30 days of Thanks

Today I am thankful for the opportunity to continue an education.  I applied and have been excepted to take classes, and will start at the University on January 2nd.  To say I am a bit nervous is an understatement.  I haven't been in college over 20 years.  I wonder if my brain will be able to keep up!  I pray it can.  My classes are online, and through live interactive classes, and I will be pursuing a degree in counseling, with some life coaching, with a focus on helping troubled teens.  This has been my heart desire since high school.  When I went off to college, the first time, my plans were to get a degree as a psychologist, with a focus on teens.  My advisor at college, however, thought otherwise, and would not let me pursue my dream because of excellent grades in another subject, which I did not want to pursue.  Needless to say, I did not finish at that college, for one, because I did not receive any support in what I really wanted to do in my life.  

Although I did not have the degree, I have worked with teens for over 20 years and it has been a blessing, a learning experience, and has brought a lot of challenges as well as joy along the way.  I know it will all help me with life experience as I pursue these courses and I look forward to learning, challenging myself, and finally getting a degree.  

30 days of Thanks

Today I am thankful for God's fingerprint, available everywhere I look.  I am especially blessed because I live in a beautiful area filled with the artist's touch at every glance.  I am surrounded by mountains and trees, many lakes, and quite a bit of wildlife.  God is an amazing creator and artist, look around and enjoy His masterpiece!

  

30 days of Thanks

30 days of Thanks

Today, and every day, I am thankful for unending love, amazing grace!

30 days of Thanks

Today I am thankful for my camera.  My camera is my therapist.  When I need to get away, refresh, think things through, I grab my camera and go for a drive, and snap away at whatever beauty God puts in front of me.  There is beauty almost everywhere, if we choose to see it, and I try to do that with or without my camera.  I often see some small details, that may be overlooked, because I am a photographer. My camera and I have spent many wonderful hours together, capturing the beauty God has laid before all of us.  Photography is my way to unwind when life gets a little too wound up!  I can easily get lost in a sunset, drift off at a lake, and get mesmerized in the details I see in a flower, a raindrop, or flake of snow.  

 Photography is definitely one of my strong passions, and although I have great room for improvement, I see the improvement I make every year as I look over old photos. I love just playing around with settings, not knowing what will show up on the captured image.  I tried to take time to be specific about the settings, but it became too much to think about, and took the time of unwinding away, so most of the time, I just shoot, mess with a few settings, and see what I get.  I like it that way.  

I also enjoy sharing my camera with others to help them enjoy and learn the love of photography. My young nieces are in that group, and I love to look at what their young eyes see.  

I have enjoyed taking photos since I was nine years old.  I remember my first camera well..it was a little black Kodak camera.  It had a 'case' that flipped over the top, and that 'case' hinged to the side of the camera when you were taking the picture.  I remember the day I went to the Image Maker in Sandpoint and got my first real camera.  I think I was 20 years old.  It was a Canon EOS, and it was capable of having different lenses! I was so excited.  I couldn't afford any other lenses at the time, but eventually I added a zoom lens to my collection.  I remember almost six years ago when my hubby suggested I get a digital camera.  I didn't know why I needed a new camera because my 15 year old Canon was working fine!  I mean, why do I want to switch to a digital camera?  I was sure they didn't take as good of pictures as my film camera.  Well, he bought me a digital Canon anyway, and for awhile, I carried both cameras with me, usually using my film camera.  However, once I started using the digital, I saw a great improvement in the quality of the pictures I was developing, and I didn't have to buy film!  Now, I must say, my first camera has joined the collection of old cameras I have.  I still cherish it, as we had many wonderful times together!  

"Photographers view the world through a lens of gratitude."

30 days of Thanks, Day 18

Today I am thankful for books.  I love books, the real thing.  I have an electronic library device, but nothing can or ever will replace a real book to me.  I have enough books to start my own library, and when someone may suggest that once you read a book, you've read it, get rid of it, I shudder.  Ok, there may be a rare occasion when I think it is alright to get rid of a book....but it's usually when I didn't enjoy the book at all.  

Another reason to get rid of one of my treasured books would be when my dad decides to borrow one, and likes it so much that he ends up keeping it.  See, my dad and I share a common love of books, and we share a love of writing notes, underlining, and highlighting things that really speak to us in those books.  I often have others ask me if I have such and such a book, which I often do, but my books are written in from beginning to end, along with stars, highlights, and underlining.  I tend to make my books personal, so does my dad.  

Recently, I bought John Eldredge's new book BEAUTIFUL OUTLAW.  I received that book a day before my parents came to visit.  I hadn't even had a chance to look at the book, when dad sat down and started to read it.  We all know that if we give dad a book at Christmas, the odds are, we won't hear from him for the rest of the day.  Well, same thing happened with my new book as he settled into a big, overstuffed chair and dove into the new book.  I told dad to go ahead and take it home, as I didn't have time to read in the next week anyway.  He talked to me the next day and said he was having a difficult time not writing in and underlining my book.  I told him to go ahead, I would get myself another book.  Dad gave the talk in his church today out of that book, and did an amazing job by the way.  He joked that he knows how to get new books, to pick up mine, take it home, and then I have to get myself another one.  I must say, he has ended up with a few of my books by this process of his, but that's ok because I am sure I have a few of his, as well.  

Books are a treasure to me, have been for as long as I can remember.  You can escape to different worlds, like in a Narnia book.  You can learn new things, and glean from others knowledge.  My favorite book is the book that instructs me through all the things I face in life.  It is full of lessons, but more importantly, it is an amazing love letter written to me, and you, to anyone who picks it up.  The Bible.  It is filled with almost everything you want to read about.  If you don't believe me, pick it up and read it....mystery, action, war, deception, history, kings and queens, and the new testament, well, it's a love story.  A love story where you are the center of the story because Jesus came down to earth to die on a cross to save you, to save me, if we accept what He has done for us, if we allow Him to be in charge of our lives, if we love Him back.  

I am thankful for the ability to read.  I am thankful for books.  I am forever grateful for God's word, and His precious gift that was given for me.  

30 days of Thanks, Day 17

Today I am thankful for memories.  I am thankful for memories made with those still in my life, memories we make and continue to make.  I am thankful for memories of loved ones who are no longer on this earth, as well. 

Memories can never leave our hearts.  Memories are precious gifts that we can hold onto and treasure for the rest of our lives.  God gives us precious moments, fun times, good talks, words of wisdom, and time with others as a gift.  Keep that gift open, and remember with fondness and love those memories, with both those who are still in our lives, and those who are not.  For those still in our lives, continue to make wonderful memories.  For those who have gone on, don't close the gift of memories, but open it up and remember.  Most important, live each moment of life completely and enjoy time with those special to you.  Celebrate life!  Build a treasure chest of memories for all in your life, so when you are gone, they can look back at the wonderful gift you left behind.  

Life brings simple pleasures to us every day. It is up to us to make them wonderful memories. 

Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose. 

Creating memories is a priceless gift. Memories will last a lifetime; things only a short-period of time. 

Memories are the most beautiful pictures our minds can paint, and nothing can ever erase them.  

30 days of Thanks, Day 16

Today I am thankful for a home to live in.  I know many are losing their homes during these difficult times, and I am grateful and  humbled to have a home, a shelter to share with my hubby.  




"Having someplace to go is home.  Having someone to love is family.  Having both is a blessing."

30 days of Thanks, Day 15

Today I am thankful for the gift of hearing.  Some of the examples of what I love to hear are laughter, music, birds, waterfalls, slamming waves at the ocean, I love you's, the voices of my friends and family, a crackling fire, whistling, and words that teach.  There are so many wonderful sounds in our world.  I could go on and on.  It can be easy to take advantage of our gifts, like the gift of hearing, so take some time and be grateful for what we do have in our lives.  We are surrounded by gifts, we just have to notice them, and be thankful. 

30 Days of Thanks, Day 14

Today I am thankful for all the lives that have touched mine through years of youth ministry. Each one left a heartprint on my life and am thankful for the blessings of being involved in so many lives.

Most of the 'kids' are now adults, many with families of their own.  I love to see how so many have turned out to be wonderful, giving, loving people, people who follow God.  I am also thankful that through facebook, I can still have contact with many of them, so the blessings continue to touch my life.  

30 Days of Thanks, Day 13

Today I am thankful for laughter.  It always feels good to laugh, and a really good laugh can do wonders  to lift moods, lighten heavy burdens, and put things back in perspective.  I shared some wonderful giggles with my nieces yesterday.  I love sharing laughter with them.  What is in our hearts spills out on to our lips.  I want mine to be joy, despite circumstances in life.  Laughter is a good way to outwardly express that joy.  Join me today, and  make your heart smile.  Find something to laugh about, something that brings you joy, and thoroughly enjoy it.  

30 Days of Thanks, Day 12

Today I am thankful for the first snow.  I can't believe I am saying that, but it's so beautiful.  I was dreading the first snow, but when I woke up this morning and saw it, the little kid in me came out and I was excited.  

30 Days of Thanks, Day 11, Thank You Veterans

Today I am extremely thankful and  for all our veterans, those who have served and those who are currently serving our country!   We honor you, and your families, for the sacrifices you have given for our freedom.  Thank you seems so insignificant for all you have given for my freedoms, but it is with deepest gratitude we say thanks.  God bless each of you!

30 Days of Thanks, Day 10

Today I am thankful for God's word.  It is a guide book for my life.  It helps to teach me and show me the best way to live, and how to follow Jesus in my life.  It's not a list of what not to do as some think, but it is a fantastic guide on how to really live and live life to the fullest.  I am thankful that I have the freedom and opportunity to read the Bible, and to learn from it.  I am thankful for the wonderful freedom I have found in Christ.  


For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.  Hebrews 4:12

30 Days of Thanks, Day 9

Tonight I am thankful for the large full moon that rose up over the mountains, against a beautiful slate blue sky.  It was stunning as it rose in the Eastern sky.  I wish I had a photo to share, but I did not have my camera, but it is burned in my memory.  Did you take some time to look at the sky tonight?  If not, take some time to go out and look up in the next couple of nights and enjoy the amazing tent of heavenly  beauty from our Creator.  

30 Days of Thanks, Day 8

Today I am thankful for the right, freedom, responsibility, and privilege to vote.  Although I may not always like the candidates, it is still my right to get out and vote.  We are fortunate to have that right, and so many do not take that right seriously, either by not voting at all, or by treating voting as a joke.  Please take time to exercise your rights and vote today!  

30 Days of Thanks, Day 7

Today I am thankful for my youngest niece.  Today is her birthday, she turns 7.  She can always bring a smile to my face and make me laugh.  I am so blessed to have her in my life, and be close enough to share the big moments of life with her.  

Happy birthday!  We love you!

30 Days of Thanks, Day 6

Today I am thankful for knowledge, the ability to continually learn, to grow, and to improve my mind and thoughts.  I was recently challenged by a lady in her 80's to keep my mind sharp, to read, to continue to learn because when I am her age, I will appreciate that I kept my mind active.  She told me she continues to learn at her age, just a little slower than she used to, but she never wants to lose the ability to learn something new each day, and she challenges herself to do so.  She said so many people shut their minds off when they get older, and that's such a shame because God has given us the gift of wisdom.  We should keep learning, and teaching, our whole life.  She talked to me about how so many think once you hit a certain age, you don't have to learn or participate in life anymore, but she said that was not her, that she was doing what God put her here to do, to learn, to pass the wisdom of her years along, and to not quit living life to the fullest because of her age.  

What wonderful words of wisdom for each of us to live by.  I appreciate that she shared her heart, and her wisdom, with me.  It has definitely challenged and inspired me.  

30 Days of Thanks, day 5

If you aren't an animal lover, you probably will think that what I am thankful for today is a bit strange, but if you are an animal lover, you will understand.  Today I am thankful for my dog.  She is my constant companion, by my side like a shadow.  My cousin stayed with us one night when her mom was down here in the hospital.  She calls my dog a therapy dog because she knew my cousin was sad, and having a tough time, and she sat by her and cuddled next to her the entire night. If you have read this blog for any amount of time, you know my dog provides entertainment as well...she pulls up and eats entire rows of carrots in the garden, leaving the greens laying in an orderly row; she gets stuck in garden fences trying to keep her out of the carrots; she pushed a chair across the kitchen floor to get to the counter top where there were fresh baked cookies; and on and on.  I am thankful for a dog who is so full of life and love.  God brings us blessings in many forms, look around you today and see how He has blessed you.  

30 Days of Thanks, Day 4

Today, as it's cold and raining outside, I am particularly thankful for my home,  for the roof and walls, and heat.  I am thankful for the protection it provides from the elements, and that it is a place to rest, connect, and rejuvenate.  

30 Days of Thanks, Day 3

Today I am thankful for my family.  We are far from perfect, but we share a lot of love, tears, hope, laughter, and precious moments together, building memories that we will treasure in our hearts for a lifetime.  

30 Days of Thanks, Day 2

Today I am thankful for my husband.  We met at college 25 years ago, and he has been my closest friend ever since.  Among the many things I thank God for in my husband, I am thankful for how hard he works to support us, for his faith in God, for loving me at all times, even when I am not the most lovable, for standing beside me and holding my hand as we journey through life together.  I could go on and on about why I am thankful for my husband.  God has richly blessed me with a loving, caring, hard working man who shares in my laughter, my sorrows, my joys, and listens to my fears and helps to reassure me that things will be ok.  I look forward to the rest of our journey together, walking hand in hand, relying on God every step of the way.