I wonder how many of us spend even one minute on Thanksgiving Day counting our blessings. I worry that more thought is placed upon the menu than on giving thanks. I have too often been guilty of this, and hope to rethink the meaning of the day in this post.


I wonder if I made a list, could I even begin to enumerate with any accuracy the abundance that has been rained down on my life with such grace and mercy? At the risk of forgetting important things, I might try.

My Blessings

When I hold the hand and heart of a man, so very unlike the world's mistaken ideas of what constitutes a "real man," but filled with a noble humility, who loves with his whole heart and life and breath...I am blessed.


When I stand beside a family table and hear my eighty year old father give a heartfelt, loving prayer...I am blessed.


When I put my arms around my dear mama and know she is still here with me and in my home...I am blessed.


When I hear the voices of my siblings on cell phones, and travel far distances to laugh and cry with them, and love their families like my own in all the good days and bad days...I am blessed.


When I see the faces of my children and their spouses, see them as parents and know they are giving it their all...I am blessed.


When my heart leaps with joy when I see the faces of my sweet grandchildren and feel their hugs and kisses...I am blessed.


When I raise my voice in church to sing a hymn of praise to my God...I am blessed.


When I know that no economic crisis, or stock market woe, or bailout or crisis of any kind can change my unchangeable God, or His love for all of His creation...I am blessed.


When I know with all my heart that passions and philosophies and beliefs and words can separate us, but the power of unshakable love will keep us as strong and whole as any fortress built of granite...I am blessed.


Thank you, God, for all of it. Thank you for the joys, the pains, the sorrows and the triumphs. Thank you for the grace that forgives my broken places, and the mercy to hold me up when I fall over and over again. Let every breath I take and every thought I think bring glory and honor to your name, and may I never forget to be eternally grateful. Amen.

I am a great seeker of wisdom. Wisdom differs greatly from knowledge. Knowledge is more easily won, wisdom comes through great trials, soul shaping experiences, and for me, long years of living and striving.

I have learned through pain and loss to treasure those nearest to me. I would give everything I own for one minute with my grandmother. I would just love to hear her voice, place my check against hers, and breathe in her wonderful and unique scent. It is only through my acceptance of the wisdom of Jesus Christ that I know I will sit with her in heaven, hold her hand and hear her laugh. It is our hope, all us "crazy" Christians.

So many words are wasted on mostly unimportant things. I want the words I speak to be like little space traveling vehicles that carry love from my heart to those God has placed in my life. I promised Charlie the day he was born that I would live to be at least eighty-four, because no child should loose his grandmother until he is at least thirty years old. That gives me twenty-seven more years to love. This is the goal of my life, love and love alone. God please give me the strength and the years to accomplish this goal.

In the hills we have a saying,

"Sometimes you get the bear and sometimes the bear gets you."

This week I am feeling a little like the bear is behind me, gaining fast.

I started a new job on Monday. The church I am working for does its weekly worship bulletin on Microsoft Publisher (Vista of course:() I have not used Publisher for at least ten years, so the learning curve seems very steep right now. Besides the fact that I feel "watched" due to being such a newbie, I feel extra dumb to boot. Actually everyone is being wonderful, I just like to be more "on top" of things than I am currently feeling, it'll pass.

Monday was my youngest sister's birthday. Today is my second granddaughter (Pixie's) birthday, tomorrow is my Dad's eightieth birthday, Friday is my niece Jenny's birthday and my cousin and his four very active grand children are coming to stay at our house, and then on Saturday we are all having a huge party for my Dad's birthday. Whew!

Why is it that stuff just comes in big bunches followed by weeks and weeks of ho hum, yawn city?

I just keep remembering that I only have to do things just one at a time. Lord help me to enjoy my life, whether things come up on me in huge waves, or just roll into my life like a soft wave.

Praise God for life, in all its challenges and blessings.

It was inevitable, and yet I am still adjusting to the reality. I got a job! I am officially the new church secretary for Highlands Presbyterian Church. It seemed like such an easy and smooth process, even DD said it seemed like "divine intervention." The Mister got his work hours cut by 20% and I was hired by the church within days.

God is so good, he is good indeed.