I am thankful

Thanksgiving Day 2015 - so much to be thankful for!

There were many Thanksgiving Days in my life when it was very hard to find something for which to give thanks.  Life was hard and life was lonely.  But these days my life is full of gratitude to God for all He has done for me.  Most of all - the fact that Jesus died for me and lives for me now, and guides me, comforts me. and loves me no matter what! 

There is so much unrest in the world and I am thankful that I live in this country.  We are comfortable, well fed (perhaps too well fed), are free to do the things we want to do -- especially free to worship as we please.  We do not live in fear.  We are not in daily danger because we believe in Jesus. 

I am thankful for good health.  I do have arthritis which does cause some limitations, but other than that, I am quite healthy.  Last year was a difficult year health-wise because I had three major surgeries in two weeks due to a staph infection after the first surgery.  This has been a good year.

I am thankful for family.  I love them and I am loved -- what more could I want?

Compared to most of the world's population, I am wealthy.  I'm not wealthy if I compare myself to one of the presidential candidates who boasts about how rich he is - but he is not deserving of any comparison.  I am comfortable with what I have.

Thank you Jesus for being so good to me, for rescuing me from a difficult past and for promising me a glorious future.

A beautiful day in November

Here in Colorado we are so blessed with over 300 days of sunshine a year, and today was one of those days - a gloriously beautiful day.  The mountains are now covered with snow which adds to the beauty of this place.  I am so grateful God brought me to this location 27 years ago - a move that I have never regretted.  My life has been very blest here.

Sadness has been in my heart lately because in the last three weeks, four of my friends have passed away.  Two were former high school classmates of mine - and with only 21 people in my class, we were all very good friends.  Last night one of my lady friends died, and this morning another one died.  All had been ill, but still - I am saddened.  Evidently at my age this happens more and more, and I better get used to it!  The great thing is that all four knew Jesus and are now in heaven. 

I've had a busy day doing grocery shopping as well as some other running around, and now the dinner dishes are done and it's time to sit down with a good book and relax.  I have been reading a very good book - "When God Doesn't Fix It" - by Laura Story.  I had never heard of Ms. Story, but evidently she is a Christian recording artist, so of course I got one of her CD's and played it while driving around today.  One of the songs is especially good - "Blessings" - it talks  about "what if blessings come in rain" - and her book is her story of the pain she and her husband have endured and the blessings that they received through those difficult times.  I can relate because I have had many years of great difficulties, but it was through those hard times that I really came to know God and experience blessings from Him. 

Saturday's thoughts

I recently celebrated my 80th birthday, here is a "selfie" I took that day:

 

 

I won't tell how many tries it took to get a good picture!  Yes, I am still a natural blonde......when I was very young, my hair was almost white - especially in summer when I played outside all the time.  I expected to be gray-haired by now, but I'm not complaining! 

 

I was a little unsure how I'd feel about this birthday, because everyone else who is 80 is "old"...... and I don't like to think of myself that way, mainly because it means I probably have no more than twenty years of life left.  I know I'm going to heaven some day and that will be wonderful -- no more arthritis!!!  But I don't want to leave my dear ones....

 

But the birthday was great - there were several celebrations and I felt lots of love from family and friends.  God has been very good to me in these so-called golden years.

 

My two special grandchildren whom I'm going to call Frick and Frack from now on for privacy's sake were recently baptized.  It was a private service, just for family, and it was done in a more meaningful way than many other baptisms that I have witnessed.  The pastor talked about how God had this special plan for both of them to bring them from far away and place them in our family, and also has a plan for the rest of their lives, and they need to ask for God's guidance as they go on in life.

It brought tears to my eyes....

 

This picture was taken in front of the church after the service.  No, we're not all the same height - we're all just standing on different steps.  I love these two so very much!

 

 

 

Once again we are in a presidential campaign and mud is slinging all around.  I have a really hard time with some of the candidates who claim to be such strong Christians, and yet they are taking a strong stand against letting the Syrian refugees enter our country, as well as sounding off against all Muslims.  Do they ask themselves "What would Jesus do?"  I don't think so.  Many of these refugees are women whose husbands have been killed, women who have not had opportunities to have an education and learn a skill, and now they are alone with their children fleeing their homes with nothing but what they can carry.  I realize the risk of a terrorist being able to infiltrate the refugees, but there are ways to only admit the ones who are genuinely in need of help.  What would Jesus do?  What if I was one of those refugees, fleeing with my young child, or my young grandchildren -- where would I find food and shelter?  Who would help me?

 

There is one presidential candidate (I won't mention his name) who is not only completely unqualified, but he's also a bully and totally without tact or polish.  And because he says things that are so politically incorrect - people are crazy about him.  Do these people not think for themselves?  The things he promises to do are not possible for a president to do.  I don't think he understands at all how government works.  When I was a teacher, I taught Civics and about the three branches of government and the powers of each branch and the reasons for those powers.  This candidate thinks he would be king - or dictator.  I don't think our country would survive if he would win the election.  He reminds me very much of Hitler....and that is scary. 

 

So - enough for today.  Thanks for listening.