Grains of Gratitude #2

Grains of Gratitude

Hosted by Christine at http://bradysbunch02.blogspot.com

"give thanks in all circumstances,

for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Today I'm grateful for many things! I'm grateful that it is Mother's Day and that I was able to talk to each of my children! I'm thankful for my wonderful family. This has been a good week and this weekend has been great!

Happy Mother's Day, Indeed! I've had such a great day today! I am so blessed!

Yesterday Elizabeth, Addy and I went to the cemetery and decorated my Mom's grave. It was hard for me when I was buying the arrangements. I miss her and to know that I couldn't see her on Mother's Day was a little tough. I cried - in the store - all the time I was looking through the arrangements. I got through it though and it was good to be able to put the arrangements on her grave.

Jody gave me my Mother's Day gift yesterday and I love it! This is the first time in 18 years that he has really given me something that means so much to me! He always gives me nice gifts, and I always appreciate them but never has he given me one that was so heartfelt! He said he got the idea from reading my blog! Imagine that! One more reason to blog!

He read that my favorite thing to do is sit on the porch and drink my coffee in the mornings! Now, I've done this for a long time, but I guess he never thought it was a big deal. We've had garden furniture on the porch ever since he built the deck, so I've always had a place to sit! That he would get me the rocker was great. Oh yeah, I didn't say what the gift was, did I?

He gave me a white wooden loveseat rocker!

I went out to sit in it this morning to drink my coffee, but the dew was pretty heavy and it was wet. I'm sure I'll be using it a lot as the weather gets warmer. Did I say that I love it? I really do!

Jody, Chance and I went to church this morning - at LifeChurch. Addy spent the night with us last night, so we had her with us as well. Michael and Elizabeth met us early so that Elizabeth could get Addy dressed. She hadn't planned for her to spend the night when they came out yesterday, so she didn't have clothes for church with her. It was fun to have her for the night!

The service at church was great and in honor of Mother's Day today, they had a Child Dedication Service! That was really an experience for me. That's not something we ever did at church as I was growing up and in my adult years as long as I attended my regular church. The dedication was really special and something that I'm sure has an impact on families. Parents brought their young children and babies before the congregation to introduce them and to show their dedication to raising their children in the love and admonition of our Lord! How great is that? It wasn't a baptism service - only a dedication. A member of the church family prayed before the congregation - and asked the congregation to join in that prayer - for the child and for the family as they made that dedication to God.

After church, Jody and Chance left to do some work at the house of one of Jody's co-worker's. Michael and Elizabeth - and Addy - took me out to lunch for Mother's Day. We had lunch at Charleston's and it was nice to be with them and the food was great!

We then went to their house to get some rose bushes they were digging up to re-do their landscaping. Michael and I dug them all up - I think there were 7 or 8 rose bushes and several shrubs. I brought them all home to put in our yard. Jody and Chance got home right after I did and Jody helped me get all of the rose bushes planted. He's going to build a planter box for the shrubs. I love roses and can't wait until they fill out again and start blooming!

Candace called earlier in the day to wish me a Happy Mother's Day and I talked to Toni this afternoon. This evening Joey, Levi and Addy all called to wish me the same. I love it when the grandkids call me - for anything. It's just so fun listening to their little voices on the phone!

Jody took my car this evening and vacuumed it - from the roses and shrubs - and washed it! He has been so sweet this whole weekend! I know I say it all the time, but I am blessed with a good husband . . . . good children . . . . . sweet grandchildren. . . . . . special sons-in-law! Sometimes I am amazed at how good my life is and how full of blessings it is as well!

This is a new week and I do my first volunteer shift tomorrow! It's going to be a great week and I'm looking forward to it! I bought a new Max Lucado book - "Facing Your Giants" and am looking forward to reading it this week, too!

I'm so thankful that we live in a country where we can worship as we wish - and that we can choose to attend the church of our choice! I'm thankful for the many blessings God has given me.

Colossians 2

6) So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord,

continue to live in him,

7) rooted and built up in him,

strengthened in the faith as you were taught,

and overflowing with thankfulness.

What are you thankful for today?