Gratitude List (#226-254)

"We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks.

Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if not with thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving is the evidence of our acceptance of whatever He gives. 

Thanksgiving is the manifestation of our Yes! to His grace.

Thanksgiving is inherent to a true salvation experience;

thanksgiving is necessary to live the well, whole,  fullest life."

::Anne Voskamp ~ pg.39, One Thousand Gifts::

winter walks in the country

black birds perched high in trees

time

the wind whispering through the trees

white aspen trees

glorious sunsets....and a picture of it taken by #3

clear skies and the cool air that comes with them

white geese in the meadow

sunlight in the playroom

the sun shining through the trees

double shot vanilla lattes

the mess

meaningful conversations

birthday celebrations

beautifully set tables

pink frosted cupcakes

smiles of delight

root beer floats

horse back riding lessons

rain drops beautifully hanging off of winter trees

majestic bald eagles spotted by eager children

old family quilts that were discovered in the attic

a bench bought by my valentine years back

sunbeams making rainbows

22 women wanting to fellowship over pizza
the pain of separation and the lessons learned through it
the promise of new life

that my friend Erin got through her surgery

(please lift her up in prayer!!)

"The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me;

to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!"

Psalm 50:23

A Walk in the Country

Ellie started horse-back riding lessons last week! 

This has always been a dream of hers, and the Lord has graciously allowed it to happen. 

Today was her second lesson, and it was a BEAUTIFUL day.

::perfect for a nature walk in the country::

Last week, it was freezing (to me:), raining, and windy....

today was SOOOO much better. 

O how I love the beauty around these parts!!

Last week, as we were taking our cold, wet walk,

Abby was adamant that she did NOT like the country, and was going to live in the city. 

Last night at bed she announced, "I'm going to live in Hollywood!"

Today, however, her opinion was swayed and she declared that

she was going to live neither in the city or the country.....

but the forest! The jury is still out on that one.

Drew was in heaven, looking at THREE bald eagles.

~we think, a male, a female, and a baby.

They were AMAZING and I desperately need a close-up lens~

especially if I'm going to live around all this beauty!!

My granddad, Drew's namesake, gave him those binoculars. 

Boy, have they been put to good use! 

We've seen an eagle perched on that tree all three times we've been here. 

Living around these majestic birds, sure does make Isaiah 40:31

a bit more meaningful. This verse was part of our memory work last year,

and we've been reviewing it this week:

Do you not know? Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He does not grow tired or weary;

and his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary,

and increases the power of the weak. 

Even youths grow tired and weary,

and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the Lord shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up on wings like eagles;

they shall run and not grow weary;

they shall walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:28-31 

Ellie's Choice of Copywork

"'Oh, I don't mean just the tree; of course it's lovely--yes, it's radiantly lovely--it blooms as if it meant it--but I meant everything, the garden and the orchard and the brook and the woods, the whole big dear world. Don't you feel as if you just loved the world on a morning like this? And I can hear the brook laughing all the way up here. Have you ever noticed what cheerful things brooks are? They're always laughing....'"

L.M. Montgomery Anne of Green Gables

A Few More B-Day Pics

O Happy Day

It's been a wonderful, full week! 

One of the highlights was on Wednesday when we celebrated

Abby's birthday.....

I know some of you don't believe me when I say we DO

have sunny days in the winter......

This was a glorious one. Just look at those rays!!!

We headed North to a park on the water,

and stopped for a cold picnic before continuing on up

to Num Num and Papa's. 

 I've learned that clear skies mean its going to be chilly! 

BUT, compared to the cold in a lot of the country,

40s and 50s is NOT bad! 

The girls were all smiles, especially the newly turned eight year old. 

Love it when they love on each other, and WANT to play together. 

The mood at the park was so pleasant and cheerful!! 

(Guess a little sun will do that to ya!)

 Abby was having so much fun,

she couldn't bring herself to stop and eat
until we were back in the car! 

 I love Aspen trees....
(I think that is what these were:)

Isn't the bark beautiful?

 Even Jessie got in on the fun. 

She LOVES going places with us,
and is such a good little puppy when we travel! 

"Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;

let the sea roar, and all that fills it;

let the field exult, and everything in it!

Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy

before the LORD, for he comes,

for he comes to judge the earth.

He will judge the world in righteousness,

and the peoples in his faithfulness. "

Psalm 96:11

May your Lord's Day, dear friends, be a happy one~

filled with gladness and rejoicing

as you marvel at your Creator and what He has made for you!!! 

We're Reading!!

We've been trying very hard in our house to foster a love for reading. 

The older two have really picked up the pace this year. 

I can't believe how quickly they've been plowing through books. 

I'm sure our standard "reading time" each evening before bed has helped. . . 

although there have been a few nights lately, when I thought their

lights were out and it was 10:30 ~ yikes!! 

I guess it's a good problem though. . .just have to be a bit clearer about my expectations :)

The youngest two are still being read aloud too. . . although I worry that

I don't read as much to them as I did my olders. 

Abby is just starting to have the confidence to read a bit on her own....

I've been reading a book called Twice Freed by Patricia St. John out loud to the olders,

and am almost done reading Little House in the Big Woods, 

by Laura Ingalls Wilder, to the younger ones. 

What do you and yours enjoy reading?? 

My Girl is Eight!

It seems like yesterday that I was in the hospital

birthing my number three. . . Abby Jane! 

Once again, I thought a walk down memory lane was in order. 

So many of my pictures are in digital form now,

and I don't have opportunity to look at them.

I love that this blog is helping me to remember. 

 I can't get over how that expression of her's in the first photo above

is still one that she has today. . . that "furrowed' brow! 

It's an amazing thing to watch your children grow and see how

even at early ages, their personalities are coming out.

Abby has ALWAYS been SO full of life and energy. 

In that third picture, you can see evidence on her cheek!! 

 Abby has ALWAYS had a flair for dressing up,

carrying purses and wearing sunglasses. 

She's even recently begged that she be able to wear eye-glasses. . . 

Abby has a heart for music like her daddy.

Put in a new song, and she'll have the lyrics memorized faster than you can imagine! 

We've also realized she is the quickest to share in our bunch. 

She holds her possessions with an open hand! 

She also notices needs and jumps up to help before

you can even ask her. 

Wonderful qualities that I pray the Lord will grow in her. 

Our family would NOT be the same without her. 

She is SUCH a blessing,

and I find it a tremendous joy to watch how the Lord 

is maturing her in the knowledge of Him and of His world. 

Our prayer for her is that she would KNOW and UNDERSTAND

God's amazing, strong, and intentional love for her. . . 

". . .we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers,

nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth,

nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from

the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Romans 8:37-39