfly Wings.

Counting My Blessings - Day Three

1. Transportation - Hubby will be with his VA family by midnight tonight. Note the transportation is a blessing. I'm very sad he's gone. I pray he and his brother will be a wonderful blessing to his grandmother.

2. Diversity - I'm thankful that my children have an opportunity to be around many people who are not exactly like them. (Umm, sometimes. Last week we stopped in the city for gas and L. said "Mom, let's get out of here. I just saw someone take something out of their sock." The something was a wallet. Once in the car though, my sons educated me that people carry weapons in their socks. I didn't know!)

3. Naivety - mine is a blessing and really my boys are naive to many things going on in culture. And it should be so! Please read the Scripture at the top of my blog. We don't want to fit into our culture.

4. Hubby - he made a stop at M's school to deliver his ID/lanyard and then my school to deliver my lunch I left in the fridge. I know it made him late in starting an already busy day and I really appreciated it!

Please click the button on the list to see more blessings and/or to join Tamara at Branch of Wisdom. If you've never visited Tamara, you should. She always posts the most wonderful pictures.