SO MANY LITTLE BLESSINGS

How gorgeous is the Lord's paintbrush?

Now that I have been in the blogging world for a few months, I often think of things going on in my life, or that I might dwell on in my heart and soul and wonder...Can I blog about this? Or should I blog about that? Or do I dare blog about this? Or, I need a picture of this for my blog, and on and on I go. lol I am very certain many of you can relate. But as I was dwelling on what I might post about for Thankful Thursday this week, so many different ideas have played around in the corners of my mind, that I am having a hard time settling in on one. I have discovered that there is usually an assigned theme, but I am not sure if there is somewhere to find that out ahead of time or not, as I need to work on my mine sometimes two or three days in advance, as I must grab slots of time where I can. I imagine it doesn't really matter, as the important thing is the sharing of our blessings and thankful hearts. I encourage as many of you who can, to visit the other blogs that post on this day, as I cannot begin to tell you how blessed I have been as I travel around the United States, reading the hearts of so many wonderful thankful people. Click HERE to find the list.

Psalm 71:8 Let my mouth be filled with Your praise And with Your glory all the day.

Today, I have decided to thank God for all the little blessings that are so often times overlooked, as the larger more obvious ones fill our pages.

I started my day that day like many others. I rose from my warm bed (blessing 1) and traveled downstairs to my tidy kitchen, thanks to my husband, (blessing 2) and put the tea kettle on to boil. I opened a pack of sweet orange tea from my long time girl friend (blessing number 3 and 4) and mosied over to my comfy pink chair (blessing 5) and opened up my Bible (blessing 6) to read and spend time with Him. (blessing 7). After filling my heart and spirit (blessing 8) with His Word, I picked up my lap top (blessing 9) and began my day traveling around to my favorite blogs to see what's happening in the lives of my new friends. (blessing 10) After this, I straightened my house, making beds and doing what needed to be done, (blessing 11 that I am even able) and finally stepped into my warm, inviting shower and let the hot water (blessing 12) work the kinks out of my body. I dressed, wearing my new top, (blessing 13) and headed back downstairs and out into my back yard to pick up my hose and begin watering all of my beautiful back yard potted flowers and plants (blessing 14). After this, I finally decided to eat my breakfast (blessing 15) and thanked God that I am able to enjoy so thoroughly my Jenny Craig meals, without feeling deprived or hungry (blessing 16). I poured myself a second cup of tea, and called my mother to talk and visit with her for a while (blessing 17). After this I headed out to the side of my house, where my treadmill is kept, and climbed on and began my slow but steady workout for the 15 whole minutes that I have slowly built up to, what with the arthritis in my knees. (blessing 18) I put a load of laundry in my washing machine (blessing 19) and headed back into the house to let my son and my precious grandson in the door. (blessing 20). I spent the next 2 and half hours QUITE busy, as I played and took care of this sweet, active 9 month old baby. (blessing 21) What pleasure I had doing this! Then I loaded the baby into his car seat in my car (blessing 22 for the seat, and 23 for the car) and headed out to the elementary school to pick up my 5 year old grandson from KG. His excited, happy face to see his Grandma was definitely (blessing 24). I arrived back home, feed both of the boys their lunch (blessing 25) and heard all about the day of my grandson (blessing 26) in his excited, happy little voice. I gave the baby his bottle (blessing 27) and watched as he dozed off in my arms (blessing 28) and managed to get out of my chair holding his heavy, sleepy body (definitely blessing 29) and got him into his crib in my grandkid room, without waking him up, (blessing 30, haha) and slowly shut the door where he peacefully slept until my son returned for his sons. (blessing 31) While the baby slept, I had my lunch (blessing 32) straightened the kitchen, and did homework with my little grandson. (blessing 33) This was one of the biggest blessings in my day. How I enjoy working with him. He is bright and eager to learn and full of wonder as he discovers the world around him. (blessing 34) My son arrived around 3 to pick up his sons and we stole a few minutes out of his busy day to chat and enjoy each other.(blessing 35) After he left, I will admit I was feeling pretty tired, and stole a quick 15 minute nap on my couch. (blessing 36) Awaking refreshed (blessing 37) I finished up the rest of my laundry, (blessing 38) and paid a few bills.(blessing 39 for the money to pay them) About this time, my Melly called and I spent the next half hour enjoying her on the phone (blessing 40) as she told me about her day and all she had managed to accomplish. (blessing 41). By now it was time to get dinner on and welcome my husband home (blessing 42 and 43). After dinner, we chatted and shared about our days, and watched some TV (blessing 44) and finally headed upstairs to read a little while before bed (blessing 45).

This was a very typical, everyday day in my life. Nothing very exciting or out of the ordinary about it at all. And yet FULL (as you could see) with the many little blessings that make up our lives. The Lord is good, and definitely the God of even the most ordinary. Today, I thank Him for all these little blessings, and for all the days of ordinary, that have made up the story of my life.

Psalm 106:1 Praise the LORD! Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

I just had to add this blessing on as I am so excited. My youngest son James is the high school pastor at his church Marantha in San Diego. Occasionally, he is asked to give the message on Wed. night (and even on a couple of Sun. mornings) when the senior pastor is going to be gone for some reason. He is giving the message tonight and I have made arrangements so that I am able to go! YAY!! I LOVE hearing him teach and even though the church is large (around 7000 people) I have been able to get past my nerves over this and am always so blessed. His message will be live on the Internet during the service at 7:00 if any of you might like to hear it. You can get it HERE...If you cannot tune on tonight, it will be available in their archives in a couple of days. I have had to watch a couple of them this way which is why I am so excited I can actually go tonight. Please pray for traveling mercies, and that the Lord might really anoint and use him tonight for His kingdom..

Ephesians 5:20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,