Gratitude Gifts Today

There have been so many examples of God's love and His plan for my life this week that I am in awe and wonder.  How can it be that He continues to care for me and surround me with such good?  And then I read at Ann's and am reminded that He works all things for good and there is nothing that He cannot change into good.  And once again I rest in His unfailing love for me, sent with instructions "to go and do likewise" this week.   So I count on and wait on His instructions and His opportunities.



#2870 - #2910

- storm clouds that blew away
- freshly cut grass
- sweet peas in a vase
- empty countertop (thanks for the inspiration, N!)
-  raspberry smoothie from Tim Horton's

- a great big basket full of zucchini
- food processor to chop it all
- smell of relish cooking
- filled jars
- so much good food

- chains that keep turning
- husband-mechanic who keeps it all going
- long green rows being eaten up
- land that produces abundance
- great big machines

(there were two but one was very shy)

- hawks silently watching
- raindrops, tiny morsels of water
- birthday parties, months later
- big blue sky with puffy clouds
- surprise photo book arriving in the mail (thanks, M!)

- goldenrod flowers, harbingers of the next season
- young couple, full of enthusiasm,  heading out on a new adventure
- writing to our Compassion child in Ethiopia
- working alongside my Mom and Dad
- the generosity of others

- sharing faith across the table
- visiting on a summer afternoon
- watching a young woman grow in her faith
- praying together
- knowing that God has it all planned for His good (just like Ann said today!)

- sunset flaming pink, orange and purple
- supper with family to celebrate my parents' birthdays
- hearing the long-awaited news of a baby coming soon
- listening to my niece share stories of teaching on a missions trip to Zambia
- her love for missions and her willingness to go and do

- harvest season - in gardens and on fields
- a reminder to keep praying for a family who is dear to us
- God's messages of "this is a child of mine" and "don't ever give up" (Matt. 15: 10 - 28)
- to be counted as His child
- and that He never gives up on me!

This Week In My Kitchen

This week Amanda Soule asked the question "What's happening in your kitchen?" and I'm happy to share that many of our meals have included vegetables and fruit from our garden.  This is what my basket looked like this morning :)

This week we've eaten:

1.  Crustless Zucchini Quiche

2.  Lots of fresh tomatoes on cheese sandwiches

3.  Spring Greens Soup (Better Homes and Garden, March, 2010)

4.  Raspberries with brown sugar and cream

5.  Stir-fries with snow peas

6.  Nova Scotia Hodge Podge

6.  Fettuccini Alfredo with Swiss Chard

7.  Caesar Salad

There are 4 big zucchinis waiting to be turned into relish and one lonely little cucumber that's almost ready too.  Good times in the summertime, for sure!

Five on Friday

1.  For the first time in my life, I am able to pick handfuls of fresh basil to use in the kitchen.  It's wonderful!  But then I remember the beautiful basil plants at the Farmer's Market in Fredericton - the leaves were humongous!

2.  When I was getting the picture of the basil, I found this picture also taken at the market.  This was Samuel's view while sitting in his stroller.  No wonder he wasn't happy in it!

3.  I judged culinary arts at a local fair today.  It's so nice to see people still entering their best products in the spirit of showmanship.  The best of show ribbon went to beautiful flaky and gooey butter tarts :)  And yes - I did have to taste them!

4.  Raspberries, raspberries, raspberries!  The story of my days right now.

5.  Have you seen this photography display called "Where Children Sleep"?  It's incredible!

Lists of 2011 - #32

Listography #32 - Best Days So Far

1.  July 30 - the day I married Bob, thirty-five years ago

2.  March 1, July 2, February 6, June 19 - the days that each of our children were born

3.  June 8, 1994 - when I convocated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Education degree (after starting it 20 years earlier!)

4.  February 13, 1995 - the day I was hired for a full-time teaching position

5.  June 30, October 25, September 5, May 13, June 21, April 15 - the days that each of our six grandchildren were born - so much excitement and so many prayers that they would arrive safely

6.  Christmas Eve and then whatever day(s) we celebrate Christmas with our family

7.  June 5, December 21, July 10, March 21 - the days our children were married and we added more special people to our family :)

Wordless Wednesday

Flooding along the highway in northern Alberta

earlier this summer

Creating

Sometime ago I showed a sneak peek of a sewing project and now that I've given it to our daughter-in-law, I can show you the whole thing!

I sewed this apron using 3 different patterns from the "Party In Pink" fabric line by Fresh Designs for Henry Glass.

I used an old apron as a pattern and just designed the ruffles and finishing details as I went along.

I really am happy with how it turned out - and I think K liked it too!

Gratitude Gifts Today

Summer continues to shine on here with blue skies, wonderful growing things and so many fun activities.  I am abundantly blessed by so many big and little things every day.   It's incredible that God makes all of this beauty and then gives it to me - and you - to enjoy unconditionally.  Our sermon message yesterday asked the question:  "Are you thankful to have God with you in all situations, especially those that fill you with fear OR do you fear and worry that God has let bad things happen to you?"



#2840 - #2870

- sunshine, glorious sunshine
- blue sky and fluffy white clouds
- cool evenings
- sun's rays shining through the leaves
- crabapples beginning to turn pink

(photo taken by Helayna!)

- Sunday afternoon drives along new trails
- pina colada soft ice cream
- meals shared with friends and family
- finishing 2 (!) jobs that have been dragging on
- empty countertops (inspired by Naomi - thanks!)

- a new book to read
- memories of Manaus and the Amazon River
- books that link to places we have visited
- phone calls from our grandchildren
- the wonderful fragrance of our sweetpeas

- tomatoes ripe on the vine
- bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches
- first zucchini picked and used
- new potatoes dug from the garden
- my Mom and Dad's birthdays

- grandchildren comfortable swimming in the lake
- little ones waking us first thing in the morning
- surprise phone calls
- home all alone
- berries with brown sugar and fresh cream

- shopping for fabric at the quilt store
- pruning tomatoes in the greenhouse
- more raspberries picked
- menu planning - and good food available to me
- that God provides so much for me

Five on Friday

1.  On Monday, I picked 3 ripe tomatoes.
     On Thursday, I picked 1 ripe tomato.
     Today there are 7 ripe tomatoes.
     How did that happen so quickly?!!

2.  We've been picking raspberries and saskatoons like mad for the last two weeks.  Today I made a batch of my favourite "Super Lemon Blueberry Muffins" from the Best of the Best of Bridge cookbooks.  And I totally forgot to add the sugar!  I realized it as I licked my finger after filling the last muffin cup and it was too late to do anything about it.  So we are eating super healthy no-sugar muffins today.  I did remember everything else in the recipe without opening the cookbook!

3.  I love the idea of a basket for carrying vegetables in from the garden so tonight I found this one in my cupboard.  It was perfect for bringing in the first zucchini and a bunch of red leaf lettuce.  I'm on the lookout for a basket that's been made by a woman in a developing country.

4.  Helayna and Silas had fun taking pictures with my point-and-shoot camera this week while I watered the plants in the greenhouse.  I thought this was a pretty cool capture!

5.   Sidewalk chalk provided some fun too and here's the heart Helayna drew for us.  It makes me smile every time I walk out the door!  Having the grandchildren here provides us with so much enjoyment.

Lists of 2011 - #31

Listography #31 - Favourite Websites
                             ( I focussed on blogs)

1.  Faith - A Holy Experience

2.  Photography - Becky Novacek

3.  Inspiration - Enjoying the Small Things

4.  Scrapbooking - Ali Edwards

5.  Cooking - Mennonite Girls Can Cook

6.  Travel - Ottsworld

7.  Farming - Bales and Tales

8.  Quilting - Moda Bake Shop

9.  Sewing - Anna Maria Horner

10.  Home and Family - Soule Mama

I could go on and on!!

Wordless Wednesday

Grandkids learning to waterski

Gratitude Gifts Today

I was sitting in the quiet on a bench at the lake yesterday, cuddling Blake while he had an afternoon nap, and it came to me how very blessed I was to have the lapping waves, big blue sky and rustling green leaves put in my world by the Creator.  Surrounded by quiet and a breeze, watching a sailboat and hearing grandchildren play behind me, it seemed to me that this might be just what heaven will be like.  Counting on brings me into the presence of the One who gives me goodness and grace through every moment of every day.  

#2805 - #2840

- a day in Drumheller
- surprising Helayna and Silas
- fields of grain, so much grain
- stacks of fresh fluffy towels
- salmon burgers for lunch

- two granddaughters on my knee during church
- sweet, contented Maëlle
- little boys in the water
- lunch and supper prepared by someone else
- first tomatoes picked and eaten still warm from the vine

- a letter from one of our Compassion sponsored girls
- our anniversary
- homemade mushroom soup
- pails of saskatoons and raspberries
- little helpers watering in the greenhouse

- a weiner roast
- cobs of corn grilled on the barbecue
- taking 400+ photos for "A Week in My Life" project
- special phone calls in the middle of the day
- a full rainbow stretching across the sky

- my gratitude journal
- a message for couples at church
- toasted marshmallows
- chocolate chip cookies
- fresh flowers from our friends

- Grampas who carve secret paths through the willow and carragana hedge for little fairies and princesses
- saskatoon bushes, heavy and blue with fruit
- sitting by the lake with a grandson sleeping on my shoulder
- daughter who vacuums the floor
- five cousins spending a whole day together

Saturday

was our 35th wedding anniversary!

(picture taken in Africa, 2009)

Nobody I'd rather be sharing the journey with than you, Bob!

Five on Friday

1.

“When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this: you haven’t. ”

Thomas Edison (1847-1931); inventor, businessman

2.  I'm doing Ali Edwards' "Week In My LIfe" project this week - and it's been fun being more aware and intentional with recording things.  Hopefully I can get it all together in some sort of scrapbook form next week (and the weeks after - I expect it will take awhile!).

(stack of treasures to take to town with me)

3.  My fingers are stained purple from all the saskatoon berries I've picked this week.  They are so beautiful and big and juicy this year, definitely the best ones we've had ever, I think.

4. Today Ann at A Holy Experience writes "when food's a hallowed thing" about preparing food and the famine in the Horn of Africa  - you must go and read it!  And she recommends three cookbooks, which all look so interesting.  I really want this one!

5.  Marta's Coconut Krispie Chocolate Chunk Cookies are on the to-do list for tomorrow!  They look delicious and that secret ingredient will make them very interesting. 

(photo from Marta's blog)

Lists of 2011 - #30

Listography #30 - Places I Would Like To Go

In no particular order!

1.  Australia and New Zealand

2.  Disneyland with our whole family

3.  India

4.  Hawaii

5.  Antarctica

6.  Chile and Peru

7.  More of Europe, especially Italy and Switzerland

8.  Greece and Turkey

9.  All 50 states in the USA

10.  England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales

11.  Galapagos Islands

12.  Russia and Ukraine

13.  Iceland

14.  The Netherlands in the springtime

15.  On a special trip with each of our grandchildren individually, when they are older

I could make this list much, much longer!  Pretty much anywhere in the world is a place to travel for me!
All pictures are from Pinterest links.

Wordless Wednesday

In Drumheller enjoying all things to do with dinosaurs -

and grandchildren

Creating Pillows

Melinda wanted to make their living room more inviting by adding some pillows to the chesterfield so we found a fabric store and got busy!

We made 4 envelope pillows using the Sandy Gervais line "Lovely" and the plaid pillow matches the lamp shade that we recovered.  The fat quarters included Dots in Rain, Plaid in Rain, Circle Flowers in Rain, Floral Garden in Rain and Daffodil and Dots in Daffodil.   The last pillow was pieced together and I think it turned out to be Mel's favourite.

What a difference a few pillows can make to a room!  And the project was very easy to do - definitely something we'd both tackle again.  It was fun to help Melinda do some sewing and gain some confidence in an area where she hasn't done much.

Gratitude Gifts Today

Deep in the days of summer (rainshowers, mosquitoes and all!), the last week has been filled with family and friends.  I flew safely home from New Brunswick, although it was very hard to leave Samuel, Melinda and Tyler.  I had such a wonderful, relaxing time with them in their lovely new home.  I did miss Bob and it was good to be in my own bed again.  He took such good care of the yard and house - I was very impressed!  This weekend we celebrated a good friend's 60th birthday and our anniversary (this part of the  party was a complete surprise to us!) and Bob's hockey team from way back when got together for a picnic.  There was much laughter, visiting and catching up on family and retirements.

I start this week feeling so filled up with goodness.  Beauty all around, rich relationships, events to anticipate and so my list lengthens with the goodness God gives.



#2780 - #2805

- Bob waiting at the airport for me
- catching up in quiet conversation
- sharing details about my trip
- showing videos of Samuel playing
- talking to Melinda on the phone

-  seeing and hearing about Meadow's new waterskiing skills
- laughing and reminiscing
- filling in details to make her life picture fuller
- zinnias blooming - a reminder of my grandmothers
- fresh, juicy, plump BC cherries

- picking the first raspberries and saskatoons
- fresh berries with brown sugar and cream
- new menu ideas from Melinda
- Maëlle cooing and making beautiful baby sounds
- summer Farmer's Markets, even in the rain

in Fredericton, NB

- first tomatoes turning orange
- reading
- clean clothes hanging on the closet rod
- leftover dessert
- hugs from grandchildren

- sharing potatoes from our experiment
- letters to mail
- doing Ali Edwards' "A Week In My Life" project
- being missed by hailstorms
-  friends writing 'Audrey, Audrey' for her birthday

So amazing the gifts my Heavenly Father puts in my path every single day!  I am so thankful for the gifts and for the counting and recording of them.

Lists of 2011 - #29

Listography #29 - Superpowers I Wish I Had

1.  Fly - so I could visit our grandchildren often

2.  Wave a magic wand and the house would be sparkling clean

3.  Stay fit

4.  Grow money on trees - or at least bushes :)

5.  Feed paperwork into the computer and it would be magically entered with all calculations finished

6.  Snap my fingers and change the weather

7.  Photographic memory to never again forget a birthday or anniversary - and to have all childhood memories recalled

Five on Friday

1.  It was good to sleep in my own bed last night but I missed Samuel (and Melinda and Tyler)  alot today.

2.  We had broccoli from the garden tonight for supper.  It seems that the heads are starting to bolt despite the cool weather and rain we've had for the last 2 weeks.   I'm surprised and need to do more reading

3.  Fresh B.C. cherries from the Farmer's Market are so delicious right now :)

4.  There's been almost 10 inches (that's 24 cm) of rain this spring!  It's crazy wet everywhere and when I stepped into the garden today, my boots sank in and made a 4" deep track.  Needless to say, my plants are looking pretty drowned.

5.  Bob did an awesome job of yard maintenance and housework while I was gone.  It looks great and I was completely - and very pleasantly! - surprised.

Wordless Wednesday

A lovely evening stroll across the wooden bridge, 

set aside for walkers and cyclists -

just 2 blocks from home :)