WHAT AM I GRATEFUL FOR?

I was just on a blog that was having a contest.
To enter, you were supposed to tell something you were grateful for.
Not unusual this time of year.
Seems everyone has some kind of a grateful 'thing' going on.
And that is a good thing.
Something we should do every day, to be mindful of all our blessings.

I guess I was a little surprised by the first thing that came into my mind.
My first thought was about that fella in the top pic of my post today.
My sweet husband of nearly 41 years.

My first thought was that I am grateful for this man who
worked most of his life to support and his wife and children.
And my second thought was that i was grateful that he is in good health
so he can enjoy his much earned retirement.
I pray each night for years of good health so he can enjoy his retirement.


My next thought was that I am grateful that my parents have moved here.
My Dad has dementia, and it saddens my heart
to see him getting worse as time goes on.
But, I'm grateful for each time he remembers who I am.
And that he says to say hi to Scott, my sweet fella.
I see the confusion on his face sometimes,
but I'm grateful that sometimes he knows who and where he is.
I'm grateful for my Mom, who cares for him,
though i can see in her eyes, she is tired.
I'm grateful they have the strength of the Lord to keep them going.

And this is my brother and 'sis'. (sis-in-law).
I'm grateful that they have opened up their home to our parents.
Not a very big home, just one small extra bedroom.
But, they made room.
I'm grateful for their tender, loving, daily care for
Mom and Dad, for whatever time they decide to be there.

And I'm most grateful for a God who knows all that is happening,
love us with more love than we can ever imagine,
thinks of us every moment of every day,
and tenderly cares for us all, under that shadow of His wing.

Lord, help me to remember you are here
and hold me close as you collect every tear in a bottle.

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Blessings to you all.

Barbara Jean

BACK FROM VACATION

This is the view from the balcony of our room.
We overlooked the golf course.
Weather was beautiful.
Scott golfed and read.
I crafted, and shopped.
(A great antique/crafters mall there in Klamath Falls
if you get down that way!)

Nice weather, safe travel, no anxiety for one week!
A great vacation!!

I'll try to catch up on my visits, and share some new insights
with you as time permits. This is a hectic time at the store because of
Christmas/ holiday sales coming up.
THIS WEEK IS FIRST ONE!!

If anyone wants to be added to the email list for store sales.
please email me with that info.

Blessings

Barbara Jean

HELLO FRIENDS

WE WILL BE GONE TILL THE 8TH AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THEN.

IN THE MEANTIME, FEEL FREE TO BROWSE THROUGH THESE POSTS,
AND I HOPE YOU ARE BLESSED BY WHAT YOU SEE AND READ.

HERE ARE A COUPLE OF MY FAVORITE PICTURES FOR YOU.







BLESSINGS AND SMILES

BARBARA JEAN

God Whispers


Listen Carefully



"Be still and know that I am God.
Ps 46:10

Blessings on your day.

barbara jean

Gifts That Money Can't Buy
by Pat Simmons
Dec.12, 1979

Love is a very important gift.
Some people can't have the gift of love.
Love is a very good gift.
I love people and people love me.
I love my mom and my Mom loves me.
I love my sister and she loves me.
I have a gift that money can't buy.
I have the gift of making friends.
My gift is handy because i make friends almost every place I go.
I like my gift. It is a very important gift.
It is a very very good gift.

I have a gift.
It is a very very important gift.
It is the gift I will never die.
I will never die because i have the gift of everlasting life.
It is the very very best gift you can have.

I give gifts too.
I like to be giving the gift of joy.
The gift of joy is a very very good gift.

He got an A! and Good job! on this paper.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Our son wrote this.
I am very proud of him.
Then, and now.

He is a kind and caring person.

He is not currently walking with the Lord.

That breaks a Mother's heart.

Please pray for him when you think of it.

Blessings

barbara jean

KEEP IT SHORT

I am learning something when it comes to communicating with my fella.

When I'm talking to my fella, keep it short.

Here is the story:

I invited a friend to go to a sale with me, but had not heard back from her.
While out on my morning walk, and realizing it is a barn sale,
and there may be tons of stuff, and I might need help,
I called my sweet fella to see if he would go if my friend could not.


This was our conversation:
The usual hellos, then...

me "If Sally can't go to the sale with me, will you go?"
His response. "yes".
me "OK thanks"

Then our usual goodbyes, and back to my walk.

'that was short and sweet.'

My normal conversation would have been more like like this:

"Hon, I invited Sally to go to a garage sale with me, but i haven't heard back from her yet and I know you don't really like to go to garage sales, and maybe you have something else you want to do, but this is a barn sale, and it might be really big, and I might need help carrying some stuff, and I would really appreciate it if you would just think about going with me if i don't hear back from her and we wouldn't be gone along time and if you want to watch football or something we could arrange it around the game.
What do you think?"

Ever had that kind of conversation with your guy?
A continuous run-on sentence?
Probably with more information than needed.

Well, I have, many a time.
( although i will say this was a bit of an exaggeration) =0)

What I have learned now is that he quit listening after the first few words, and
had no clue what I was talking about by the time I got done.

So, short, and to the point, that's my point.

Give it a try.
Just ask the question.
Let him think about it.

Then, be sweet, no matter what the answer is.

Blessings,
barbara jean

WORD FOR TODAY

Scott and i do crossword puzzles together.
Sometimes they have these 'fill in the word' that are
foreign words that we have no clue what they are.

We usually just try to fill in everything around them,
and hope it will fill itself in.
Sometimes it does, sometimes not.

When we finally get it, using whatever means we need to to finish the puzzle,
we still have no clue what it means.
So of course we have to look it up.

Today's phrase:

Ora Pro Nobis

When we looked it up,
it is Latin for

PRAY FOR US!

Wouldn't that make a great sign?
And a great conversation starter?

Hugs and blessings,

Ora Pro Nobis

Barbara Jean