Thankful Thursday

It seems like forever since I have done a Thankful Thursday and since I was inspired last night by a friend to focus more on being grateful, I thought it was time to do one again.

I have struggled the last several weeks for a variety of reasons and have found myself focusing more on what is not than what is, and the many things I have to be grateful for. I want to see the blessings each day and to praise God for them.

So this week I am thankful for

1. The ladies in our small group. our group hasn't meet in several weeks because of the holidays then the weather. I was encouraged last night by these women as they pointed to various scriptures and truths. We need fellow believers in our lives to help point us to God's truths. I am thankful for these ladies.

2. For the visit we had with our youngest son during the holidays. We were able to see a movie together and play some Top Golf, plus I had a chauffeur whenever we had to go anywhere during the day

3 Safe travels for my son. He left for his home right before the storm

4.The gifts we got from our children for Christmas. One gave us a gift card for Airbnb because as my daughter in law stated "We know how much you like staying in other peoples houses" I think she was trying to be humorous but we are going to use it and I love how they got us something that was personal for us. My other son took some of the old movies from my in laws and made it into a DVD. My husband was surprised and very touched, we enjoyed watching my husband as a boy and his sister chasing chickens. I am thankful for my sons and my daughter in love.

5. Health and strength to do what we need to do each day. I don't think about it much until someone I know is struggling with an illness or we are having problems, but it is something I want to be more thankful for.

6.Sweet Lady's continued health and how happy she is where she lives. She loves to sit in the Lobby/Living Room area and when anyone comes in for a tour she will be one of the first ones to ask if they are looking to live there and if they say yes she will "talk up" the place. Hearing that makes our heart happy.

So that's some of what I am thankful for today and I hope have a change of focus as time goes on. How about you, what can you be thankful for?

Oh, did I mention the snow is all gone, it was close to 70 today...I can be thankful for that!

Snow Bound

We don't have snow often but when we do it shuts the city down. The weather people had been hinting at snow all week, but we tend to take all predictions of snow with a grain of salt, most of the time the warnings of impending frozen white precipitation never materialize, this however; wasn't the case last Saturday. Friday night it sleeted for about two hours, before it started snowing and then snowed all day Saturday. The temperatures then dropped and have stayed below freezing since. We have a few snow plows in the city but not enough to plow all the roads, mostly the snow melts on the streets when the weather warms up, so it could take days to clear things up. We are a Beach Town, not a Ski Resort, so we don't do snow well. (and we had a lot of snow)

Schools have been off, church was cancelled, our BSF was cancelled and many businesses were closed yesterday (husband did not have to go into work) Things are beginning to look up today, the temps will be above freezing, lots of places will be open at noon but conditions are still bad and if you don't HAVE to go out you need to stay home. (husband did go to work today, but late)

The "forced" home confinement has been good, I've tackled tasks that needed to be done around the house. I am still in the downsizing mind set, which means I need to clean out closets and drawers. We have been debating for about eighteen months on whether to move from our home or remodel to suit our needs as we age. We are leaning very heavily on the move option at this time, which means cleaning things out. Something that needs to be done regardless.

I'm getting a little "Cabin Fever" at this point, today will be day four at home. You don't realize how much running around you do until you can't. I am out doing things that need to be done several times a week.

The truth is, I need these "breaks", I think we all do. We are all so busy, with lists of things to do and places to be. God's plan can get lost in midst of all of it, at least in my life.

I am tending to household tasks during this time but I am also using this time physically and spiritually recharge. Trying to look at this time as a gift, sovereignly orchestrated by the Lord for me.