One of my favorite things to do is give stuff away. I love giving stuff to people that they really like or need. And the international students that come need a lot of furniture, as they show up with just a suitcase! Problem is we don't have a ton of money to just buy buy buy when I want to give give give.
But recently my kids and I have scored a ton of free stuff to give away to people. So even though I don't have much extra moolaalaa lying around to be able to buy stuff, me and my dumpster diving kids have managed to get three couches, a dresser, a TV cabinet, cute pillows, a ping pong table, a kitchen table and two coffee tables...all for free. Thankful that God is enabling us to give to international students upon their arrival!
Thankful for this really amazing ministry God has given us and for the way he provides seriously right when we need it! Happy furniture giving to me!!!
Monday, July 28, 2014
Sunday, July 27, 2014
Saturday, July 26, 2014
GRATITUDE 183 Many gifts
Thankful today for:
A little one whose allergic reaction to papaya turned out not to be too serious...though we were up most of the night.
Four free Crate Myrtles for my back yard. I prayed for them a year or so ago and I got them today!
Chicken Fajitas
A dad who surprised us with an ice cream run after dinner
An afternoon nap
A bible verse to meditate on today
God's spirit continually calling my WAYWARD heart back to him.
A fire in our fire pit
Tadpoles...amazing
snuggles from Judah
several financial supporters who want to increase their support. God is a provider.
So many gifts today. Thank you Lord.
A little one whose allergic reaction to papaya turned out not to be too serious...though we were up most of the night.
Four free Crate Myrtles for my back yard. I prayed for them a year or so ago and I got them today!
Chicken Fajitas
A dad who surprised us with an ice cream run after dinner
An afternoon nap
A bible verse to meditate on today
God's spirit continually calling my WAYWARD heart back to him.
A fire in our fire pit
Tadpoles...amazing
snuggles from Judah
several financial supporters who want to increase their support. God is a provider.
So many gifts today. Thank you Lord.
Friday, July 25, 2014
GRATITUDE 182 On the move
Thursday, July 24, 2014
GRATITUDE 181 Alexandra
Peanut M n M's
Time to put my feet up this afternoon (with my M nM's)
A chance to teach EG's class at camp and the GREAT team she and I have made! I wish you could've seen her leading 10 boys in doing a Chinese fan dance
A HUGE storm while cooking with candles...it's the small things, ya know.
My little helper, Alexandra. While my kids have been at camp this week, Alexandra has come over every day. We've made three batches of banana bread, brownies, pizza, chicken florentine, pork roast and green beans. She's done laundry with me. She's picked up toys. She's played with Judah while I rested. She's gone with me almost everyday to pick up my kids. I have REALLY enjoyed this time with her. Though I really miss my kids, camp has been a great fit for them. And having a chance to spend time with Alexandra has been a delight to me.
Time to put my feet up this afternoon (with my M nM's)
A chance to teach EG's class at camp and the GREAT team she and I have made! I wish you could've seen her leading 10 boys in doing a Chinese fan dance
A HUGE storm while cooking with candles...it's the small things, ya know.
My little helper, Alexandra. While my kids have been at camp this week, Alexandra has come over every day. We've made three batches of banana bread, brownies, pizza, chicken florentine, pork roast and green beans. She's done laundry with me. She's picked up toys. She's played with Judah while I rested. She's gone with me almost everyday to pick up my kids. I have REALLY enjoyed this time with her. Though I really miss my kids, camp has been a great fit for them. And having a chance to spend time with Alexandra has been a delight to me.
Watch out Emma Grace, you have competition for your BFF!! (ME!)
Seriously, thankful for all the time I get to spend with my kids and other kids in our neighborhood. God has been kind in giving me this privilege!
Hard working Andy
low light of lamps
Judah's lightly freckled nose
faithful supporters of our ministry
lots to be thankful for!
Saturday, July 19, 2014
GRATITUDE 180 Poppa Dan
Thankful today for:
Banana Pancakes
Banana Muffins with chocolate chips
Mushy Bananas
Tubing down streams of crystal clear water with my family! WHAT FUN!
Coffee
A Sunny Day
A freshly mowed back yard
POPPA DAN!! So thankful for you Dan! I hope you have a great birthday! Thinking of the many reasons I am thankful for you...among them are your amazing memory, your vast knowledge on a gazillion subjects, your support of Andy and me in our work, your love for my kiddos, and all the sacrifices you've made for me!
Banana Pancakes
Banana Muffins with chocolate chips
Mushy Bananas
Tubing down streams of crystal clear water with my family! WHAT FUN!
Coffee
A Sunny Day
A freshly mowed back yard
POPPA DAN!! So thankful for you Dan! I hope you have a great birthday! Thinking of the many reasons I am thankful for you...among them are your amazing memory, your vast knowledge on a gazillion subjects, your support of Andy and me in our work, your love for my kiddos, and all the sacrifices you've made for me!
GRATITUDE 179 Silence and Talk
Thankful today for a few hours of work in complete silence. Thankful for an hour long conversation with a good friend. silence and meaning talk...now that's a good day!
Thursday, July 17, 2014
GRATITUDE 178 Our job, called by mercy
Today I am thankful that I get to be a part of God's work in people's lives. It's by his MERCY that he has called Andy and me to a really amazing job. And thankful for how God uses his people to faithfully provide for all that we need to be able to do this job! Thankful Thankful.
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
GRATITUDE 176 A big day
Thankful today for my Gmaw who celebrated 82 years of life today! And thankful for the four surgeries/procedures that went well for different family members today! And thankful for my cousin's engagement today! It was a big day for my extended family all the way around. Thanking God for his kindness to my family today.
Monday, July 14, 2014
GRATITUDE 175 God of the Sabbath
This week I am still reaping what I sowed two weeks ago.
Two weeks ago we were on vacation with Andy's family and I sowed seeds of REST all week long. It's a gift of grace that I have in-laws that are so loving and good to me. So just like being with my family, it's extremely restful for me to be with them. I didn't cook. I didn't change diapers. I took naps. I went for coffee with my sisters. I sat by the pool ALL. DAY. LONG.
And I am reaping the harvest of renewed motivation and energy to do the things God has called me to as a wife and mom. I never realize how depleted I am until I stop to really rest.
So thankful that we serve a God of Sabbath. A God who has done all for us and calls us to rest as a "dramatization of the heart of the gospel: “To the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith will be counted as righteousness” (Romans 4:5).Thankful for my weekly Sabbath times that renew me for the week ahead. And thankful for my extended times of vacation and rest that give wind to my sails for the next season of work and service.
 |
| We both found this spot to be perfect for afternoon naps! |
Two weeks ago we were on vacation with Andy's family and I sowed seeds of REST all week long. It's a gift of grace that I have in-laws that are so loving and good to me. So just like being with my family, it's extremely restful for me to be with them. I didn't cook. I didn't change diapers. I took naps. I went for coffee with my sisters. I sat by the pool ALL. DAY. LONG.
And I am reaping the harvest of renewed motivation and energy to do the things God has called me to as a wife and mom. I never realize how depleted I am until I stop to really rest.
So thankful that we serve a God of Sabbath. A God who has done all for us and calls us to rest as a "dramatization of the heart of the gospel: “To the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith will be counted as righteousness” (Romans 4:5).Thankful for my weekly Sabbath times that renew me for the week ahead. And thankful for my extended times of vacation and rest that give wind to my sails for the next season of work and service.
Sunday, July 13, 2014
GRATITUDE 174 Friends who feel like family
Chicken and Steak Fajitas
World Cup Soccer
Card Games
Friends who feel like family
A Sunday afternoon well spent
Saturday, July 12, 2014
GRATITUDE 173 Saturday Thanks
Thankful today for:
A free punch bowl and cups that happen to match the glasses my grandmother had when I was growing up
A husband who helps with laundry
Time with Emma Grace and Andy after the boys went to bed
A morning run
A midday nap
An afternoon thunderstorm
Faithful supporters who provide for our family
The knowledge that the sting of missing China is a part of God's best for our family...he plans everything for our good, especially the pain he allows us to endure
A free punch bowl and cups that happen to match the glasses my grandmother had when I was growing up
A husband who helps with laundry
Time with Emma Grace and Andy after the boys went to bed
A morning run
A midday nap
An afternoon thunderstorm
Faithful supporters who provide for our family
The knowledge that the sting of missing China is a part of God's best for our family...he plans everything for our good, especially the pain he allows us to endure
Friday, July 11, 2014
GRATITUDE 172 Freebie Friday
We took advantage of all the freebies offered today....well, except for Krispy Kreme's dozen donuts for 77 cents. I figured we didn't need donuts on top of the free chic-fila meals and free slurpees in honor of 7-11's birthday! Since it was our family night, even Andy got into the whole cow thing....
Thursday, July 10, 2014
GRATITUDE 171 Thursday Thanks
Thankful today for:
Another afternoon thunderstorm
A train ride with all three of my kids
Slurpees
A visit with friends
Granular flow
Time to do some creative writing
An early morning with the Lord
That Christ will make all things new
The job Andy gets to do each day
Jenn, such a blessing to our family
Another afternoon thunderstorm
A train ride with all three of my kids
Slurpees
A visit with friends
Granular flow
Time to do some creative writing
An early morning with the Lord
That Christ will make all things new
The job Andy gets to do each day
Jenn, such a blessing to our family
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
GRATITUDE 170 Coming Home
Been without internet while we were on vacation. Been keeping up with my gratitude practice so now I just need to go back and do a little retro blogging from our amazing trip.
We're back now and getting into the groove of life. Thankful so far for a BIG trip to the store to restock the fridge, a generous neighbor who let me store all my groceries at her house when I got home and realized I was locked out. Thankful for how good it feels to come home after a trip. All five of us were thrilled to see our own beds!! Thankful for how refreshed and renewed I feel after a week with our family. Thankful for friends here who make "coming home" feel like "coming home!" We had a playdate with two of those neighbor friends yesterday at the pool.
So good to be home!!
We're back now and getting into the groove of life. Thankful so far for a BIG trip to the store to restock the fridge, a generous neighbor who let me store all my groceries at her house when I got home and realized I was locked out. Thankful for how good it feels to come home after a trip. All five of us were thrilled to see our own beds!! Thankful for how refreshed and renewed I feel after a week with our family. Thankful for friends here who make "coming home" feel like "coming home!" We had a playdate with two of those neighbor friends yesterday at the pool.
So good to be home!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)