Feeling rather Grateful-February 2011

It snowed today....so soft and feathery, big fluffs of heaven raining down. It caught me racing around, thoughts racing, my agenda spinning, but then...

I was memorized.

And watch.

It was so ethereal.

I could feel my eyelids relax into their blink. I wrapped my arms around my excited ten year old.

The beauty of the day stopped him for a moment too(which doesn't happen too often), when he said, "Look Mom, Mr. Downing's trees are dreadlocked with snow!" Oh sweet boy! What a perfect description.

The rumble of the city seems to stop too, just to listen for the quiet of the snowfall for just a little while.

I really don't do this enough both the stopping and the listening. There is such great value in both of those things. Speaking of valueable things, here is a snippet of my grateful list for February.

I'm Grateful for:

• Wee little babies
• Chocolate brownies
• Capable Children
• Chirping birds in the sun
• Walks to the park
• Time to myself
• Reconciliation
• White feathery snow that makes us stop and listen
• The boyish-man hands of my oldest son rubbing my tired shoulders
• Spring bulbs
• An evening off from activities

I also using a set of scripture prayers complied by Bob Hostetler called 31 Ways to Pray for Your Children. (new thing #3)

Todays's prayer:

Faith " I pray that faith will find root and grow in my children's hearts, that by faith they may gain what has been promised to them" (Luke 17:5-6, Hebrews 11:1-40) Lord may they actively seek to worship and grow their faith daily in you. I pray that when they have turned from it, they will feel as if their bones are moaning,

(Psalms 32:3)

that this would serve to remind them of the path of righteousness and return to it. ~Amen.

Feeling rather Grateful-January 2011

Usually winter brings me to an ordinary shade of gray. My hair seems grayer, the pacific northwest sky is gloomed in multi-gray, even the trees and grass of my yard are lensed in gray. Ordinary...blah-ness.

But this year I have decided to do some things different with the help of my gracious Savior. I have been pondering my perspective and have found that I am just letting life happen, rather than living out the moments. Where did the joy of each day go?

I wonder...

I seem to have found my self in this familiar place but can't recall which path I took to get here. Ever feel this way? I don't want to live out my days in passivity, giving me the opportunity to just idly complain.

I am choosing to be grateful.

But new habits like memorizing scripture (new thing #1) and choosing to live gratefully (new thing #2) have to be practiced. So I'm practicing...

Here is a snippet of my grateful list for January.

I'm Grateful for:

• Dinner with a life long friend- talking about the deep things of our lives
• Thankful for sickness- sometimes the only way to stop, think, and gain new perspective and turn
• A programmable crock pot- my constant companion
• A studio filled with treasure to create with
• New books to read and enrich my life with
• Seeing the value in memorizing God's word
• A little boy who needs a talking to everyday about self-control
• A husband who makes me feel safe
• A friendly face at Starbucks, blueberry scones, and my sketchbook.

I also using a set of scripture prayers complied by Bob Hostetler called 31 Ways to Pray for Your Children. (new thing #3)

Todays's prayer:

Prayerfulness: " Grant, Lord, that my children's lives may be marked by prayerfulness, that they may learn to pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests"

Ephesians 6:18

Big Blessings in Small Sweet Packages

I have been maneuvering past lots of life bumps and emotional potholes on my path recently. Lately, it seems like the weight is draining my joy. I hate it when that happens! I write this with a bit of tongue and cheek in mind but, I really do hate it when I lose my handhold on joy! I find it most irritating because I am a fun loving creature by nature. I just am not me without it.

But grace is new every morning and this morning was no exception. I woke rested, physically refreshed and ready for the day, this was

Big Blessing numeral uno!

As I went about my day I had clarity of thought, and diligence in action. It was a good day of tying up loose ends and accomplishments. Out of the corner of my eyes I kept getting glimpses of two little impish elves(two of my kids) flittering about the house.

What were they up to?

Oh ...stay on task, Heather.

Stay focused.

Pretty soon, as I came into the kitchen I noticed this on the counter:

Big Blessing #2

Then a sweet little boy of mine told me with a twinkle of delight, to check in my bedroom, "there was something on my bed!" Well, that's strange because I hadn't made my bed yet. And this is what I found on my bed:

Big Blessing #3

Sometimes God sends me small sweet packages filled with Big Blessings. Tiny collections of trinkets, little bits and pieces of love tied with ric rac.

This was one of those days where my children were the bearers of God's kindness, the messengers of encouraging words to a tired mama's soul. They were just the map I needed to avoid the bumps and potholes and find my trail back to joy again. They lead me straight to the foot of the cross and the refuge of a loving Savior.

Oh Lord, you are such a wonder to me, who am I that you are mindful of me?

Thank you Father in heaven for your refining fires that I may count it all joy. Amen

Altered Art Thankfulness Book

This is my Grateful Book for the Layers of Color Designer Challenge. The challenge was to take a chunky child's book and alter it, the theme being what we are thankful for. Doesn't this theme lend itself nicely to the Fall season we are in? I used a big board book the kind that has flaps to open. I thought this an interesting element that would lend itself to the wonderful world of altered books. That is one of the things I love the most about altered books- the unexpected treasure that you find along the way, as you explore each page. Flaps are perfect for that! This is the cover and first inside pages, there will be more to come as they are completed. It is entitled: The Wondrous Gift. I got this out of an old 1883 Gospel Hymnal.

The first page is Faith and without it I am truly lost. This is true in all areas of my life. When I married and had my first child I turned a corner in life and followed a different path. On this trail I realized that I simply could not live my life separate from my faith...

and I am grateful I have never looked back.

There and many uses of symbolism, the colors gold, brass and copper. These metals are so beautiful when they are aged even thought they may tarnish on the outside the inside still glows with warm light when polished. Its reflective properties are reveal too. I often feel this way when I think about how God sees me. He is the one that rubs away the tarnish of my soul to reveal my uniqueness and who He created me to be. I am also able to glow with the peace of Christ. Sometimes in life others don't see this or don't even bother to look, its old, tarnished... no good. I think that is why I like things that are old and worn in all the right places. It reminds me that what I see isn't all there is in the journey that has been traveled.

There are words and music which are part of who I am, without them I am lonely. The jewel and key: reminders of how being grateful is such a jewel of character and is often the key to changing our perspectives in life.

I hope this inspires you to remember all that you have to be thankful for, letting all that you have overflow into generosity! That is my desire this Thanksgiving. I have so much to be grateful for....I hope my art expresses the gratitude of my heart.

2 Corinthians 9:10-12

10Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 12This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.

Girl Time Tidbit #5 Making A Doll's House

This summer I have had the great pleasure of watching myself create as a little girl. What do I mean by that? Keep reading and it will become clear. My daughter was inspired by a book I had purchased for summer reading. A Doll's House by Rumber Godden, this book was the inspiration for a great adventure: she began the wonderful project of building her own doll house.

At first, I began to hear hammering and pounding and all sorts of sound coming from the back porch. I realized that it was my daughter and when asked what she needed a saw for she sweetly replied," Well, to cut the eves for the roof to my doll house." To which I casually answered," Oh but of course, wait...WHAT?"

So, using the time tested tactic of diverting to a higher authority, I sent her on to her Dad, obviously. Tools of that nature are his and permission must come from the top. Being a clever man and knowing his daughter very well, he had the good sense to urge her to unite her efforts and use a much better material for doll houses...cardboard boxes, what a brilliant man!

It was a hard sell, but she complied after working pretty hard and conning her littlest brother into helping, like any good Fore-woman will do, to hold the board she was trying to saw. Finally, she decided that maybe cardboard would be a better option and really, it had already been two days and not much progress had been made on this wonderful design.

That's when it happened for me. Sometimes we forget the simple joys of our childhood. Our memories are clouded with the worry and obligations of adulthood. Then when you least expect it, a memory is triggered and you transport to the recesses of your mind to a place of joy and creativity.

There I was on my four poster bed with scissors, tape, crayons, material scraps, and found treasures, creating and sewing. The autumn sun streaming in the upstairs window of my pink carpeted room. There in that place, wonderful things were imagined and all things were possible. And yes... I was making a doll house!

Mine was smaller in scale and used only one shoebox. I created mine with the opening up so that you looked down into the rooms from the ceiling. I made little towels for the bathroom and use tinfoil for the mirror. There were curtains on every window and a golden bead for the front door handle. I used matchboxes for drawers and spools with a cardboard cut circle glued on top for the kitchen table. It even had a table cloth on it where acorn cap bowls were the table setting. In the living room there were rugs on the floor and chairs made from bottle caps and twisted wire. There was even a fireplace in the corner, which looked more like a bonfire pit than a fireplace, how sweet.

What wonderful things to remember.

I love to see the Lord bring me full circle in that way. Often it happens when I am too serious about things. If you know me well, you know I love a good surprise and this is one that caught me off guard. It warms my insides and makes me smile really big, to know that my daughter is experiencing that wonderful time of life, just like I did, called girlhood.

Father in Heaven, thank you that I have eyes to see your lessons for me. I am so grateful for the pleasures you brought to me as a child. Thank you for reminding me of my girlhood and all its sweetness.

You are a wonder to me Lord, Amen

Grateful Sunday

I have quite a few things to be grateful for here are just a few...

• Visiting the ocean and the smell of the salty-sea air
• Watching my children run in wild abandonment at the vast space begging for blissful play
• Quite peaceful mornings in meditation and prayer
• Learning something new-I took a gardening class :o)
• Working in my garden, watching the wonder of growing things, how does God make things grow out of this soil and earth?
• The contented joy of a days work done well and the tired body to go with it :o)
• Working towards a common goal
• Looking forward to good things to come

Thank you Lord for this day and all that has been in it!

A Thousand Gifts

This week was a hard week especially the last couple of days. So I am eeking this out with the last ounce of energy, hopefully it will be glorifying to the Lord and change my attitude.

I am grateful for a life lived with trial, it is through trial I have gained character. It is through suffering that some of the hard edges of pride and haughtiness have been struck off. It is through perseverance that these edges are worn smooth. Press on. Remember to die to self is to gain.

I am grateful I can forgive those who have wrong me.

I am grateful to have a life filled with a longing to continue to learn new things about myself
even when they are things I may not like.

Then I am grateful to posess the will to change it and the Holy Spirit who can transform the heart from the inside out. It is nice to know I don't have to do it all by myself!

I grateful for a plot of land to till and get my fingers dirty in.

I'm grateful for a tired sore body that tells me I have accomplished something today.

A Thousand Gifts

I am grateful for:

A quiet room to be in my own brain with my own thoughts

The sad eyes of chastisement which tell me I am getting through

A husband who focuses on the big picture goals

A daughter happy to be home from college(how huge is that?! :o)

Sleepy loving good-night kisses

Pillow-top king size bed aaahhhhh!

Endless Gifts in a Journal

I have often used gratitude to re-adjust my attitude. How about you have you ever started a list of things you are grateful for and realized that whatever is going on in life really isn't as overwhelming as it first seemed. I have just joined one of my favorite bloggers Ann Voskamp of Holy Experience in One Thousand Gifts, the Gratitude Community.

Actually, I started doing this a number of years ago, listing things I'm grateful for. I actually have a journal that is specifically for this purpose. A place where I have written the outflowing of a heart of pure gratefulness. How good it is to revisit these pages, my old friends. With a heavy sigh I realize,I have grown away from this habit. I am realizing as I read these entries that not only does my attitude change but so does my focus of life. My eyes focus heavenward to a God who is endless in comfort, mighty in His pursuit of me, and oh so loving when I am, oh so unlovable. What a wonder!

Here is an entry from this Gratitude Journal, it seemed appropriate for the restarting of my pursuit of gratitude. I encourage you to try it, I know He will forever change you and one day you will find that you look more like Jesus and what a beautiful image that will be.

Oct. 18, 2000

... I so need this Grateful Journal- It puts me back in the place I am best suited to serve my Savior humbly broken and sitting at His feet with unspeakable joy and gratitude for loving a sinner like myself. We don't often talk of gratitude like we should. We are selfish and often take the credit for things we could never orchestrate or even worse, we choose not to acknowledge the accumulation of all the little things which point us to our Maker.

There are 3 areas that I am grateful for:

1. Heritage: For me this isn't the earthly heritage most of us are grateful for because my family is dysfunctional and blended. But I'm grateful for the vision God put in my husband and my heart to aspire to our Godly heritage and to be "Repairers of the Breach."

" Those from among you Shall build the old waste places, You shall raise up the foundations of many generations and you shall be called the Repairers of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In."

Isaiah 58:12

We will do all that we can to start and repair the Godly heritage that has been broken in our own families of origin. We are new creations in Christ and therefore we no longer need to be bound by what used to be, righteousness and strength of Godly character can begin with us, intentionally.

2.Simplicity:Life is complicated! BUT I don't have to choose to add to that equation. In fact I can choose something else entirely... This is a tangible blessing to us from the Lord this is His doing in our lives with out His guidance all this could be much different in our lives and I am so grateful for each day that we get to do what we do.

3. Forgiveness and Grace: There some relationships in my life right now that have shake me personally. I am so grateful our Lord loves us even when we are unlovable. Not only that he pays a debt we could never repay. His death on the cross is so hard for me to get my heart around. I'm learning that there is nothing with greater eternal value-nothing than God's grace and love. But its the process of learning to be like Christ that humbles me everyday, because I am SO NOT like Him! I'm so glad that His mercy is new each day. May I strive each day to treat those I love and care for like my Master and Creator treats me.

So change me Lord, from the inside out. Rub the grains of gratitude and rough away the hard edges of selfishness and self-absorption. I desire to see your fingerprints on my life Lord and in return I will praise you in acknowledgement that you are all I need. Amen