a single track

I just noticed that every single post so far, save the one that just quotes Psalms directly, either mentions food or is entirely about food. Ha. I think I am quite thankful for food.

tea

I am so thankful for tea! I really really like tea.

Peppermint.
Jasmine.
Jasmine blended with tropical rooibos from teavana.com.
Passion and Zen from Tazo. Also Tazo's Calm.
Orange Ginger Mint from Republic of Tea.
Homemade ginger lime honey.

Oh man, do I like tea!

Thank You, God, for Your good gifts and the taste buds to enjoy them.

Some things making me happy this week:

Almond Joys

Watermelon

My husband liking peppers now!

Running with my sister-in-law

Thank You, God, for Your good gifts and the eyes to see them!

being known

The Weekend:
- talking & loving from the time we met to the time we left
- a shared joy in tea, and running
- gifts of books from one, necklaces from another, and great news from the third!
- contemplative questions & deep sharing; a prayerful perspective
- a hike in the rain
- apple cake for breakfast
- gratitude spoken and our retreat spot richly enjoyed
- funky wildflowers
- being known

Thank You, God, for Your really amazing gift of these three women, and the eyes to see them.

my granite hideout

"I love you, God--

You make me strong.

My God--the high crag

where I run for dear life,

hiding behind the boulders,

safe in the granite hideout.

I sing to God, the Praise-Lofty,

and find myself safe and saved.

God made my life complete

when I placed all the pieces before him.

When I got my act together,

he gave me a fresh start.

Now I'm alert to God's ways;

I don't take God for granted.

Every day I review the ways he works;

I try not to miss a trick.

I feel put back together,

and I'm watching my step.

God rewrote the text of my life

when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes."

- parts of Psalm 18, from The Message translation

Thank You, God, for Your good gifts and the eyes to see them.

camping

We had so many blessings this weekend with friends, camping.

A hike, a rainstorm watched while playing cards in a dry cabin, "cowboy" foil packets for dinner of potatoes & onions, bell peppers (our new favorite!) and bbq chicken.

A revelation, a resolution, a new chapter.

Thank You, God, for Your good gifts and the eyes to see them.

tonight

Tonight, I am thankful for:

- the fact that a falling mirror cut open my dad's nose rather than blinding his eye. I think we take for granted how closely God shepherds us.
- my first summer spotting of heat lightning. It looked just like when your flannel pajama's spark against your cotton sheets. Cool.
- homemade popcorn
- the anticipation of three--no, four--mini vacations, soon! all in state, all with different people, and all promising to leave me happily exhausted.

Which reminds me, time for bed.

Thank You, God, for Your good gifts and the eyes to see them.

the Good kind of macaroni and cheese

Last night, I was thankful for my new camera (a birthday present from my thoughtful husband). By the way, my birthday week did continue--much to my glee. I like being celebrated. Barbecue at the staff meeting, which wasn't specifically for me, but I felt like it was. Maybe like a little "I love you" from God. Lots of phone calls and cards on the day of. Lots of being reminded that I am loved.

Anyway, I was thankful for my new camera, so that I could take pictures of what else I'm thankful for. I thought I was going to be thankful for my fresh salad at dinner last night, so I took a picture. Romaine, feta, walnuts, grilled chicken, cherry tomatoes. Usually yum.

But I ended up feeling not-at-all rabbit-like, and opted to eat a big bowl of macaroni & cheese instead. The Good kind. We got this huge pack of organic mac n cheese at CostCo, and while we were going through all 15 boxes, we convinced ourselves it was good.

It was not.

And now we are finally through with that pack, and so excited to have the good old Kraft back in the house. Mmm.

Thank You, God, for Your good gifts and the eyes to see them.

today i am thankful for morning hugs from my husband. also thankful for the prospect of sharing york peppermint patties with friends at the movies tonight.

Thank you, God, for Your good gifts and the eyes to see them!

a birthday WEEK!

Today I am thankful for a Birthday Week. Usually I just have a birthday, but this year the celebration has expanded. I'm So blessed.

Friends came on Sunday bearing chocolate cheesecake and fun games and really good wine. The sky opened up with a great (in the fullest sense of the word) thunderstorm. And I was given a gift card to Barnes & Noble, which leaves me full of anticipation and ideas for how to stretch it to get the most delight for my money. (A future thankful: the B&N opening not-at-all-far from me very soon!)

On Monday, family came bearing cake and more presents and a really funny two-year old for entertainment. The sky opened up with an even bigger thunderstorm (lightning crashes! thunder you could practically see! driving rain!). We ate grilled pizza with a new sauce recipe I found, which was a hit. For good reason: it is awesome! Here are the links, because you are absolutely going to want to try this out (delights are always more delightful when shared, don't you think??):

How to Grill Pizza

Exquisite Pizza Sauce (although I left out the anchovy paste and red pepper flakes, and added more garlic, freshly minced and roasted)

This morning, I woke up dreaming of an old friend who has recently found a lot of peace in her life, which I am glad about...that means she's searching. My dream made me happy because in it, we began talking about the One who brings True Peace (which is not the peace she's found). It was a reflective sort of dream, and gives me hope for her and reminds me to pray for her.

And more is to come, I am sure, because my husband tells me it is so.

Thank You, God, for Your good gifts and the eyes to see them!