Thankful Again 2

I am thankful for so many things. First and foremost, I am thankful that God holds me in his hand. I am thankful that nothing surprises him or catches him off guard. I am thankful for my good husband and the fact that he has stuck by me all these years in spite of the fact that I am pretty much crazy most of the time. My children are a blessing to me as well, even though I sometimes want to trade them all for puppies.

I am thankful that G. from the farmer's market gave me pink peonies! I am thankful for a summer storm and that the big limbs that fell missed our house. I am also thankul for access to a camera and that I was able to capture the full moon rising last month.

Here is a quick list from a poll I just conducted around the dinner table.

Child 1: I am thankful for the kitty and Pastor. (Sorry Pastor that was her order!)
Child 2: I am thankful for God,  my dog, my bike and my brothers and sisters.
Child 3: I am thankful to be selected for 4-H congress and having a car to drive.
Child 4: I am thankful for my family and my church family.
Child 5: (He was at work, so I am assuming he would be thankful for employment)
The Poppie: I am thankful for my wife, and grateful children who open the gate for me when  
I drive up in the yard. I am also thankful for a "woman cooked meal".
The Grannie: (Poll conducted by phone) I am thankful for Life, Health and Family.

I am also thankful that you took the time to read this.
God bless you!
Lawana

Bits and Pieces

Here are some things you may not know, or care to know, but I need to share. Our oldest son is a helicopter pilot. He is a decorated hero. He has a wonderful wife and his children are beautiful. We pray for him every day. They have a Chiweenie just as we do. They NEED our prayers if their chiweenie is anything like ours!

Our second son is also a decorated hero. He is now working in the defense industry as a civilian. His wife is a gift and his boys are way too sweet. There is another baby on the way. We are very proud of them all and pray for them every day, even though they do not have a chiweenie. They do, however, have Spud, the talking, "Woody" impersonating cat. Amazing!

Our third son is on a boat in Bristol bay trying to catch all the sockeye salmon in the ocean. He left his precious wife here to hold down the fort. We pray for them though they neither have a chiweenie, nor a Woody impersonating cat. They do have a very sweet marriage and lots of cute names for the adorable children they will have some day. Oh and this daughter-in-law tries to alienate the affections of my new kitten, Strongbad, whom she calls Kevin!

Our 4th son is bearing down on his 18th birthday and hoping to transition to supported independent living. He now owns a rice maker, two Tupperware containers with lids,and  an electric teapot. I am pretty sure visions of sugarplums are dancing in his head. We pray for him daily, though he owns no Chiweenie, no Woody impersonating cat nor does he rename and try to steal my kitten Strongbad!

Our 16 year old son is driving, a lot, everywhere, every day. He would drive to the bathroom if we would let him. I think he drives in his sleep! He has suddenly become blind to the dents and faded paint of the decades old Chevy Cavalier we let him use. It has an engine...and wheels...it starts...and runs...it is therefore a thing of beauty. We pray for him every day for obvious reasons!

Our 15 year old daughter is away at camp...for the first time...in the far away land of Idaho. She could have driven there. She could probably run the camp. She might be having fun right now without us! We pray for her daily, though she has neither a Chiweenie, nor a talking cat, nor visions of sugarplums, nor the alienated affections of Strongbad/Kevin. She does;  however, own a pig named Ariadne. Hey! Are there boys at that camp?

Our 9 year old son has prayed diligently to get to go to VBS. God has said, "Yes." and has provided a way for him to stay in Missoula with friends. (Thanks R and S!) He will be staying away from us for four days and 3 nights. I am not sure that is allowed. He will probably not even notice we are home alone without him. We pray for him because Vacation Bible School with Brother Larry Hoyle is amazing, challenging and possibly dangerous!

Our 6 year old daughter is amazing. With paralyzed legs, she is taking her world by storm. She is able and impressive. She is visiting with friends this week. She hopes to play in the water with her little friend Eve. We pray for her because she can get into more trouble than  2 Chiweenies, 2 cats, talking and non talking, a driving 16 year old, a helicopter pilot, a commercial fisherman  and a whole summer camp full of kids combined.

My beloved has migraines that mimic strokes, strokes that mimic migraines and sometimes both at the same time. That happened today during church. After 5 hours at the E.R. we determined it was the former. I am so thankful there was no stroke. God is so merciful. The dad to all the amazing young people I mentioned before needs to be in good shape to keep up with them.

In the stress of the hospital visit, I left my purse in the grocery store. Thank you God and whoever the honest person was who took the purse, untouched to the manager.

I thank God for my family. For health, safety and happiness. I hope you are enjoying these blessings too.

Lawana
P.S. We had frost here in my yard this morning! June 27th and frost!

Are You Paying it Forward?

The thought of paying forward is a recurring theme in my writing. I have benefited from the benevolence of others my entire life.My parents were known for paying it forward before the phrase was even penned. I went into a local restaurant this weekend and visited with the owner/waitress. She was so excited that a stranger off the freeway had just helped her out.

The lady came into the restaurant just as a large private party was leaving and the lunch hour was beginning. As this stranger waited for her food, she noticed that my friend was having a hard time catching up the dirty tables. Somewhere, she found a cloth and went to work.

My friend was so touched by this rancom act of kindness. I am sure it made her entire day go better. I know she passed a kindness on to me while I was there.

I would like to challenge you today. Make it a goal to commit 3 random acts of kindness. If possible, do these anonymously. Pray and think about what you can do. Ask God to guide you and to show you the people who are in need. Be willing to leave your comfort zone and sacrifice. We are a blessed nation, but there are hurting people interwoven into our lives. Touch someone today. Do something for someone that will make them cry tears of joy or shake their heads in amazement.

Some of you will do your R.A.K.s at work, some outside the grocery store. Perhaps this challenge will take you into the local hospital or nursing home. Maybe you will pay someone's power bill, or paint someone's fingernails. Can you do yardwork for an elderly neighbor, or give away nice detergent to the people at the laundromat? Perhaps it will be closer to home. Maybe a date with a child who has seemed distant, or helping your spouse with the job they have been dreading. The options are endless.

After you have done these things, please share here. Either share anonymously or in some way that won't mess up your gift. Remember, the recipient of your gift could read thisblog. It is a small world. We all could use the encouragement and possibly use your ideas for our own giving in the future.

I am making my list right now. Will you accept the challenge?

Lawana

Sleeping People

It is a beautiful Saturday morning. Our children have permission to sleep in until 8:00 and they are doing a very good job. My beloved is also still sleeping. He almost never gets to sleep past 6:00 and I am thankful he is getting a little more sleep today. Even the bald hill that curves protectively around our place has a sleepy air about it this morning.

When I got up, I made the rounds. I looked at each sleeping face. I listened to each person's characteristic breathing. I thanked God they were not scattered in a jungle or in a desert trying to avoid persecution as some of their counterparts in today's world are. I prayed for the people who are being persecuted in the world. I tried to think specifically of who the individuals might be, wanting my prayer to be valid, not just a mantra that I say every day. I am so grateful to be safe. For my children's biggest concerns to be getting an education and balancing their schedules or perhaps whether they will need another surgery.

There are many mothers who won't be able to find their families today. Perhaps they will be reunited in a refugee camp some day, perhaps only in eternity. I pray for peace in their countries. As the Bible admonishes, I pray for the peace of Jerusalem. When Jerusalem is finally at peace, it will mean that the Lord has returned as the King of Kings! In that day even predators will be at peace with their prey and little children will be able to play with an asp (a type of viper) safely. Please come quickly, Lord Jesus.

Today, as I enjoy  undeserved privileges and prosperity that are greater than those of  99% of the world, I plan to be joyfully grateful. I am going for a walk now, in a safe area, while my children rest safely untouched by fire, flood, famine, or war.. I am hugely thankful for all my blessings.

Lawana


P.S. What song did I sing in my sleep last night?

                                                                                     
Lead Me To Calvary

King of my life, I crown Thee now,
Thine shall the glory be;
Lest I forget Thy thorn crowned brow,
Lead me to Calvary.

Lest I forget Gethsemane,
Lest I forget Thine agony;
Lest I forget Thy love for me,
Lead me to Calvary.

Show me the tomb where Thou wast laid,
Tenderly mourned and wept;
Angels in robes of light arrayed
Guarded Thee whilst Thou slept.

Let me like Mary, through the gloom,
Come with a gift to Thee;
Show to me now the empty tomb,
Lead me to Calvary.

May I be willing, Lord, to bear
Daily my cross for Thee;
Even Thy cup of grief to share,
Thou hast borne all for me.

Singing in My Heart

I sing in my heart all the time. I sing all through the night. Usually the same song  all night and most often a Christian Hymn that I sang in my childhood. Last night, it was, "When we all get to heaven." The entire night there was this backdrop of music playing in my head and the first thoughts I had upon awakening were of my Father in Heaven. I consider that a big blessing. This has not always been the case. There have been times when I awakened to say, "Oh no!" Not another day like yesterday!" I am not sure why, as my days haven't gotten much easier lately, but my attitude has improved significantly. I am sure it is a gift from God and I hope it is long term..


I think singing is another way of talking to God and linking ourselves to him. I see it kind of like parachute cords. As I sing to the Lord and he listens, I can almost see a cord being sewn into the big billowy parachute that is his blessing and protection. For me it is a two way street. I sing to him. He listens...the love is "sewn" back and forth as if by an invisible hand. When I can't sing, I whistle, but I am thinking the words of praise that go with the music. It keeps me tied to his presence, keeps me seeking his face and when I am simply too tired to even chirp, I feel the breeze lift my chute just a little, just a nudge to remember that he is still there. That he is still in control of my direction and speed and that he has not let me go. Then in that moment when I am all dead weight and he is all "lift" I hear another song and he gives me breath to sing it.