I'm Counting My Gifts---Things for Which I am Thankful in 2012 This is a work in progress. UPDATED 9-1-16

Hello Friends...Today is September 1, 2016...And I was just enjoying the fact that this is the first day of September, and wanted to write something in honor of this day...and then I found this post that I had written back in 2012 on Sept. 6th.  

I can't believe all the wonderful thoughts and memories that are included in this post...some now a little bittersweet since the passing of our wonderful #2 son in May of 2014.  And some other changes also...my grandson is now almost 17 years old and about 6'3" tall...

Our grandson and his mother in 2016

 (see picture below)...




And some things never change,
like the fact that I baked lasagna for my #1 son a few days late for his birthday again THIS year. (We did celebrate his birthday on the right day, but had ribs that day...and lasagna later in the week, just so you know we didn't forget his birthday.  LOL)

#1 Son Lasagna birthday dinner

   





And now I am retired along with my hubby, so he doesn't have to cook dinner anymore (although I sometimes wish he would!)  But we enjoy spending every day together...and every day is a holiday from work for me now!

Me with My Hubby, now both happily retired

Yes, reading back through this thankfulness journey makes me think perhaps it would be a good thing to do again this year.  Perhaps today would be a good day to start.  How about you? What things are YOU thankful for?  Why don't we start counting them together?   Sounds like a plan!

Here's a good verse for today:

"The Lord will give strength to His people;

The Lord will bless His people with peace."

Psalm 29:11

Now THAT's something to be thankful for!!  Who couldn't use a little more strength and peace?

Okay...read on and see what I was thinking about four years ago...and have a blessed and thankful day.


ORIGINAL POST 9/6/2012:
I have decided to follow Ann Voskamp's writing prompts for September, to 'Count 1000 Gifts in 2012".  This is my first attempt at this, and I am enjoying the process.   I will be adding to this post daily throughout September...and who knows? Maybe I'll have to do one for October, Nov., Dec. too!  I don't know if I will make it to 1000 gifts in 2012 since I started so late, but the important thing is to try!  Developing an "attitude of gratitude" is always beneficial to oneself and to everyone around as well!  We all love a grateful, thankful person, right?    Well, here goes:

Go to www.annvoskamp.com for more information about how you can participate in

Count 1000 Gifts in 2012.

#1 Son Benton on his birthday

Sept. 1:  (Three Gifts Summer) 

1.  Thankful for the energy to bake lasagna for my son's 41st birthday belated dinner.

Our home in the forest

2.  Thankful for our home in the forest...a blessing we never expected to have. 

3.  Thankful that my #2 son in Maine got through his week after starting a new chemo for DSRCT.

Our  #2 Son Matthew

#2 Son Matt and wife Nicole

Our Grandson Noah

Sept. 2: 1.  This is my birth month! Thankful to be alive!  2.  Thankful for a holiday weekend-rest from my "labors". 

 3.  Thankful for my husband and my 3 sons, 1 daughter in law, and 1 grandson

Me, relaxing on Labor Day

Oops! I was supposed to be following a prompt: Sept. 1: 3 Gifts of Summer ( I will leave my "gifts" as they were written originally).  and for Sept. 2: 3 gifts "cut":  1.  The golden marigolds I cut and put on the windowsill. 

2. "Cut" from my labors at work for a long holiday weekend. 

3.:  62 years ago this month I was "cut" from the cord and started my life as a baby on this earth!

My Hubby and 2 of our sons,  #3 son Scott (on roof) and Benton
painting the trim over our new porch roof.

 

‎Sept. 3:  3 Yellow Gifts:  1. Yellow sunflower plates to start our day with sunshine 2. Fresh light yellow paint trim on house...painted by my sons on Labor Day 3.Yellow wildflowers alongside the road...planted by God's seed sowers, the birds of the air...



Wild Goldenrod...beautiful yellow wildflowers....as long as
they don't make me sneeze!



Sept. 4: 3 gifts today: Cool: A breeze wafting through just in time for our evening walk.

Me and My Hubby John - He's a "keeper!"

Warm: The delicious meatloaf cooked by my "retired" husband and ready to eat when I walked in the door from work.



Sun-soaked: my youngest son after a day of hard work at a job that was a God-send at just the right time. (Of course!)

"Sun Soaked"  #3 Son Scott



Me on my birthday a couple of years
ago with the apple pie baked by
my sister. 

My 3 gifts for Sept. 5: (Count 1000 gifts in 2012 at http://www.Annvoskamp.com/) Today's Prompt: 3 gifts Autumn:1. Hot Home-made Apple Pie on my birthday, baked with love by my sister.

Oct. 2009- Fall Trip to Maine, with our grandson
I hope to update this picture in a few weeks when we
travel back to Maine for Noah's 13th birthday!

 She took over this "gift" when our mother passed away. My mother had always baked an apple pie for me for my birthday.  (my birthday isn't until later this month...I'm just counting my "gifts" of autumn...those I've had in past autumns, and those I'd like to have during this autumn as well!)

2. A brisk walk in the woods on a fall day, enjoying the colorful leaves and the scent of woodsmoke in the air.

3. A High School Football Game on a chilly Friday night, with hot chocolate and marshmallows to warm my hands. (and a winning team!)   (no picture of this scene yet...maybe we'll go to my high school homecoming game this year...that would be fun! Perhaps some of my "old" friends will be there as well!)

Sept. 6th: 3 Gifts Growing:
1.  The flowers and trees that I planted in my yard this year.
2.   The joy of friendships old and new that continue to grow and flourish.
3.  My relationship with the Lord...and His relationship with me!