Thursday Thankfulness

 Happy Thursday!  There's nothing in particular on my mind, but as Thursday seems to be the day to think about being thankful, perhaps that's what I need to do!  

Here's the current weather report...91 degrees and do you see what I see?  Thunderstorms are expected around 9:00 p.m. today!  Although we have found this phone weather app to oftetimes be less than accurate, we are going to pray and claim by faith that this is true! Also, it is predicting rain for the next 3 days and then again several days next week! SO, if this is accurate, we will be doing some happy rain dances!!  Please pray with us that it is true! We need the rain SO badly.  It is SO hot and dry right now. The one thing I am very thankful for is our air conditioning.  After we had been outside a little bit this morning, as soon as we stepped back into the cool comfortable house, I said, "Thank You, Lord, for our AC!"  I don't take it for granted as they can be temperamental things, especially when you need it most, so I thank the Lord for it regularly.

I am thankful that even though our Still Waters Pond is still totally dry, life goes on...there's some green grasses growing out there on the pond, which tells me that there are some lower areas with moisture in them, and the grass is still growing around the pond (and we had to have our friend mow all the way out there and he didn't get stuck in the mud because there still isn't any mud).  

I am thankful that the flower seeds I planted are all growing in spite of the fact that I just kind of dumped them all in there together. Hopefully that ring of sprouts will soon be full of flowers! Oh, we got those terra cotta stones at our local building supply place and put them around the little garden. It looks a lot better than it did before. However, that is on a slope and it was tricky getting them to stand up.

I am thankful that our little vegetable garden is still growing and producing "fruit"...Look at those tomatoes!!!! Praise God!!

Aren't they beautiful?   

I am thankful that even though we have to pay for our water here since we are on a community water system and not our own well, we are able to water our little garden and keep it going in spite of the drought. However our water bill is a bit higher than normal, and we are also on a bit of a watering restriction, so I have to be careful...that's why I am really looking forward to this rain so I won't have to do so much watering.

The squash plants are looking good too...

That's a baby squash!! WooHoo! Growing your own food is so much fun!! Thank You, Lord!!! We are in this together!!!

Here's my sweet garden helper...well...I'd say he's more of a "supervisor" than helper, but he sure is sweet.

Did you say you wanted to see more pictures of Blackie?  Okay then, I think I can manage that...

Here is where he managed to jump up onto this morning,  and thankfully hubby alerted me to come get him before he could do any damage to anything on top of the buffet, but of course I saw it as a photo op and had to take a few pictures first, keeping a close watch on him  (and that tail) to make sure he didn't knock anything off. After I took my pictures, I kindly removed him from the danger zone.

When I first got there (and before I could get my phone ready to take a picture) he was actually over there by the dolls and their tea set. I think he wanted to have a tea party with them, but then he noticed his reflection in the mirror and that was something new and interesting...

Then he noticed the little bird on the little church birdhouse, and was studying that when I decided it was best to get him down from there before he decided to eat a little stuffed bird. LOL.

My hubby wears these flip flops in the house and has some Dr. Scholl's insoles on them to make them feel better on his feet, but Blackie found those to be quite interesting and was enjoying playing with them.

I am thankful that we have fun with this kitty, and that he really isn't destructive, just curious. 

He has been a joy and a blessing in disguise to us.  

One day last week we took a walk at a little park in our community that is beside a little lake.

Hello!

I really wasn't going to go down that slide, but I can pretend...

Hubby was working hard at some chin ups...

 (of course his feet were on solid ground, LOL)

Some people never grow up!

The lake was calm and smooth as glass.  I didn't have my good camera with me, so the pictures were whatever I could get with my cell phone.

Well,looky there! A beautiful Great White Egret was flying across the lake:

You can see along the shore that the water level is quite low in this lake also, but at least it isn't dry.

That's because this is a real lake, and our pond is just a pond.  

It's still beautiful, and I am thankful that there is water for the birds and fish here...

Here's some food for thought from God's Word about not giving up, but continuing to "run with endurance the race that is set before us" in this life.  It may look different for each one of us, but when we keep our gaze on Christ, He will help us make it safely to the finish line...

Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV

The Race of Faith

"1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

I am thankful for that encouragement as I face my daily struggles and routines. My struggles are nothing compared to what Jesus had to endure for my sake. He ran interference for us, and is there waiting at the finish line to welcome us "home".  That is truly good news to me.  I hope it is for you as well.

Okay, friends. That's it for today. I just got a notice that a book I requested is ready for me at the library, so I can go pick it up and have something new to read in my "spare time".  

Blessing to each and every one of you!!