Welcome to my "Open Window"...a place of hope, encouragement, and adventure as we journey down the road from "Closed Doors" to the new opportunities God places in our pathway. I hope you will take the time to go back and follow the trail of mixed blessings and fears, failures and triumphs from the past and side-trips in the present. Perhaps it will conjure up some of your own special memories, and be an invitation for you to share with others. I look forward to spending this time with you!
What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?
Remember: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window!" You never know what might be out there waiting for you!
Thursday, March 13, 2025
Thursday Thankfulness
Happy Thursday Thankfulness day! I don't follow any meme or questionnaire for this...just sharing things that make me smile or that have especially blessed me this week...
I just saw this picture and the post beneath it on Facebook, and it really spoke to me, so I shared it there and of course I wanted to share it here with you, my very special friends in Blogland:
From the Circle of Women on Facebook:
"You may not always see it, but your presence in this world has left ripples far beyond what you know. Someone still smiles at a memory you created together, still feels comforted by the kindness you once showed, and still finds courage in the words you spoke. Someone hums a song that reminds them of you, sees beauty in the world because you pointed it out, and carries your wisdom in their heart. Someone stands a little taller because you believed in them, walks a little lighter because you were there, and dreams bigger because you told them they could. You matter more than you realize .. " ( Writer’s Blossoms ) Art : Irene Marino
Here's what I wrote on Facebook after reading that above: "Oh, I love this, and I hope it is true. I know it is true to me about some other strong and beautiful Christian women that I have known throughout the years. I am so thankful for those who were role models for me when I truly needed them as a young wife, mother, and a Pastor's Wife. Most have already gone on to glory and have by now received their heavenly reward. I hope to see them again someday and tell them how much their lives and witness meant to me."
I thought you would all appreciate these sentiments, as I am certain we each have had those special women in our lives who have been more to us than just a good friend or family member...they are the ones who went out of their way to encourage us when we needed it most, to lift us up when we had fallen in despair and sorrow, to pick us up and dust us off and help us get back on our feet when we would rather have just given up. Women who either wrote something beautiful, or sang a song with such depth of spirit and meaning, or spoke in a special women's conference or Bible Study or luncheon...anywhere that women have gathered to be ministered unto...someone who came when the baby just would not stop crying and you were exhausted for lack of sleep and early motherhood blues and not knowing how or what to do to help your baby feel better, a total stranger who came and brought you and your family food and words of encouragement and hope when your child was going through serious illness or surgery, someone who believed in you when everyone else was turning away or pointing their fingers or whispering behind your back because something had gone wrong in your family or life...The one who said, "Just you never mind what those busy bodies are saying...you hold your head up high and keep moving forward, one step at a time. With God, all things are possible."
Yeah, those special women...or maybe even a parent or Pastor or husband...but primarily I am speaking of women today.
I'm sure we all have them, and we should thank God for them. I certainly do. And so today I dedicate this post to all those dear women in my life who've been there when I needed them most. They may not even know who they are...they were just doing what they felt led to do at the moment, not knowing they were sent by God to rescue someone who was hurting so much she wished she could just die. Yep..those women. They are the ones that are wearing a beautiful crown today in heaven. Some may still be here on earth, but the day will come when Jesus will say to them "come forward and receive your crown of righteousness.."
I guess that picture/post really spoke to me today! I hope it also has blessed you in some way and has got you thinking about who those special people are in your life. I'm not going to list them because then I'd have to tell a much longer story...but they are in my heart and God knows who they are as well. That's all that matters.
Now, to share a couple of other things I am thankful for today...The last few days I haven't really felt all that well. I have some chronic issues that tend to plague me and keep me from feeling 100% great all the time...mostly having to do with "gut" issues, if you get my drift. And so the last couple of days were some of those days. But today I have felt much much better, so good that we went out to lunch with our dear sweet kids, Benton and Rose, to a new restaurant in the city next to us. It is a Mexican Seafood place, and probably you would say why would I go there if I have gut issues? Good question. But their food is not spicy, and it is actually very very good and reasonably priced, (so we had heard, and wanted to try it), and were were not disappointed.
Here's the kids:
And here we are:
and here's the food: Mine: two burritos (one chicken and one beef), rice, and one beef taco:
Theirs:
Hubby's:
It was all very good, and yes, we would go back there again!
This was the sunrise this morning! I am thankful that we didn't have to go anywhere that early!
I posted this on Facebook this morning and said, "Oh Say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, what so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?"
Here's how it looked out over Still Waters Pond:
Psalm 57:9-11
9 "I will give thanks to thee, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to thee among the nations.
10 For thy steadfast love is great to the heavens,
There are several women who have made a huge difference in my life and at this stage of my life, I hope to be such an encouragement to other women! The new restaurant looks fantastic!
If you like Mexican food, it is very good and not too spicy. It is where the old Woody's BBQ used to be in Palatka. Their lunch menu is very full and priced right!
Also, Cindy, I know that God is going to use this great sorrow and difficulty in your life to help others who may be facing similar sorrows in their lives. Everything we go through in life is for a reason, and many times we cannot comprehend what that reason might be, but in time God will reveal it to us and then we will understand. Sending you (((Hugs))) today.
We were expecting fog this morning but got none of it. Not at all. Your pictures are beautiful. Fog photographs are interesting.
I hope you feel better very soon, so sorry the last few days have not been the best. You and John look so sweet together and Benton and Rose are absolutely the best!!!
Thank you! Benton and Rose are the best for sure! We are very blessed. The fog this morning rolled in early and didn't stay long, thank goodness! But it was quite thick while it lasted. Happy Early Birthday!
That Mexican food looks very good. Is that where we can go next Wednesday?! Yum! Your photos are always beautiful. Strong women do cause ripples that they may not realize they leave behind. That illustration is amazing.
If you prefer Mexican we can go there, but I thought you would enjoy sitting by the St. John's River better at Corky Bells. However, all they have is seafood pretty much, if that is okay. Price wise for lunch both places are about the same. You decide.
Yes, yes, yes!!! ... to all those women who've blessed my life. I've no idea where many of them are/were, and how I wish I'd told them at the time how much their presence meant. I sure could go for some of that yummy Mexican food right now; these photos are making my mouth water!
I’ve eaten Mexican good for as long as I can remember and absolutely never tire of it. I could eat it just about every day of the week. The foggy photos are surreal looking. Very nice. The one woman who changed my life was Helen Masaoka. She was instrumental in bringing my family to the Lord and she stayed around to disciple me until we moved up here. What a blessing - I refer to her as my spiritual mother and grandmother to my sons.
I saw your FB post and thought it was so good! I also love your photos today. Actually, I love them everyday! :) The foggy one from this morning is so pretty. I also deal with GI issues, but I love Mexican food. Bob isn't as much of a fan of it, so I don't have it too often.
Neat picture. Reminds me of the 70's. We we're supposed to get rain until Saturday and/or Sunday but all of a sudden it's foggy and overcast here. Hope we don't have a frog strangler because Steve is busy putting the flower garden to rights. Don't want it to wash away. He's building a border and everything. It's going to look super when he's done. The food looks great. I wish Mexican didn't have so many carb's. I do miss having some sometimes. Blessings. 🍀
the food looks delish.. and the four of you always look so happy to be with each other. that last photo of the rainbow and the sun golden on the trees is awesome. I can think of two women who were a special helpt to me, both of them from my distant past. make that 3, just thought of another...
Thank you for visiting here today. I would love for you to sign my guestbook and let me know you stopped by. I always enjoy reading your comments and words of encouragement! May you be blessed as you go on your way. Please come back and visit again soon.
There are several women who have made a huge difference in my life and at this stage of my life, I hope to be such an encouragement to other women! The new restaurant looks fantastic!
ReplyDeleteIf you like Mexican food, it is very good and not too spicy. It is where the old Woody's BBQ used to be in Palatka. Their lunch menu is very full and priced right!
DeleteAlso, Cindy, I know that God is going to use this great sorrow and difficulty in your life to help others who may be facing similar sorrows in their lives. Everything we go through in life is for a reason, and many times we cannot comprehend what that reason might be, but in time God will reveal it to us and then we will understand. Sending you (((Hugs))) today.
DeleteWe were expecting fog this morning but got none of it. Not at all. Your pictures are beautiful. Fog photographs are interesting.
ReplyDeleteI hope you feel better very soon, so sorry the last few days have not been the best. You and John look so sweet together and Benton and Rose are absolutely the best!!!
Thank you! Benton and Rose are the best for sure! We are very blessed. The fog this morning rolled in early and didn't stay long, thank goodness! But it was quite thick while it lasted. Happy Early Birthday!
DeleteThat Mexican food looks very good. Is that where we can go next Wednesday?! Yum! Your photos are always beautiful. Strong women do cause ripples that they may not realize they leave behind. That illustration is amazing.
ReplyDeleteIf you prefer Mexican we can go there, but I thought you would enjoy sitting by the St. John's River better at Corky Bells. However, all they have is seafood pretty much, if that is okay. Price wise for lunch both places are about the same. You decide.
DeleteYes, yes, yes!!! ... to all those women who've blessed my life. I've no idea where many of them are/were, and how I wish I'd told them at the time how much their presence meant.
ReplyDeleteI sure could go for some of that yummy Mexican food right now; these photos are making my mouth water!
I’ve eaten Mexican good for as long as I can remember and absolutely never tire of it. I could eat it just about every day of the week.
ReplyDeleteThe foggy photos are surreal looking. Very nice.
The one woman who changed my life was Helen Masaoka. She was instrumental in bringing my family to the Lord and she stayed around to disciple me until we moved up here. What a blessing - I refer to her as my spiritual mother and grandmother to my sons.
I saw your FB post and thought it was so good!
ReplyDeleteI also love your photos today. Actually, I love them everyday! :) The foggy one from this morning is so pretty.
I also deal with GI issues, but I love Mexican food. Bob isn't as much of a fan of it, so I don't have it too often.
Neat picture. Reminds me of the 70's.
ReplyDeleteWe we're supposed to get rain until Saturday and/or Sunday but all of a sudden it's foggy and overcast here. Hope we don't have a frog strangler because Steve is busy putting the flower garden to rights. Don't want it to wash away. He's building a border and everything. It's going to look super when he's done.
The food looks great. I wish Mexican didn't have so many carb's. I do miss having some sometimes.
Blessings. 🍀
the food looks delish.. and the four of you always look so happy to be with each other. that last photo of the rainbow and the sun golden on the trees is awesome. I can think of two women who were a special helpt to me, both of them from my distant past. make that 3, just thought of another...
ReplyDelete