A Month of Thankfulness: Day Four

Today I am especially thanking God for our daughter, Emily, and her willingness to help with the work around the house that I am unable to do lately. The cottage is located in an older section of Crystal Lake on a lovely corner lot with plenty of trees in the neighborhood. Those trees are beautiful at every time of the year. BUT they do have a negative aspect in the late fall...key word there is fall, as in falling leaves. We have plenty of them! The last few years, Emily has been off at school and Andy and I capably did them ourselves. This year, half of that team, namely me, has a bum hip and is off her synthroid. Emily filled in for me voluntarily and willingly and worked like a trouper. That job wouldn't be finished yet without her help.

Besides that, tonight is prayer meeting at our house and I like having a clean house when we open it to our church family. Actually, I like having a clean house any time! And Emily knows that. So again, she gamely pitched in and did a large share of the cleaning yesterday so that I wouldn't have to do it all. That's on on top of her own commitments and responsibilities in getting her music business off the ground. And anyone who's ever started a business knows that it takes lots of work! Especially at the beginning stages! So I am grateful and humbled by the way she put my needs (and desires) ahead of her own without question. God has truly blessed me through Emily.

What are you thanking God for this day? Please share over at Rebecca Writes and join in the praising of God for His good gifts to all of His children....every day!

A Month of Thankfulness: Day Three

I just got back from another beautiful walk with Charlie and this time Andy was able to go with us! That's because he works from home on Tuesdays. So today, I am thanking God for Tuesdays. And I am thanking God for a happy marriage to a husband that I want to be with.

This picture is not of today's walk, as you can see. Emily took it on our vacation in the spring. But I love it because to me it reflects something about the marriage relationship that Andy and I share.

There is no more lovely, friendly, and charming relationship, communion, or company than a good marriage.~ Martin Luther

Each day this month of November, Rebecca is gathering our thoughts on the things we are thankful for in our lives. You can share in the praising of God for these blessings in several ways. For the details, visit Rebecca here.

A Month of Thankfulness: Day Two

After an early morning shower and a few dark clouds, today has brightened up into a lovely sunny day. Charlie and I were able to get out for a short walk...as long as my hip would take...and it was delightful! So today I am finding myself thanking God for His glorious creation!

For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. Romans 1:20

Rebecca is once again hosting all of our thankful posts and thoughts each day of this month of November. Visit Rebecca Writes to share in praising God for all of His good gifts to each one of us. See you there! And thank you, Rebecca!

A Month of Thankfulness: Day One

Its been quite a while since I posted anything about my history of thyroid cancer. If there is one thing I've learned about this disease, its that I have to view it as chronic. Now, thyroid cancer is highly treatable and most likely I will eventually die of something else...and I'm thinking not any time soon!

But...my tent is continuing to fall apart at the seams. I had my routine thyroid blood work just over a week ago and the tumor marker is up. So now, I am off my synthroid waiting to get hypothyroid enough to have a total body thyroid scan. My doctor is thinking late November.

Sliding into hypothyroidism is not fun. You feel increasingly sluggish every day as all systems work more and more slowly. You are so tired all the time. And so cold. And you gain weight. I really hate that part! Your skin gets so dry. You just feel like one big slug!

But here's the thankfulness part. God is faithful to never leave me in whatever trial I face (Romans 8:38-39, Psalm 46:1). That, and His promise of a transformed body (Phil.3:21) are what I am thanking Him for today.

Sunday's Hymn: From Depths of Woe I Raise to Thee

From depths of woe I raise to thee
The voice of lamentation;
Lord, turn a gracious ear to me
And hear my supplication:
If thou iniquities dost mark,
Our secret sins and misdeeds dark,
O who shall stand before thee?

To wash away the crimson stain,
Grace, grace alone availeth;
Our works, alas! are all in vain;
In much the best life faileth:
No man can glory in thy sight,
All must alike confess thy might,
And live alone by mercy.

Therefore my trust is in the Lord,
And not in mine own merit;
On him my soul shall rest, his Word
Upholds my fainting spirit:
His promised mercy is my fort,
My comfort and my sweet support;
I wait for it with patience.

What though I wait the livelong night,
And till the dawn appeareth,
My heart still trusteth in his might;
It doubteth not nor feareth:
Do thus, O ye of Israel's seed,
Ye of the Spirit born indeed;
And wait till God appeareth.

Though great our sins and sore our woes
His grace much more aboundeth;
His helping love no limit knows,
Our utmost need it soundeth.
Our Shepherd good and true is he,
Who will at last his Israel free
From all their sin and sorrow.

Martin Luther, 1523
Tune: Allein Gott In Der Hon', Geistliche Lieder, Leipzig, 1539
Arr. Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, 1809-1847

A Month of Thanksgiving

Once again, Rebecca is declaring the entire month of November a month of thanksgiving. She will be posting her own thankful thoughts each day of the month and invites us to join in the thanksgiving in various ways. You can visit her to get the details. I'm looking forward to reading about all the good gifts He gives to everyone!

For myself, I am intending to post a thankful thought each day throughout the month of November. God has so graciously provided for and blessed me in so very many ways! How could I not take every opportunity to give Him abundant praise for that?

15 Words or Less Poem

Unmoored and floundering
In a cold, grey sea;
Thank God for the Son-rise!

More 15 Words or Less Poems at Laura Salas's journal.

Devotional Christian

The Devotional Christian website is being relaunched. If you are looking for a really good daily devotional to subscribe to, Devotional Christian is the place to go. Devotions by eight different contemporary Chrisitan writers are available.

Now, for us bloggers, there is a very nice incentive to help the folks over at Devotional Christian get the word out about the relaunch of their site. If you post an announcement on your blog and let them know, you will be entered in a drawing for a package of twenty-two books! Yes, you read that right. Twenty-two books! And they are twenty-two really good books...ones well worth reading!

HT: Kim at The Upward Call

A Japanese Proverb

If a man has no tea in him, he is incapable of understanding truth and beauty.

Sunday's Hymn: Blessed Lord, in Thee is Refuge

Blessed Lord, in thee is refuge,
Safety for my trembling soul:
Pow'r to lift my head when drooping
'Midst the angry billow's roll.
I will trust thee,
I will trust thee,
I will trust thee,
All my life thou shalt control.

In the past, too, unbelieving,
'Midst the tempest I have been,
And my heart has slowly trusted
What my eyes have never seen.
Blessed Jesus,
Blessed Jesus,
Blessed Jesus,
Teach me on thine arm to lean.

O, for trust that brings the triumph
When defeat seems strangely near;
O, for faith that changes fighting
Into vict'ry's ringing cheer!
Faith triumphant,
Faith triumphant,
Faith triumphant,
Knowing not defeat or fear.

Herbert Booth
Tune: Bryn Calfaria, William Owen, 1814-1893

October Leaves

Its been a rather rainy October in Crystal Lake, IL this year so I thought the changing leaves would be less colorful than some years. Not so! This afternoon was lovely and sunny for a change so I took advantage of the opportunity to catch a few photos of the leaf display. Check out these beauties!

15 Words or Less Poem

My day!
My way!
Red shoes?
No way!
Now--I need a groom!



More 15 Words or Less Poems at Laura's place.

National Cookie Month

The things I discover at the library! For example, did you know that October is National Cookie Month? So in honor of the occasion, I've baked some pumpkin cookies and I'm taking them to our prayer meeting tonight. But first, I'm sharing a picture and the recipe. Oh, and of course we've taste-tested a few...just to make sure they are up to snuff. They are!!

2 cups flour
1 1/3 cups quick or old-fashioned oats
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3/4 cup white chocolate chips, chocolate chips, raisins or chopped nuts, choose any two (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease cookie sheets

Combine flour, oats, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in a medium-sized bowl. Cream butter, brown sugar and white sugar until light and fluffy. Add pumpkin, egg and vanilla extract and mix well. Add flour mixture and mix well. Add optional ingredients (I divided the dough and added white chocolate chips to one half and milk chocolate chips to the other half) and mix well. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto greased cookie sheets.

Bake for 14-16 minutes until cookies are lightly browned and set in the middle. Let cool on cookie sheets for two minutes. Then remove to cooling racks to finish cooling.

Falling Apart

Its been a while since I posted anything besides my Sunday Hymns. I just haven't felt like talking much. But Kim's post this morning inspired me to write. I'm with her 100% in the falling apart at the seams part and the not liking it much. I've been struggling with hip and lower back pain for the past several months and limping for the last three or so. Finally, a diagnosis was made last Wednesday. I have bursitis in my left hip and the doctor gave me a cortisone injection in that hip to alleviate the pain and promote healing. The pain is starting to subside and I am not limping quite as pronouncedly. Still I have to be careful not to overdo it and I am feeling guilty (sort of) that I won't be able to do my part on the leaf raking this fall.

The doctor as well as the physical therapist inform me that my right leg is 1/4 inch shorter than my left and that is contributing to the problem. So I've done the research and have some heel lifts on order to go in my shoes. Its just another confirmation of the imperfection of this mortal body of mine. It never was perfect and now, in fact, this tent is falling apart at the seams! I'm so thankful that my real life, my eternal life with God, can never fall apart on me!

Sunday's Hymn: O Lord, How Shall I Meet Thee

O Lord, how shall I meet thee,
How welcome thee aright?
Thy people long to greet thee,
My hope, my heart's delight!
O, kindle, Lord, most holy,
Thy lamp within my breast
To do in spirit lowly
All that may please thee best.

Love caused thine incarnation,
Love brought thee down to me;
Thy thirst for my salvation
Procured my liberty.
O love beyond all telling,
That led thee to embrace,
In love all love excelling,
Our lost and fallen race!

Rejoice, then, ye sad-hearted,
Who sit in deepest gloom,
Who mourn o'er joys departed
And tremble at your doom.
Despair not, he is near you,
Yea, standing at the door,
Who best can help and cheer you
And bids you weep no more.

Sin's debt, that fearful burden,
Let not your soul distress;
Your guilt the Lord will pardon
And cover by his grace.
He comes, for men procuring
The peace of sin forgiv'n,
For all God's sons securing
Their heritage in heav'n.

Paul Gerhardt, 1653
Tune: St. Theodulph, Melchior Teschner, 1615

Sunday's Hymn: Jesus, My Great High Priest

Jesus, my great High Priest,
Offered his blood and died;
My guilty conscience seeks
No sacrifice beside.
His pow'rful blood did once atone,
And now it pleads before the Throne.

To this dear Surety's hand
Will I commit my cause;
He answers and fulfills
His Father's broken laws.
Behold my soul at freedom set;
My Surety paid the dreadful debt.

My Advocate appears
For my defense on high;
The Father bows his ears
And lays his thunder by.
Not all that hell or sin can say
Shall turn his heart, his love, away.

Should all the hosts of death
And pow'rs of hell unknown
Put their most dreadful forms
Of rage and mischief on,
I shall be safe, for Christ displays
His conqu'ring pow'r and guardian grace.

Isaac Watts, 1709
Tune: Bevan, Sir John Goss, 1853

Sunday's Hymn: As When the Hebrew Prophet Raised

As when the Hebrew prophet raised
The brazen serpent high,
The wounded looked, and straight were cured,
The people ceased to die;

So from the Saviour on the cross
A healing virtue flows;
Who looks to him with lively faith
Is saved from endless woes.

For God gave up his Son to death,
So gen'rous was his love,
That all the faithful might enjoy
Eternal life above.

Not to condemn the sons of men
The Son of God appeared;
No weapons in his hand are seen,
Nor voice of terror heard:

He came to raise our fallen state,
And our lost hopes restore;
Faith leads us to the mercy seat,
And bids us fear no more.

Isaac Watts, 1709
Tune: Downs, Lowell Mason, 1832

Another Orchid in Bloom!

That orchid that I mentioned in my last post, the one I was expecting to bloom soon? Well, here it is!! It was in bud yesterday afternoon when we (dear friends Kim, Carol and I) gathered for Bible study. The next time I noticed it was during dinner which was later than usual because Andy had to work late. Actually it was Andy who noticed it first since his customary seat faces the window area. This morning it is fully opened. Emily and I had to get used to this bloom to see the beauty in it but Andy loved its unusual shape and coloring immediately. Isn't God's creation amazing!

A New Orchid

I'm afraid I've become hooked on orchids. A while back, I told you that I was babysitting some orchids for an elderly friend from church. Well, he reclaimed the specimen pictured in that previous post but gave me the other three orchids I was tending for him. They are in my kitchen window area and I expect one of them to bloom soon. Then my dear friend, Kim, gave me a lovely pale pink one for my birthday. That one has since lost its blooms for the time being but last Friday, Emily and I attended a local orchid show and I acquired this elegant white orchid. I am finding that I love having some gorgeous flowers in bloom in my kitchen!

Fifteen Words or Less Poem

Within is a tiger's heart
Unleashed by motherhood.

More 15 Words or Less Poems at Laura Purdie Salas's place.