November 29

Outside my window...

It is a beautiful, sunny day. Yesterday it was so cold and windy but now today the weather has moderated and we are not so intimidated about stepping outside the door.

I am thinking…

...about how to get shelter for the chickens. All good homesteaders say to get your infrastructure in place before you get your creatures. Wise advice!

I am thankful for…

...a warm house. When I hear the wind blowing strong and cold I think about the people who have cold houses or no houses. And I feel guilty in my nice warm dwelling with plenty of clothing and covers. 

From the learning rooms…

We are still studying Paul's letters to Timothy. We're instructed to be soldiers for the Lord, not side-tracked or weighted down by the affairs of this life.

...chosen him

We just finished These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder as our daily read-aloud. We are considering reading the Little Britches series after this.

Otherwise, the boys are challenged to have their own reading goals in the Bible and otherwise. Melvin is reading Sherlock Holmes stories. 

Christopher read a few "new" books I pulled off the shelf for him. He's also wanting to read Josephus for the reward I offered him but he thinks the reward should be higher. He read a bit from the beginning of the book.

From the kitchen…

Here's the menu plan I set out this week but I haven't held to it entirely. 

Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner
Egg sandwiches Yogurt	Leftovers	Deep dish Taco squares Green beans Lettuce salad
Spinach quiche Yogurt Granola	Goulash	Rice with Alfredo Spinach salad Apple crisp
Muffins Yogurt	Leftovers	Taco soup Cornbread Lettuce salad
Potato quiche Yogurt	Leftovers	Potato bar Peas & carrots Chinese cabbage salad
Baked oatmeal Yogurt	Penn Valley	Penn Valley
Penn Valley	Penn Valley	Mifflinburg
Scrambled eggs & sausage Yogurt	Leftovers	Veggie roast with sausage Lettuce salad

I am wearing…

...a head covering, an old lavender dress, ankle socks. I shed my purple sweatshirt after a morning workout.

I am creating…

Nada. Nix. Zed. Zero. 

I am going…

...to Pennsylvania to be with Stephen Saturday and Sunday.

I am reading…

...the Mitford series by Jan Karon.

I am hoping… 

...that life will get more reasonably busy for my dear husband.

I am hearing…

...wood chunks falling into the garden cart as Melvin and Christopher fill it and haul loads up the hill to stack on the pile.

Around the house…

The house kitchen (we have two kitchens) has gotten a coat of paint on two sides. The new color begs the cabinets to be white. 

The windows were washed on the outside of the house and I'm now working my way, little by little, around the inside. 

And, little by little, I'm taking care of stacks of things around my desk. I'm determined to declutter (auto correct thinks this isn't a word) and organize this house to the nth degree.

One of my favorite things…

A meal around the table with the family. 

A few plans for the rest of the week…

Continue life as usual. Cook, clean, do laundry, pack lunches, go shopping, and whatever else needs to be done. I need to figure out how and when to get the steer to the butcher.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing….

Do you ever feel awed by patterns in nature?
Even the swirl in the cooking pan? I do!

Name the Gifts

Be ye thankful. Colossians 3:15

One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp has confirmed my earlier notions that we must live a joyful life. The author was challenged by a friend to record one thousand things she loved. She took up this challenge to name one thousand blessings. Literally. Write it down.

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20

She had been on a journey to find the mystery to the full life. Her journey led her to believe that thankfulness is how the child of God finds fulfillment in life. Especially in naming His gifts. If a thing is unnamed, it remains in the shadows. Do you feel thankful for something you haven’t named?

In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1Thessalonians 5:18

 As she describes her discoveries, it resonates with me. Yes, how many times are we instructed in the Word to be thankful? How many times do we see successful people who are thankful? Not successful as the world would term success, but happy, fulfilled people.

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. Daniel 6:10

What did Daniel give God thanks for? Three times a day. Do we please our Father by naming His gifts to us in thankfulness? Does He feel our love for all the good things He’s blessed us with? We will feel His love begin to fill our lives as we name His gifts.

For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:  1 Timothy 4:4

The prayer before the meal. Is it one of thanksgiving? Or is it a ritual?

And he took the cup, and gave thanks…. Luke 22:17

And he took bread, and gave thanks… Luke 22:19

And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks… Matthew 15:36

In giving thanks, things are multiplied. We are filled. We see more. And more.

You must search, to be able to name. One thousand gifts? Where will you find them?

Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in they presence. Psalm 10:13

Name the gifts and it will change you. Do not stop when you reach one thousand. That was only to get you in the habit of looking amongst all of life, good and bad, to find what your Lover wants you to receive today.

Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it. Ephesians 5:25

From the book, "If we are dying of thirst, passively reading books about water quenches little; the only way to quench the parched mouth is to close the book and dip the hand into water and bring it to the lips. If we thirst, we'll have to drink." 

And if we are going to find fulfillment in life, we must begin to name.The gifts.

O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever. Psalm 30:12

If you want to read One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are you can find it on Amazon or CBD.

Will you join me in a race to name a thousand gifts?

What gift do you behold at this moment?

Disclaimer: I receive no compensation for this book review or from any links in this post.