GIVE THANKS WITH A GRATEFUL HEART

It seems like not so long ago that I was experiencing Thanksgiving Day.  I somehow think time goes by faster and faster these days.  I wish I could catch up with it or more so slow it down a lot.  And, face it, every single day should be Thanksgiving Day.

I couldn't let this Thanksgiving Day slip by without giving a few particular thanks for blessings great and small and even those blessings in disguise.  And no, I haven't compared this list to last years...it might duplicate, it might not but either way as I like to say, "it is what it is".

I'm thankful.....

...that I'm a saved-by-grace child of a Heavenly Father and Savior who loves me in spite of me.

...for my immediate family--a husband who loves me and knows me well, a daughter who is a great joy of my world, and a son-in-law who couldn't be dearer to my heart if I had hand-picked him myself.

...for a sweet Caroline Grace that will, Lord willing, join our family circle in the spring.

...for parents who provided me a life growing up that helped me become what I am and to the point that I am now.

...for a sister, extended family of in-laws, nieces, nephews, the list goes on and on.

...for a church that still worships God, a church family who loves, and a pastor and his wife who preaches the Word and serves with love (I've had many of those in the past and the blessing continues.)

...for health, hospital stays that worked out, doctors who know how to help, and a medical team for The Girl who has knowledge.

...for comfort of a cluttered, non-squeaky clean house and the emotional comfort of a loving "home".

...for gluten free food that's on sale!

...for Christmas Hallmark movies!  (Can I get an Amen on that one?)

...for loving friends who care, friends both near and far, friends who passed through my path and made a difference.

...for times of joy to rejoice, times of emotional pain to endure, times of fear and the assurance that the Lord is there.  All the time.

...for the Lord's faithfulness and love with which "I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me."

The list goes on and on and on and I could type all day long but on this day "in everything I give thanks"!

PERFECT?

Ah....perfect.....

The online definition of "perfect" is "having all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics; as good as it is possible to be."

The Son-In-Law and I have an ongoing "thing" as I tease him that I am the perfect mother-in-law.  He goes along with the idea graciously, both of us knowing that it's really impossible for any one person to be perfect.  Many can come very near to perfection, but does anyone ever reach it?  I think not.  With that said, that's no reason to stop striving for such for sure.

My ideas of perfection might begin to change a bit in the next few months as The Girl and The Son-In-Law are looking forward to becoming parents in late April.  You all know what THAT means, don't you?  It means that The Husband and I will become first time grandparents!  How exciting is that?

I am sure somewhere along the way it will be evident that we are not perfect grandparents.  It's doubtful, or so I understand from other grandparents, that we will ever believe this grandchild of ours would be anything other than perfect.  Now that's only what we understand from other grandparents.  Praise God, we will get to learn this for ourselves!  First hand!  Lord willing!

The Girl and The Son-In-Law hosted a nice Thanksgiving meal today for some of the Alabama kin and some of the Georgia kin.  The real reason for the party was to reveal the gender of the child.  I will be honest here, I felt all along that it would be a boy.  When polled, the "kin" who attended today went about half and half with the boy versus girl vote.

As for me, even though I had blue on the brain, it really didn't matter which gender the child is.  This child is a gift from God and will bring honor and glory to His name.  I feel that for sure.  I have found myself very weepy lately when I consider the goodness of the Lord.  I am overwhelmed and full of gratitude for HIS blessings...tis the season, you know, to be full of gratitude.

So anyways, today between the turkey and the dessert, our sweet grandchild's gender was reveal.  And yes, it doesn't happen often but I was wrong.  She is not a boy, but a girl....a girl with a name of Caroline Grace.   Already I see perfection as the name is perfect! Sounding like a Gramma, too, aren't I?  And I'm sure if The Papa could type, he would agree with me!

I want to share a few of the pictures from today so you faithful blog readers can enjoy also.  What a wonderful, wonderful day of love, joy, and happiness along with an overwhelming gratitude to the Lord above!

Doesn't The Girl and The Son-In-Law look happy?

YAY!!!!

Yes, it was a lovely day of smiles, tears, love, and gratitude all mixed up together and a day not long forgotten by all who were there to experience the joy.  I have determined that if The Grandchild gives her parents half as much joy as her mama has given to The Husband and me, life will be full....like that scripture in one of Paul's letters in the Bible that says, "so your joy may be full." Yes, joy full to overflowing!

I. Am. Blessed.

60

60.  Sixty.  Yep, that's me.  Call me Sixty.  I have reached that new decade in age.  Now that I've arrived, it doesn't seem that very old.  I guess it's all in how you look at life.

I decided in honor of this new decade of age, I might take a short walk down memory lane.  Granted some of the memories have vanished and some are dim but others still around.

When The Girl was in high school, I remember her having to write some kind of poem titled, "Where I'm From", or something like that.  I decided to try that today.  I'll condense a bit or try to...

I'm from the age of black and white television.
I'm from playing tag and chase and "Ain't No Boogy Men Out Tonight".
I'm from playing these games outside and some at dusk.  See prior sentence.
I'm from wringer washing machines.  (I have a memory of getting my hand
    caught in one.)
I'm from going to church every time the church doors opened for worship
    service.  Still am.
I'm from only near death excuses to miss church.
I'm from Tootsie Pops.
I'm from spankings without neighbors contacting DFACS.
I'm from riding the school bus to high school all the way from the south of the
    county to the north on a road with no traffic lights and two lanes.
I'm from loving a ride in the family gray Rambler station wagon.  In the very
     back.  Without a seatbelt.
I'm from dads making homemade ice cream with a hand cranked ice cream  
     maker.
I'm from rotary dial telephones that were big, black, and sat on the table.
I'm from sleeping in hair rollers for a nice "do".
I'm from watching The Andy Griffith Show and Leave It To Beaver weekly.
     In prime time.

And the list could go on and on and on.

From my photo collection, I want to share just a few jewels for your viewing pleasure.

I call the hairdo in the picture above the "Midge" hairdo.  Some of you will remember Barbie's good friend Midge.  I like to think my hair looked a lot like hers.

As I reflect on different memories from youth, there are so many others since then that have made a difference in my life.  The greatest impact on my young life was accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  That choice makes me assured that the Lord has worked and is continuing to work in my life.

As George Bailey would say, "It's a wonderful life!"

PRAYING

Do you ever feel like you weary the Lord with repetitive prayers?  I surely do.  I find I often seem to pray the same thing over.  And over.  And over some more.   There's a big part of me that realizes the Lord is pretty smart and has a really decent memory so that He doesn't forget what I've already asked Him.  But alas, I keep asking Him still.

If I began to give you scriptures on prayer from the Bible, the pages here would not hold them.  There's that "ask and it shall be given".  Then there's the one about being careful not to ask "amiss".  And let's not forget the best one of all--"Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name...."  And there are so many in between.

In a conversation with my good Methodist friend the other day, we were speaking of our prayer requests and she told me that she was going to put one of mine on her "Pray Without Ceasing" List.  Yes, "pray without ceasing" is in the good book as well.  I liked the sound of her "Pray Without Ceasing" list so I have decided to have one of my own.  My friend told me that the requests on that list are ones that get mentioned every single day.  I have no doubt that my request moves from my friend's lips to God's ears every single day.

I am so grateful for MY heavenly Father who loves me, listens to me, and while He doesn't always give me everything I want, He ALWAYS gives me EVERYTHING I need.  And who knows, maybe some of my answers need to come in the Father's own time.  After all His timing is perfect!