Girls,

I dare you not to get teary [or cry -- like me] watching this video. It is a bit long but at least watch the first 3 minutes. Hearing those veterans say, "Welcome home!" and seeing our former President.....sweet!

tonight...

....I get to do one of my most favorite things of the week.

Are you guessing cello lesson?  YOU ARE RIGHT!

To own one of these one day............[sigh].

I'm goin' to practice--later, ya'll...

endless gifts {336-345}

I must count or I will wilt tonight...

336. sleep
337. a day off
338. dead-headed flowers
339. watering cans
340. my church
341. after church pizza and fellowship
342. summer nights
343. crickets
344. old friends
345. sleep

Giving thanks before I go sleep...


ps--get my point?! :)

Peoples!

I have this apparent need to update but it doesn't seem like there is much to say.

How 'bout a list? {I love lists!}

1. Started the nanny job on Tuesday. Love it.
2. It's bakin' hot and humid here. Love it.
3. Crazy busy next week. Love it.
4. School starts for the public schools in a week and a half. Back to my normal scheduling on the 25th. Love it.
5. Saw on old college friend this week. Miss her. Loved getting together!
6. I have had soOoOoOoOoO much sleep this week because I've been going to bed early. Love it.


How's that.

Until next time....

endless gifts {322-335}

322. seeing the dirt {spiritually}
323. seeing the dirt {physically....hello, don't we all want clean houses?!}
324. really, truly funny stories
325. hot weather
326. music, music, music
327. saying YES to nannying and NO to cleaning {a first!!}
328. waking up smiling
329. hymns that run through my head at the most opportune time
330. spending all day with my brother
331. sweet Aunt Sue
332. wonderful cousins
333. incredible grandparents
334. another birthday for my Mom
335. this thought from the sermon last night: Jesus called Judas "friend." Judas. The one who betrayed him. Judas. Jesus, What a Friend for Sinners.......... I really needed that last night even though that was just a bypoint and not even what the sermon was about.

Giving thanks...

cruisin'...

Road trip with an open sun roof is one of the grander, earthly pleasures in life.

Because...

...I KNOW ya'll don't care a bit about all of the thoughts running through my head at the moment. There is so much I want to say and no space to say it. I almost don't have the words. But God is so good to me. I am learning and for every two steps back I take spiritually, the Heavenly Father graciously leads me forward. I am learning, oh so slowly. SO, I leave you with a few thoughts from one of my favorite books.

Taken from the devotional Interruptions, Delays, Inconveniences:

Emily, wife of America's first foreign missionary, Adonairam Judson, wrote home from Moulmein, Burma, in January 1847:  "This taking care of teething babies, and teaching natives to darn stockings and talking English back end foremost...in order to get an eatable dinner, is really a very odd sort of business...But I begin to get reconciled to my minute cares."  She was ambitious for "higher and better things," but was enabled to learn that "the person who would do great things well must practice daily on little ones; and she who would have the assistance of the Almighty in important acts, must be daily and hourly accustomed to consult His will in the minor affairs of life."

The author goes on...

One more quotation-this from an out-of-print book, The Life and Letters of Janet Erskine Stuart.  Says one who was her assistant for some years, "She delighted in seeing her plan upset by unexpected events, saying that it gave her great comfort, and that she looked on such things as an assurance that God was watching over her stewardship, was securing the accomplishment of His will, and working out His own designs.  Whether she traced the secondary causes to the prayer of a child, to the imperfection of an individual, to obstacles arising from misunderstandings, or to interference of outside agencies, she was joyfully and graciously ready to recognize the indication of God's ruling hand, and to allow herself to be guided by it."

What a lesson for a person like me who does NOT like my plans to be upset.

Speaking of plans...
...tomorrow [Lord willing], I will be [sing-song-y voice] driving up to Michigan.  Road trip!  My last hurrah before nannying starts NEXT WEEK. Boo-yah!

Have a lovely week...