Saturday, August 15, 2015

Ten Things of Thankful

It's time to link up to the Ten Things of Thankful blog hop again.

I like the fact that this blog hop comes on the weekend.  It is good timing for me, because I think it is a great prelude to for me attending church.  It is good to be thankful all the time, but nice to wrap up the week with those thankful moments I've enjoyed throughout the week.  It is a reminder of how many times someone is watching over me.

Ten Things of Thankful

1.  Being able to have lived a whole other year!  (Click here to read more about the day of celebration.)

2.  Parks.  We visited and explored a city park, a county park, and a state park this week!  I'm thankful for those who take care of the parks.  The parks we visited each had a bit of history which was interesting to learn.

Sign at Willamette Mission State Park

3.  Employment opportunities and volunteer opportunities for youth and young adults.  It is such a great way to develop worth ethics which make it possible to get better jobs in the future.  I'm thankful for my grandchildren who have pursued jobs in the summer to help with their school expenses and for those who have served their families during the summer vacation.

4.  Educational opportunities for all ages.  I'm thankful for my grandchildren having a desire to further their education.

5.  Thrift stores.  I stopped by a small one this week to look for a particular item which as it turned out wasn't there.  Instead I found two dresses that are just my size and style.  Of course the price was right because this thrift store always has lower prices than most of the other stores of the same type.
It has been quite a while since I've bought a new dress (well new to me, but looks like new).  I'm thankful for the little thought that came to me to stop at the thrift store for a few minutes on my way home.

6. Rain!  We had enough rain Friday that the ground actually got wet, instead of just evaporating as it landed.  There was even a little thunder and lightning in some areas here in the valley.  The temperatures are starting to be somewhat cooler in the evenings too.  I'm thankful for this nice change.

7.  Taking more steps in a day than I have previously done since my surgery in May.  Yeah!  For those who have been following my knee progress, that means that the knee is doing considerably better!

8.  Fresh produce from the farm stands, and from our neighbors garden.  Our diet consists of lots of fruits and vegetables, so I am thankful for the plenty of others and the variety and availability of things we can purchase at the stands.  Hopefully next year we will be up to growing a "little" garden again, and be able to share our garden abundance again.

9.  Beautiful sunsets.  One evening when I was busy in the kitchen, my husband came in from outside to tell me that it looked like we were going to have a great sunset.  I grabbed my camera and took a few photos.  I'm thankful he came in to let me know, so I could enjoy the beauty of the moment too.

The beginning of the end of a wonderful day!
10.  Prayers being answered in the very little things as well as the big things.  One day this week, I was headed to a PT appointment.  I'd left on time to arrive for PT at the designated hour, but was delayed by a double-trailered truck with a heavy load and driving very slowly.  There wasn't anyway to pass for a while.  I thought I would probably be late because of not being able to drive the normal speed limit, so I said a little prayer that some how or other, the many traffic lights would all be green if possible so I could get to my appointment on time.  To some it might seem incredible that all the 17 traffic lights could be green as I approached, but that is exactly what happened.  I gave thanks for each "green light" as I drove through the intersection too.  Because of the little miracles and the big ones, I know God listens and watches over me.  Not all prayers are answered so quickly when I pray, but when they aren't, I just have to remember the title of my blog, "A season and a time."


Ten Things of Thankful

16 comments:

  1. What a gorgeous photo! Oddly my mom and I were just talking about your number 3 grat. over lunch today...not a usual topic for us but so true...It seems like youve become more comfortable with blogging again and I have to say I really like coming here! Glad Kristi talked you into picking it up again... thanks!

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    1. It was great for me to be able to take the photo of the sky. I frequently see a sky like that when I'm not some place where I can pull over and take a photo. I'm glad that you like visiting my blog. I can definitely say that there is no way I would have started blogging again at the point I did had it not been for Kristi's encouragement. The kind words of those who visit has helped me to keeping writing.

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  2. I like number 10. (some people think that prayers and help and miracles are things that show up in giant, un-deniable displays of earth-shaking power), when it comes to things/qualities of prayer and faith and such, I choose to believe that it's the little things we ourselves do that allows these to grow, making the choice to say a prayer for a slow truck to go fast is half of it, choosing to know that 17 green lights was not
    'just a coincidence' is the other half.. (imo), many people miss the opportunity to see the things that tell us there is more to the world than we know

    ya know?

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    1. Yes, there are many things that we as individuals can do to exercise our faith and to choose to pray and to choose to believe. That cannot be forced upon a person. Everyone is given the power to choose.

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  3. I, too, am grateful for work and volunteer opportunities for youth. I have always taken the kids to volunteer with me, but now that they are in high school, they can choose their own ways to give their time in worthy ways.
    What a beautiful photo of the sunset to be. It made me smile that your husband came in to tell you about it.
    I'm so glad to hear that your knee is doing so well!

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    1. With your example of taking your kids with you when volunteering, they are probably making some very good choices of their own as teens. Oh, it is so nice to be able to move around better. There are still some positions in which I'm not too flexible, but that will improve.

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  4. I like your number 10. I used to work with a woman who always said her angels where looking out for her. When she had a need that was beyond the ordinary, somehow the resources she needed to meet her challenges were there.

    I've become something of a thrift store addict lately and enjoy browsing through the aisles when I've got a moment to spare.

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    1. To feel like their are angels looking out for you is a very comforting feeling.
      One can find some really good buys at thrift stores, and often items have the original tags on them.

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  5. I'm glad to hear your items of gratitude and that they set you up for your devotion at church. Gratitude opens my heart and helps prayers be answered. 17 green lights had to be from above! Have a good week.

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    1. Thanks for visiting. The connection between gratitude and prayers being answered is a very important link. This will be a good week, a little busy, but good.

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  6. Happy to hear your knee is improving! Your sunset photo is just lovely, and your list shows what a positive person you are.

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    1. Thanks. Glad you enjoyed the photo. I think it is good to try to think positively as much as possible, but I am human and have to guard myself against negativity once in a while.

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  7. My Daughter and I have done a bit of volunteer work this summer and I'm so glad to see her so interested in helping others by giving her time to serve. Glad to hear you're getting around well. Love sunsets, fresh produce, and rain. Prayer...a powerful thing. I believe firmly that our prayers are heard and answered. Maybe not always in the way we'd like, but in the way that they should be.
    Wonderful post.

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    1. Thank you. Glad you and your daughter are having some good experiences together. It is nice to be able to move better, thanks to PT and a week of some Rx. I really didn't want to take the Rx, but it is only for a week, and now I'm glad I took it. I agree that prayers are answered in the way that they should be.

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  8. Rain or sun was kind of the theme for my TToT post this week too.
    Fresh fruit, in season, for me right now are peaches. Love them.
    Yes, there is a time for all things. I just wish I had more patience while I'm waiting.
    Love your description for your sunset photo.

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    1. Thank you. Oh, I don't think we are alone in wishing we had more patience while waiting for prayers to be answered. I've also heard it said, be careful what you wish for. LOL

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