Day 23

Oops, so I missed two days, not that I wasn't thankful...

Today I am thankful for the fact that I am now at daughter #2's home for the next few days, enjoying her and her family.

I am thankful for being able to spend tomorrow with most of my family, minus daughter #1 and #3. I already miss them. I am thankful however, that they will be with friends and not alone.

I am thankful for 4 days off from work. I am thankful for work, but glad I don't have to be there.

I am thankful for you  my few faithful followers. It encourages me to see you here, and when you leave comments. I truly hope the things I write only encourage, and aren't wasting air space.

I am thankful for my loving, patient Heavenly Father who has and continues to abundantly bless me with so much.

May you have a blessed day tomorrow...wherever you are...and with whomever you spend it with.

Day 20

It is cold this morning, 25 degrees cold. I am thankful I don't live in Alaska anymore where it is in the negative digits. This morning as I went out to feed my chickens some hot brown rice, to warm them up, I delighted in walking on the crunchy grass. It made me smile. The sky was a hazy pink, as though it was saying it was too cold to be any brighter.

Last night I had company in my home. Our church was having their annual Thanksgiving dinner, and since we can't really fit everyone in our fellowship hall all at the same time, we celebrate together, in different homes. I haven't had people in my home since I moved up here, aside from family. I have always loved to have others in my home, to do all the fussy preparation, making the table lovely, pressing the napkins. I really do love it.

I felt as though I was out of practice. I wondered how conversation would go, that was always Dale's job. O how I prayed yesterday! Prayed all would go well. Prayed there would be easy conversation and not dead air time. And I really prayed, a lot, that the games hens would be cooked through.

I am thankful for having such delightful company in my home.

I am thankful that they all seemed as ease, as I did.

I am thankful for lively conversation.

And, oh, I am so thankful the dinner was cooked, and cooked well.

Day 19

Today, I am thankful for sun, crisp weather, and bits of blue sky.

I am thankful for the ability to move about, to gather the remains of flowers in the garden to grace my home.

I am thankful for a warm fire, and cozy home.

I am thankful I have a God who loves me, in spite of me, who daily holds me up, strengthens my heart, and gives me what I need.

Day 18

It's apparent I have not posted the past few days. Its been one of those weeks. But I was reminded tonight that even though there are days like I have had of late, I am thankful it is not always this way.

I am thankful that though one I love now faces cancer, God will undertake, 'underneath are the Everlasting Arms'.

I am thankful that the Lord promised peace.

I am thankful that He has promised to never leave me or forsake me.

I am thankful of the love and prayers of those who love me.

Day 14

Warmth. Warmth of a cup of tea. Warmth of the presence of a friend. Warmth of a hug truly meant. Warmth in my heart when a grand baby snuggles in close.

 Today I am thankful for warmth. I am thankful for friends who gave me wood, that is neatly stack along my fence line. Thankful for Wednesday's weekly grocery store fliers, collected and stored in an old metal milk crate, waiting to be used as fire starter. I am thankful for perfectly split cedar kindling, waiting to crackle in the wood stove. I am thankful for my really cool chimney sweep, who takes his time to clean my chimney, to lessen my fear of a chimney fire. I am thankful that my house is nice and toasty. Just wish there was someone here to share it with.

Day 13

Today was a good day, and I am thankful for having been blessed. I have to admit, I was at first feeling a bit down, as during Sunday School I shared some thoughts that were misunderstood, and trying to further explain, seemed to only muddy the waters. So, I sat for the rest of the class, telling myself, 'just shut up. don't open your mouth'. I hate being misunderstood.

I had been invited to have lunch at a friends house, and was feeling a bit self conscience about saying anything, so I said little. I left shortly after we ate, as I had other friends waiting for me to come pick up some firewood from them. By the time I got to their house I was feeling better, and was so blessed by their kindness in giving me  the wood, with a 'there's more if you need it.', as I left.

I headed home as a neighbor had invited me to come to their house to have an old time apple pressing. I love fresh cider! I was hurrying to unload the truck before going to their house, and before the rain came, when my neighbors husband and another neighbor saw me and came to help me unload. As they came up to me, he said, 'why didn't you call me.' We got the wood unloaded and I headed over to their home.

It was wonderful pressing the apples, reminded me of doing the same thing with dear friends when I lived in Oregon. When it was time for me to leave, my sweet neighbor made sure I had a bowl of chili to take home for dinner. As I walked up to my house the warmth of the bowl in my hands, seeing the wood stacked on my porch, I was thankful. Thankful that though we have rough patches, the Lord always overshadows them with blessings.

So this day, I am thankful for friends who love me, who want to make sure I am taken care of. I am thankful for warmth and food.

Day 12

Today I am thankful for Karalee of The Picket Fence, and this is why! Turner Hill Tea

God is so very good!

Day 10

I am thankful for the fact that I took the day off from work. I had a very lazy morning in my jammies, and wasn't productive till about 10. My body still has not gotten use to working full time. Working 2 part time jobs, different days breaking up the week, is crazy! Some days I really have to think, 'what day is there? where am I suppose to go?' So, having the day to just be home, clean house, and get out 3 tea orders, for which I am truly thankful, made for a good day. Whoever came up with the idea of a 'personal day', was brilliant!

Day 9

Thanksgiving creates abundance. The Lord wants to bless us. He wants to give us good things. He wants to give us an abundance. Does that mean He will give us a million dollars if we ask? Maybe, if it is for our good, if it is what we need, according to His will.

Remember the story of the feeding of the 5,000? One account is in John 6. A multitude of people had been following Jesus, and everyone was getting hungry, though it never states that the people were grumbling, or asking for food. Jesus just knew they needed food. No one had food, but one little boy, 5 loaves and 2 fish. Not much to cover 5,000 men, who were the only ones counted. There were woman and children as well, all equally hungry.

Jesus took that meager meal, and gave thanks. He gave thanks for what all knew was physically impossible to feed so many. But He gave thanks, and gave to each one...till they were full, and the dicsiples gathered up 12 baskets full of leftovers. Abundance as a result of giving thanks.

What is your need? What don't you have that you can give thanks to the Lord for? Thank Him for it. Thank Him for what you don't have and watch Him work. Thanksgiving creates abundance.

Day 8

Today I am thankful for friends who love cheese and tea. Yep, that's right! I love both, and I love trying new cheeses, and tea. When Emily was still at home, we often would try new cheeses. My mom always has a new cheese at her house, which always makes me happy. Having a tea business, I am always sampling new teas and sharing the joy of tea with others.

I just got a call from a friend who said she wanted to order more tea. She said she wanted to come to my house, and bring a friend who's husband drinks only tea, to see my 'tea' room, and sample some. Then in an excited voice said, 'and we could have a cheese dinner!'

We often are often  thankful to the Lord for the important things in life, and forget that He delights in all things that delight us, which is why He created so many thing for us to enjoy. That said, I am thankful for goats, and sheep, and cows, for cheese makers, for tea bushes, and tea producers, because they add to the small joys in my life.

Day 6 and 7

The past 2 days have been a bit hard for me, so being thankful, though still important, comes a bit hard. But here goes.

Day 6, Sunday- I am so very thankful for a church where the Word of God is faithfully and purely taught. Both the senior pastor and youth pastor are godly men, who unapologetically proclaim Christ. I am grateful for the friends I am making, though don't always feel totally connected yet, it will take time. I am grateful for Hope Community Church.

Day 7, Monday- I am so very thankful for the 2 jobs the Lord has given me. Both were placed in my lap, I didn't seek either one. My bills are paid monthly, and I am grateful. I enjoy job #1 working as the secretary of the church I attend, it is helping me become more connected to my church. Job #2, well, whereas I am thankful for it, it is not a job I am enjoying, nor like much at all. But I know that is where I am to be for now, so daily I ask for the grace to do well at it, for a positive attitude, today, it wasn't easy to be positive, but I am grateful for the Lords provision.

Day 5

First, I have to be thankful that the egg I retrieved from the chicken coop this morning, that I put in the pocket of my sweatshirt, and forgot to put in the carton, didn't break in my pocket, since I just remembered it was there!

Anyway, this morning I am thankful for my fledgling tea business. I started the business a year and a half ago, as a way to hopefully bring in an income. At present, it has not. I have made sales, have faithful clients, but not enough to turn a coin. I have prayed a lot about whether I should close up shop or not. But every time I do, the Lord brings in more orders, and cuppings, so I keep going.

Back in October I was contacted by FOLK magazine, and asked if  I would be interested in having my tea listed as Christmas gift ideas. YES! In a couple days, I will have in hand the NOV/DEC issue, with Turner Hill Tea amongst its pages! I am so excited as to the possible business this will bring me.

Today, as I was checking my Facebook page, I found a gal with a shop ,The Pickett Fence, just north of me said she sells FOLK in her shop, loves to support local businesses, and that she would like to sell my tea in her shop! O my giddy aunt!!! I am sooooo excited!!! For my dream would be to have my tea business as a part time job, so that I could quit one of the jobs I have now. I don't know if that will ever happen, but for now I am so thankful to the Lord for the possibilities ahead!

Day 4

Today I am thankful for the fact that the Lord answered a very specific prayer of mine, that I would have a better attitude at job #2, as I don't like it much. However, I know that the Lord brought the job to me, and I am trusting that that is exactly where I need to be.

When I left work, and was heading home in the mad, crazy rush hour traffic, weary from sitting in front of a computer all day, and I mean, all day, I was grateful when I said, ' it was a good day.' Acknowledging that made my heart happy.

God is so very good!

Day 3

'For this new day I give Thee humble thanks: for its gladness and its brightness: for its long hours waiting to be filled with joyous and helpful labour: for its open doors of possibility: for its hope of new beginnings...'
John Baillie

Of late there have been a lot of new beginnings. It has been a bit scary, and very overwhelming. Yet, I am so thankful for a patient, faithful, loving God, who walks before me, clearing the way, fighting the battle, and helping me over the obstacles.

30 Days of Thanksgiving.

So, I am behind one day, so I will catch up!

November 1- Wood that has been given to me to warm my house, haven't had to purchase a stick yet!

November 2- Someone graciously put gas in my car, which is huge with all the extra driving I have to do now that I am working.

God is most definitely Jehovah- Jireh!

What are you thankful for?