Counting my blessings

1. I'm very thankful that the long cold winter is over ~ at least for a day or two! Today was very spring-like with greening grass, blue skies, robins busily flitting about, swelling buds on the trees, radiant warming sun.

With the forecast predicting warm weather (in the 70's) the rest of the week, I anticipate the flood waters receding.

Our "little" pond

2. I'm thankful for my health. It's a shame we sometimes have to experience sickness before we realize just how good it feels to feel good. All of a sudden, last Sunday evening, I came down with a doozy of a bad cold. I went to work on Monday for an hour and a half, then home to bed for the rest of the day. I also lounged around and rested all day Tuesday. But even though I came down hard, it didn't last and I was back to work as usual on Wednesday, working the rest of the week.

3. I'm thankful for the pastors and people I work with. There are 6 pastors on staff at our church and each of them is a pleasure to work with. On March 3 & 4, we all went away on a staff retreat to Sandy Cove Ministries Conference Center in NorthEast, MD. All their wives and kids went, too. It was such a good time to relax and just be together, something that is rare in our busy lives of ministering to others.

The view from our hotel window - the Chesapeake Bay

Playing together

4. I'm thankful for our family. Although I've known for several weeks, Amy just announced to the rest of the family that she is pregnant with baby #3. That will make 9 grandchildren for us. How exciting. Our oldest grandchild, Grace, just turned 9 years old. When the kids turn 7, we're inviting them to spend an overnight with us to do whatever they want. I was intending to get Grace closer to her birthday, but had to put it off because of being sick last week. So this past Monday, I left work early and drove up to get her. When we got back, she helped me make dinner. She had made up a list of things she wanted to do and we were able to cross everything off the list and add a few more. (We hadn't had eat ice cream on the list, but did that anyway!) We had her all day Tuesday, leaving the house around 4:00 pm, then driving to C & C's for dinner and dessert with the family. She is a delight to be with.

Playing free cell and getting her hair done

Taking a hike on water logged trailsWow - a stretch of trail with no water!

finding treasures along the way

a certain 9 year old is tired

what a candle!

5. Along with family, I'm specifically thankful for my husband. He is so good to me, encouraging and loving me sacrificially. He is a blessing to me and an example of Christ's unconditional love.

6. Above all, I'm so thankful for the salvation I enjoy in Christ. His divine power has given me everything I need for life and godliness.