Day 244

I am grateful for ice.

It's summer. It's hot. I love ice cold water. I need ice for the cooler when we go to the lake. Kev needs ice everyday for a recent injury. My fridge makes it for me and keeps it full. It's a wonderful luxury, and I appreciate it every single day.

Thank You, Lord, for ice.

Day 243

I am grateful for alone time.

I don't think I'm an introvert, but I do appreciate time alone. People are fun, but the preparation and cleanup are a challenge for me. Maybe that's because I'm not a gifted organizer or even an orderly thinker. A shower when the day is over is like my own little heaven. I can breathe, relax, soak, and let go. I don't have to have to be listening to anything when I'm by myself.

Some of the time is taken up in prayer. Some is in recalling a random lovely memory. Some is concentrating on the task at hand. Whatever it is, Brett likes alone time too. He told me once that I gave that to him. (I bet he loves being with Lydia best now though. =)

Thank You, Lord, for this particular kind of time.

Day 242

I am grateful for firefighters.

They are brave, hard-working heroes, most of whom would never accept that title. When we went to Colorado in June, there were so many who worked tirelessly to save lives, homes, and pets. They took it personally whenever the fire made any advancement. We have been spared evacuation ourselves several times because of the knowledge and skill of these fine people. I have friends with grown kids who do this kind of work, and it keeps them on their knees.

Thank You, Lord, for these wonderful people.

Day 241

I am grateful for summer.

Kev gets two and a half months to recover and refresh after nine months of hard work--and it is most definitely hard work.
We do lots of family stuff.
We see friends we don't see often enough.
The roads aren't slick.
We can enjoy boating.
Produce is abundant.
Stuff gets done around the house.
We go horseback riding.
It's sunny most days.
It's just a sweet season.

Thank You, Lord, for this season of food, fun, friends, and family.

Day 240

I am grateful for handkerchiefs.

I especially like looking at antique handkerchiefs like this one. I owned a set of seven when I was little, each a different color and embroidered with a day of the week. I would put one in my little purse when we'd go somewhere. I never used it, but it was one of those indulgences that only you know about and enjoy. My dad always carried a plain white one. I have an affinity for those too.

I have started to enclose a pretty handkerchief with a sympathy card, a symbol of compassion for the tears shed. I recently sent one to my dear friend and pen pal, Kathy, after she lost her father. She turned right around and sent me one for my mom. Now I know how it feels on both sides.

Thank You, Lord, for this fabric that can hold such meaning.

Day 239

I am grateful for old photographs.

There's a certain romance about old pictures. The stories of the people in sepia or gray scale lie in their faces and behind their eyes. I love pictures of people I know, but even studying ones of people I don't, their expressions, position, and dress send my imagination into overdrive.

The antiquity and preservation of photos like this one of my dad shortly after entering the Air Force are treasures. He recently gave me some of each of his sisters, all of them young and smiling, and one of him. As far as I know, there are only three pictures of my dad as a child, and now I own them. I'm going to keep them in safe until I can think of how to display them.

Thank You, Lord, for these priceless heirlooms.

Day 238

I am thankful for coreopsis.

This tall, bushy, golden flower graces our rock wall and adds great dollops of sunshiny color to the place. It's a hardy perennial that only requires watering. The stems I cut to enjoy in the house last for more than a week. So cheering.

Thank You, Lord, for this perfectly lovely plant.

Day 237

I am thankful for garden tomatoes.

There is a world of difference between the ones that come out of the garden and the ones in the grocery store. The taste and texture of a just-picked mater isn't just a food option, it's an experience. On the rare occasion that there are still some in a bowl on the counter, I like them cut into bite-sized pieces with a dash of soy sauce. Eeyum.

Thank You, Lord, for this fantastic fruit.

Day 236

I am thankful for lace.

It's so feminine. I just think it's beautiful. I have a blouse that's made completely of white lace that I wore to my mom's memorial service. I loved lace gloves on Easter Day as a little girl. There are lace curtains in our bedroom. I admire the talent that designs it and produces it. It blesses me.

Thank You, Lord, for this beautiful artistry.

Day 235

I  am thankful for garlic.

I eat more garlic than anyone I know. I like it powdered, ground, roasted, chopped, and in as many dishes as possible. I grew up eating elephant garlic and red garlic. We even eat the scapes, the tall green stalk that eventually blossoms.

A friend and I talk every year of attending the Garlic Festival in Gilroy, California. Maybe someday.

Thank You, Lord, for the marvelous herb.

Day 234

I am grateful for digital photography.

Gone are the days of waiting to see how your pictures turned out. No more storing pictures and negatives in shoe boxes. Point. Shoot. Delete. Shoot. Edit. Print. It's so ridiculously easy now.

The biggest problems I have now are 1) the vast amount of hard drive space that my pictures take up, and 2) getting around to printing all the ones I want. Still, I'll take it.

Thank You, Lord, for such a great thing.

Day 233

I am grateful for zucchini.

I buy them year round. I love the bounty of the plants, so I always plant them in my garden. I love grilling them and found that marinating slices in Italian dressing and sprinkling with Parmesan afterward is deluxe!

It seems to be a lowly sort of vegetable, but I love how versatile they are. The younger ones can be cooked a hundred ways, and the older ones make marvelous breads, cookies, soups, casseroles, and relishes. A friend made a mock apple pie with them, and another friend didn't believe me when I told her what the filling really was.

Thank You, Lord, for the humble and versatile zucchini.

Day 232

I am grateful for electronic payments.

The savings in stamps and the ease of doing business from the comfort of my home make e-payments a fine thing. I schedule them online, then forget about them. I don't wonder if my payment got there. I have never had one problem with this method of paying bills and making purchases, so it's a keeper. I just hope security improves at a faster rate than the cleverness of hackers.

Thank You, Lord, for ease and simplicity.

Day 231

I am grateful for morning horse rides.

It's been so hot that we've started riding in the morning instead of the evening. It gets dark sooner now, so it's great to get out when it's still cool. It feels like the plant life is just waking up, slowly stretching limbs and blinking eyes. The only dust in the air is what we stir up. I tend to be quieter in the mornings, and the comfortable silence between us is peppered with meditations and thoughts of self-improvement. It's like my own live, moving devotional.

Thank You, Lord, for this special time.

Day 230

I am grateful for berries.

With local summer produce in full bloom, I love the availability of all kinds of fruits, especially berries. Blueberries enhance my oatmeal, strawberries are the star of smoothies, and raspberries get eaten by the handful. They are so sweet and so good for you. Blackberries will be ready in a few weeks, and I can't wait!

Thank You, Lord, for these delectable goodies.

Day 229

I am grateful for Elvis.

He seemed like such a nice person. Kev's grandma worked at a hotel where Elvis stayed one night, and he ordered pizza for the entire staff. I hear his generosity was legendary.

We only have one of his CD's, a greatest hits, but Kev sure enjoys the upbeat ones. My mom liked Elvis too, but wasn't gaga over him like some of her friends. I like that he served in the military just like a regular Joe.

On this 35th anniversary of his death at the age of 42, I hope the people who knew and loved him take the time to honor his life and memory in some thoughtful way.

Thank You, Lord, for Elvis's life and legacy of music and kindness.

Day 228

I am grateful for sharp knives.

I already did a post on my affinity for knives, but I am currently grateful for sharp knives. A sharp knife in the kitchen helps me do my job, saves time, and is safer than a dull one, at least for me, because I know to be careful.

Thank You, Lord, for this handy dandy tool.

Day 227

I am grateful for Owl City.

While I love super-duper wide and diverse genres of music, there are few artists whose entire repertoire I can listen to and enjoy all the time. Owl City, aka Adam Young, is the one. His lyrics range from repetitive to fantastical, and his mostly electronica melodies are catchy, novel, and fun. I like. He's a Christian who happens to write songs. And he's not afraid to name Jesus as an influence.

Thank You, Lord, for this influential young artist.

Day 226

I am grateful for this prayer.

It was from Chuck Swindoll that I first heard this prayer. I jotted down the words from a sermon I taped from the radio. I came across it again in some notes and looked it up on the Internet. I have since written it down in a place where I can find it and easily read it. Like so many of my favorite things, it is simple and profound.

Lord, I am willing
To receive what You give,
To lack what You withhold,
To relinquish what You take,
To suffer what You inflict,
To be what You require,
And Lord, if others are to be
Your messengers to me,
I am willing to hear and heed
What they have to say. Amen
               ~Nelson Mink

Thank You, Lord, for this humble prayer of submission.

Day 225

I am grateful for the Foxes.

Andy has been a world-class preacher and teacher. Stephanie has been a world-class worship leader and stunning singer. Josiah was only 18 months old when I first watched over him. We still have some of his sayings incorporated into our vocabulary. Little Jilly has been installed into our very family by virtue of her name. The baby due in December we already love and cherish.

They have poured into our lives and the lives of our kids, blessing and instilling truth and wisdom as they interacted and taught and loved them. The laughter, joy, wisdom, love, worship, and teaching they have brought to us will be profoundly missed as they move into the next chapter of their lives, It has been a tremendous run, and I will forever cherish the memories.

We have one more boating excursion on the calendar with them. We hope they are at least half as blessed as we are by this date as we surprise them with two other families who'll show up to celebrate this opportunity. I plan to make the MOST of it.

Thank You, Lord, for this precious family.

Day 224

I am grateful for Hunters.

This is where we love to boat on the Columbia River. There are beaches galore, wide open waters to tube, ski, kneeboard, or just float. The parking lot can be loaded to overflowing, but when we find a beach to headquarter, it can feel like we have the whole place to ourselves. Love. it. We have had the privilege of blessing friends and family over the years, and there is nothing like it.

Thank You, Lord, for this honor and blessing.

Day 223

I am grateful for watermelon.

This is one of my very most favorite fruits. I buy them from Costco two at a time, and they are sweet from spring to early autumn. I love to bring them to potlucks, to my dad, and to every night's dinner. And oftentimes lunch. The sweetness, fiber, liquid, and refreshment it offers is only topped by an iced lemon water, which I usually have accompany this marvelous fruit anyway. Eeeyum!

Thank You, Lord, for this fabulous fruit/dessert.

Day 222

I am grateful for Truth.

Jesus came and said He was the Way, the Truth, and the Life. There is falsehood, and there is truth. There have been times when I have had to ask which is which. Always, there has been that still, small voice to my answer. Fallacy is exposed, the defeated one is exiled, and freedom escorts us into the wide open spaces of His grace. There is nothing like it.

Thank You, Lord, for Your absolute Truth.

Day 221

I am grateful for salt.

Salt is something I grew up using. If it wasn't salt specifically, it was soy sauce, also majorly salty.

I have high blood pressure now, so salt is something I omit whenever I can. This makes me sad because salt adds SO much to flavor. An egg without salt is like white without rice in my book, so this has been a rather grueling trip. I can totally buy into how salt was a measure of currency back in its day.  This stuff is totally taken for granted in our day. From sea salt to kosher to whatever the stuff is that my mom brought back from the Philippines, I love this stuff.

Thank You, Lord, for salt.

Day 220

I am grateful for our 30th anniversary!

Thirty years ago today I married my biggest cheerleader, my Jesus-with-skin-on, the one person who has consistently shown me patience and grace in my too-many moments (and sometimes days) of being ill-mannered, short-tempered, and unreasonable.

It was 103 degrees on the day we got married, and that's the exact same temperature we saw on a bank reader board. That's not something I wanted to repeat. We had a great day though. We saw "The Dark Knight Rises," did some grocery shopping, and met Ryan at Prospector's for dinner. We all had the all-you-can-eat prime rib, twice-baked potatoes, and salad. Then we went to Didier's for fro-yo, and they had red velvet cake just for me. =)

I am spoiled rotten to be married to a guy who is totally for me, thinks I'm all that, loves me unconditionally, is a terrific dad to our precious children, one of the hardest workers I have ever known, and whose heart is sensitive, thankful, romantic, strong, and the other half of mine.

Thank You, Lord, for 30 fabulous years.

Day 219

I am grateful for Terry.

This is my big brother (half-brother). He's six years my senior and is single-handedly responsible for causing my mom and dad to meet. He took care of us when he was old enough, and I always remember having fun. Except for when he'd tickle me until I felt like throwing up. One of my favorite memories is when he'd use a cookie cutter on the baloney for our sandwiches. Fun stuff for a kid my age!

We live about four hours away, so I don't see him often at all. I admire his passion for his family and respect how hard he works even though he's in physical pain every single day. His Facebook statuses are almost always encouraging and hopeful. I love that he calls my dad every week and has visited him several times. On this, his 58th birthday, I pray for deepest and most profound blessings on his day and life.

Thank You, Lord, for Te.

Day 218

I am grateful for Rally Point.

After things at our church went south, we floundered as we tried to figure out where He would feed us now. After a small group created and founded Rally Point, we had a place to go for solid teaching and preaching, as well as some fun special events. About 90 percent of the people attending are people we went to church with and already knew and enjoyed.

My favorite times were when Stephanie led and sang and Andy preached. Her voice is stunning and her sincerity contagious. He peppers his messages with his sharp wit, and I learned and laughed every message.

With Foxes moving across the state now, big change is sure to come. With no main speaker and a powerful worship leader gone, we wait to see what the Lord has in store. We look to no man but trust in the One we do look to for goodness and wisdom. We shall see...

Thank You, Lord, for Rally Point and what You are going to do.

Day 217

I am grateful for Megan.

I call her my Meganette because she's a petite thing. I've always gotten along with middle and high school girls, and I always loved my time with her. She is witty, fun, smiles easily, makes me laugh, and calls me on stuff. It wasn't until last year that I realized another tremendous virtue; she is strong. Diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, her slogan is Fight Like a Girl. Through chemo, radiation, countless trips to hospitals and doctors, she remained solid, real, and as normal as a teenage girl can be in the circumstances. She has taught me--and many others--what it means to persevere, keep faith, and look to hope. Her doctor says everything looks good, and I could feel the whole town breathe a collective sigh of relief for this precious girl.

Thank You, Lord, for my Meganette.

Day 216

I am grateful for my neck band.

After I turned 40, some weird things happened to my body. One is that I feel like my internal temperature is about 15 degrees higher than everyone else's. Hot flashes do NOT help.

While visiting some friends in Colorado Springs, he showed me something his teenage son is selling. It's a simple enough band that I wear either has a headband, or I drape it around my neck. It contains these crystals that, when soaked in water, absorb the liquid and keep your skin cool for hours. It literally lasts ALL day. I soak it in a little water for 15 minutes, and it swells right back up. SO nice.

Thank You, Lord, for this cooling comfort.

Day 215

I am grateful for garden produce.

I love most fruits, but I'm not as thrilled by vegetables. I do, however, have a great affinity for the homegrown variety. There's a huge difference in the taste between garden and storebought produce. Apples, cucumbers, tomatoes, and strawberries taste a million times better coming out of a backyard plot.

There's just something about planting, watering, and harvesting, not to mention the benefits of being organic. Eeyum!

Thank You, Lord Gardener, for fresh food.

Day 214

I am grateful for Kev's job.

We're fortunate to have decent, steady income in this limping economic climate. We have enough to pay the bills, and we have insurance. Those are huge blessings, and we don't take them for granted.

Thank You, Lord, for this huge provision.