Pausing to Give Thanks

161. The glorious colours of fall. Leaves wither and there is a symphony of hues that bless my heart and cause me to be in awe of His Creation all over again.

162. Cool mornings. Digging out long forgotten sweaters and loving them all over again.

163. The Holy Spirit. Reminding me of who I serve. Keeping silent when I choose to serve myself.


164. Photography - my way of turning all this energy and mind busyness into something beautiful, peaceful, thoughtful, memorable.


165. Passion - it is such a motivator! Gets me in trouble sometimes. But generally is makes me very productive.


166. His provision. When life looms unstable, uncertain, He is stable and certain. I can count on that.


167. Health - I am reminded of late to never take my health for granted. Carpe Diem!

168. Time Machine (a Mac product). It found all my original South Carolina photos from 2010 that I recently discovered I had accidentally deleted a year ago. And it found them in 30 seconds and replaced them in 2 minutes. Thank you, whoever invented time machine.

169. Lightroom 3- it applied all those time consuming edits I made over a year ago to those lost and found photos as fast as the photos were reloaded. Wowsers!

170. Some of the simplest things in life bring such pleasures ~ like open faced egg salad sandwiches on multigrain buns. We made them today for a church picnic...and they are delicious.

Gratitude List 141-150

141. Four days off - in a row - with no commitments. I feel so relaxed today. I feel so good.  I feel so .... normal - I think?  Taking lots of photos I will share with you today.

142. A fiction book about haunted houses and ghosts in Charleston S Carolina. I haven't read any fiction for over 18 months. But my brain needed the escape and I am thankful I can get into a fiction book and not feel guilty (very much). I am not sure what it is in me (homeschooling hang over?) that makes me feel that reading fiction is not being a good steward of my time.Ya I know I need to chill out.

143. A non fiction book about extraordinary (or downright weird) people,  who once lived in Savannah Georgia - a little history in there too. Funny, interesting and a little shocking. I read a couple of chapters of this one and then switch to the fiction one about haunted houses.

144. My camera manual. Yes my third book I am reading this weekend. It gets a little dry so the other two books provide relief. But this manual is the only way to get the most out of my new camera. I need to know it inside out. Two wedding shoots coming up and rule #1  KNOW your equipment. So thankful for an actually decent camera manual.





145. Easter Lilies. Because they are so beautiful. I took this photos this am and absolutely love it.

146. Our first bike ride of the season this past Saturday. A chance to experience spring trying to make it's appearance.

147. Time to wonder around Saskatoon with my new camera this morning. Just me and my camera, the river and some geese. It was wonderful! The geese posed for me. Really! Took this photo this am and love this one too - especially the reflection.

148. Thankful for grown up kids that phone me - just because.

149. Thankful for a soft heart when confronted with anger - only God can give me that. Thankful for compassion. Wow - where would this world be if we didn't have compassion.

150. Thankful for a husband that spoils me silly! All the time. It is down right terrible the way this man treats me! I am getting lazy - he did all the Easter supper dishes - by hand. We used the china and silverware!

Gratitude List

I haven't added to my gratitude list since...um... last November. Is time flying? or have I just not been grateful for all He provides. I am grateful, I think time is flying. I know time is flying because it is going to be summer around here one day. No wait, fall!

111. Grateful for our new King bed. We both agree we are sleeping better. And as I get older, sleep becomes much more important to getting through my busy days. Climbing into this cushy bed with my Bible is what I look forward to every day. Peace, rest, sleep - it is wonderful and I am so thankful He provides.

112. Opportunity to bike to work last week. As much of an ordeal as it was to take all my stuff in the saddle bags and my camera knapsack on my back just in case there was a photo op, change at work and then change again for the ride home, it was a great work out both ways and it truly invigorated me.

113. Fun co-workers. Amidst the work and stress and frustrations of our job in health care, we do manage to do a lot of laughing and this makes work so much more peasant. Thankful for fun people to work with who have a great sense of humor and keep me laughing.

114. Thankful for a co-worker I can talk to about my love of Jesus Christ - she loves Him as much as I do and one day we stayed 20 min past the end of the day just to marvel in Him. That was refreshing. God is good!

115. Thankful for a friend from work emailing me and asking for prayer when she had a family tragedy over the long weekend. Thankful for opportunity just to minister to her and pray for her family. Thankful the Lord is providing for this family and praying He will provide even more, revealing Himself in amazing ways.

116. Thankful for prayer - that I have a God that is all powerful and all perfect and all righteous. I have a God who is a solid rock foundation. I have HOPE and that makes me eternally thankful.

117. Thankful for a huge belly on my daughter-in-law, a good weight gain on this tiny gal and thankful for the anticipation of our grand baby in a few weeks. God is good! Thankful for the miracle of life!

118. Thankful for a smart husband who can figure out very confusing excel spreadsheets when payroll messes up my paycheck (again). It was all Greek to me, this spreadsheet to show my hours worked. But to DH it was a wonderfully challenging puzzle to solve. I married the right guy!! I told payroll to call my accountant! LOL Waiting to hear the results and the explanation and hoping this means I get to move up a step - but thankful for what the Lord does provide for us through this job. Very thankful for all the experiences and knowledge I have gained in this work.
Five years ago I asked the Lord to provide me with work (outside the home) as I finished homeschooling our fourth. He knew I needed to keep my hands and mind busy and He provided - VERY challenging work with a HUGE learning curve. As I look back I really don't know how I survived all that was asked of me and two jobs. I wanted to quit it all many times. But I knew He was answering my request and I persevered trying to keep my attitude positive despite my wearyness. I grew, I learned and despite several 50 hr weeks and a family to take care of, I did it. I am thankful! The job continues to challange me and new opportunities keep coming my way, but he shows me I can do it and do it to His glory. I am thankful! And hopeful payroll discovers 'my accountant' is right and they are wrong! LOL

119. Thankful for opportunity to experience a little of the Fringe Festival last weekend. Opportunity to realize that our world is full of diverse people and God can use every one of them for His glory!

120. Thankful that tomorrow is Saturday and my husband is excited about taking me to a new movie that is out whose title he had difficulty remembering....... oh yeah - "Julia, Julie" LOL - I love this guy!!

Gratitude List

51. Hot water . On a cold winter night a tub to soak in warms me before I get into bed. On a hot summer night a shower cools me before I get into bed. Hot water - just to splash it on my face, brings refreshment; to wash the dishes with and wipe the counters - hot soapy water. I am thankful.

52. My geraniums - love the red/orange colour - they are so pretty and so resilient when I forget to water them. I have three pots of them and a bunch in the garden - they bring a splash of colour to my front and back yard garden. Another part of His incredible creation.

53. My blender - just a basic Kitchen Aid - but it makes wonderful milkshakes which brings me to the next item on my gratitude list.

54. Chocolate (or raspberry) milkshakes to share with my sweetheart on the couch late at night - well late being about 10 pm. :) We must curtail this indulgence though - our waitlines are beginning to tell on us.

55. A considerate husband who calls if he is going to be home later than expected. I just love how he thinks of me and knows I am anxious to have him home - so he calls if he has to be later than expected - I am thankful.

56. I great new boss with the Health Region, who is a real listener and so open minded and so full of energy and life and a real joy to work with. I love her! She makes work in an often stressful environment rather fun. Thank you Lord. May I bless her too!

57. My wide angle lens - it takes great pictures!

58. Opportunity to meet four of Marks firefighting friends and two of my daughters friends last Saturday. What a blessing to have a gang of young people hanging out in the back yard eating hamburgers - just the nicest kids you would ever want to get to know. They really blessed me and I look forward to getting to know them better. Thankful for good friends for my kids.

59. Busyness - as much as I might complain about it, it is good to be productive. Each moment of the day is a gift from Him...I am thankful to be able to do the work He has given me. Psa 90:17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands! I am thankful that I know that this busyness is but by His grace. May I never waste a moment He has given me.

60. Thankful for a clean bill of health yesterday on follow-up tests to a suspicious/worrisome mammogram, which caused me to consider (for the past 10 days of waiting for further test) the frailty of this life here on earth and my lack of power to really do anything about it. Our every breath is truly in His hands alone. But He has deemed that I will be here a little longer - at least the prospect of breast cancer has been put to rest for now. May I live each moment to His glory! We never know when He might call us home. Are we ready? Are we right with Him? Will we be spending eternity in Glory? These are questions many do not want to consider. Thankful that He brings me back to right thinking - even if it takes 10 worrisome days to do it. :)

Can you list 1000 things for which you are thankful? It does the heart good! Try it. :)

Gratitude List (continued)

41. Thankful for Godly women in my life to remind me about what is and is not important. Thank you to Mary for reminding me that being a homemaker is the greatest calling there is.

42. Thankful to have Mark home. That means he can help his Dad fix a few things around here. They are off to Home Depot together as I type here tonight. I told Mark to keep an eye on Dad - he is starting to like Home Depot...especially the tool department!

43. Thankful to have the back gate fixed - it opens without dragging on the ground. YEAH!

44. Thankful for a parking spot right in front of the hosp today. Right in front!! I was running off from work to get a mammogram done.....finally....(yup - if you are over 50 you need one too) Deb was covering me at work - took me 44 minutes from the time I left the store until I got back. They were very efficient and fast. I don't think Deb even noticed me gone. hehe - thankful for great traffic, a perfect parking spot and very efficient staff.

45. Thankful that I can travel. I caught the travel bug four years ago after NEVER leaving a 40 mile radius of home. Now I am thankful for the health to travel anywhere I want. (just never in a helicopter)

46. Thankful for my Dad - such a hard worker and very principled. I used to call him extremely strict when I was a teenager. Now I am thankful for his strictness and realize he was setting a standard for me - the same one I set for my daughter (who BTW calls me way too strict!). But his unwavering example of good morals, community spirit, hospitality and kindness have, I hope, rubbed off on me.

47. Thankful for a home to come home to. I know this sounds odd - but really, what a blessing to have a place to rest my weary head, to refresh myself, to get clean, to be loved and to love, to share a meal with loved ones, to be warm, to crawl into a cozy safe bed. A place where I can leave the world and all it's evil and hurts behind and feel safe and secure, rested and rejuvenated. That is something to be thankful for. Are you sitting in your place of rejuvenation right now? Okay maybe it is a small basement apartment or a tiny house in need of great repair - but it is home and home is a wonderful place to have, especially if you have someone to share it with.

48. The Bible. There is no other book I can turn, read and be lifted up by, be given hope beyond all hope, be renewed, be corrected, and be consoled - all perfectly. It feeds me better wisdom than ANY book in this world can. It is full of His richness. It is my daily Bread.

49. Our BBQ in summer. It makes meals so easy. I am getting very good at devising meal plans that requires that all parts of the meal be done on the BBQ. David does the BBQing. Do you see my method here? I set the table and make the salad. He pours the wine. I think this is a good arrangement.

50. Saskatoon. Ten years ago we lived in the lower mainland of Vancouver - that meant freeways everywhere sometimes for over and hour. In Saskatoon you can be anywhere in 20 minutes. Appreciate it folks! Slow down, let people cut in, go the speed limit. Really, this is a nice sized city and it is easy to get around. If you get ornery because traffic is slow, try driving across the Portman Bridge in Surrey B.C. at rush hour especially if one of the other bridges is out of commission - you can sit there for two hours. So I am thankful for Saskatoon - perfect size. (well I think we should have an Olive Garden and maybe IKEA and a few other stores but I am still thankful).

Gratitude List

Ten more things for which I am thankful

31. I am thankful for Don's photo. They know their stuff and they have great service. I was in there the other day to ask their expert opinion on my new wide angle 12-60 lens. I have sent it back to Olympus twice and while they give great customer service, the lens is still not working for me. I had one staff and the owner of Don's confirm that yes the lens has a problem and not my camera and then the owner of Dons handed me a new lens and said they would send my old one back as defective. Wow!! Here I was expecting to package it up again and send it off spending a week or two in wide angle withdrawal. But now I have a new lens that works. Well I will soon find out at Mark's graduation anyways. So yes, thank you Don's photo for always coming through for me!

32. I am very thankful for my husband. I am having trouble figuring him out these days. There is this transformation taking place that I am stunned by. After 30 years of me doing all the yard work, he has taken it on this year with gusto! I mean real gusto. He inspects it every night, reseeds any little bald spots and keeps it cut and trimmed and well watered - really well watered if there is a golf game on TV. After supper he says "Would you like to join me m'lady in a walk around the manor?" I stare at him dumbfounded and then out he goes to do his nightly inspection. I just stand at the window amazed. He putters around out there and I retreat to my computer and blog. I mean you have to LOVE that!!! Okay sometimes I join him and tell him how fabulous the lawn look. If you come for a vist - please take note of how incredibly green and perfect the lawn is. :) Then watch him smile.

33. Iam thankful for my husband...again. He is at this very moment installing a rack for gardening tools in the garage. Himself! Alone! A year ago this guy didn't know where to find the drill in the garage let alone use it. I think he aspires to be more like his friend Larry who has every tool and actually knows how to use them all. David is extremely intelligent and a hardworking man, but not a handyman. For years I have fought with the rakes and shovels bonking me on the head .... Not any more! Well, I don't do the gardening now. hehe Like I said I am a little dumbstruck but thankful, very thankful.

34. I am thankful for microwave ovens. Really, how else can you have a hot meal on the table 15 minutes after you get in the door from work? Okay they were leftovers but REALLY good leftovers.

35. I am thankful for leather furniture. It arrived today. Oh...my...it smells soooo good. It feels pretty nice too. The family room is getting very full again and we no longer hear echos when we walk. I am thankful just being able to get new furniture in there...I think I might have mentioned this one already but the new couch arrived today.

36. I am thankful for U-Haul trailers, otherwise I have no idea how we would get all Mark's stuff home from Brandon this weekend. I am tired just thinking about it. But I am thankful. David says he doesn't know why they are called U-Haul. He thinks they should be called "WE- Haul" since that is who is doing the hauling. LOL Love this guy!

37. Weeds - my garden is full of them - and I am thankful, because that means everything is growing like crazy right now and I can always pull the weeds out -it is on that list I haven't got to this week. But what will be left after the weeds are disposed of is going to look fantastic!

38. My water bed. It is the best bed in the whole world. (so you would think I would stay home a lot more instead of taking off every weekend in June!!) We bought this water bed in 1986. I know you probably were just a kid. We have replaced every part of it at least once. It has a whole bunch of super baffles - so no waviness. And comfortable? It is just a haven for me after a long day...or 9 hours in the car coming home from one of those weekend excursions.

39. My very patient son Paul - my computer whiz who spent 2 long distance hours on the phone with me the other night walking me through some computer stuff. He has such a gentle way about him and he put up with my very short term memory for those two hours. "No Mom, remember we did this three times already - just type the same thing" sigh....

40. My very sweet and gentle daughter in law who remembers to send a card to my brother on his 59th birthday when I haven't sent him a card in ...... um....never.

Life is good because He is good! The blessings abound because of Him. And I am thankful.

Gratitude List

Time to add to my gratitude list. I am feeling frazzled....my to do list is way too long today and I should be out on my bicycle getting some exercise, or weeding the garden, or painting the front hall or catching up with ironing ...but here I am on the computer procrastinating. Well it is only 9am here and I will get at my day. Right now I need to remind myself of all the blessings in my life. I will continue with my 1000 blessings list.

21 - The sun is shining - I am thankful for it's warmth, beauty, just the way it makes me feels so good. What joy to wake up to it's warmth and brightness....feels sooo good.

22. I am thankful that I have the health to actually DO all the things on my "to do" list today. Time may be against me, but I have the health and ability to get them done.

23. The new furniture for the family room arrives today - so I have so much to be thankful for there - #1 being my job that allows us to to this reno. But I think I already listed that. Thankful that we can finally get rid of the furniture my husband had in his bachelor apt 30 yrs ago. YEAH!! We bought new drapes and put them up on the weekend. There was a bit if a discussion over that! David felt to do it properly meant to have someone come in, measure, pick the fabric and have them custom made. Wowsers - do you know what that would cost???? I am the budget keeper. He agreed to buy, take home and look at four panels and a rod from Home Outfitters (I had a 10% off coupon on it all) They are perfect! They look fabulous - at a fraction of the cost. David is happy, I am ecstatic. LOL Life is good!

24. My flowers are growing beautifully. I am thankful for the rain, the refreshing, cleansing, sweet smelling rain. A 20 minute rain shower provides more nutrients to my garden (and my soul) than three weeks of carefully measured fertilizer. Rain - it is an amazing gift from God.

25. My son Mark - I am thankful that he has given his all to firefighting school and will graduate this week with very good marks. I am also proud (can you tell?) Thankful that he has found new friends in Brandon, especially in the collage and career group at church, thankful that he has a servants heart and loves to volunteer, thankful that he loves the paramedic side of firefighting and likes to help people. Thankful for answered prayer.

26. I am thankful for my daughter persevering through two jobs this summer, little sleep and almost no recreation - she is growing up. :) More answered prayer.

27. Thankful that the lump in my daughters neck is likely from an infection and not some other more serious causes that had me worried for several days. I am also hopeful that the antibiotics will take care of this. Thank you Lord for answered prayer again.

28. I am thankful for my clean hardwood floors and that I can run the new dusting mop over them three times a day - just because they shine so beautifully! Makes me giddy!! okay I need a life.

29. I am thankful for my camera that allows me to capture all the wonders of His creation and continue to be in awe of every one of them.

30. I am thankful for my Mazda - love that car. It is so me. It is just the right size for me. And I will never, ever again be able to own another car that does not have heated leather seats.

The Reno's continue, Gratitude List

The back hall is done. But not without a list of problems. Ah renos. I was so discouraged.

At coffee break on Thursday I heard a few more reno issues from a few gals at work. Mine were small in comparison. The problems will get fixed eventually ...but I tell ya - this scrapbooker cannot live with a crooked toilet for much longer!!

I love the new back hall. Today we painted the back door and so.....all is complete - well at least as far as we can go until they come back and fix all the .....mess ups!
The front hall light is installed too. I was at work for this adventure as well. The switch box for the light sits 1/8th of an inch lower than the switch box beside it. WHAT WAS HE THINKING!!!!

Again - this scrapbooker can not live with this! I will phone them tomorrow. ....sigh again!

Used to be workers were looking for work and cared about how it was done. As if there reputation was at stake. Man if I was this careless at my job I would be fired. At least I should be!

Enough complaining. I need a little dose of reality here.
So here is my random list of the next ten things I am thankful for. The first ten are here.

11. In ground sprinklers - man, what a great invention. No more moving that sprinkler around the yard every half hour, getting sprayed in the face with every adjustment.
12. The colours on the wall in my "office" - still like them a year later.
13. My husband - helping me with painting the back door this afternoon, then bringing me a refreshment (as in Corona)
14. Summer. I think it is here..finally!
15. That the vegetable garden has been reduced to a few herbs and one large pot with a tomato plant in it. This I think I can handle!
16. The upstairs hall looks fabulous - finished painting it last night. Wow - should have done that sooner.
17. My washer and dryer. We finally replaced the old guys last Christmas and our clothes have never been cleaner nor have I been able to dry them so fast. I did not know what I was missing.
18. My job with the Saskatoon Health Region (hence the reno and 17 above)
19. The most comfortable bed in the whole world.
20. The downstairs shower - it is NOT energy efficient, which means if you turn around and face the jet stream you may get your faced ripped off but man it is wonderful on the back after 6 straight hours of using a paint roller on an extension pole.

Have a blessed week everyone. I am hoping to have time to play with my new flocking! I will try to post the process. ohhh awe
Julie

The reno continues

I painted from 6am until 10 pm last night. But it is all done...well except for a few flaws I noticed in the daylight today...sigh. I can touch those up. I soaked in the tub for half and hour last night - took that long to get all the paint off my hands and nails. :)

Yesterday was soo busy but a lot was accomplished. The electrician came this morning and is hopeful the new hall light can be installed this week before the floor goes in. YEAH!! I wish I were not sitting in an office for the rest of the week. I may have to make a few quick drives home on my lunch hours. Will I be able to concentrate?

The maple awaits the installers.

The front hall - all painted and awaiting the electrician and then the floor installers.

The laundry room - this took several hours to paint yesterday. Do you know how many little bits and pieces had to be moved or painted around? I love the new colour. It is not quite as yellow as the picture appears. Now we wait for the linoleum to be installed on Thursday.

What do you think of this colour? For our mantle over the fireplace? To cover the old oak mantle? ....Me too. But the gal at Benjamin Moore assured us that it didn't dry this colour.

It is a very rich deep dark yummy chocolate - almost black, but not quite. I love it!

Today I am thankful for:

1. The smell of summer in the morning. Oh how it lifts my spirits!
2. The electrician who is very busy is willing to get this done this week before the new maple floor is in.
3. The sweetest husband in the world, who phones me three times this morning before taking off on a business trip all week.
4. leftover Chinese food from last night, to take in my lunch today.
5. A very clean looking laundry room - makes me want to do laundry!
6. Beautiful yellow tulips next to red geraniums in the garden.

7. The constant squeak in my Mazda got fixed yesterday under warranty. Oh thank you!!
8. I got a parking spot RIGHT outside the Dr office at 8am this morning. (downtown too)
9. I found someone to take away all the garbage piled up in the garage - hopefully today.
10. Harold is home this week to be here when all these workers arrive.

I am off to work at JSI - if I seem a little distracted, it is because my brain is still trying to make sure all the little things get done before the workmen descend on us later this week and next.
Blessings!
Julie