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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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Farewell to February…and Grace and Truth Link Up

February 28, 2020 by Lauren 32 Comments

Photo by madeleine ragsdale on Unsplash

Our shortest month is one day longer this year, but it still flew by for me.  Some real stuff happened in the midst of the red and pink, the hearts and flowers.  We dabbled in a little of that.  I gave my beloved some candy and a card and he reciprocated with a card and some roses.  We didn’t do anything special, but even staying in is better when he’s with me.

 

I had an MRI of one foot to get a diagnosis of achilles tendonosis in both.  The doctor prescribed cushier shoes and heel lift inserts as well as changing my exercise to biking or swimming to stay off my feet as much as possible.  I’m trying to be very compliant as I pray for the best.  I tweaked my lower back as well, so I’m feeling about a hundred years old right now.  Soft violin music and prayers appreciated.

 

I had a day date with my younger sister to see Little Women.  If it’s long gone from your theater, make yourself a reminder to watch it at home as soon as it becomes available.  Seeing this beautiful adaptation of a sister story with my sister made it all the more perfect.  I also enjoyed a couple of lunch dates with girlfriends – always a treat.  And the socializing peaked with a trip to a gorgeous ranch in Round Top, Texas with two long time friends and one brand new!  We slept late, stayed in our pajamas, read, scrapbooked (Not me.  No talent for that here.  My kids will have to search through my Facebook account to piece together their childhood.), and watched movies.  I can’t remember a time when I’ve done so little.  And it was much needed.

 

In addition to my usual yoga classes, I got to teach a couple of indoor cycling classes this month.  I also attended a funeral after a family near and dear to us unexpectedly lost their husband and father.

 

Shelby won a gold medal in the State Special Olympics Bowling Tournament.  She loves to ramp bowl and due to a lack of volunteers, I got to assist her this year!  Then the very next day, she attended Tim Tebow’s Night to Shine special needs prom.  It makes me cry every year to see the lengths all these local churches go to so that my girl and others like her experience a special, magical night.  And it means all the more to me that my best friend and her whole family volunteered at the same event in Alabama.  We experience it together, but apart.

 

Thanks to a generous gift from her Nana and Papa, Allie started voice lessons.  Her instructor holds a doctoral degree in music and sang with the London opera before moving to Texas.  What a blessing for her to pour into Allie.  Our girl also keeps busy as a member of Hope Squad – an organization of students selected by their peers working to prevent teen suicide.  And now she has been invited to help build a student worship team at church.  Yay!

 

Two of my people celebrate birthdays in February.  Allie turned 15 on the 23rd.  She hosted a small sleepover with some girls from church and as this is published is still trying to get her school friends together for a “hang”.  Chuck turned…a little older than 15 on the 22nd, and for the past 15 years has been birthday overshadowed by a pretty blonde.  We did, however take him out to eat and I made a batch of his favorite cookies.

 

To entertain ourselves we tried two new network TV shows.  I would skip Indebted if I were you.  As a youth I loved The Nanny and Wings, so I wanted to see these stars, but the show is pretty dumb and poorly acted.  We will continue to watch Zooey’s Extraordinary Playlist, which is weird but fun.  And we finally started the Mandalorian and season 3 of The Crown.  We have finished neither but remain optimistic about both.

 

I would love to hear the highlights of your month.  And as always, I love you, I thank you, and I hope March treats you well.

 

And now for this week’s featured post!

Responding to Your Teenager’s Attitude by Angie Johnson of keepingthetiethatbinds.com.  

Although don’t necessarily think I have “earned” my children’s respect, God certainly demands it.  So I couldn’t resist piggy-backing on this post since I wrote about the same types of issues just last week with this post.  Hope over and give Angie’s take a once over.

 

Now for this week’s link-up! Let’s bless and encourage one another in our walk with the Lord.Grace & Truth : A Weekly Christian Link Up

Grace & Truth exists to point people to Jesus! We hope this link-up will be a source of encouragement every week. If you’re a blogger, we hope you’ll use this space as a way to meet new friends within the Christian blogging community. If you’re a reader, we hope that you’ll encounter new bloggers that love Jesus as much as you do! Most of all, we hope you’ll meet Jesus here.

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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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