Thankful for God's Provision

 

Our family took Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace Univeristy

back in 2011.

We've been working on becoming debt-free ever since!

 

And so today, I am thankful for the job the Lord provided for my husband

and I to clean offices to get extra money to reduce our debt.

This was actually an answer to one of my prayers.

Psalm 6:9

The Lord hath heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer.

The work doesn't take a lot of brain power, but

it is physically taxing (esp. for me).

But, as long as I can do it, I will--it is helping us

reach our goal!

We are hoping to be debt-free by the end of 2014!

 

So, thank you Lord for the extra work you've provided for us

to reach our goal!

Also, thanks to Dave Ramsey for such a great program!

 

Colossians 4:2

Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

 

Majestic Mountains

One of my dreams has been to live near or in the mountains.

My precious North Carolina family has the privilege of doing just that!

And, I get the pleasure of visiting them there, and that is where the pictures came from.

I'm so glad that God created mountains!

 

Which by his strength setteth fast the mountains; being girded with power:

Psalm 65:6

So majestic! They all look unique too!

The one above is from the Blue Ridge Parkway.

 

 The mountains shall bring peace to the people,

 and the little hills, by righteousness.

Psalm 72:3

Don't you love how the little butterfly above decided

to fly in the middle of this picture? :)

Thank you Lord for such a lovely creation displayed in Your mountains!

Thankful for God's Awesome Ocean!

The ocean is topping my thankfulness list today!

And, I'm not the only one who thinks the ocean is special...

 

...And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.

Gen. 1:10

 

You can see by the picture above how much power there is in a wave,

it seems beyond what anyone can control....but, not God.

 

He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

Psalm 107:29

 

It is amazing to me that God created this beauty, and

can control it...He is amazing!

 

And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?

 Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

Matt. 8:26

 

And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea,

 Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Mark 4:39

My whole family just loves the ocean.

I love the peacefulness I feel there, the rhythm of the waves,

the smell of the salt air, the spray of the waves, the cry of the sea gulls.

I wish I lived along the ocean!

It brings me great peace knowing that God created this lovely

haven. And, that when the storms come, both in nature,

and in our lives. He can calm them, and see us through them.

Thank you Lord for the ocean, and the many happy memories

my family has enjoyed along it's shore.

 

Thankful for Conversations With God

Aren't you so thankful that we can pray? I know I am!

The Lord hath heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer.

Psalm 6:9

Just think, we can talk to the God of the Universe

--anytime, anywhere!

We are never, ever alone!

We can pour out our hearts to Him, and He hears us,

and He cares and answers us.

It never ceases to amaze me!

 

Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud:

and he shall hear my voice.

Psalm 55:17

I am so thankful that I can have conversations with God every day,

many times a day--no limit!

 

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Phil. 4:6

 

Thankful for the Change in my Health

So thankful today that I have improved health!

(Back in 2011 I was diagnosed with lymphoma-you can read about that here)

My doctors are astounded at what God did during my illness--all

unexplained and mysterious to them.

But, I know that God did it, and told them all so! :)

 

To date I haven't had a recurrence, and I am very thankful for that!

 

 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing:

 thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;

 

To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee,

 and not be silent. O Lord my God,

 I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

Psalm 30:11, 12

Thankful for the Furballs :)

I have to admit that I am very thankful for these two puppies!

They bring us a lot of joy!

Chippy is our neurotic one...he was a rescue and came

a little bit quirky--makes him so funny though!

He is 6, and gets more lively and entertaining as he gets older!

Love him!

And Bingley is just full of personality too!

He's extremely smart--and ornery.

Brad also rescue him as well...although Bingley

thinks he rescued us :)

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are absolutely the best dogs

in the world!

You can never have too many!

I'm soooo thankful for ours...

So glad God created dogs!

From Genesis 1

²⁴ And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.

²⁵ And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

So Thankful for my Grandmothers

I was talking to a friend this week about my "Mommom", she was

my mother's mother and is pictured above.

I have so many dear memories of her, she was very special, and I loved her so.

I still miss her!

In thinking of her, and my other grandmothers (I was blessed with 3)

I decided to put them at the top of my thankfulness list

today!

 

 

Pictured above is Harry's mother (my step-grandmother) Beatrice Jones, who always

treated me as if I were blood. Very dear lady.

She had a great sense of humor!

We called her "Mommom Jones"

As far as I know, this is the only picture I have of my Grandmother Speakman.

On the far left is my Mommom, and next to her is my Grandmother Speakman,

and then me.

They were quilting at the Fairhill, MD fair. I was probably

around 5, and this picture is from the newspaper.

That quilt had been pieced by my great-grandmother McCann.

 

I thank God for the generations who came before me, for what they taught

me, and for the love they gave.

 

 

Psalm 100:4

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise:

 be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

 

Holiday Pretzel Wreaths

Pretzel Wreaths

 

 

 

Ingredients

3/4 cup white vanilla chips or 5 oz. vanilla-flavored candy coating

72 miniature pretzels twists

6  (24-inch) pieces red string licorice

Instructions

1 Line 2 cookie sheets with waxed paper. In small saucepan, melt vanilla chips over low heat, stirring constantly.

2 Using 6 pretzels, form a circle on waxed paper-lined cookie sheet, placing side of pretzel with 1 hole on outside of ring. Remove 1 pretzel from circle; dip inner section (side with 2 holes) halfway into melted vanilla chips. Place dipped pretzel back into circle formation. Continue with remainingpretzels in circle.

3 To form top layer of wreath, dip 6 additional pretzels, one at a time, in coating. Place over first circle so that coated holes overlap 2 pretzels.

4 Repeat to make 5 additional wreaths. Refrigerate wreaths 15 minutes or until coating is firm.

5 Weave 1 piece of string licorice through coated holes in each pretzel. Tie bow with licorice ends.

 

6 1. MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS: Line 2 cookie sheets with waxed paper.

 Place vanilla chips in 2-cup microwave-safe measuring cup.

 2. Microwave on MEDIUM for 2 to 3 minutes or until melted, stirring once halfway through cooking. Stir until smooth. Continue as directed above.

Thankful for my "Dad"

Thinking thankful thoughts about my dad today...

He was actually my step-father, but the only father I

have ever known.

He married my mom when I was 5 years old.

(My real father abandoned me before I was born)

Harry never treated me like anything except a "blood daughter".

He passed away at the young age of 52, and is still missed.

 

This is one of the few "whole family" photos we have.

I treasure it.

 

 

Worlds Best Chocolate No Bake Bars (gluten free version too)

 

Worlds Best Chocolate No Bake Bars -

Looks so good, I bet you didn't guess they are GOOD FOR YOU!
Made with coconut oil & honey instead of sugar!

1 cup peanut butter...
1/2 cup honey
... 1/2 cup unrefined coconut oil (be sure to use unrefined for the coconut flavor-I use Tropical Traditions brand) 2 cups dry oats (not instant)
1 C shredded coconut
1/2 C chopped walnuts (optional)
1 1/4 cups dark chocolate chips
1 t vanilla extract

Melt peanut butter, honey and coconut oil over medium-low heat. Once melted, remove from heat and add oats, shredded coconut, chocolate chips and vanilla. Stir until chocolate is entirely melted. Pour into a 9x13 pan and cool in the fridge. When it's set, cut into bars and enjoy. Store in the fridge. If they last that long!

(easy to make gluten free if you use gluten free oats!)

 

 

This was posted on facebook---I haven't tried it, but it sounds yummy! Be sure and let me know if you try it!

Today I Give Thanks For...

Today I am thankful for Phil's side of the family!

 

Some of these pictures are oldies (the one above shows his mother who

passed away in August) but, they capture many memories.

 

The kids always had fun when they got together.

 

 

Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness,

 which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.

2 Cor. 9:11