Happy Birthday, J~Man!

Thank You, Heavenly Father, for the blessing of J~Man.  Thank You for bringing him into our lives.  Thank You for the things he has taught me and all the fun we have had over the past ten years.  Thank You for his warm smile and his sense of humour.  Thank You for his intelligence and his diligent pursuit of the truth and his searching big blue eyes.  Thank You for his thoughtfulness and compassion.  Thank You for his desire to follow You and be like Jesus.  Thank You for him.

Blessed is J~Man
         Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
         Nor stands in the path of sinners,
         Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
         And in His law he meditates day and night.
 He shall be like a tree
         Planted by the rivers of water,
         That brings forth its fruit in its season,
         Whose leaf also shall not wither;
         And whatever he does shall prosper.

~Psalm 1:1-3

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

~Romans 15:13

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for:

1. A trustworthy friend with an auto repair shop


2. A commission check coming tomorrow ~ so we can pay for the repairs


3. 10 healthy people in our home again


4. Brothers & sisters in the Lord


5. Dear friends who are far away and greatly missed


6. Neighbours who we are slowly getting to know


7. The blessing of praying for others

 Oh, give thanks to the LORD!
      Call upon His name;
      Make known His deeds among the peoples!

 Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;
      Talk of all His wondrous works!

 Glory in His holy name;
      Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD!

 Seek the LORD and His strength;
      Seek His face evermore!

~1 Chronicles 16:8-11

posted in Giving Thanks

Thankful Wednesday

A sensible thanksgiving for mercies received is a mighty prayer in the Spirit of God. It prevails with Him unspeakably.

~John Bunyan -- born on this date in 1628

 

~The Lamb~

~by William Blake -- born on this date in 1757

   Little lamb, who made thee?
   Does thou know who made thee,
Gave thee life, and bid thee feed
By the stream and o'er the mead;
Gave thee clothing of delight,
Softest clothing, woolly, bright;
Gave thee such a tender voice,
Making all the vales rejoice?
   Little lamb, who made thee?
   Does thou know who made thee? 

   Little lamb, I'll tell thee;
   Little lamb, I'll tell thee:
He is called by thy name,
For He calls Himself a Lamb.
He is meek, and He is mild,
He became a little child.
I a child, and thou a lamb,
We are called by His name.
   Little lamb, God bless thee!
   Little lamb, God bless thee!

 

Thank You, Father in heaven, for the most precious gift of Your Son ~ Whose nativity we will soon be celebrating ~ and Whose return we watch for.

posted in Giving Thanks

Thankful Monday & Tuesday

Monday:

I went to Half Price Books and found one missing Magic Treehouse Book for the set I gave Lulapalooza for his birthday.  I also was able to pick up a couple more books for J-Man for his upcoming birthday.  I found one book that we can use in history studies next year, and I found not only a prayer book (something for which I have been on the lookout for a long time ~ and it starts with Advent!), but a copy of Devotional Classics by Richard Foster as well.  All of this cost less than $20.  Thank You, God, for these little blessings and the many more that you send my way daily.

Tuesday:

Well, I have three sick girls, but since the Bible says to give thanks in everything, that is what I will try to do.  I am very thankful that I am able to be here at home when my children feel icky and need mama.  I am thankful that my husband wants me to stay home rather than work somewhere else for a paycheck.  I am thankful that even though his job does not pay as much as we might like, it pays enough for us to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table and me at home.  I am thankful for the blessing of my children and the honour of caring for them.  I am thankful that the girls just have a simple stomach virus which will pass in a day or so.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Thankful Sunday

Psalm 95:1-6

 O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.

 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

 For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

 In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.

 The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.

 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.

 

posted in Giving Thanks

Thank You, God, for Lulapalooza!

1. Thank You for his birth on this date 8 years ago.


2. Thank You for his wispy white-blonde hair and green eyes.


3. Thank You for his gusty laugh.


4. Thank You for his exuberant embraces and sweet kisses.


5. Thank You for his keen intellect, artistic aptitude, and athletic ability.


6. Thank You for his quiet independence.


7. Thank You for his desire to know, love, and serve You more.


8. Thank You for the overwhelming blessing and privilege of being his mama.

My son, eat honey because it is good,
      And the honeycomb which is sweet to your taste; 
      So shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul;
      If you have found it, there is a prospect,
      And your hope will not be cut off.

Proverbs 24:13-14 

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:2-8

but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

2 Peter 3:18 

I LOVE YOU, LULAPALOOZA!

Thankful Friday

We had a lovely Thanksgiving Day here.  The food was delicious, and a good time was had by all.  It was especially nice that UncleB was a part of it this year. 

Now, continuing my blessing countdown:

1. I am thankful for my Heavenly Father who loves me and chose me and saved me and blesses me every day in every way.


2. I am thankful for two faithful parents who brought me up in the nurture and admonition of the LORD.


3. I am thankful for a dear husband who tries to love me as Christ loved the church.


4. I am thankful for 7 children who fill my life with joy.


5. I am thankful that I have everything that I need.

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

~Ephesians 3:20-21

posted in Giving Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving

"The joy of enjoying
And the fullness of living
Are found in the heart
That is filled with thanksgiving."

~Helen Steiner Rice~

The turkey is roasting in the oven.  The cranberries are simmering on the stove.  The cornbread I made last night is sitting on the counter waiting to become dressing.  O Special One's pumpkin cheesecake is chilling.  J-Man is in the kitchen busily slicing apples for pie...

For food that stays our hunger,
For rest that brings us ease,
For homes where memories linger,
We give our thanks for these.

~Traditional~

Later there will be scrubbing, peeling, boiling, roasting, and mashing of potatoes and sweet potatoes and assembling and baking of the dressing.  Frap will make the green bean casserole...

Father we thank Thee for this food,
for health and strength and all things good.
May others all these blessings share,
and hearts be grateful everywhere. 

~Traditional, circa 1800s~

And , of course, we will make crescent rolls and mushroom gravy.  Sergeant Elf will make the pumpkin pie and Frap a razzleberry one.

~Moravian Blessing~

Come, Lord Jesus, our guest to be
And bless these gifts
Bestowed by Thee.
And bless our loved ones everywhere,
And keep them in Your loving care.

Thankful Wednesday

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

~Colossians 3:15 

 

I am thankful today for:

1. 
   
   Toodles' enthusiasm
   
   


2. 
   
   Lulapalooza's integrity
   
   


3. 
   
   J-Man's diligence
   
   


4. 
   
   Sergeant Elf's dependability
   
   


5. 
   
   O Special One's courage
   
   


6. 
   
   Frap's faithfulness
   
   


7. 
   
   Tibby's determination
   
   

 

posted in Giving Thanks

Thankful Tuesday

Today I am thankful...

1. 
   
   for a roof over our heads
   
   


2. for food to eat


3. for good health


4. for friends who care


5. for my abundant life

He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has. 

~Epictetus

posted in Giving Thanks

Thankful Monday

In honour of Thanksgiving this week I want to make a daily gratitude post.  Counting my blessings is always a good thing to do.

I am thankful for...

1. a great academic year and lots of wonderful time with my kids


2. a new gymnastics academy that opened in our neighbourhood and offered quite an affordable class to homeschoolers, and our incredible coach ~ Miss Chris


3. the internet ~ where vegan baking recipes are just a click away ~ so that Lulapalooza can enjoy treats just like everybody else without having a severe asthma attack and dying


4. pumpkins and sweet potatoes and turkeys and organic farmers


5. used bookstores


6. a Godly mother whose birthday just happens to be today ~ Happy Birthday, Mom!

"Thou that has given so much to me,
Give one thing more--a grateful heart;
Not thankful when it pleases me,
As if Thy blessings had spare days;
But such a heart, whose pulse may be
Thy praise."

--George Herbert

posted in Giving Thanks

In Memoriam

R.H.W. 1926-2002

I love my father as the stars - he's a bright shining example and a happy twinkling in my heart. ~Adabella Radici

Dad, your guiding hand on my shoulder will remain with me forever. ~Author Unknown

Old as she was, she still missed her daddy sometimes. ~Gloria Naylor

There's something like a line of gold thread running through a man's words when he talks to his daughter, and gradually over the years it gets to be long enough for you to pick up in your hands and weave into a cloth that feels like love itself. ~John Gregory Brown, Decorations in a Ruined Cemetery, 1994

Happy Birthday, Daddy ~ I miss you very much.