492.

Every so often I remember I have this blog and I remember that it was a good idea to keep track of what I'm thankful for.

• The scriptures are full of examples of people being thankful, often when their lives were hard.  And besides that, scripture tells us, quite emphatically, to Be Thankful.
• Even for people who aren't believers, thankfulness crowds out complaining, victimization, whining.  And don't we all prefer to be around people who are thankful rather than those who constantly complain about any and everything?
• Being thankful is like being polite.  It acknowledges where we stand in relation to the rest of the universe.

So, I"ll add a few more:

492.  people who care about me being sick
493.  living long enough to see growth
494.  cooler weather
495.  a house to get dirty
496.  happy memories
497.  unlimited cups of hot tea
498.  opportunities to minister
499.  a chance to give stuff away

484.

I've neglected my 1000 thank-yous list for some months.  Nevertheless, those months have been filled with good things and blessings.  I need to start up again.

484.  a clean house
485.  wisdom from kids
486.  shooting stars
487.  a view of Mars
488.  seeing happiness and peace in others
489.  a husband with an even keel
490.  a children's sermon
491.  a new refrigerator

From the Mouthes of Babes

The youngest four out of five kids in a foster family were in my Sunday School class today.  They are all great kids, but I think I felt in control of  the class no more than 75% of the time, even with only four students.

At prayer time I asked if anyone had anything they wanted us to pray about.  The 7 year old answered, without hesitation:  "My mom.  Cause we live in a foster family.  My mom needs a job and a house.  She needs a car and money."

"OK, would you like to pray for her?" I asked.

So she did.  Then her baby sister started yelling, "I want to pray, I want to pray."  :-)

So she had her turn: "Thank you for my mom's job, and for her house, and for her car and her money."

Bloom Where You're Planted

It isn't just a saying--sometimes it really happens!

Too Good

Wow, it looks like Blogger has changed a lot since I was last here.  Nowadays, change is better, right??

Some time ago I decided to use my other blog for my frequent chit-chat blather, keeping friends and family up to date with our daily lives.  Nothing earth-shattering, just the daily news.

Anyway, today I'm using this old blog to put into print the fact that I'm feeling like my life is too good.  No, not bragging.  In fact, I almost feel guilty for having such a perfect life.  Or more to the point, I might feel a twinge of guilt mixed with my sympathy for others because my child didn't commit suicide and my husband didn't run off and my credit card is paid off and I don't have cancer and I do have air conditioning and my house is too big, and my friends are too kind and my kids still like me, and, well--you get the idea.  In other words, I see others suffering and I sometimes wonder why it isn't me.  The only sensible answer I can come up with is that God has been both merciful and gracious to me, not giving me what I do deserve on the one hand and giving me what I don't deserve on the other.  I don't know why.  But I know I am blessed and I am grateful to Him.

479.

479.  a lifer bird
480. receiving a heart-felt thank you
481. nice, nice weather
482. peace
483. a happy mother-of-the-bride

472.

472.  The Lord is merciful.
473.  My prayer has been answered.
474. The Lord is risen.
475. my grandbabies
476. safe travels
477.  the end of a good life
478. bluebonnets

Linda's Big Day--55

I posted about my very long day birding with colleagues at my other blog.  I'm still recovering!

469.

469.  Some things never change, and that's a good thing.
470.  gathering up the bits and pieces and turning them into something good
471.  green.  Everything is green.

465.

465. three new pairs of summer pants--remodeled from the boutique (free is good!)
466. a happy boy
467. God's promise of protection
468. 25-year old car passing inspection

460.

460.  everyone safe
461. everyone happy
462. more expressions of thanks received
463. sunshine after the rain
464. Jupiter and Venus

455.

455. good kids
456. a friend who asks me to pray for her child
457. a peaceful morning
458. an unexpected challenge
459. expressions of thanks to me

447.

447. an internet friend teaching at a Christian school
448.  the testimony of her martyred coworker
449. the promise of spring
450.  people in good moods instead of bad
451. joy in preparing for a SS picnic
452. the mowed lawn
453. the wildflowers
454. Lent readings

Great Back-Yard Bird Count

I participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count again this year.  I don't think I put as much energy into it this year because it seemed like our weekend was pretty busy.  I ended up submitting 3 lists for our backyard, including 19 species.  I also did one list for a short tour of Bachman Lake, for 16 species.

I've taken a few bird photos lately, posted here in no particular order:

American Wigeon

Double Crested Cormorants

American Pipit

Red-winged Blackbird eating my Goldfinch food

441.

441. more rain, the slow, gentle kind
442. identification of one more wildflower
443. identification of ten more birds in Galveston
444. dinner with an old friend
446. the promise of God's provision in all areas of need

437.

437. large flock of robins in the front yard
438. a stupid thing on the internet that made me laugh
439. an early Valentine's card from Isabella
440. an early Valentine's gift of chocolate from Ginger

434.

434. a day to catch up on little projects
435. travel arrangements made
436. hope for the hopeless

431.

431. unexpected hope, another chance
432. warm weather
433. some new equipment

428.

428. the birds are singing like crazy this morning
429. a step of healing, leading to steps
430. a tree for Micah

423.

423. in retrospect, seeing an important prayer petition answered in the affirmative
424. a nice chat
425. a curried-lentils burrito for breakfast
426. plans made for a trip to Sun City
427. matching gifts

419.

419. safe on this side of the pond
420. long weekend
421. a walk, if short
422. a time to relax

414.

414. getting his first choice
415. someone asking me to pray for them
416. sunshine on a cold day
417. the promise of eternal life at the end of this one--goodbye, Florence M.
418. healthy tears of grief

409.

409. a 30-minute walk
410. a peg leg
411. fresh strawberries in winter
412. Kindle books
413. green tea

406.

406. cleaning out the email inbox
407. cleaning out a pile of papers
408. fixing my spotting scope

399.

399. still happy
400. still thankful
401 so many nice Christmas gifts
402. so many nice times with family
403. so many nice times with friends
404. "da-da-da-da-da-da"
405. some rearranging, making more space