It has been over a year since I wrote my scribbled thoughts here, shared my heart-wrenching prayers, dreamed and hoped and worried here.

Life has moved in strange ways, with pain and joy wrapped round each other, with only the unfailing grace of Jesus Christ to make any of it bearable. Life leaves us scarred and broken, marriages end, earthly lives are burdened by aging and frailty, and yet His love is unfailing.

I am grateful for His mercy and grace, and only pray for strength to love those He has given me in ways that will keep them safe, strengthen their walk, and bring glory to His name.

In His pressence I am humbled and grateful. I want so much for those I love, and I take comfort in knowing that He loves them even more.

Many of the spiritual women's blogs I read are working on recognizing and expressing soul-felt gratitude for the gifts from God we experience each and every day in our lives. I will begin my list of "1000" today with these:

1) I am grateful for a God who loves me and knows me and sent His Son to die for my sins,

2) for grace so amazing, so freely given,

3) for mercy that rains down from heaven,

4) for guidance from His Holy Word written in the language I speak and understand,

5) for the love of a gentle, God-seeking man,

6) for birthed children and heart-birthed children who have grown to be God's servants in His world,

7) for grandchildren who enjoy being with me and light my life with joy,

8) for a home and nest to feather and care for with joy and fulfillment,

9) for health and life and breath,

10) for work to do that brings glory to my Father in Heaven.

Each Monday I will continue to list ten things for which I am grateful to God.

Thank you for the world so sweet.

Thank you for the food we eat.

Thank you for the birds that sing.

Thank you, God, for everything. Amen.

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.

The Cordle Kid's Mealtime Prayer

(as taught to us by Dad's Aunt Ann)

Thank Thee Father for this Food,

And all the Blessings, Amen.

Several of the blogs I read participate in a joint expression of gratitude. If I were to list my blessings I would hardly know where to start. My life is blessed beyond imagination.

• I was born into a home where my parents loved one another and loved God. They blessed me with sisters and a brother.
• I was blessed with a wonderful Grandmother who fed us when we were hungry and provided a farm for us to explore. All my aunts and uncles were that "salt of the earth" type you read about in great books.
• I went to a small school in a small community and took piano lessons from a Welsh teacher who taught me to love music.
• We almost always had enough, never too much, but always enough.
• My parents made sure I learned to cook, clean, and take care of babies.
• I fell in love with and married a wonderful man who (after thirty-seven years) still thinks I am funny, smart, and pretty. Go figure.
• I had two terrific kids who were so great it made me look like a good mom. They married two terrific people who are very tolerant of me.
• I got to work in a church with families of young children for twenty-five years and I had people fooled that I was smart and stuff.
• I live in a great house with a green yard and I even have a deck!
• I have six unbelievably wonderful grandchildren who I adore.
• I love God and He loves me.
• Boy, oh boy! I got it all!
• Undeserving? You bet! Blessed and saved by Grace? Absolutely!