Thankful Thursday

When I venture off the beaten path
My worries seem to shed
The way the shadows make a way
to which I should be lead

The magical sounds of 1,000 birds
Singing thanks for the gift of life
I raise my hands over my head
And send thanks, too, for on my path,
there is no strife

The crunchy golden leaves & sticks
comfort me underfoot
The way the sun highlights God's work
 Careful steps I put

If I had a choice, I would always be
off the beaten path
To clear my head, find my center
and be thankful for all I have.

"Do You....

 I don't usually get into religious or political things with folks. No religion talks because everyone has their own faith in their own higher power.

I don't talk politics because I am extremely politically incorrect. I don't know enough (or never paid attention enough) to know what was going on, so I steer clear.

... See

 A few days ago, a close friend, who considers himself Islam, sent me a couple of YouTube vids. of a Pastor who mentored him back in the day. The pastor was saying what lies the Bible tells, and the books of the Bible are all stories made up & translated. He said the "King James" version of the Bible was created by a man named James Stuart.

There was another video called "There is no Jesus & he's not coming Back." I didn't bother to watch that one because I couldn't get past the first video.

... what

 I told my friend that this was against everything I had ever learned in my life, and while it was interesting to give a listen, I couldn't agree with it because I know who my Lord & Savior are. The pastor that preaches this & has many videos out there, almost made it sound racially charged.

The things I heard stung me! As my thoughts lingered on them, I had to have some quiet meditation to refocus myself.

I...

...See?"

I KNOW God is my Father. He has gotten me through SO much, and I KNOW Jesus is in my heart and he died on the rugged cross for all of our sins. My faith sustains me; keeps me calm in the storm; God's arms comfort me when I need hugging, love & understanding.

When I was a child, about 9/10 yrs. & took the "big plunge" of asking Jesus to come into my heart forever, my most super favorite Bible School teacher taught me on my five fingers that Jesus said:
1) I
2) shall
3) never
4) leave
5) thee


He never has, and I'll be damned if I start to ever doubt Him.

I'll call this learning lesson: Different strokes for different folks (courtesy of Sly & the Family Stone) Lol.

Pictures taken by: me

Created by: God

Amen :-)

My Alma Mater

 What a great weekend. Slow, not too hot, a nice breeze, grilling, high school car washes, relaxing on my part w/card making & some reading. The Hall of Fame Kick Off Community Parade was today; son, me & mom never miss it. It's a tradition before the "big" Hall of Fame Parade next Saturday when the football players are inducted into the Hall of Fame, then they ride in the parade. It's a pretty big deal here in football town. It's almost surreal to see them 2 feet away from you riding on the back of a convertible. Sweet.

I picked up THREE more books at the library book sale. Why? Because I need another book like I need another eye. Lol. It's official - I'm addicted. I just bough the 3 from Amazon, Jesus Calling from Walmart, now these 3 in less than 3 weeks.

I found Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life. I know it's years old, but I never read it & it was only a buck, so what's to lose? This copy was definitely well loved; it's FULL of highlights, underlines, marginal notes. The best.

The "Human Flag". Toss your spare change onto the flag.

Elizabeth Berg's Home Safe is another. I have always loved her books. So 'homey', real & honest. I've listened to a couple of hers on audio while driving to work. Love.

Lastly, Bring on the Blessings by Beverly Jenkins. A woman becomes VERY rich in a divorce settlement & buys and old town that used to be a 'slave town.' Even though it's a very sad, dark period of time, I love reading about slavery, while my heart aches.

There were a TON of Queens & Princesses. More than enough.. Lol.

One of our many churches, St. John's. It's magnificent.

Shot out my bathroom window. Hall of Fame Kickoff.

I'm over a mile away from downtown. Not bad, huh? :-)

Pictures by: me ;-}

Thankful Thursday

Hey there! When I find pretty blogs with good ideas, I get all overwhelmed & start to hyperventilate. I found this pretty place & loved the idea of taking time to give thanks each day & calling it the "joy dare." There are even 'thankful' assignments for each day of the month & 'joy lists' for you to write your thankfulness each day. Did I say these two items are also pretty?

So, I printed them both out, gave thanks for yesterday & today, then felt goofy. I mean I was actually thankful for what I wrote, but it just looked so weird. Then I decided it's not weird - I'm not in the habit of writing things down, no matter how small. It should get better as I go.

I'm thankful I found such a place.

I am thankful that I had the chance to meet the accountant (last year) who prepped my taxes. She was also battling cancer. She passed away this past Monday. I'll never forget her presence, so strong, yet so frail.

I am thankful for my son's peaceful, calm, spirit.

I am thankful that "D" took it upon himself to take the left over pork roast, add it to the crock w/veggies & slow cook all night. The smells were heavenly & by morning, we had dinner ready & I had lunch.

I am thankful for family, always.

I am thankful for the power of words or a touch. It really doesn't require much to encourage folks, or give them a little touch when you're talking. You'd be amazed how relaxed it makes them :-)

Finally, I am thankful for being wonderfully, powerfully, and uniquely made. Thanks, God.

Till next time, stay thankful!!

Thankful Thursday

Happy Thankful Thursday to all of you. It seems like this day comes about faster each week! Some random thanks are:

This absolutely adorable insulated lunch bag, tailored just for me ("Cuppa T" Photography) by my sis, Paulette. It doesn't get any cuter than this, does it? I am thankful & blessed for her surprise visit, which we don't do often enough. It felt good to sit and catch up. She's a beautiful, funny, strong, lady :-)

Now tell me - how could one NOT be thankful for this smile? I mean, really? This is my Jeremiah who came to visit the other night. Him sitting on my lap trying to teach me the "Angry Birds" game warmed my hearth through and through.

I am thankful that mom has the strength & dedication to always come to Son's basketball games & cheer him on.

I am thankful that I am so fascinated with the rising sun and the setting moon that I always pull over to capture and share. Who can focus on driving when you got this going on in the East and the moon (above) in the West?? :-)

I am thankful that there exists such a spot as this that just begs for you to take a seat and let your mind wander out over the water.

I am lastly (for now) thankful for "D" having gainful employment which has taken a huge amount of pressure off me. He is always so eager and anxious to help out with "his money." This Sunday, I'm going shopping for a new pair of good quality walking shoes - "D"'s treat. It ain't the Hope Diamond, but I am thankful as if it were.

Thanks for reading today, & always, stay thankful!


Pictures by: me :->

Thankful Thursday

"Within you there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself."~ Hermann Hesse

And with these pictures, I try to still myself to the many feelings of inadequacy I've been feeling lately. Why is it that we are our hardest masters, yet so lenient with others?

Let me transport myself back to early Fall when I took these pictures, and get the feeling of calm & peace with just me & the camera. That is when I'm my best "still" inside.

Greetings every one! I simply cannot believe how quickly Thankful Thursday comes around! A few thanks in my head are:

• Again, always thankful for mom. After yesterday's lunch, I told her having lunch picked me up & made me happy. She told me she never thought of herself of being anyone's "pick-er-up-er" and that made her happy. So... we were/are a couple of happy girls.
• Thankful for the good "belly laughing" time I had last night @ son's basketball practice, laughing with a couple other mom's. We were talking about our sons' different quirks that make them so unique. I was laughing so hard, I had tears rolling! LOL! It's always good to laugh like that
  

• I am thankful for the fact that the one mom said of her other four "typical" children, she had/has no relationship with the parents of their friends. In fact, she rarely ever knew anything of the parents. But with our "in crowd" (LOL!), she said we have formed a bond of love and family forever. Now how cool is that?
• Thankful that the nasty bit of snow/ice we got earlier in the week has given way to dry roads, blue sky & sunshine. God clearly knows my tires are bald as my forehead & driving with them terrifies me! Lol!
• And lastly, I'm thankful that I got out some particular special cards to those who have been on my mind & in my prayers.

Stay thankful & still... :-)

Thankful Thursday (Christmas Edition :-))

Happy Thankful Thursday to you all. Christmas is fast approaching so tomorrow will be all about working 1/2 a day, then shopping as far as my wallet allows :-)

Today's thanks are:

Truly feeling the Christmas Season; and since I'm not stressed about buying, I'm more focused on the reason for the Season which, in my life, means the birth of Jesus, our Savior, spending time with family, spreading love, being filled with love & caring/praying for those less fortunate & helping in any way I can. If I can't help physically or monetarily, I can certainly pray for you!


That I was wise enough to hold onto my 20-year old collection of Tamarlane ornaments from my first "law" boss who is now a retired Judge. Every year when I put them on the tree, I am reminded of his warm kindness & of giving me a chance when I didn't know law from a hole in the ground. Thanks, Judge Boggins.


For the beautiful, fresh trees we get year after year from the Fairgrounds, complete with trimmings for the fire place mantle. There's something to be said for being faithful to good, local vendors. They always throw in little extras.

That we all got together @ mom's for her 79th birthday last Sunday. We always end up stuffed into her kitchen in spite of all the other living space she has. There's something about gathering in the kitchen - all 12 of us! The warmth, love, hugs & laughter that I still feel long after we've all parted ways is truly a blessing.

That in the nearly three months that "D" as been back to work, we seem to have gotten closer. I'm sure it's because since he's back in the rat race, his self-esteem has returned, as well as his self-worth. And for me, I feel different because I have so much more sorely needed alone time without having to shut myself in my bedroom to get it. He works evenings, so we communicate through notes. We're getting the air we both needed. And it feels good. And that's something I haven't said in a very, very long time.

And lastly - I'm just thankful for everything; friends, family, employment, shelter, transportation, my full heart, those who read here; those I met through this space. If I don't write again before Holiday, (& I will try to), I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas & Happy Hanukkah.

Pictures by: me :-}

Thankful Thursday

Good Thankful Thursday to you! Today's thanks off the top of my head are:

• As mundane & non-challenging as my job is, I am thankful for it, as it does pay the bills
• Watching Son with his basketball team. They have such a brotherhood & they're so kind to each other. I will forever be thankful to Eunice Shriver Kennedy for Special Olympics
• The peaceful feeling I've been having for the past few days. I feel God's presence so strongly
• The sky when it looks like it does in these pictures
• That this Sunday, we're all getting together & celebrate mom's 79th birthday. I'm thankful for her, daily
  
• The general kindness of [some] folks
• That we haven't had snow or any sign of it [yet]. I pray for a snow-free winter
• That Son (even though 24 years) is looking forward to telling "Santa" what he wants for Christmas @ his job's Christmas party tomorrow (I wasn't sure he was still a believer - I'm THRILLED that he is)
  
• That I got all my Christmas cards out, including ones to everyone on my 'angel' list. I don't know them; they don't know me, but I hope the card brings them joy
• That "D" will get the Christmas tree tomorrow (with extra cuttings for the fireplace) & it will be there when I get home from work. I'm looking forward to the smell
• That even though I feel like I'm @ a stop while the rest of the world moves on, that there's something 'big & exciting' out there for me yet!

Stay thankful, everyone!!

Pictures by: me :->

Thankful Thursday

Good Thankful Thursday morning, all. I am thankful, always, however, I'm feeling a life-change coming on, so I have no more words than to say: Thank you. I am looking into finding new employment as I believe I have gone as far as I can go at my present job. The only way to change that is to be proactive, so the resumes will be sent. I don't know what will happen, but I feel confident that God will guide my path - if I take the first step.

Prayers & stay thankful.

"God grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change, the courage to change the one I can, and the wisdom to know it's me." ~Author Unknown

Pictures by: me
Even though our temps are in the 30's with a threat of the dreaded snow tomorrow, I was still able to find "pre-winter" beauty.

Thankful & blessed

Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action. ~W.J. Cameron

In all of my Thanksgiving hostess obsessing, the evening turned out to be very lovely. As usual, it was a lot of fret for no reason. Don't you hate when you clean your ass off - taking extra care on the bathroom & nobody ever uses it?!?! (LOL!)

My guest list was diminished greatly, so I ended up with only two guests. One sister was out of state; the other wanted to relax @ her beautiful home -her first Thanksgiving in her new house; one brother had the flu; one brother ate with his lady friend, & the other brother ate w/his lady friend & her mother.

So that left mom and her gentleman friend. I'm so glad I didn't prepare as much as I thought I would have to.


It came out to be just enough with plenty for left overs. Maybe try some turkey soup? Mmm..

Even though mom ate less than a bird & pushed her food around her plate....

.... and her gentleman friend nearly ate all of the pecan pie...

... I was glad to thankfully share what I had. Son said the entire meal was "awesome!"

Then "D" had to go into work in the evening, so that left me blissfully alone basking the glow of having shared & being blessed. I put on jazz, & enjoyed the lingering scents of dinner, the pumpkin spice candles, the Fall leaves I scattered about, then thanked God for a sweet Thanksgiving, indeed.

Always thankful :-)