Thankful Thursday

 Things I am thankful for in no particular order:

* The beginning of a new year which seems like a good time for a fresh start.  I know God's mercies are new every morning and we can always start fresh any time, but the new year just seems like a perfect time to make sure all is good between me and the Lord and to remind myself how much He loves me and all that He does for me.  

Lamentations 3:22-23 NLT

The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease.  Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.

*   Bible reading for 2025 - My plan is to read the complete Bible in chronological order.  I think it's been about 2-3 years since I've read the whole Bible through.  I really want to do that this year and I love to read it chronologically.  So we'll see how it goes.  How are you reading the Bible this year?

*  Hubby preached a really good sermon Sunday he entitled, "A Place Called Wit's End."  Here's a pre-recorded version of that sermon. I am so thankful for the truth He teaches us each week.

*  Cousins.  I love my family and I hope us cousins in this picture and the others we have in this area will be able to get together a little more often in 2025.

I plan on being intentionally thankful and to continue with these Thankful Thursday posts for 2025.  I want to always remember to be thankful for all the Lord has done for me like the song below says,

Count Your Many Blessings

1. When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed,

When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

(Refrain)

2. Are you ever burdened with a load of care?

Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?

Count your many blessings, ev'ry doubt will fly,

And you will be singing as the days go by.

(Refrain)

3. When you look at others with their lands and gold,

Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;

Count your many blessings, money cannot buy

Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

(Refrain)

4. So, amid the conflict, whether great or small,

Do not be discouraged, God is over all;

Count your many blessings, angels will attend,

Help and comfort give you to your journey's end.

(Refrain)

Refrain:

Count your blessings, name them one by one;

Count your blessings, see what God hath done;

Count your blessings, name them one by one;

Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.

That's all I'll list for today. So what are you thankful for? I would love to know.

Cathy

Friday Photos

 Hi everyone.  

Thought I'd share some photographs I've taken recently.  Hope you enjoy.

This was a fun puzzle to work

This was a favorite one

Hubby and I watched our favorite Christmas movie 

Beautiful sunset on Sunday evening on our way to church. 
 I was driving so I stopped in the middle of the road to
 be able to take this.  Thankfully no one was behind us

Our church lit up for our Christmas Candlelight Carol Sing

Some of our Christmas decorations this year

Love our little fiberoptic tree

Usually Lucy won't look at me for a picture, but she let me take several of her this night.

My mother-in-law makes the best pasta salad

My daughter took this picture.  Colton got a leopard
gecko for Christmas, so we bought him this t-shirt.

A group of us cousins got together today for lunch at Bob Evans.  We had so much fun.  I realized we are getting so old.  We range in age from 50 something to 85.  That was a little shocking!  No matter the age I love these people and we always have a good time together.

I just finished this puzzle tonight before I started writing this post.

Cathy

Thankful Thursday

 

As I sit writing this post it is late Christmas evening.  It's been a good day.  Here are some things I am thankful for this week and they are in no particular order.

Jesus.  I think so often I forget how much He has done for me.  He left the splendor of heaven to become a human and to die for my sins.  And now I am reconciled to God and will get to spend eternity with Him and with all the saved!  What a gift!!!

Our Lucy! Sometimes this little one can aggravate the fire out of me.  But mostly she gives me joy and comfort and lots of laughter.

My dishwasher just chimed to signal the cycle is done.  I am very thankful for my dishwasher and feel so blessed to not have to wash dishes by hand all the time.  We bought a new one this year and I am very pleased with it.  It washes better than any one I've had before.  Sometimes it's the simple things that bring the most joy.

My family, of course.  We had lunch with my mother-in-law on Christmas.  We spoke, texted, and/or Marco Polo'd with both girls on Christmas.  Texted with my brother and talked with my sister.  I sent bunches of texts of Merry Christmas out this morning and have been receiving many back throughout the whole day.  Oh and of course, my grandson, Colton!  He is a treasure!

  

Christmas Presents were fun this year.  I got a favorite candle and can't wait to burn it.  Plans are to do that in my little office at church after the new year starts. I also got a book and a new 40 oz mug that I love. Those were from my girls.  I bought several things for myself in the past week and hubby bought a new i-pad and accessories for himself for Christmas.

Feeling very blessed this evening before heading for bed. What are you thankful for this evening?  Thanks for visiting.  Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night,

Cathy

Bits of This and That

 

Good morning.  It's warmed up around here some, but unfortunately, it's very cloudy and raining this morning and it looks like we will have rain around most of the day.  But that's okay.  At least it's not ice!

I know I haven't been around here much lately, but I have been keeping up with reading a lot of your blog posts.  I have just felt like I needed to spend a little more time with the Lord and it's been good.  Sometimes I just have to get my priorities straightened around.

I've been reading some (I'm currently reading Melania's new biography), working jigsaw puzzles (I just picked up 5 more from my sister, who has a humongous stash of puzzles),watching lots of Hallmark Christmas movies with my hubby and spending lots of time at home, which I have been loving.  We've always spent a lot of time running around and eating out and just being busy and it's been nice to slow down some. We still are going into the church office 2 or 3 times a week, and I love that.  But we are both enjoying the time at home (and Lucy loves it that we are home more now too).  Here are the latest 2 puzzles I've completed.

I talked with Colton a week or so ago and he showed me his early Christmas present.  He lot a leopard gecko.  Let me just say, this is one time I'm glad he's not here and I'm not there.  Lizards are definitely not my thing.  lol

  

When I was decorating the tree, I broke one of my favorite ornaments that said Joy on it.  Unbeknownst to me, while I went on decorating, hubby went on line and bought we a new Joy ornament.  What a sweetie and he picked good!

Here's our tree this year

Hubby and I are doing an Advent Bible study called, The Marvel and Miracle of Advent with Lisa Harper and Christine Caine.  I'm really enjoying it.

Last night we picked up hubby's mom and went out to see some Christmas lights.  I didn't take a single picture, but we sure did enjoy it.  Hope you all are doing well and I hope you have a great day.

Cathy

Wednesday Hodgepodge - Fall Y'all!

 

Click above to link up with Joyce

1. It's officially fall y'all...in the northern hemisphere anyway. What are three of your favorite things about this particular season of the year?  

The beautiful colors of the trees 

The cooler temperatures 

Crockpot cooking and soups

2. Your favorite fall fabric-denim, flannel, tweed, corduroy, tartan, polar fleece, leather? Do you own something made with your favorite fall fabric? What I love is wearing hoodies.  

3. According to Everyday Health here are ten healthy fall foods- apples (flavonoids may improve brain health), pears (for heart friendly fiber), cranberries (helps your body fight oxidative stress) winter squash (for eye health), pumpkin (another great source of Vitamin A), leeks (an anti-inflammatory food), brussel sprouts (full of fiber and anti-oxidants), sweet potatoes (loaded with Vit A and C), parsnips (keep your bones healthy with Vit K), and broccoli (may help prevent cancer). How many on the list do you eat on a regular basis? Which one is your favorite? Which one gets a big no thanks from you?   Of this list sweet potatoes is probably the favorite, but I like apples and cranberries too.  Least favorite is brussel sprouts.

4. Tell us about the last time (or a recent time) you experienced a wave of nostalgia? I feel nostalgic when I see pictures of my mom and dad.  The other day I drove by one of the many homes I lived in growing up.  Definitely, it brought back a lot of memories.  Someone has painted it and I think it's very pretty.  But I loved it when dad built it and we lived there.  It was red brick with a beautiful yellow front door.  The 2 window on the right was the girls' bedroom.  All 3 of us girls lived in there.  It was a huge room, or at least as a young girls I thought it was large.  It had pink walls (think Pepto-bismol).  As we lived there dad finished out the basement.  There was a second kitchen down there and a huge fireplace and there was a shuffleboard area worked into the tile and we also had a ping pong table.  So many memories were made in this home, even though we only lived there about 3 1/2 years. 

Memories

5. Sept. 22nd was National Daughter's Day. Like mother, like daughter...does this idiom ring true for you? You may answer in terms of your own role as a daughter or, if you have daughters, then your role as a mother of daughters. Yes, I think it's true.  I act like my mom a lot and I'm okay with that.  She was a pretty great lady.  Now if I can be just half as good as her, that would be great.

6. Insert your own random thought here.  Some funnies I ran across and posted on my blog many years ago.  Still, they make me laugh.

I think I found this on a bathroom wall.

Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a great day.

Cathy

Bits of This and That - Hello Monday

 

Good Morning:

It's been a good weekend.  

On Friday, we went to hubby's mom's and he worked on getting her iPad and Roku TV set up.  She just recently got internet in her home.  She and I went and picked up some lunch from Olive Garden and had lunch at her house.  It was a good time of good food and good talking and getting her stuff set up.  After that we headed home and had a quiet evening together, just the way we like it. Also, Friday was my blogoversary.  I've been here since 2008.  I can hardly believe it's been this long.

On Saturday, we ran some errands and then spent the rest of the day at home.  I did some laundry and pulled out some fall decorations. That evening we watched the third Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

Sunday we had church (pre-recorded sermon below) and brought home a sandwich for lunch and took a nap and then back for evening service.  

Friday was our youngest daughter's 30th birthday and today, Monday is Colton's 8th Birthday.  Man, time is going way too fast!  Love these two lots.

Opened his gifts early

At Disney World on Saturday

Aunt Kelli, Colton & Kerri

Happy Birthday Kerri and Colton!  Talk to you later today!

That was pretty much our weekend.  Hope you had a good one. I'm linking up with Holly and Sarah at Hello Monday.

Thanks for visiting.

Cathy

Thankful Thursday

 

Good morning:

I try on most Thursdays to make a post of things I am thankful for.  I believe it’s important to be intentional about giving thanks to the Lord, because He is worthy.  So, here are a few of the things I’m thinking about and giving praise to God for.

Music - I love many different kinds of music and I’m so thankful for the joy it brings to me and that we can use music to honor and praise Him.

Laughter - I love to laugh and I love to hear others laugh. A good belly laugh can sure add a lot of joy to my day.

Bible Study - Our fall Bible Study started Tuesday.  It was so good seeing all these ladies again and having some new ones join us too.  We’re studying Luke using this study by Lisa Harper.

Skies - I love beautiful sun rises and sunsets. I love night skies and day skies. I love seeing all the beautiful skies that God gives us. I don’t know how anyone can look up at the sky and then believe there is no God. 

Family and Friends - I am so grateful for my immediate family and my extended family, my church family, my friends and my blogging friends. I feel so blessed having all these in my life.

So, what’s something you are thankful for today?  I’d love to know. Thanks for visiting here.

Cathy

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

1. When the Hodgepodge lands on September 11th I want to acknowledge that. Will you purposely pause to remember, pray, or attend any sort of ceremony on 9/11?  I'm sure I'll find myself thinking about it.  Actually, I think hubby recently found a documentary about 9/11, so maybe we'll find time to watch that. Share any thoughts or memories you'd like to share about this day. I was in surgery that morning to have my gall bladder removed. I was the first surgery of the day.  My surgery had just ended when the first plane hit.  So at least, my surgeon was not distracted by that.  I remember they told me as they were taking me back to my room and there was a small TV on the wall that looked so far away.  I really had no idea what they were talking about.  But after getting home, that's all we watched for days.  So sad!

2. Growing up, did you spend a lot of time with your grandparents? What's something you learned from a grandparent? I don't know if I'd say a lot, but we saw my mom's parents every week as we went to church together, and then when I was in high school, they built a house right next door to us.  I saw my dad's parents when they were home in the summertime and quite often we visited them in Florida during Christmas break from school.  I'd say I learned the love of the Lord and our church (because both sets of grandparents started the work of the church that I grew up in)  I would not change that heritage for anything.

My Dad's Mom and Dad. These are the ones who had the Fruit Loops
and lived in Florida in the winter.  I also remember their little dog,
Bubbles, who was from the same litter as our dog, Poochie.  Grandpa
had taught Bubbles to bow her head when they prayed before
 they ate.  We loved Bubbles and Poochie.

This Mom's Dad and Mom.  Grandpa always sang
bass in quartets at our church.  He was very good. 
He also played guitar, although I can't remember that. 
He was injured in a farming accident and cut off his 4
fingers on one hand.   I only remember him this way. 
He later gave his guitar to my mom and as an adult
with 5 kids, she took lessons and learned to play. 
That guitar has now been given to my nephew who is a
fabulous guitar player.  It wasn't too long ago he brought
it out when we visited their home and played
it for us.  What a blessing that was!

3. What's your go-to breakfast? I really don't have a go-to breakfast.  I almost always eat breakfast, but what I eat changes daily.

4. Tell us the story behind one of your favorite photos. 

This photo was taken in the courtroom on Adoption Day of our girls.  And that is my brother's son with them.  Aren't they all just the cutest!  Some day, I need to share the full story of their adoption and all the miracles God did, just to bring us all together as a family!  God is so so good!!

5. This week Friday lands on the 13th. Are you superstitious in any way? Do you like scary movies, and if so what's your favorite? I am not superstitious and I'm not fond of really scary movies.

6. Insert your own random thought here.    I saw this on Instagram and wanted to share it and this seems like the perfect place.  It was posted in by @heidileeanderson.  

Thank you Joyce for another great Hodgepodge of Questions.  Thank you all for visiting and you can click on the Hodgepodge button at the top of this post to link up should you like to join us all.

Cathy