Gratefulness: 69 and counting...

...a few more entries in my gratefulness journal...

45)  a holiday to rest

46) the smooth, worn wooded armrests of my antique chair

47) the ability to nap on Sundays

48) grace abundant to worship in the pain

49) God's extravagant grace to pull two hurting and desperate men to Himself right in the midst of their sin

50) fresh, bright green paint on our garbage shed

51) feather-like, wispy clouds on a background of bright blue

52) an amazingly-timed Coaching Workshop

53) fresh dates in season

54) the camera lens I want at half price

55) a small boy's belly laugh, so intense that he can't get up off the floor!

56) the boy's adoring look at his mom as she patiently teaches him

57) a friend and co-worker that is deeply passionate about helping families

58) fallen, yellowed leaves laying strewn on the sidewalk

59) dancing curly fries star in a McDonald's commercial on the bus make me smile!

60)  the ability to laugh at myself as I try to get on the bus with my umbrella open!

61) evening discounts at the fruit market

62) after really bad allergies all day and a stuffed up nose all night, I awoke feeling great!

63) homemade caramel

64) yummy star-shaped bagels and enough to bless friends with them too :)

65) clean public restrooms and the opportunity to thank the lady that cleaned them

66) great purchases, amazing finds, friendly shop owners

67) planning a Developmental Screening Day!

68) the softness of my green wool sweater

69) the chirping of a pet cricket in the seat behind me on the bus

How I LOVE Autumn!

  

I had been dreaming about having a picnic for months.  It kept getting put off, rescheduled, postponed because of the more urgent things that came up.  But, last weekend, we went. I took Virginia, Brittany and her friend on an hour-long bus ride to the northeast of the city to a park that I had discovered earlier in the year. The more time that went by on the bus (standing room only), the more I wondered if the destination would be worth the long journey. It WAS!!! We all agreed that this park might very well be the most beautiful spots in the whole city!

We had chicken salad sandwiches, veggies and chips for lunch

Virginia

Brittany

 

Then, of course, the day had to end with cotton candy!

Sunday Afternoon Along the River

 One Saturday morning early in October, I spent a couple of hours with treasured friends and their two little ones. Sunday morning they boarded a plane for the States and, when they return to this side of the world after the New Year, they will move to another city. I worked and lived and worshiped together this family for over two years and saying "Good-bye" was really hard. As I left for fellowship on Sunday morning, I almost instinctively packed my camera alongside my Bible and headed out into the warm autumn day. I knew I was in need of more "healing photography." I am so grateful for God's incredible grace to work through this hobby that I love to powerfully and intimately bring joy to the sorrowful places and peace to the restless places in my soul. Praise Him for His steadfast love and deep, Daddy-like care for me!

A beautiful day to wash your bike!

 

I LOVE the way the sunlight is playfully reflecting off the water and lighting up the bridge!

 Where the road along the river ended, I was captivated by music being played in the park. Three older men sat in the shade of a pagoda--one played the erhu, one the pipa, and one sang well-known songs in traditional Peking opera style. Several others sat near the pagoda, reading the newspaper, chatting with friends, and playing chess as they enjoyed the beautiful day and beautiful music. I joined them, sitting on the pagoda's bench for a long time, letting the music relax and warm down deep. What a privilege to be able to live in this place!

Erhu, a traditional 2-stringed Chinese instrument

Pipa, another traditional Chinese instrument

 As I headed away from the river and toward the bus stop, the road that stretch before me was bustling with park-goers and lots of brightly-colored snacks. I celebrated the lovely afternoon and God's goodness with a bag of purple sweet potato chips and some honeydew-flavored cotton candy!

Purple and orange sweet potato chips (and, yes, they ARE naturally this color!)

Canteloupe (bottom) and candied haw fruit (wrapped in rice paper, on the rack) on sticks

LOTS of yummy, colorful flavors available!

I went home with my empty places filled-up.

Thank the LORD for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills with good things. ~ Ps 107.8-9

He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep. ~ Ps 78.15

Gratefulness: 44 and counting...

Since being challenged by the joyful morning song of the little bird outside my window some weeks ago, I started a “Gratefulness Journal.” I am writing down the things that I am grateful for—day by day, number by number. I have discovered that this exercise in expressing thanks to God and recording it in black and white is an amazing antidote to the slow-working poisons of discontent and worry.  It strengthens my faith in God’s goodness and character while counteracting unbelief and renewing my perspective. It helps me to slow down, take a long look at the things around me and notice the gifts of Grace in each day, in each moment.

1) God's promises to satisfy and fill (Ps 81.10, 16)

2) the way raindrops graze my window and leave their slanted streaks

3) rainbows of umbrellas and ponchos brighten a dreary day

4) wet pavement in the morning

5) the tiny, yellow-green, rolled-up new leaves on my plants

6) new friends

 7) the sound of steadily-falling rain at night

 

8) Sunlight triumphantly breaking through the 3-day long cloud cover

 9) a surprise bouquet of Gerber daisies from a dinner guest

 10) that making delicious ricotta cheese is so easy!

11) Bartlett pears

12) a good, full night's sleep

 

13) sweetened condensed milk for my coffee

14) dozens of golden brown dragonflies to meet me as I leave my house

15) teaching a new little friend how to make animal faces

16) 在神里面没有难成的事! (There is nothing too difficult for God!)

17) another reminder of Ruth

18) 每时刻神赐下应时怜悯 (God grants well-timed compassion in every moment we need it)

19) His ways are gloriously higher!

20) God's multi-faceted care for me

21) John L.

22) the insight of Thomas in Sacred Pathways that allowed me to love my friend more deeply

23) another amazing prayer time with Brittany and Virginia

24) God granting me the gift of forgiveness and compassion when I didn't even know I needed 

them

25) the cool breeze through my open windows

26) birds and cicadas greeting the day in song

27) wearing jeans

 

28) Carolyn and the weekend women's getaway

29) an amazing flower shop tucked into the busy streets like an oasis

30) a bouquet of mini sunflowers

31) new, beautiful business cards

32) a meal idea came instantly to mind when my guest's stay neared lunchtime

33) not one, but two people on my list to call today called me first

34) leaky, broken pipes replaced

35) learning new songs that remind of God's attributes

36) the abundance and fullness of God revealed in Ps 86

37) Robert Miller's refreshing, freeing reminders of the importance, the necessity of spending 

time in God's presence, building relationship with Him

38) a cool morning, hot coffee, My Utmost for His Highest, and my Bible

39) just as I was staring to question the extent of God's care for me (barely even articulated yet in my mind), God gently reminded me in my daily reading: Luke 12

40) a whole stack of amazing children's books in Chinese!

41) the provision of a new friend willing to find a sponsor-location for parent support groups

42) enjoying friends and coffee outside!

43) so many dots connected so as to see the Bigger Picture

44) wonderful friends and co-workers to serve alongside and journey with