Grains of Gratitude August 5

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

Today begins another new week and I can’t start the new one without showing my gratitude for the blessings I enjoyed last week! Expressing my gratitude here is another way to thank God for His mercy and for the greatest gift ever given – the life of His son, for our salvation!

Today I’m thankful for . . .

. . . . LifeChurch! Craig’s message was awesome today with the focus on Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Many of us, myself included, have difficulty concentrating on the fact that we are “God’s workmanship” instead of believing the negative image we have of ourselves based on criticisms and hurts we carry with us from the past. I actually talked about this same thing here, in a recent post on my other blog “In Due Time”, which is where I write about issues I face in regard to lifestyle changes I am implementing in order to be a fully devoted follower of Christ.

Once again, it seemed like Craig’s lesson was meant especially for me. I always come away from the service feeling uplifted and ready to face another week with new tools to use in my daily life, which will strengthen my relationship with God.

I signed up to serve at church during the worship service which is one hour earlier than the service I attend, so today was my first day of serving. I asked for the babies and I was put in the classroom for the babies between 12 and 24 months! I loved it! The babies were so sweet and came right to me to hold them. At this age, they all want cuddles and loving and I’m more than happy to oblige!

One of the team leaders came to the classroom about twenty minutes before the class was over and asked if one of us would like to move to the class just below – the ages from birth to one year. I immediately volunteered thinking how fun it would be to cuddle those little bitty babies! I have definitely decided that I want to stay in the older group! There were a lot of newborns in the class and when I first walked in there were either three or four babies crying. Each of the workers had one baby in tow; there were babies in swings all around the room; two babies in their little jumper seats and it was chaotic! I immediately took one of the crying babies and got her to sleep, laid her down and then had two more to give bottles to at the same time! I had one in each hand! I was much calmer in the room with the “cuddlers”.

. . . . My team of co-workers. My boss is so great at knowing when we need a break because the work we do is very detailed and everything has a deadline. Now, just having a deadline is really not the hardest part. The hardest part of meeting our deadlines is that we have to rely on other people to submit to us all the documentation necessary to complete the job. Most are really good about it, but just a few who don’t realize the impact late submission causes, can really throw a kink into everything!

We had a working lunch away from the office on Thursday. We went as a group to Cattlemen’s restaurant. It was so nice to be able to spend a little time away from the office, just being together. We had a great lunch and went back to work feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the job again!

. . . . My son, Chance! Last week was his third week on his job and I am so proud of him! His boss, along with Michael, the job foreman and others have really bragged on what a great job he’s doing for them. He really has shown that he’s not a little boy anymore, but that he can do a man’s job and do it very well! He was in Sayre from Monday through Thursday last week and by God’s grace, Michael was able to go with him. They will go back for just a couple of days this week to finish and then Friday this week, will be Chance’s last day. He starts school on Monday.

He has the opportunity to work during his school breaks, but right now at least, he is saying that he doesn’t think he wants to do that. He would rather enjoy his senior year and then go back to work once he graduates. This has been a great opportunity for him and I believe, and am praying, that it will lead to great things once he is out of school!

. . . . My Mom and Dad. Friday was their wedding anniversary and it really made me think about them a lot. I’m so thankful that they taught us to love the Lord and to live a life of service to Him! I know that they could not have given us a better gift! I miss them every day, but I know that we will be together again!

. . . . My husband, Jody. This summer Chance has been gone from home more than he’s been here. Jody and I have been alone most of the summer learning how to live each day without children in our home. When we married we already had three children – two from his first marriage and one from my first marriage. Eleven months after our wedding, we had our fourth child. We’ve never been without children since the beginning and it is definitely different than we are used to in our home. It’s been nice. It’s been quiet and peaceful. Jody is really becoming quite the “Handy Helper” around here. He has even unloaded and loaded the dishwasher several times! He is truly one of God’s blessings in my life!

I love to count my blessings and see what the Lord has done each week! I am so blessed and know where my blessings come from! I love the Lord and wake every day thankful for another day to serve Him!

I love Christine's question, "What are you thankful for today?" and it always makes me stop, think and be thankful for my blessings!