Counting Thankfully - #1228 - #1244

1228.  The wee one's creativity shining through!  Shortly after dinner, he gets up and moves his chair over to the wall near the light switch.  He stands on the chair and turn off the light as he says in a very dramatic 2 year old voice, "it was a dark, and stormy night..." and then turns the light on and bows. 
1229.  The excitement of the elder boy love's desire to have a real Bible - not just a storybook one.
1230.  Catching up with a friend
1231.  Getting my cell number back!
1232.  Enjoying 5 straight days of not being at work!
1233.  A date day with my husband love to scope out some Christmas presents.
1234.  My sweet caring sister - she's amazing!
1235.  A plain, simple, good, strong, message this am!  Way to go, Pastor David!
1236.  The excitement of my Grandma's trip to FL!
1237.  learning more about Improv (short for improvise) - Use "Yes, And" statements, try not to use your first 3 ideas - go deeper, the ideas get better!
1238.   Football Fever Fun!
1239.  The elder boy's draft call for his Upward team!  Great coach!
1240.  the cool breeze
1241.  the joy of seeing the elder boy love master tree climbing
1242.  The wee one saying, "Mom, I soo love you!"
1243.  effort sometimes means more than the outcome
1244.  Remembering that He is the vine and I am the branch.  It is really about HIM! 

Needing to Count - #1218 - #

Jesus is my Provider!
1218.  dancing because they can and not caring what other's think!
1219.  Thursday night phone calls to my Grandma
1220.  cleansing repentance
1221.  reminder of the transformation that happens with a heart turned grateful
1222.  an unplanned meeting with a friend
1223.  a planned meeting with a friend
1224.  the importance of remembering the truth
1225.  that Jesus performed miracles so we could believe
1226.  the eagerness of her searching heart and her willingness to listen
1227.  the cleansing of a good cry

Thankfully counting! - #1210 - #1217

John 2 - Jesus' first miracle
1210. The many teachings that are packed into this package!
1211.  The thought of giving God my best all the time (fill it to the brim) and the grace that I've experienced for the many times I settle for the status quo.
1212.  The excitement about our Resolution Revolution breakfast! 
1213.  The importance of community
1214.  God's rescue plan - not just once, but continuously
1215.  family fun time
1216.  the excitement of nail-biter bowl game and the plus side of being on the winning end
1217.  opportunities and remembering that God is on my side!

Counting Continuously: #1198 -

1198.  Not a cloud in the sky days
1199.  Chill in the air
1200.  Surprises!
1201.  The wonder of the boys spending a day at the park!
1202.  Seeing jellyfish swimming
1203.  hearing my boys laugh together
1204.  seeing my boys play together
1205.  the gift of a friend opening her home for others
1206.  her work and how it tells her story
1207.  his desire to just spend time together as a family
1208.  how God works it all out how He needs and wants to
1209.  learning the hard way

Counting still - #1188 - #1197

Acts 3: 1-10  - One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. ² Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. ³ When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. ⁴ Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” ⁵ So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
⁶ Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” ⁷ Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. ⁸ He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. ⁹ When all the people saw him walking and praising God, ¹⁰ they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

1188.  That the beggar had to look at Peter and give his full attention to him to really hear what he was saying.  He got more than he expected and it all started with looking at who could offer deliverance.
1189.  that scripture is alive - never thought about Jesus' first miracle of turning water to wine as being a picture of what Jesus does with my/our failure. 
1190.  the gift of contentment
1191.  the glow, excitement and indescribable sense of accomplishment that accompanies his first touchdown
1192.  that he got to play both sides of the ball and liked it!
1193.  the funny things that the wee one does/says - Scott:  "I'm afraid so."  Ryan climbs up on the couch then sits next to Scott and while patting Scott's arm says, "Daddy, it's OK." (because Scott said the word "afraid")
1194.  the hilarious moments - It was laundry day morning and I'd already brought my pajamas into the dirty clothes hamper ready to be washed.  Ryan says, "Oh no, mama!"  I reply, "what's wrong, Ryan?"  Ryan says, "Oh no, mama!  You forgot to go to sleep.  your pajamas are right here."
1195.  Seeing a rainbow from my window seat on the airplane trip home
1196.  God's reminder to me on my plane trip to Milwaukee, WI that I am so small.  I look out the plane window and see the tops of the trees.  God sees every bird, squirrel and bug that's below the tree tops.  Not only does he see them, but he knows what they are thinking and doing.  Not to mention all the people driving in their cars and living in the homes too.  Amazing how He knows and sees everything!
1197.  Seeing Chicago's skyline and Lake Michigan from the airplane.

Enjoying Freedom - #1169 - #1187

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.  Galatians 5:1

1169.  the sweetness of "Jesus Loves Me"
1170.  snuggling with the wee one and praying for him to have sweet dreams
1171.  chains falling as I remember that He is my Provider
1172.  chains falling as I remember that He is the Lover of My Soul
1173.  chains falling as I remember that He is my Comforter and the purpose behind that comfort
1174.  discipleship
1175.  the older boy love learning and starting at a new position - center
1176.  listening to wee one love cheering on his big brother so passionately
1177.  that waiting upon the Lord really means serving Him while He is being the Sovereign God He is!
1178.  "God doesn't ask me to be perfect.  He asks me to praise."  (Thanks, Ann!)
1179.  breezes blowing through the trees and cooling off the bright warm sun
1180.  On the way to church, older boy love says, "God created a beautiful earth."  We proceed to talk about how creative God is in how he made so many different trees, flowers, people, animals, etc.  Then my sister says the same thing to me before worship.  Can you say sacred echo?!
1181.  Confirmations on callings
1182.  friends who willingly extend grace
1183.  learning from the past
1184.  remembering that life isn't about my happiness, but my holiness
1185.  a meaningful "I love you" said by my sweet husband love
1186.  stretching and being stretched
1187.  the comfort of Psalm 34

Multitude Monday - #1157 - #1168

1157.  How God delivered a new friend to me that has walked the same road and shared how to pray, how to live victoriously, how to stand strong, how to be free.
1158.  A challenging message from Pastor David today.
1159.  Fun conversations with the boys - Me:  I was playing phone tag with this lady and finally connected with her today.  Older boy love:  Mom, wait a minute.  I thought you were working today, but you were playing tag?  I need to learn to play phone tag.
1160.  Eskimo kisses with the wee one!
1161.  Thankful that with a week of a bomb threat, earthquake and hurricane in one week it is better than it could have been.  Continuing to pray for those affected.
1162.  The first real football game.  That older boy love hates to lose.
1163.  the gift of play
1164.  that God has named my "stuff" and is walking me through it
1165.  that Romans 4:20-21 is a picture of being brave and at rest in the Lord
1166.  that the boys fight over which "Jesus song" to listen to in the car
1167.  that my sister is a miracle - she wasn't supposed to live to be a teenager and now she's celebrating another birthday in her 30s.
1168.  that God calls us to be thankful for both good things and bad things - all for His glory!