Going on Seventy-Two

 Seventy-one.

 A portrait.   

(I turned 71 on Christmas Day.)

A long-time birthday tradition for me has been listing

blessings of the past year to match the number of that birthday.

Since my years are adding up,

I chose to begin on Christmas Eve

and complete the list on Christmas Day.

You might notice the 25A SPONTANEITY note

on the bottom of this photo.

I have been selecting and concentrating

on a word for each day of Advent.

I'm actually going to continue for three more days

since Advent can vary from 22 to 28 days--

but that's another story.

Thanksgiving is More...

I'm not "blue"...I'm blessed!

As my family is scattered today, I'm realizing that THANKSGIVING is MORE.

More about heart than hearth; 

more about perspective than place; 

more about the eternal than the ephemeral; 

more about togetherness than turkey; 

more about satisfaction than stuffing.

Cracker Barrel serves a great thanksgiving meal!

In a few hours, my father and I will partake.

Today my husband travels many miles to be with parts of our family

and home again.

Tomorrow we travel together - a different direction -

 to be with other parts of our family

and home again. 

It matters not.

Thanksgiving IS more!

I Approve of this Cake

Copied from Facebook post (sorry, I can't remember when/whose, etc.)

and approved by me and my in-house test group!

It could also be appropriately titled "Cake That Doesn't Last".

Yes.  That's all I have to blog about on this cold, laid-back Saturday afternoon

except for the book I'm reading, Everybody Was Young,

and the puzzle going on at our kitchen table.

When finished it should look like this!

The good smell of beans cooking in the crock-pot with ham, onions and garlic

wafts lazily through our house.

Thankful for all the good things I'm enjoying.

Tradition-less

Going with the flow this year.....

Traditions don't seem to come as easy for us as they do for other people.

The Thanksgiving holidays officially kicked in last night

as we attended a Thanksgiving service at our church.

Today, one of my siblings will pass through on their way to Friday..

We'll have a relish tray, crackers and cheeses, etc.

as we visit around our kitchen table.

Tomorrow - Thanksgiving Day - one of our children, her husband and 6 children

will pass through (also on their way to Friday).

Together with us, they'll attend a lovely community meal for folks who don't have family plans.

(Our family "plans" came together rather spur-of-the-moment

without time to prepare turkey and trimmings,

so we're especially thankful for Holy Trinity Lutheran Church's hospitality.)

I'll take a sweet potato casserole made with apples and dried cranberries.

Then on Friday, we will get up early and together with my father,

drive over to Sauder Inn in Archbold OH to celebrate with extended family

(over 50 people).

Meanwhile, this rusty turkey joined autumn-colored everyday place mats

to remind us of this season while we're on the way to Friday.

Tradition-less, but SOOOOOO thankful. 

Rainbow

Today started OUT with a rainbows!

We saw the first one in front of our house as we got into our car.

We were leaving the house soon after dawn to complete a trail walk

before my husband needed to be at his part-time job.

 It was drizzling when we arrived, and we looked with wonder at the rainbow 

that arched over the pathway into the nature preserve. 

 We started out bravely, 

but didn't go too far until my husband decided to return to the car

to fetch an umbrella - "just in case". 

I waited for him under a tree.

My heart skipped a beat when I saw him return to me under the umbrella.

Before long, he folded it and used it as a walking stick.

Later, reflecting on the beauty we shared

and seeing many friends post photos of rainbows today from all over the nation

(Ohio, South Carolina, New Mexico, etc.)

I got thinking about "our" rainbow and my fellow and thought of an old song

I hadn't thought about for YEARS!

  ♪ Look, look, look to the rainbow.
Follow it over the hill and stream.
Look, look, look to the rainbow.
Follow the fellow who follows a dream.
Follow the fellow;  follow the fellow;
Follow the fellow who follows a dream. ♪

 Thanking God this evening for His rainbows and for my fellow...

Profusely

Anthony Bradley recently tweeted:  "Among the best weapons to fight against depression include committing to a life of gratitude and experiencing real connection in community." I passed this wisdom along to a fellow traveler recently with my OWN exhortation that both of us endeavor to  enter the new day with humble and profuse gratitude.

Then I quickly googled profuse to be sure I'd used the word correctly.  It's NOT a word I use frequently in conversation or writing.  I found these two definitions:

• 1. Plentiful; copious.
• 2. Giving or given freely and abundantly; extravagant. 

Yes! I used it correctly! I am humbly and PROFUSELY grateful today.  Worthy?  No.  Grateful?  Profusely!  I can't begin to describe my awareness of the abundant, extravagant grace of God to me throughout my life--and today.  And my awareness falls so short of its actuality! 

Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus,
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;
Wonderful grace, all sufficient for me, for even me.
Broader than the scope of my transgressions,
Greater far than all my sin and shame,
O magnify the precious Name of Jesus.
Praise His Name!

(Chorus of "Wonderful Grace of Jesus")

A Day in the Life

 Out and about early....

ready and waiting for my husband's cardioversion.

Competent and cheerful nurses and personnel make it easier.

The time comes.

I leave the room and scarcely have time to open the magazine

before I'm summoned back to bedside.

He is groggy, but his heart is back in rhythm.

So thankful for medical knowledge, equipment, facilities, and personnel.

Thankful for another day to live, love and share life with my beloved.

He holds the future in the palm of His hand,
And He has never failed me yet,
I know He's reigning and still has control,
So why should I worry or fret?

(words as I recall them from an "old" Gaither song)

Moments to Remember

 ♪ Though summer turns to winter
And the present disappears
The laughter we were glad to share
Will echo through the years

When other nights and other days
May find us gone our separate ways
We will have these moments to remember....♪

Thanksgiving found my husband and I going two different directions.

It was a most unusual holiday.  

The photos above come from two different locations,

but all reflect the reality that Thanksgiving is a state of the heart.

It doesn't depend on place, menu, or ANY circumstances, for that matter...

Seeing my husband walk in the door five hours earlier than I expected this morning

is my most recent reason to be thankful.

My heart is full.

Simple Self Care

For the past year, self care for me has consisted primarily of recovery.  

Rest, ice, medication, therapy.  

I did it all out of necessity, with little pleasure.  Robotically,  

Somewhere in the past week or two, I turned a corner.  

My thoughts have expanded to include haircuts, nutrition, exercise, and a good closet cleaning-out.  

I know. Many--if not most--people would consider these basic and normal.  

Which makes me realize that high on my Thanksgiving list of blessings 

is my slow but significant return to "basic" and "normal".  

Simple self care. 

 It's never felt so good!

Gratitude

"...all is an opportunity to give thanks to God"

BEING GRATEFUL
Giving thanks for everything

Every day we are given opportunities for acquiring a grateful heart. Whatever comes our way, whether it be good or bad, are occasions for being grateful. When we realize that even difficulties and hardships are allowed by God for our salvation, we are more likely to received whatever comes, with a grateful heart. Whatever life places before us, all is an opportunity to give thanks to God.

The difficulties we face are opportunities to embrace with a trusting heart, that which God has allowed. Our willingness to please God governs our response, and in turn nurtures a humble heart, and a humble heart opens the doors to a peace that passes all understanding, and the Gates of Paradise are opened wide to us.

Love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon

I receive Abbot Tryphon's "letters" on facebook.  
He writes from  All-Merciful Saviour Orthodox Christian Monastery.

Always thought-provoking and wise.   

Gratitude is a popular subject on blogs and in books...  

plenty written about it.  

Hints about how to practice it abound.
Folks post their "daily five" for the world to see.

Ann Voskamp is light years ahead of me.
...

The timing of this particular reminder 

couldn't have been better for me personally.

I have "miles to go before I sleep"
when it comes to this - and so many other - subjects.

Random

 Christmas decor - a Silent Auction at Fairlawn Haven

where my mother lives.

She and I enjoyed a couple of strolls through the hallway...

 I saw this vanity (and a small kitchen table) on a curb.

Timidly, I walked to the front door of the house 

and asked if I could have them.  "Yes," the young man said!

Inspired by a thing or two at the Silent Auction,
I tried to get creative with this damaged chair.
It still needs some Christmas greens attached to the top, I think.

 After a little bit of recreational reading one afternoon,
my husband and I enjoyed desserts in front of the fire at Cracker Barrel.

 These were the skies the night of the bad weather taken from the car

as I traveled to visit my parents on Sunday afternoon.

Except for strong winds and some power outages, our area dodged the storm.

My heart breaks for all who are experiencing so much devastation and loss over the past week(s).

 Mother and I enjoyed "rubbing" the designs on this gadget one afternoon,

and I potted this aloe vera plant--a gift from a friend who divided hers.
Last night, I met a group of new friends in a lovely home.
I was blessed with this gift bag which included my first official piece of DeBrand Chocolate!

This morning, my husband and I travel to be with his family
at the visitation for his mother (funeral tomorrow)
who died Saturday evening.

✻ღϠ₡ღ✻
(¯`✻´¯) God is in control!
                `*.¸.*✻ღϠ₡ღ¸.✻´´¯`✻.¸¸.Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ..

Random.  I TOLD you so!
Some days/weeks go pretty much as planned.
Others, not so much.
 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
I Thessalonians 5:18

Reflection

Sitting outside this morning, enjoying the cool.

Basking in the quiet.

Reflecting on the week almost past.

Thanking God for the activity, for health,

for healthy grandchildren and daughters who love Jesus 

and demonstrate His love to their children and to me.

Thanking Him for their safety in traveling back to their homes last night...

Thanking Him for friends who invited us to dinner in their home last evening

and for excellent food and  fine fellowship around the table.

Recognizing the goodness of God in the timing of that meal.

 Catching up with my "through-the-Bible-in-a year" reading.

Cherishing the fact that my reading included some of my most favorite

Scripture passages--Romans 11-16 and Ephesians 1-3.

Hearing the gentle (but unmistakable) corrections and encouragement

from God Himself.

Repenting of my selfishness and pride.  

Celebrating His mercy and grace.

  "We don't need to retire to the desert to meet with God. 

He can come to us at our ordinary duties."

 (A. Bonar)

Elijah & Grandpa (Elijah was missing in photo action yesterday...)

Progress

Nine days after being hospitalized, our little grandson 

was feeding from a bottle instead of a feeding tube this evening.

Needless to say, our hearts are full of joy and thanksgiving!

I'm also thankful for cell phones, texting, skype,

facebook, and all the ways we are able to communicate

and see the progress.

I was only able to be there one day early this week.

THANK YOU, HEAVENLY FATHER!

And thank you, friends,

who have prayed and offered words of encouragement.

We hope he is soon out of the NIC-U and transitions to home sometime next week.

UPDATE:  Sunday noon we received word and a picture that ALL the tubes
have been removed!  Hallelujah.  Thank You, Jesus!

Life is Beautiful

"Circle of Friends" in our back yard

Monday morning reflections:

• What a pleasant brunch at church yesterday!  (Sure wish more people had turned out.)
• A walk around the block last night ended up being a convergence of friends at a lazy intersection. Small town living at its best!
• Grandchildren coming later this week means crowding normal Thursday-Tuesday stuff into Monday-Wednesday to be free to enjoy the children.
• Our Friday Ladies' Home Connection is such a blessing!
• With hubby gone overnight tonight, the next 36 hours are a blank slate (except for giving a piano lesson this afternoon).  I plan to - and NEED to - use the time wisely. Rick Warren tweeted this morning, "Waiting until you FEEL like doing something may be the most common mistake you make."  Does he have a hidden camera in my house or WHAT?!?
• I'm thankful for an hour or so at Barnes and Noble over the weekend to catch up on magazine reading.  (I didn't actually get caught up, but it sure was pleasurable.)
• Friday night we saw a high school production of The King and I.  VERY well done, I thought. 
• It was good to celebrate friends' anniversary with late lunch at The Factory.  The company of friends AND salmon salad were a great combination!
• I'm (slowly) making progress in my weight loss.  The grace and power of God are very real to me in this process.
• Lawn chairs and yard art are distributed for spring/summer.  All our newly configured "Circle of Friends" needs is bodies!

Enough

"Gratitude turns what we have into enough."

(Unknown)

enough buttons...

enough Easter eggs...

enough everyday dishes...

enough pearl-like necklaces...

enough gardening books...

Just a glance around my house shows
I have enough of just about EVERYthing!
TOO much, if I'm honest...
 With food to eat and clothes to wear, content we are in everything.
(I Timothy 6:8)

Dessert or Not

A friend of mine posted this prayer a few days ago on facebook
exactly as her son, Owen, prayed it:

Jesus, thank you for this day. 

Thank you for this wonderful food.  

I don’t know if I will get dessert or not.   

Amen. 

 "...and a little child will lead them" (Isaiah 11:6)

We DON'T know if we'll get dessert or not!
(And we forget that dessert is not always good for us!)
It is enough to thank Jesus for what we have
and whatEVER lies ahead...
and trustingly leave the "dessert" up to Him.

Rare, Spontaneous, Wonderful

My brother and his wife made a long trip to spend a few hours

in our "neck of the woods" this weekend.  

Before they left, three of us siblings and our spouses, 

and my father and mother met for a meal at a local restaurant.

 I forgot to take any pictures until right at the end 

as we were preparing to say our good-byes.

 I surreptitiously dug for my cell phone and took pictures around the table

as my Daddy (top picture) prayed.

I am blessed.

And I know it.

These were rare, rather spontaneous, and wonderful hours.

Oh, Lord!

You have been faithful.  You have been good!

"…The prayer of a righteous man (and woman) is powerful and effective" (James 5:16).
 God warms his hands at man's heart when he prays. - John Masefield