One Thousand Gifts (Continued)

"Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness"

(Colossians 2:6-7).

Continuing to give thanks...

#1504-1515

-ice melting

-taking down the ice rink (getting ready for spring!) -a big helper -siblings playing games together

-testimony of faith and hope through his concert (Steven Curtis Chapman)

-night out with hubby

-more than 150 children being sponsored at the concert through Compassion

-birds singing

-bunny infront of Nicole's window (that helped get her out of bed this morning)!

-friends holding their beautiful daughter for the first time and forever

-baby shower and the announcement of a miracle pregnancy

-being fully known AND yet still loved by our heavenly Father

Unexpected Surprises

"The LORD says, 'Those who hope in me will not be disappointed'"

(Isaiah 49:23).

The unexpected timing of an answered prayer.

The gentle nudge of guidance.

The stirring from the Holy Spirit.

The pictures of friends holding their long awaited little girl.http://www.orangeville.nl/?p=1006

The whispers in the heart.

The gentle hug.

The waking to birds singing.

The white blanket outside our window. That was our surprise this morning.



This is how some of their snow day was spent:

One Thousand Gifts (Continued)

'"You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands,' declares the LORD" (Isaiah 55:12).

What a privilege it was this week to learn about the trees of the field and God's mighty works.

We had a fun March Break this past week!
So much to be thankful for.
#1 487-1 503

-learning about God's amazing creation and the making of maple syrup

-my first "real" completed sewing project

-my willing model (thinking she's going to bed) (it's not for her-it's a gift)


-an early hockey game (allowing for a few spectators!)

-eating freezies in shorts and on the ice rink!

-the newest greenhouse employee
-eager (and not so eager) greenhouse workers

-room tidying

-continuing purging with my "bag a day"

-jogging without the jogging stroller -thanks, Mom
-sharing a blanket while sipping tea and growing in faith with a dear friend

-getting ready for the first day back to school - the snacks are packed!

-a fun March Break

-lots of play time with cousins

-breakfast outing to celebrate my sister-in-law's birthday (thanks, Diane)

-fun basketball party with friends

-Nicole's excited announcement to EVERY song that plays on the Message (Christian Satellite station), "I LOVE that song!"

Sweetness

"Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones"

(Proverbs 16:24).

During our March Break, we had the privilege of enjoying and learning about the yummy, sweet maple syrup at the Maple Syrup Festival. It was a great opportunity to appreciate one of the many unfathomable aspects of God's creation.

The sweet maple syrup made me think about a dear friend who confessed to me after I told her that she was sweet, that she was praying to be viewed as someone who is sweet. Well, anyone who knows her would agree with me that she is indeed sweet! http://heathershomewardjourney.blogspot.com)

The Bible says that pleasant words are sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. Sweet words are pleasant, agreeable, hopeful, thankful, and joyful. (for more information see: http://bible.org/seriespage/sweet-honey) They can attribute to our physical well being. They can minister to our lives as well as others' lives. My friends' words definitely minister to me and to so many others. It is my prayer that my words will be "pleasant as honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones".

One Thousand Gifts (Continued)

"From the fullness of grace we have all received one blessing after another" (John 1:16).

"one blessing after another"... my list of gratitude continues...

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-Deborah's new play mate

-playing the piano just for fun

-my spy guy

-first attempt of putting beads in Deborah's hair

-fun loving nephew and soon to be niece

-accepting the challenge from Uncle Henry to a game of Memory

-sharing his lunch

-technology- listening to my cousin's funeral from The Netherlands

-craft time to begin the March Break

-a great student (learning from his patient teacher, his sister)

-my (reluctant) green house worker

-a husband teaching good work ethics at a young age

-when Paul says, "You need a hug"

-when one brother makes another brother's day "Curtis said I'm the funniest brother he could every have - then we hugged- because we're brothers"!!

-coffee visits

-ladies' movie night

-riding bicycles for the first time this year

-great weather so far for March Break

-outing to the fabric store with my mom

-outing to the fabric store with my daughter!

-cousin sleep overs

-outing with cousins on the first day of March Break

-the Trinity

-preaching of the Gospel

-forgiveness

-the beginning of changing of seasons

-loving and patient Cadet counsellors who have the boys at their house for a day

One Thousand Gifts (Continued)

"Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into son, O mountains! For the LORD comforts His people and will have compassion on His afflicted ones" (Isaiah 49:13).

On this day of mixed emotions, my list of thanks continues...

#1449-#1459


-for comfort (with the sudden passing away of my cousin)
-for times of joy still in the midst of sadness

-Deborah is officially a Canadian Citizen

-for the written words, "Welcome to the Canadian family"

-purging (getting rid of a bag of stuff everyday for one month)!

-having coffee break with my mom on her sunny deck in the snow

-getting together with family
-cousin pizza night

-birthday parties

-a fun volleyball season

-fun loving, caring, supportive teammates