Learning to Praise

So here we are already, Monday. Multitude Monday. I can't believe I haven't been back here since last week, so many things crossed my mind that I wanted to share, wanted to process with you.

Maybe I don't make it here because I don't dare. Don't dare to be that real, share that much. For fear of scaring you away? For fear of giving you reason to judge me, dislike me, disapprove of me?

But here I am, ready to share this with you: my exercise in gratitude. Learning to praise God all day, every day, with my lips and my heart.

Do I say "Thanks God" if my heart isn't really thankful yet? Will my heart learn to praise God for the bumps in the road, even before I land safely on the otherside of the bump, before I can see the good in it? (It's easy to be thankful when life's road is smooth and the good is abundant.)

Like for the rain yesterday...I knew I could or should be thankful for it.
But I didn't like the gray skies
and dreary mass of cloud
and the way it made me feel tired.

I wasn't thankful, rather I was bitter
and resented that I couldn't control the weather,
and that the weather could effect my mood so profoundly.

So when I was thinking of what I was thankful for yesterday I started to say "the rain", but stopped myself because I know I can't fool God. "O Lord, you have searched me and you know me...You perceive my thoughts from afar." - Psalm 139:1-2

Here I go, listing His gifts, grace for each day:



#27. Our new niece, Elena Christine Gritter, born Saturday, October 23, 2010; she is healthy and her mama's doing well, too! Congratulations, Deb and Eric!
#28. Internet and digital cameras so I can see her beautiful little face
#29. The Bierma Bed and Breakfast in Montrose
#30. the way the sun peeks through the clouds on a rainy day
#31. the way the sun shines into my kitchen more and more, even as the days get shorter and shorter
#32. my dishwasher
#33. Immanuel
#34. Brad's ability to fix the car, start up the furnace, blow out the sprinklers, close up the swamp cooler
#35. An amazing hail storm Saturday night
#36. a solid home to protect us from all the rain, hail, wind and cold
#37. intentional questions, and the people willing to ask them and listen
#38. being able to encourage a teenager
#39. seeing the speck in someone else's eye, causing me to examine my own eyes for planks that need to be removed
#40. encouraging friends
#41. a spontaneous sleepover party for this mama and her two kids
#42. the opportunity to live in GJ and enjoy its beauty
#43. a new mama friendship
#44. Skype, to stay connected and share life
#45. patient, persevering husband
#46. Cora squealing "Mommyyyyyy!" while she runs to me and wraps herself around my legs, almost knocking me over
#47. coupons


Oh, isn't she precious? Little Elena, may your heart always praise God, for He is good; His love endures forever. And we love you, too!

in humble thanks

11. mopped floors
12. new, although old, drier
13. painting ornaments
14. accidents
15. forgiveness
16. the lost being found
17. weary feet that don't give up
18. a hunter who gave up his hunt to help another
19. hope for Gerrit
20. Monday morning coffee
21. autumn rain-fresh laundry
22. little voices
23. nigh-night songs
24. Mt. Garfield hike with Brad
25. parole hearing
26. playpens

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds. For you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-3
- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --- -- --
Please join us in praying for my cousin's little boy, Gerrit. He has just been diagnosed with brain cancer. A tumor has been removed but he will soon start chemotherapy and radiation. His parents, Jeremy and Kathy. His siblings, Clayton, Emaline, and Abby.

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Gratitude Community

1. Grace
2. loving husband
3. blue eyes
4. blonde curls

5. quiet nights
6. baby signs
7. warm October sun
8. Cora noticing changing leaves on trees
9. beautiful music
10. fish to count

Stats and Pics

Peter had a great 12 month check-up last week. He weighed 21 lbs, 13 oz. He measured 33 inches tall (I am skeptical about the accuracy, again). All in all, given a clean bill of health.

Here's some new things going on:
He is cutting 2 molars on the bottom. I think we're past the worst of it now, finally!
He signs "more" and "down", and just this last weekend added "dog" and "drink".
He can stand for a couple seconds on his own and carefully lowers himself to the ground, but shows very little interest in walking with help. He'll cruise around the furniture for a little bit but mostly crawls.
He loves to be outside or watch outside. He enjoys standing at the front screen door and watching any activity going on.
He's sleeping very well.
He's eating very well. He prefers fruits and vegetables over meat or grains. He's gotten better at accepting being spoon fed for messy foods like soup or rice. We're still working on learning not to throw food off his tray. He has happily accepted cow's milk, now that he's done nursing. We still enjoy cuddling while he takes a bottle a few times each day.
His silly personality is starting to shine through. He loves to play peekaboo, be tickled or chased, and playing with anything Cora is playing with!
He enjoys the nursery at church, but cries for a few seconds when I leave him.
His bright, blue eyes attract a lot of attention, as does his contagious smile and interest in other people.
Brad and I comment every day on how much fun he is!

Thank you to everyone who called or sent birthday wishes for Peter!

Click here to see a few more pictures from my facebook album.