Grace upon Grace in January 2018

God's Blessings in January

1. Baptism, fresh starts, promise rings


2. Seeing millennia of history unearthed

3. Portrait mode on the iphone 8


4. The view from Masada

5. Waterfall oasis in the desert

floating in the Dead Sea

mud bath with 'free' cosmetics

sunrise over the mountains

6. Pilgrimmage  going "up" to Jerusalem

mosaics

fresh foods that someone else cut up for me to put on my plate

Pizza for breakfast

Dessert samplers: mini mousse

affirmation for red heads (B at David's Tomb)

7. The empty tomb

dining alfresco in a seaside town

8. lingering a few extra minutes in our bed from the 7 hour time difference

9. Make-up work/study day in pj's; Della's home from the trainer, curled back up on her rug

10. Getting back into the swing of things

11. Seeing healthy things I'd like to try at Trader Joe's

resolve to keep flowers around and alive at some point in life

12. Colorful phrases like "tinkety tonk" from British films (cheers or goodbye)

13. Hosting college girls here during their leadership retreat

14. A gift card full of CFA chicken nuggets and a year full of calendar treats

15. Hearing piano music being practiced in our home

16. Lunch with a friend; oatmeal scotchies, a warm appreciative pilates class

17. A child back safe and sound after a youth trip

18. SNOW DAY (even if we didn't actually get any snow to stick)

19. Watching two episodes on a Friday night after the week's travels for the week are done

20. Sunny day after many cold days

21. A restaurant week prix-fixe menu/ Trying out a new restaurant

22. A clear display of stars

23. Feeling especially close to God when I step out into an early morning breeze

24. Being able to text my husband when he travels for work

25. Foam rollers and more heating pads for sore muscles- this time from MJ's new dance class

26. Getting up early to go to the gym with my man and two kids

27. A talking to our son about investing at a young age

28. Great photo quality and photobook technology

29. Tennis teams that practice even in the rain

30. Lavender shea butter cream

31. Looking for prom dress ideas online with our oldest daughter

Bizarre Bazaar

God's Blessings in December 2017

December 2017

1. The beauty of the season of Advent; having ladies over for Biblestudy

Sisterly harmony...a Christmas miracle

2. Baking cookies with college girls before their exams

3. Candlelight in pierced luminarias

Jumping for joy

Antiquing in a small southern town

Enjoying the creativity of someone's handiwork

4. Discovering (at age 46) that there is a reset button on the kitchen garbage disposal, so we didn't need to call an electrician when food particles began backing up- Thankful for honest and helpful electricans

5. Ladybugs who sought to find a winter hibernation shelter on my sunporch sanctuary

6. Massage therapists (and hearing that someone had invited her to my pilates class)

7. Looking for (and seeing) "my" blue heron patiently fishing for his breakfast

8. Worshiping through dance

9. Feeling the lightness of God's JOY on SCT morning

Fiddlers fiddling

10. Eggnog chai latte from Starbucks- bringing home a mobile order for the whole family; feeling the freedom to have a latte and a few cookies

11. Encouragement that our dances were touching hearts for Jesus. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for using us to share your hope

12. Glimpses of God's breath-taking glory

13. The days when I am NOT cleaning throw-up out of the tub, washing sheets, or scrubbing the
carpet

Handwashing those germs away with holiday scents

14. A great report for Mom from MDA- no new cancer!

15. A son growing in maturity- intuitive enough to the stress around us to ask about my day and what I had studied in Scripture

16. Our beautiful dog, curled up, cozy and warm on the sunporch where she belongs

17. Chocolate covered nuts- especially the dark chocolate salty cashews

18. Space heaters and electric blankets

19. Tasty catered dinner and bagged up leftovers- saving the "upper crust"of a poundcake for A

20. Having an extra poinsettia to share

21. The love of long friendships shared at Christmastime

22. Wrapped presents under the tree; tasks done- ready to enjoy the fruits of my labor

Exchanging stocking stuffers

Kids singing through the car moon-roof as we tour the lights

23. The joy of being able to send someone on a mission trip- offering the opportunity to go and serve

Remembering that my mission is also where my feet are

24. Happy birthday kids- seeing two movies in the theatre in one week; girls singing the soundtracks to the musical

25. Keeping Christmas well

Feeding our spirits

Feeding our bellies

Getting the round table at Miyo's (fra-ra-ra-ra-ra)

A spare pair of artsy socks for a dinner guest

26. Choosing to overlook grumpiness; tech gurus who can make technology work

"It just keeps getting better" jokes about marriage

27. The solidarity of sharing Mom-Life over group texts

28. A group of high schoolers who want to hang out and have their gift exchange here

29. Traveling to Israel with our family

30. Aqueducts, amphitheatres, cobbled roads

31. Fireworks on Andy's birthday