Thankful for my dear friends

Rich & Reg, Sue & Pat

Reg & Susie

Susie & Me

Rich after fishing... :)

Lincoln & Pat

Lunch at The Turtle Club in Naples

He loves them more

At church this morning I was reminded of the scariest day of my life.  My daughter was close to two years old. We were on Macinac Island for the day with our friends Ted, Sandy and their girls.  We were in town shopping.  John was in the stroller and we all took turns holding Meghan's hand.  All of a sudden I noticed no one had her. To say I panicked would be an understatement. I can still remember the exact outfit (pink with flowers matching her capris and pigtails) she was wearing as if it were yesterday. We separated and asked everyone if they saw our little girl. I ran back to the store with the baby dolls.  I was sure she was there. No.  It felt like everything was in slow motion.  I wanted everyone to stop what they were doing and help us find her but nobody did.  They just went about their business. I was sure someone kidnapped her since she was so adorable.We finally found her sitting at a picnic table with a police officer.  She wasn't the least bit worried. She was probably gone for 7 minutes tops but it felt like a lifetime.  We went straight for the bar.  Now as I recall that day I believe we should have gone straight to our knees to Thank God for protecting our little girl.

A week later Meghan choked on a life saver when John was getting baptized. It was the second scariest day of my life.

I know how much I love my kids.  Anyone who has children knows the terror of this story. The thing is, God loves them a million times more than we do!!   If you haven't read Luke 15 it will help you better understand.  I'm praying for lost children everywhere tonight.

Lord, help us to care about what You care about.  We want to be a Blessing to others!

TY

310).  laughing with my husband
311).  rainy Saturday mornings
312).  "body pump" & "perfect core" class
313).  checkbooks that balance
314).  peanut butter
315).  dancing in the kitchen
316).  uneventful days
317).  excitement in adult children's voices
318).  husband going along with my random ideas
319).  the UPS store
320).  toilets and George the handyman

Book Study 1000 Gifts Chapter 8

You can watch the video of Chapter 8 with Ann Voskamp and Jessica here.



Seed: "Because remembering with thanks is what causes us to trust- to really believe."

Water: When I remember where God has taken me and how He has proven trustworthy in the past, I cannot help but trust Him for my future. I think that's why I like to blog. I do it so I will remember God's presence in my life.  I made each of the four years I have blogged into books because I thought I might want to have something in my hand to remember.  Funny though, I've never looked back at them.

Growth:  I have grown to trust Him so much through blogging, but mostly by writing these gifts and remembering what He's done in the past. He will never abandon me in the future.

These statements also made me stop and think:  "What if remembering doesn't kindle gratitude?  What if remembering just leaves third-degree burns?"

Last night I was looking for a photo of my son and our first dog, Max.  They were (are) so unorganized! As I looked through the pictures I noticed the pictures that had dates on them.  I saw many with the year 1993.  That was the year my ex-husband told me of his two year affair.  My kids were very young when I went through the divorce. Seeing those pictures didn't leave third-degree burns... anymore!  Honestly I was aware of a little sting, but for the most part I felt gratitude for all of the healing that took place.  I believe time does not heal wounds but God does! I'm grateful He got my attention.  He was with me every step of the way.  In the remembering... I trust Him!

306).  hearing birds singing across a phone line
307).  tiny women who are very strong
308).  dads dancing with their daughter
309).  happy tears

2011 Scripture Memory Verse #5

In honor of the book, Crave by Lysa TerKeurst I decided to memorize this next Scripture.  I was going to add it last year but changed my mind.  I notice as I am sneaking up on 50 years old things are beginning to change.   :)

"Everything is permissible for me" but not everything is beneficial.  "Everything is permissible for me" -but I will not be mastered by anything. ~1 Cor 6:12 (NIV)