11.30.23

Giving Thanks for:

Listening to and singing Christmas music while gathering greenery

Here with Us 

by Joy Williams

It's still a mystery to me

That the hands of God could be so small

How tiny fingers reaching in the night

Were the very hands that measured the sky

Hallelujah, hallelujah 

Heaven's love reaching down to save the world

Hallelujah, hallelujah 

Son of God, servant King

Here with us, You're here with us

It's still a mystery to me

How His infant eyes have seen the dawn of time

How His ears have heard an angel's symphony

But still Mary had to rock her Savior to sleep

Hallelujah, hallelujah 

Heaven's love reaching down to save the world

Hallelujah, hallelujah 

Son of God, servant King

Here with us, You're here with us

Jesus, the Christ, born in Bethlehem

A baby born to save, to save the souls of man

Hallelujah, hallelujah 

Heaven's love reaching down to save the world

Hallelujah, hallelujah 

Son of God, servant King

Here with us

Hallelujah, hallelujah 

Heaven's love reaching down to save the world

Hallelujah, hallelujah 

Son of God, servant King

Here with us,

You're here with us

You're here with us

11.29.23

Giving Thanks for:

Time to sit with and thank God for these memories and my Mom 

 

11.28.23

Giving Thanks for:

This evening of beautiful music shared with people I love,

and this prayer in the service that Kim had shared earlier today.

"O God, who makes us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of thy only Son, Jesus Christ:

Grant that as we joyfully receive Him for our redeemer, so we may with sure confidence behold Him, when He shall come to be our judge; who liveth and reigneth with thee 

and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. 

Amen."

11.27.23

Giving Thanks for:

A sweet day of "Shopping Small" downtown and then...way out of town!

Hooray for having our Christmas tree now and a few gifts to put under it too!

 

11.26.23

Giving Thanks for:

Thanksgiving meal leftovers...one tiny pie at a time

    

 

11.25.23

Giving Thanks for:

A Quiet Day

"For the Lord is GOOD.

His UNFAILING LOVE continues forever, 

and His FAITHFULNESS continues to each generation."

Psalm 100:5

His love endures forever

His love endures forever

His love endures forever

Amen

11.24.23

Giving Thanks for:

Kicking off the Christmas season with this sweet ride

It was as joyful to hear all about it as it would have been if I had ridden it myself.

 

11.23.23

Giving Thanks for:

Fun, Feasting, and Family

I love traditions and a full house.

These people and the ones I didn't get a picture of too.

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!

His faithful love endures forever."

Psalm 107:1

 

11.22.23

Giving Thanks for:

People in my life who have different gifts than I do

Especially today, it is this dear helpful one!

Planner | Organized | Excellent attention to detail | 

Finishes task in advance (!) 

11.21.23

Giving Thanks for:

Emma's help with grocery shopping and unloading and thinking through all the things!

 

11.20.23

Giving Thanks for:

The people at Food City who look out for folks like me...

the ones who don't check guidelines for how long it takes to thaw a turkey. 

Relieved to find a few of these guys in a refrigerated cooler and not the freezer!!

Thanks also, Rachel for the gentle nudge to rally for a trip to the store! 

11.19.23

Giving Thanks for:

Peace and comfort in altered plans when we both started feeling poorly.

And finding all the ingredients for homemade soup and sandwich night in the house!

11.18.23

Giving Thanks for:

My guy coming home early and working so hard to clean and beautify this space!

11.17.23

Giving Thanks for:

Lots of Ballet Friends at Our Town's Old Fashioned Downtown Christmas

 

11.16.23

Giving Thanks for:

God's Glory viewed through my windshield!

and 

the Gift of Girlfriends,

who walk and talk and text and chat and dine and laugh with me,

 bringing joy and cheer to this day!

"Sing a new song to the LORD,

for He has done wonderful deeds. 

His right hand has won a mighty victory;

His holy arm has shown His saving power!

Shout to the LORD, all the earth;

break out in praise and sing for joy!"

Psalm 98:1, 4

 

11.15.23

Giving Thanks for:

This beautiful Birthday Girl ~ my Best Good Gift of 1996!

Grateful to get to celebrate her with joy and laughter and cake!!!

How timely to read this verse this morning:

"Every good and perfect gift is from above,

coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,

who does not change like shifting shadows."

James 1:17

11.14.23

Giving Thanks for:

The Staff at Dominion and all their extra efforts to host a lovely family Thanksgiving meal!

And also these two sharing stories! 

"Give Thanks to the LORD for He is Good"

Psalm 107:1

11.13.23

Giving Thanks for:

Getting to be in the audience for the sweetest piano recital today

11.12.23

Giving Thanks for:

Ellia's enthusiasm about helping prepare the classroom for the "Walkers Class"

After we chatted about her fun dress and she showed me how it twirled,

I told her I was going to go set up the classroom for her brothers.

She immediately asked, "Can I come help you?"

"..Jesus said, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! 

For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children."

Matthew 19:14

11.11.23

Giving Thanks for:

Lots of laughs with my super sweet and silly niece Adeline!!

What a JOY to hear all about her first swim meet!

and

Before this fun FaceTime, I loved my first visit to The Loft for

Sweet Fellowship and Yummy Homemade Authentic French Crêpes!!

 

11.10.23

Giving Thanks for:

My favorite Veteran 

and the opportunity he had to share with Our Town's middle schoolers today.

Thankful for this guy, his willingness to serve our country in multiple ways, 

and that I get to accompany him in his pursuit of adventure. 

God has given us so many wonderful places to call home and 

beautiful, faithful friends along this journey. 

"...let us run with endurance the race that is set before us..."

Hebrews 12:1

 

11.09.23

Giving Thanks for:

Marion and the gift of her time and talents!

What fun was had as we learned from her!

Thanking her also for this excellent reminder:

..your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit...

so you must honor God with your body

"Ne réalisez-vous pas que votre corps est le temple du Saint-Esprit, 

qui vit en vous et qui vous a été donné par Dieu ? 

Tu ne t'appartiens pas, 20 car Dieu t'a acheté à un prix élevé. 

Vous devez donc honorer Dieu avec votre corps."

1 Corinthiens 6:19-20

11.08.23

Giving Thanks for:

Family Dinner Night!!

Everyone back in one place,

 enjoying tales of travels and adventure!

Their shared laughter is one of my favorite sounds!

11.07.23

Giving Thanks for:

The beauty of daybreak, the sun slowly spreading light on the mountains, 

while I was reading this very Proverb (!), 

and then later, a mid-day date at a cute, little, not crowded coffee shop! 

"The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,

which shines ever brighter until the full light of day."

Proverbs 4:18

 

11.06.23

Giving Thanks for:

A fun adventure day to find and enjoy this piece of history!

The Original Mast General Store

Valle Crucis, North Carolina

 

11.05.23

Giving Thanks for:

God's Glorious painting of the sky this evening in one of our favorite places!

"The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,

before the Lord of all the earth."

Psalm 97:5

 

11.04.23

Giving Thanks for:

Time with Klas and Julie in super charming Greenville, South Carolina 

11.03.23

Giving Thanks for:

Rachel, a walk together in winter gear today (!), 

her willingness to hold space for all my emotions, and

her faithfulness to point me to Jesus!

"Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise..."

Proverbs 13:20

11.02.23

Giving Thanks for:

The Beauty found in a quiet day of rest spent at home

 

11.01.23

Giving Thanks for:

 Mel's gracious hospitality and time to be creative with some multi-talented women