Day #221

What an amazing day!!!  Spent some fun time together as a family at Pioneer Waterland.  As kids we used to go camping and play at the waterpark.  It was so much fun...and apparently my niece can't get enough of it either.  It was fun to see the wonder and excitement in Brianna's eyes.  I also saw fear as she saw all the rushing water at the top of the waterslide.  She ended up walking back down the tower  :-(  Maybe next year when she is 5)

Went to the Cleveland Orchestra at blossom with Starla...doubly blessed there...Orchestra and Starla!!!  Couldn't get any better than this! 

Day #220

There is something to be said about being with your Church family and worshipping together.  I am truly blessed and thankful that I have such a great church family at Grace.  After returning from Mexico it was great to be worshipping next to some of the same people just now in English. 

Day #219

I am so thankful for the way that the holy spirit works.  I have been telling myself that I need to take a couple steps back from a situation...but every time I do, I feel the holy spirit telling me otherwise.  The holy spirit is the great counselor. 

Day #218

Always a sad day when I have to return to the states...there is just never enough time.  I am thankful in how God works.  We sat on the runway in Mexico for 2 hours...and only had 2 hours and 20 minutes layover in Atlanta...so we were rescheduled for a much later flight that evening.  So, thankful that the lines in customs were super fast, getting our luggage was a breeze, and then going through security no one got stopped, and to finalize it our gate wasn't too far away!  We made it just as they were boarding our original flight home.  Thank you Jesus!!
Upon our arrival, I am thankful for a grand gesture of Moses getting us all Welcome back balloons and the girls flowers!  What a way to end the trip!!!  Someone was glad we were home!!!

Day #217

Loved today because it was take in the city day!  Which means just be present and enjoy the time with our friends in Mexico.  I am so thankful for this day and the time I got to spend with Itzel...I can always count on laughing when she is around, our conversations are all over the place...partly because I only know so much Espanol...but what I love the most is just watching her walk with God and her desire to share that with the kids, youth, and church!  Praying she will be bold and courageous and start sharing with her fellow students at University!!!

Day #216

Thankful for good distractions....distractions that allow me to NOT entertain every feeling/lie that Satan throws my way!!!

Day #215

Thankful for a great day with Juan but what stuck out was how Denver handled us being lost...and no one was able to help on the phone or on the streets.  Thankful for his patience!

Day#214

There is something to be said about worshipping in another language.  One God of many languages but it is all same..love and adoration for our God.  I love standing shoulder to shoulder at church and giving the praise to God!!  So thankful that I can be here!!  

Day #213

Today was a blast.  So thankful for the time to spend with the kids at a place most of them have never been to!  The wonder in little Gaby's eye's as she kept repeating "Look, Look."  The boys as they ran from adventure to adventure and the pure excitement it brought about.  Thankful for the reminder to have childlike wonder in the things around me! 

 

Day #212

Thankful to have arrived in Mexico City safely.  But even MORE thankful to reunite with my friends in Mexico! They have this place in my heart that is so special.  We spent the evening discussing what our plans were for the week, and talking about what it means to have Epiphany eyes.  Thankful that God gave clear direction to the Mexican team on what the topic and focus would be...and only God could orchestrate the fact that our small group had just finished discussing the same topic.

Day #211

My schedule is pretty much the same work, meeting followed by another meeting, followed by a quick phone call...then there are all the errands/chores that need to be done. Grocery store, super store, make myself dinner, clean the house, pack clothes, to write why I am thankful, do laundry, put away clothes...I allow these things to crowd out down time.  I don’t leave room for rest. And then I hit a wall.
This week has been crazy packing for Mexico City and trying to get everything done...I was so exhausted I simply couldn’t push myself anymore, I threw my hands in the air and had nothing left to give and I was on the verge of tears in the middle of Walmart, who am I kidding the tears were coming down like Niagara falls!  Thankfully my eyes were so blurry with tears I didn't see anyone I recognized. 

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet water, He refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake.Psalm 23:1-3  

#Day 210

I just love Wednesday's.  :-)  I love being in fellowship and community.  I am so thankful that I can count on my brother's and sister's to be praying for the things we are struggling with...tonight we spent some time praying for Mexico City...and the things we, as individuals were struggling with in regards to the trip...and then as well how we were hoping to see God show up.

Day#209

Things have been a little crazy with prepping for the Mexico City trip.  You would think by now that I would be prepared for the unpreparedness and be okay with it.  Yet, I still stress out.  Thankful for this gem in my life!!!!

Day #208

God is always active and He is stronger and bigger than anything I face.  I am thankful for that reminder over and over again.  Because this is where God will show up, when I am weak and unable!

Day #207

Today I am thankful that God isn't finished with me yet.  He is constantly working on shaping me.  I am a rather structured person...I like lists, I like plans, I like things to be as close to perfect as possible...
I think God likes those things too...but I also thinks He knows just how tightly I hold on to them...and I know when I grasp on to something He usually pries my fingers off one by one...but today I felt like it was one hand at a time...
Plans with Mexico City have changed and we will now be spending time with the kids and doing crafts/etc...I am learning to be okay with the fact that we don't have a craft and we don't have any of the items picked up yet...God has got it all under control...and if it doesn't turn out how I thought it should it is probably for the best and I will see that eventually.

Day #206

I love that my family doesn't believe in one Birthday Celebration...in the case of my Daddy-O we had 3.  Whitey's, Sarah's vineyard, and my brothers house.  Tonight's celebration was laid back and just the immediate family.  My brother cooked some delicious ribs!  As I write I wish I could have had more!  :-)  But the best part of the evening was just running around the house.  Yep...I took for granite that as a child we would chase each other through the kitchen into the dinning room and then into the living room and back to the kitchen...we would run in circles for hours...not every home has that...tonight we got to do it at my brother's house with my niece...she laughed for a good half hour straight.  The joys of being a child, the joys of hearing a child's laughter!  God is good!!!

Day #205

Thankful for Laura and Sherrie and their friendship!  We may not get to see each other everyday like we used to at Bridgestone but what a sweet night to reconnect with one another.  We enjoyed a glass a wine out on the back patio and then hit the road to indulge our ears in the sweet music of James Taylor at Blossom! 

Day #204

Today was a wonderful day to celebrate my Dad!  He loves wine and he loves being with friends and he loves being outside...so I think that he had a great evening.  I am thankful that I have a Dad that loves me and only wants the best for me.  He has taught me a great deal from how to go fishing to how to fix things around the house.  He has always loved making things and giving them away.  I have learned the value of homemade/handmade from my family!  Thankful for all the time what we get to spend together!!!

Day #203

After a nice long chat with my friend...I have been given the hard task of having a conversation I am scared to have...I want to have it, but I am scared...I don't know how to say what is on my heart...because in truth I don't fully understand it, and I find myself paralyzed.  THANKFUL for the reminder that...I can feel afraid but I don't have to be afraid to do the right thing.  Yeah, I need that to permeate my soul!!!

Day # 202

I look forward to Tuesday's, and I am thankful for them.  Just being around ladies who are chasing after God is so refreshing.  They all have a desire to grow more and more like Jesus and that is exactly what I need...because sometimes I get tired and I want to give up, but having these ladies cheering me on and encouraging me is what it is all about! 

Day #201

God is reminding me that I need to trust Him.  Not only with the daily tasks but the important details of my life.  I am thankful that he is teaching me that I need to let go of the list...that just jumping means that there’s a net below, and it is Christ...and I will be okay when the path isn't laid out exactly.

Day #200

Sad to say but July 20th was my first time out on Lake Erie this year.  Thankful to spend the day with my parents out on the lake.  We didn't catch many fish, just 20...but I love that we get to be away from technology and just enjoy the wind on my face as we glide across the lake! 

Day #199

Thankful for a fun day with my family in Christ.  We did a 6 mile canoe ride followed by a 16 mile night bike ride.  It was raining in the morning, but God is good and the rain subsided for the rest of the day only a few sprinkles.  I love that God loves our laughter and sense of adventure.  I was able to see through the day that God uses our weakness to show just how strong he is in our lives!  Thankful for life lessons from God on this journey.