-t- is for thankful

He is forever faithful.

forever good.

forever God.

by His grace i am ever thankful,

ever counting His gifts one by one....

a phone call that changes much and yet little at the same time

the hope of new adventure
trusting Him today, as we did yesterday

enjoying our last summer of the south (for a while :)

and a few pictures from girl love
our gardenias

a swallowtail floating around the flowers

a grey hairstreak hanging around

and this pollinator too

 

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Rom 15:13)

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thankful

i wish that i could share one thousand gifts with you today! however, there is time but for a few...


hearing this from Pete:

Authenticity: The practice of letting go of who we think we should be in order to embrace who God's created us to be (who we actually are)

a day on Lake Norman (thanks AC)

i think this is my favorite spot in TN

a cardinal singing to our delight

our little school marm

the rental car had air conditioned seats (for my I do) and heated seats (for me)

~   ~   ~

new house shoes

paying this for a gallon of gas

and finding this note on my nightstand

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Rom 15:13)

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i've made it here today. i am thankful.

i long to be here each Monday making time to share even a glimpse of His infinite gifts

forever counting, forever grateful....

they're not supposed to play with their food....

but my smile matched this one (:

this picture framed on my mom's desk

homemade smith cards (these by girl love :)

piano recital (no luck with the videos - yet :)

my time for sharing here and now has run out.

God bless you and keep you grateful friends!

 

Thus says the Lord:

“Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,

Let not the mighty man glory in his might,

Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;

But let him who glories glory in this,

That he understands and knows Me,

That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.

For in these I delight,” says the Lord. Jeremiah 9:23-24 NKJV

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all last week i was counting, recording, picture taking - excited to post today... but yesterday. yesterday changed everything (my previously planned post, it'll wait. this is so much better!).

and to add to our joy, today is our sweet Sarah Grace's birthday.
happy birthday Sarah Grace! we love you (:

~  ~   ~

mimi and poppy, grandma and grandaddy, the party of five, the stinsons, other friends and strangers too all made the journey to witness this marvelous day. aunt kara, uncle greg, samuel, and sarah grace and mrs. kim joined us in spirit, sharing joy across the miles via the telephone; as yesterday, April 22, 2012, our girl love stood before the crowd and answered "yes." "yes."  "yes." the questions: "Aislyn, do you believe Jesus is the Son of God? Do you believe He died on the cross for the forgiveness of sins? Is it your intention to walk with Christ all the days of your life?"

to say i was excited is an understatement (as you will soon evidence by my crazy, crazy laughter and squealing :)

i am forever grateful, forever counting His gifts one by one...

Sam & Brian preparing to baptize girl love

daddy, grandma, and mommy stand amazed at His amazing Grace

 

the first attempt {:

laughter all around - where'd the water go?

you can't see, but i'm sqealing delight and celebrating with a hug

tears in my eyes as daddy embraces our girl love and grandma is overflowing joy

dear friends, i pray that you know joy such as this. truly a gift from Him alone

all glory and honor and praise to our God!

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i am forever grateful, forever counting His gifts one by one....


my parents dog, Rocky (whom i call 'little ole man')

their gumball machine with pennies waiting

that Rocky (yes, the dog) shares his dirtbike with Grandma, boy love, and any other who wants a turn

Grandaddy's new job, work truck and all

Grandma's hummingbird feeder

handmade Easter gifts from Grandma & Granddaddy's neighbors

Ann's beautiful heart-speaking writes (one here)

safe travels for all

thier opportunity to enjoy 'grand' time (without parents :)

nine-year-old boy love words:

first things first....
second things second....
and number three....

Mommy, when you sing with the car radio loud you sound really pretty

a night with my I do, just the two of us

long distance phone calls and

hearing the precious voices of girl love and boy love

dear friends may

“The Lord bless you and keep you;

  The Lord make His face shine upon you,
  And be gracious to you;
  The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
  And give you peace.”’

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He is risen, indeed!
photo


i am forever grateful, forever counting His gifts one by one.... 

our first family mission trip, March in Arizona
(i've no pictures, we were working :)

our first trip to the Grand Canyon

flowers in a vase

a sermon during lunch with girl love and boy love

first dip in the pool this year (90 outside, 72 in the pool... i didn't swim :)

((an unfinished post is better than no post, yes?))

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when someone i hold dear gives me a compliment i am so very thankful for His grace in my life - at first. and then. then i hear a voice in the distance (sometimes it seems in my ear) asking me this question: really? is that really true? they said that because they love you, or perhaps they were having a carefree moment and just threw it out there; isn't that compliment too hard to believe... about yourself? isn't it?

sometimes i take a deep breath, allowing Him to breathe upon me, His Word of truth renewing my mind; and i choose to disengage from going one step further down the road of doubt, down the road of self. by His mercy, in His grace, with His strength, to His glory!

and the other times, well, i fail at receiving the gift. i fail to acknowledge that He is indeed working in my life to His glory. i fail. taking my eyes from Him and allowing them to sweep over me, myself, and i.
why haven't i learned self always leads further from His footstool? from His embrace?

~ ~

i am forever grateful, forever counting His gifts one by one (from my single digits, i started numbering anew this week :)

bright green leaves of new growth on our oak trees

a cactus from Arizona

girl love running down the side walk, waving at her daddy, signing, "i love you"

a gift of orange carnations, vase over flowing

boy love singing along with Toby-Mac (with his ear phones in)

our first Christian Seder

a compliment from someone i hold dear. and her grace towards me

continually learning to trust in Him in all things

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us. Ephesians 1

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He will make straight your paths.
⁷ Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
⁸ It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones. Proverbs 3

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forever grateful, forever counting His gifts (from my 1400's)

the flipping of pages as boy love & girl love consult one another,
"did you choose a rabbit?"
"what about chickens or orphan care at Maria's?"
 - gifts to Him -

 ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’    Matthew 25

children singing and telling of His love
our girl love, angel #2

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2

the fun in sharing time and baking with friends

the fun old wives' tale that if your necklace clasp is in the front, it means someone is thinking of you; finding mine in front i smile, think of someone maybe thinking of me, and whisper a prayer for them

Advent trees, candles, wreaths, devotionals, conversations, sharing, togetherness






that Isaac said he'd heard it said, there are only two types of people
the one's who walk into a room and say, 'here i am'
and the one's who walk into a room and say, 'there you are'

hot cocoa with whipped cream

my I do, boy love, girl love, and r2-d2 playing trouble

red grapefruit fresh from the florida tree

prayers whispered for safe travels, for each one on their way to Hialeah, Oregon, Alabama, Tennessee
the hopes and excitement for time shared
peace. like a river ((because as I've read at Ann's: Peace is a person))

the joy in His coming
(thank you, Jesus.
 happy birthday)


wishing you & yours a Merry Christmas and
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