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These are a Few of My Favorite Things (100 to be Exact)

November 6, 2020 by Lauren 38 Comments

Jami Amerine, one of my favorite writers, said recently, “If I am losing it beyond the normal parameters of losing it, I write out or say 100 things I am grateful for.”  I don’t know about you, but the losing it thing describes me more often than not.  Especially in light of 2020.  And even this week!  Good grief.

 

Jami calls this exercise a gratitude blitz.  You can read what she said about it here.  Well, today this sounded like just the thing to kick off a month when many focus on giving thanks.  So I am taking a crack at it.  Hopefully something you read here will touch you, encourage you, entertain you or motivate you to make your own list.  And maybe we will decide – at least for a moment – that things really aren’t that bad.

 

Today I am grateful for:

  1.  Cheddar cheese flavored Garden Veggie Straws.  The bag is sitting right here in my line of sight, and they are delish.  Cures my chip craving for 30% less fat.  That’s what the bag says anyway.
  2. A husband working hard in the next room to provide for our family.
  3. My children.  I forget why right this minute, but I love them.
  4. Jesus.  Yes, He should have been first.  But my snack tasted so good.
  5. Beth Moore bible studies.  Some friends and I are currently working through Chasing Vines.  She is just so good.
  6. My cute Yorkie Meg.
  7. Facetime, without which I would not still be able to have long “face to face” conversations with my best friend.
  8. Noom and the determination to finally start losing some weight.
  9. A good check-up with my oncologist.
  10. A mom and sisters who are more like friends.
  11. Teachers and school administrators who have the hardest job in the world right now.
  12. The democratic process – even though I still feel conflicted about the vote I cast.
  13. The Bible.  That I can read God’s word every day in more translations than I can shake a stick at (that’s redneck for a lot) is such a gift.
  14. Half price Sonic drinks when I order on the app.  Not a paid advertisement, just a daily refreshment for me.
  15. Date nights.  A chance to get out of the house (socially distanced, of course) and leave my blessed children behind.
  16. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  Without it Shelby would get into a lot more trouble when I’m otherwise engaged.
  17. Sweet, Christian friends for my youngest.
  18. Four youngsters that call me Lolli.
  19. Zoom.  Whoever knew I would use it so much?
  20. My Yoga Lite students who meet with me virtually twice a week.
  21. A spin bike given me by my mother-in-law that keeps me cardio’d up without wearing a mask at the gym.
  22. That these Texas temps are getting a little cooler.
  23. A comfortable bed – even if I don’t sleep as well since menopause.
  24. This blog, which gives me a creative outlet to talk about Jesus and other things important to me.
  25. Spellcheck, without which the aforementioned blog would be a dung heap.
  26. Fellow bloggers, from whom I learn so much.
  27. Books.  I will not reach the bottom of my reading list before heaven.  And maybe one day I’ll even write a book – the Lord and publishing houses willing.
  28. Romantic comedies, because they just feel good.
  29. My Papa, who is a very good girl daddy.
  30. My sister’s hand me down car for Allie to wreck.  I mean drive!
  31. Shelby’s unconditional, child-like love.
  32. Allie’s singing voice.
  33. My one year old niece.  Everyone needs someone or something that cute and sweet to remind you of what’s good in the world.
  34. Special educators and therapists.
  35. Fenfluramine, which has worked wonders for Shelby’s seizures and given her better quality of life.
  36. A wonderful marriage.
  37. Tylenol and Sudafed for sinus headaches.
  38. The cute way Shelby pronounces “skunk” to sound like “stunk” and squirrel without the “s”.
  39. Vegetti made from zucchini to put pasta sauce on.
  40. Iphones.  I can talk, text, post, take pics and videos, read the bible, check my calendar and do my banking all from one little incredibly expensive device.
  41. My friends, who are often my sanity
  42. Pretty clothes.
  43. The Baylor Bears and the Dallas Cowboys.  You lose some, you lose some.
  44. A pastor whose teaching is excellent.
  45. Podcasts.  So informative.  So entertaining.
  46. Bark, that helps me keep an eye on my kid’s digital activity.
  47. Medical insurance.  Since paying for Allie’s broken leg and surgery we owe zero dollars for drugs or doctors for the rest of the year.
  48. Christmas.  I don’t know what it will look like yet, but it’s still my favorite time of the year.
  49. Air conditioning, ’cause Texas.
  50. Family hand-me-downs that remind me of sweet family history.
  51. Fast food.  We aren’t using it as often these days, but it’s nice to know it’s there.
  52. Allie’s smile.  It cost a small fortune, but it’s beautiful.
  53. Plants I have managed not to kill yet.
  54. The direct avenue I have to God through prayer.
  55. Hoka tennis shoes.
  56. Massages and ice packs.  Getting old is a you-know-what.
  57. My hometown.
  58. A lazy boy recliner that I used to nurse two babies and recover from a double mastectomy.  It still supports me every day (please don’t break!).
  59. A warm cup of flavored coffee.
  60. Stainless steel tumblers that keep the coffee warm and the water cold.  What a modern miracle!
  61. My Macbook Pro.  She was hard to get used to, but once you go Mac, you never go back.
  62. Hair dye and a talented colorist.  No one wants to see me without either.
  63. Nail salons.  Connecting mothers and daughters when nothing else can.  (If you own a salon, you are welcome to use that slogan!)
  64. Hamilton.  If you don’t know why, WATCH IT!
  65. An old, flawed and outdated home.  But it’s mine (and the bank’s).
  66. No car payments.
  67. Saving daily Facebook memories in my camera roll to reminisce over dinner with family.
  68. Funny memes
  69. Laughing out loud.
  70. Everything bagel seasoning.  It…is…everything.
  71. T-shirt dresses and cozy joggers.
  72. Sleeping late.
  73. Word search puzzles.
  74. Balderdash, PassWord and Taboo
  75. The unlimited grace God gives to me, a sinner.
  76. The hope of heaven.
  77. My wedding ring, second edition (I lost the diamond from the first.)
  78. My charm bracelet.  So many gifts.  So many momentos.
  79. Opportunities to cheer my kids on.
  80. Fall.
  81. Getting presents.
  82. Papermate Flair Pens in multiple colors.
  83. A new crockpot that cooks at the proper temperature.
  84. That it’s homemade chicken noodle soup season.
  85. Clearance racks.
  86. That I get to “wife” and “mom”.
  87. A family legacy of faith.
  88. The unmerited love of God.
  89. The beauty of creation.
  90. A second generation of the same family that is now serving as caregiver to Shelby.  The help is much appreciated and these ladies are a blessing.
  91. 80’s pop.
  92. 90’s country.
  93. Kitchen gadgets I don’t even know the name of that help me brown ground meat and finely dice onion.
  94. The Keurig
  95. Blog link-ups.  To share my work and engage with others.
  96. Online shopping.
  97. Also, boutiques and thrift stores.
  98. Do not call lists.
  99. Charities like The Tim Tebow Foundation, International Justice Mission, The Epilepsy Foundation and Make a Wish
  100. You, the reader, if you are still here!

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.  James 1:17 NIV

 

And now for this week’s featured post!

 

What Do You Mean When You Say You Believe? by Michele Morin is an important post.  As a writer, I put a lot of importance on words, but the weight we put on the word “believe” when it comes to God has eternal consequences.  Visit Michele at Living our Days.

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All of August…and Grace and Truth Link Up

August 28, 2020 by Lauren 20 Comments

August = weird and hot.  The highest of highs (temperatures and times) and the lowest of lows (definitely not temperatures).

 

The company my husband supports eliminated his job right before the month started.  They promised, however, that this massive restructure created other positions available for him to apply.  And they generously made his pay and benefits whole for a period of time for him to land internally or somewhere else.  We thank God and the retail giant for this.  But we also weary of this process.  Four jobs have come and gone in 3 and a half years.  So in the waiting, we praise the Lord for His provision and ask for more stability going forward.

 

Without the tethering of those little job things, we headed to the hill country of Texas to my in-law’s lake house.  And we invited my BFF and her family along.  Since they live in Alabama, we never get enough time together and I soaked in every minute!  Our Allie brought a friend and Chuck drove the boat and taught kids to ski for long, scorching hours every day of our vacay.  And he loved every minute of it.  My now suntanned, lake-loving spouse came home daydreaming about how he could make a living there.  Alas, it wouldn’t be easy – especially in a Covid environment.

 

We also did a fair amount of sitting and visiting.  That’s much more my speed.  We even survived a malfunctioning air conditioner (working one minute and not the next) and the boat briefly taking on water in the dog days of summer.  Playing Balderdash brought us to fits of laughter.  If I could, I would go back now – as long as I had the same people with me.  But since all good things must come to an end, Chuck and Allie flew to Illinois to see Chuck’s son and grandkids while Shelby and I went to spend a couple of nights with my parents and grandad.  While seeing family is good, it sometimes creates challenges which we are still dealing with and would appreciate your prayers for.

 

Once all back at home, I decided to see a physical therapist for dry needling.  Achilles tendonosis, left unchecked creates lots of discomfort.  My doctor suggested I might try this, but speaking of discomfort!  Have you ever done dry needling?  The PT, bless her, put needles into the tender spots of my feet and surrounding areas about 1/2 inch deep.  She then attaches what I can only describe as “jumper cables” to the needles, increasing the electrical stimulation until I can hardly stand it.  Then she starts a 10 minute timer.  Ouch!  And I’ll continue this treatment.  Pray for me in this too!

 

I read Well, Girl:  An Inside-Out Journey to Wellness by Jami Amerine.  I love this author and God placed this book in my hands for such a time as this.  He had already prompted me to work on a healthier version of myself and placed this little gem before me to compliment the journey.  I served on Jami’s launch team and even got a personal zoom meeting with her.  This was thrilling for me.  Out of all the launch teams I have been on, this was a first!  Take note, authors and hopeful authors.  Nice touch.

 

Gay Girl, Good God:  The Story of Who I Was and Who God Has Always Been by Jackie Hill Perry came next.  This book checked three boxes for me.  I needed more exposure to this topic, I have heard great things about the author, and she’s a woman of color (as I work to expand the perspective of the authors I’m reading.

 

Between vacation and getting ready for school and other family issues, we cut our TV time down tremendously from last month.  The hubs and I started the series Monk – an oldie but a goody.  Highly recommend.  And as we are oft to do when I visit my parents, I watched an old musical called The Wonder Man starring Danny Kaye and Vera Ellen.  Pure silly distraction.  Just what I needed.  Then my dad turned on a Baylor bowl game from 2014!  I laughed and then got sucked in as I bite my nails and wait to see if my Baylor football is really coming back.  (I’d ask you to pray about this too, but that might be a bit much.)

Last week my kids went back to school – sort of.  The girls are doing classes, but virtually from home.  This creates lots of challenges for everyone involved, but the teachers and school administrators have worked hard to create plans and systems to make this time meaningful.  We have tried to make lemonade for my very social daughters.  Allie had a sleepover with her besties the night before the first day (only in 2020) so they could all tackle classes together at the kitchen table.  Choir is awkward, Shelby misses the structure terribly (I am no treacher, folks), and the high schoolers had to stand in line for 2 hours for textbook pickup.  This too shall pass.  We hope. 

I long to hear what and how you are doing during these uncertain times.  Drop me a comment below.  And I’ll close with this:  I love you, I thank you, and I hope September treats you well.

 

And now for this week’s featured post!

 

Michele Morin of Living Our Days is an avid reader and keeps me stocked on recommendations.  This review of Soul Care in African American Practice caught my attention since, as mentioned above, I am also working to expand the circle that influences me.  If this is a goal for you, check out Michele’s review.

 

Also, I would like to announce that the winner of the drawing for a copy of Prayer:  Approaching the Throne of Grace is Glynda Reed.  Glynda, thank you for subscribing and please check the email you signed up with for more information on getting your book!

 

Now for this week’s link-up! Let’s bless and encourage one another in our walk with the Lord.

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About Me

I love Jesus, my husband and caffeine. The order of these can change depending on how tired I am. When my two daughters, stepson, and 4 grandchildren get to be too much, I practice yoga. God graciously allows me to share our adventures, victories and flub-ups from my laptop. May He be glorified here.
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