10 Thanksgivings

I'm not sure how this will work--- but I would like to pose a challenge to all readers of this blog and I am hoping you will post the challenge on your blog and so on. I would challenge you to make a list of ten blessings, or ten thanksgivings. (I'm just thinking if 10 people to do this, we will have 100 thanksgivings, then if each person gets ten more people ...... I'm not so good at math.)

So here are my 10 Thanksgivings:
1. My God is a big God and can do anything!
2. My husband, my best friend and partner.
3. My kids - they are a blessing - sometimes it's hard to remember when they are fighting!
4. My extended family - they inspire me, and make me laugh
5. My friends - they keep me honest
6. My home - it's very warm, and 'sheltery' on cold, rainy days.
7. My part-time jobs - they keep me busy and my mind active
8. My mom teaching me to cook - I like doing it, especially if I know what I am making.
9. My health
10. My blueprint for life - my Bible

All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 2 Corinthians 4:15

Big 10

Tomorrow is Grant's birthday. He will be into the double digits! I can't believe that 10 years ago he was born! He was so tiny - 6 lbs. 3 oz. He was so cute the very first time we saw him. We were invited to the hospital and got to spend some time with him. The next day was a snow storm so we were worried about getting him on placement day. But we took the pick up which was 4 wheel drive to bring him home. Nothing was going to stop us from getting him! Happy Birthday Grant! I pray for God's richest blessing to fall on you and that you will always love Him! I love being your mom!

Election

I pray for our nation. I see so many whose views are contrary to the Bible. I will pray for our new leader, especially for discernment and wisdom. So many freedoms we take for granted. I pray that those freedoms are always preserved.
The kids had an election at school on Monday. The vote was 100% for John McCain. Cole wanted to come with us to vote. I picked him up yesterday and he 'helped' me vote. We had to fill out the ballot by hand and he actually did mine. I want to show my kids that even though the election did not go the way we voted, God is ultimately in control. He has us in the palm of His hand.

Fall

Fall is in the air, not winter but fall. How do you describe it? I love this time of year. The trees show off their brilliance before they lose their leaves. It seems like they sleep all of winter before they wake up again in the spring. Fields proudly give up their bounty to the combines. The patchwork quilt of the landscape changes once again.
For me, foods change too. I make more soups, and I pull out my pumpkin recipes. I would like to share with you a hot fruit salad made with apples. It is so yummy, I can't keep it to myself.
1/2 c. flour
3/4 c. sugar
4 apples, sliced
1 can chunk or crushed pineapple, drained
1/2 c. slivered almonds
1/4 c. grated cheddar cheese

Layer fruit, cheese, nuts, and flour mixture. Top with 1/4 c. melted butter and 3/4 c. pineapple juice. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Hope you like it -- Happy Fall!

Cats and Learnin'

It was such a beautiful day today, the boys thought it would be fun to let their indoor cats outside. The cats love being outside but don't know how to act! They slink way down in the grass and try to take cover, looking around for places to go. Fluff ran to the window well, an easy place to get him out. Dash ran into the drainage pipe that runs underneath our driveway! We called and called, but he would not come out. Finally, he was close enough to the edge of the pipe that I reached in to drag him out. He needed to have his paws washed as they were wet from walking in the soggy pipe bottom.
When we started to do homework, Grant was trying to memorize Psalm 27:1-9 this week. There is a verse that I thought was so applicable, "Hear my voice when I call, O LORD; be merciful to me and answer me." Ps 27:7 We may ask the Lord to hear our voice but are we listening to His. We may sometimes think, 'the Lord does not listen to me,' but are we listening to Him? Are we in the drainage pipe, stuck by fear, in the muck from the last storm? Do we go to His voice when He calls or do we run away?
I have a friend that is listening. Even though she is not excited to hear what the message is telling her, she is listening. She is not stuck in the drainage pipe, but taking bold steps in Him.
I am learning....only by grace.

Get Out of That Pit

I've just finished the book, Get Out of That Pit, by Beth Moore. She is one of my favorite Bible study authors, but ohh, is that book good! I encourage anyone who is struggling with issues, struggling with life, struggling period, to read it! But even if you are not struggling it opens your eyes to so much and is so helpful in understanding life in general. At one point in the book, I had tears streaming down my face because it just spoke to me. I don't know where you are at -- if you are in a pit and it feels like the walls are too big - don't set up residence and hang up your photos. God wants so much more for you! Read this book.

Genesis Revelations

My Coffee Break is studying Genesis. There have been many interesting revelations to me. We studied Noah last week and the flood. Gen. 8:22 stuck out to me, "As long as the earth remains, there will be springtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, day and night." This word is active and alive today especially during this harvest season. My God is amazing.
Just a side note - did you know that Methuselah died the year of the flood? Not sure if he died in the flood or before but I thought that was interesting.
Also, God poses two questions in the first few chapters of Genesis. First to Adam and Eve, "Where are you?" Gen 3:9 Then to Cain, "Where is your brother?"Gen 4:9. God knew the answer to both of those questions, but he asked and waited for them to answer. But I think that God may be asking each of us the same questions today --- Where are you in your spiritual walk? and Where is your brother(friend, co-worker, spouse, child)? What would our answer be? A new thought to ponder.
"Where are you?"
"Where is your brother?"