A Gift in a Second Marriage

When I decided to date, hopefully meet someone, and prayerfully marry – I was mainly “thinking” of the man God would send me. The extra gift that I received was a ---

694. A wonderful step daughter, her husband and their 3 children. WHAT A GIFT God gave me in this family.

I have been blessed. We like each other – we love each other. We enjoy spending time together. They have accepted me as a member of the family – from the beginning! What a blessing this is.

When I think of what could have happened….  : ) I’m doubly blessed that all is good.

God gave me a beautiful gift in Eric, Michelle, Zac, Hunter and Lauren. I’m very thankful.

Eric, the husband, Michelle, Lauren, me, Hunter

Not pictured: Zac

An Unexpected Gift

When I met the husband on match.com, we were compatible on all categories except one. I had put that I didn’t want to meet anyone with children still in the household. After all, I was 58? 57? I don’t even remember but I was in my late 50’s. We met. We fell in love. We married.

With this exceptional man I married came a young man still living “at home.” He is my unexpected gift.

693. A. is a good kid! That’s what comes to my mind when I think of him. He is respectful and he is willing to at least try everything I cook. – even the night he took a bite, put his fork down and didn’t say a word. Then the husband and I took a bite – and we all got up and went to Five Guys – for hamburgers! (don't you just love pinterest??) Even then he was careful with what he said! He would never want to hurt ones feelings.

He’s active in his youth group and is willing to take instruction very well – which is admirable in a young man of 15. He and I have a good time teasing “Papa.”

It wasn’t what I expected, still raising a young one at age 61 but God knew best. Because he has been a great gift in my life.

        

God knows me so much better than I know myself and He always blesses me – even with surprises!!

2 Gifts in My Youngest Grands

691. My second granddaughter, A.G. She is so sweet, fun, funny and tries to always do what is right. She is so tender hearted. A.G. loves her family so much.

She wants to be a good big sister. Sometimes she gets hurt because she wants to help little sister so much and little sister is trying to be independent.

God blessed me greatly with this cute little girl. She and I have a love for reading (I’m getting all the girls to love books! Haven’t had much luck with the boys!)

A.G. is often dramatic and I love that about her! I can’t wait to see what God has planned for this girl!

A great gift in my life is A.G.

         

692. My youngest granddaughter. What a hoot! A.C. is so funny! She is her own little girl. Wants to be a good little girl but it’s just so interesting to get into mischief! What fun!

She loves her big sister and her family! She loves her Papa. They seem to be kindred spirits!

A.C. lives life to have fun!!

What a gift she is and I am so very thankful for her.

        

These girls are true gifts. Their Daddy and Mommy are blessed.

As are the rest of us.

Big sister reading to little sister.

Gifts in the next 2 Grands

689. I always wanted a redheaded boy! I’m not sure why, I’ve just always thought they were adorable!

Well, God granted my prayer in a wonderful grandson, R.  A cute handsome young man.

He is thoughtful, caring and (I want to say precious but I don’t want to embarrass him) a fun kid.

He loves animals. God has given him a gift of compassion. – a very special gift for a teenager.

He spends some of his vacations from school with us and we have such a good time. He is great buddies with A.

God gave me a great gift in R. The red hair is just a bonus! His compassionate heart and loyalty are only parts of this gift. I thank God for him.

         

690. My oldest granddaughter, J. She is a very special gift. She is in tune with God and all things spiritual. She loves to come to our house and be here when we have life group and she always adds to our discussion. God has a very special plan for that girl.

She loves books and she is interested in sign language. She enjoys playing musical instruments, she is good in school. She loves her animals, too. She is an individual, not interested in running with “the crowd” which is often hard on her now – in middle school. But when she becomes an adult this will be to her advantage.

She is an old soul. She and I have much in common.

I thank God for the gift of J. She is precious in His sight and in mine.

         

They love each other very much!!

A Gift in My Oldest Grandson

688. My oldest grandchild. Jackson. He’s the one I got to spend my first years as a Grammy enjoying. He always said some of the cutest things. (but don’t they all!) I have notes in my Bible he would write to me in church! I have a sticky note in my Bible in Jack’s cute handwriting saying, “This is a long sermon.” Only one of many.

One time his Mom and I were in the living room, he came in there with both of his feet in one leg of a pair of panty hose, he said, “Look, plentytoes.” What a cutie.

His step dad, David is a fencer. (Jack has done some fencing since this story happened.) When David and Holly were planning their wedding, Jack wanted to send David a Father’s Day Gift. He was so clever and he put on a cap, got some tools and asked me to bring my camera and come with him. He went to the edge of the driveway where the fence was, had me take a picture of him working on the fence and had me print it. He framed it with the title, “Jack – Fencing”. Very clever young man.

Jack is a gift from God. Only God can create someone as clever as Jack. I am very thankful for the gift of Jack. I thank God for him and pray that he will become what God intends for him to become.

          

Jack and Holly                                              Jack and his dog

4 Gifts I Saw in the Christian Bookstore Flyer

Today in the mail we received a flyer from one of our neighborhood Christian Book Stores.  First of all let me say that a book store is my utopia. In the mid 70’s there was a bookstore for sale in the town I lived in and we were in a position to be able to buy it. I  R.E.A.L.L.Y. wanted it! We did all that needed to be done except signing the papers and… Well, it’s a long story and I’ll just say here, I didn’t get the book store. BUT

When we went to Bible College I had the wonderful privilege of managing – (which really entailed just working – it was a small college-) the campus book store. I  L.O.V.E.D. it. After that I’ve worked in 3 other book stores. Two on college campuses and one regular one.

So, I said all that to say this – When the flyers come in the mail, I devour them to see what’s new in the bookstore scene.

684. You know how I feel about my Bible… Well, in today’s flyer there is a beautiful pink and brown NIV Study Bible. What a beautiful gift that Bible will be for someone.

685. There is a gorgeous “Women’s Sanctuary Devotional Bible” in this flyer. It is turquoise and brown. Turquoise is my favorite color! This Bible features in-text readings for the entire year! A wonderful devotional gift for a woman!

686. Then there is a “Wayfinding Bible.” I had no idea what this was so did some more reading. They’ve used the “wayfinder” charting to help navigate through this Bible! A visual guide is at the top of each page and offers a study guide with three different ways to learn from Scripture.

687. There is a Bible called “Every Man’s Bible” with notes “for the battles every man faces.” It particularly focuses on his two most important relationships: his relationship with God and with women.

What wonderful gifts these Bibles will be in someone’s life. I know I love my Bible and as I look at all the new Bibles, I realize we have NO excuse  as believers for not knowing God’s Word.

3 Gifts on Paper

681. My calendar. I know I have one on my phone but I just haven’t been able to get used to it. I like one with plenty of space to write but that also fits in my purse. I got this one from Lilly Pulitzer and I love it. Perfect size, I can see the whole month at once or work with a week at a time. This helps me keep track of my life!

      682. I have greatly enjoyed Ann Voskamp’s Joy Dare. I keep a hard copy on my desk because it’s easier for me to look at it than to look it up online each time. Even though I don’t write 3 gifts everyday, I enjoy having the prompts to encourage me to think “outside of the box” in thankfulness. I am grateful that she has printed prompts for a year.

683. Any printed word on paper is a gift. Newspapers, books – I do realize that with sin in the world not all that is printed is edifying or spiritual but – the printed word is still a gift to us.

A Song Heard, A Soft Word, Light Seen

678. A Song Heard: One of my new favorites! I want this to be sung at my funeral!!! Am I the only one that thinks about things like this? I'm so excited to go to heaven so I often read a scripture or hear a song of praise - of jubilation that I think "hmm, I want this at my funeral celebration!!!"  I hope you can take the time to listen to it! Click here to listen:

The Only Name by Big Daddy Weave

679. A Soft Word: There is a lady in our Life Group that always speaks softly. She is a beautiful woman of God. Even when she feels strongly about a subject, she continues to speak softly. I am blessed by her. Thank you, Donna for being the woman God calls you to be.

680. A Light Seen: I'm blessed by electric light, by natural light, but my biggest blessing is the Light I see when I read my Bible. 

3 Graces Found in Friends

I once thought about doing a blog about each of my friends. Then I started making a list – starting with childhood and I realized I have had so many wonderful people in my life that I can’t blog about each of them and do them justice. Everyplace I’ve lived I have met people that have touched my life. God is always faithful to send me friends.

So, 3 Graces Found in Friends:

675. Everyplace I have lived someone has met my needs. – the needs that surface when I need a friend. God has always placed someone in my life that has offered me the companionship that I have craved. I am so very thankful for that.

676. I have had friends that are willing to listen when I’m hurting. Sometimes they are able to give solid, sound advice. Sometimes they understand that their silence and understanding are all I need. What a gift these women have been to me over the years.

677. I had lost track of my high school friends over the years. In 2009 I reconnected with many of these girls women. God brought them back into my life at the perfect time. I am truly blessed.