Blessing #52

I am blessed that Todd was able to make it here safely for Christmas. When I look at him and see how God has formed him into what he is today, I just marvel at how he has come from a tiny pre-mature baby of 3 lbs 12 oz and has truly become a wonderful young man. I know God has wonderful things in store for him, if he just follows God's leading.

The sad part of Christmas was that our oldest son, Tim wasn't able to be with us, but am thankful that he still has a job and will be moving into a house with a friend or two where he'll have more room.

God has been good this year, and I'm looking forward to what He has in store for me in 2010!

I know I didn't keep up with this every week like it was intended to be, but I'm thankful I at least finished this challenge this year. Thank you, LouAnn for challenging us!

Blessing #50

I am blessed to be teaching 3 year-olds this year. I never thought I would like teaching such young ones, but they have truly been a blessing to me. Watching them perform in the Christmas program was such a delight. God always knows what He's doing even when we think "what??" Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work with these little ones.

Blessing #49

I am blessed to be able to be in a Beth Moore Bible Study. This study we started in October is on Esther. I have taught Esther as a 4th grade teacher for 15 years, but there is always something new to learn. I love learning new things from God's Word. I am thankful that they are having a study on Wednesday evenings so I could be a part of it.

Blessing #48

I am blessed because I love to read, and because of that I am in a Book Club and I really enjoy meeting together with them once a month. They have introduced me to books I would never have read on my own. I am thankful that I have this love of reading (Christian novels mostly!).

Blessing #47

I am blessed and thankful to still have both my mom and my dad with me and that I am able to live close to them. Since we moved up to Washington in 2006, it's been great to be only a few houses away from them and able to see them often. It was nice to have them along with my brother and uncle and his friend here for Thanksgiving as well. God is good!

Blessing #46

This week, my blessing is my sister-in-law. I had been typing on my laptop and suddenly my space bar stopped working. That was very frustrating, to say the least! Well, my dear sister-in-law said she had a laptop she wasn't using and is letting me use it! It is so nice when God answers our prayers...especially since I had no money to buy another laptop!

Blessing #45

I am blessed by once again getting to spend time with some former roommates that I had right out of college. It was fun to get together and catch up with these awesome gals. One of them just had breast cancer surgery and it was great to see how God had blessed her even in these tough times. God has certainly blessed each of us, we just need to recognize the blessings when they come!

Blessing #44

It was a blessing to also be able to go to our church's Women's Retreat at Silver Falls. It was a great weekend to get away from it all and learn what God wants of us. I was also blessed to be able to host a scrapbooking class and help the women make a "Scrapbook in a Box". It was an enjoyable time, and a very blessed time. It is a beautiful place...seeing the magnificent waterfalls. I was only able to see one this year, but there are many waterfalls at Silver Falls State Park.

Blessing #43

I was blessed this year because I was able to attend the Evangelical Women's Mission Conference in Clackamas. It was such a blessing to hear the stories and testimonies of women who have been or who will be going to the mission field for the first time. I also got to hear more from my friend, Suzanne, who spent a year on the mission field. I also got to see another missionary I haven't seen in many years. God is working, and it is a blessing to hear how He's working!

Week #42

I am blessed by more George Fox friends. For many years there have been a group of us who get together for breakfast or lunch once a year. Usually it's in July around the time of Jennings Lodge and Yearly Meeting. But, this year we couldn't meet until September. And, only 4 of us got together. But, it was a great time catching up with each others' lives and see how God is blessing each of us. I truly treasure the times I can get together with long time friends.

Blessing #41

I am blessed because I have a job! I am blessed because, even though I wasn't sure how I would like teaching 3 year olds, I am really enjoying it! They are so cute, and I just love them! I am blessed to be able to touch their lives.

Blessing #40

I am blessed because my friend Jane is willing to go to a Beavers Baseball game with me, even though she doesn't really like baseball as much as I do. It was also great to be at the Beaver game because it was George Fox Alumni and New Freshman night. It was sad, though, because no one from our class was there! But, Jane and I had fun anyway!

Blessing #38

I am blessed to have college friends who still keep in contact with each other! When we were seniors in college, we had to go to Monmouth to OCE and live in an apartment. So, Connie, Marilyn, Jane, and I all moved in together. Through the years, we went our separate ways, and lost contact with each other. Then several years ago, we reconnected, and now we get together every summer when Marilyn is home from China. This year we were able to go to Marilyn's parent's beach house at Twin Rocks. This is the 2nd year we have gone there. It was great to spend a couple of days there. I am blessed to have friends that are still friends after all these years!

Blessing #37

I am blessed to be able to have my parents over for Sunday dinner. Even though I don't enjoy cooking, I know it's important to have family over, and it's great that they appreciate the effort and don't expect much! I was able to have mom and dad over to celebrate mom's 83rd birthday. I am blessed!

Blessing #36

I am blessed to have my mom still with me at 83 years of age. She doesn't get around as well as she used to, but she hangs in there! I am glad that we were able to move close to my parents and get to spend these years with them. I don't know what I would do without my mom! It's so fun to be able to go down and "borrow" something that I need. She also has given me so much, that I could never repay. It's a blessing to still have my mom (and dad)!

Blessing #35

I am blessed to be able to have scrapbooking at our Mobile Home Park each month. It is always fun to get together with others and scrapbook. It is sometimes just 2 of us, but sometimes as many as 6 or 7. I love having this time to be able to scrapbook and get to know my friends. God has blessed me with many friends!

Blessing #34

I am blessed to have friends who come to visit. I was afraid that when I moved up to Washington, I would eventually lose contact with them and possibly not see them again. But, my friend, Marilee (for real!), comes to see me when she comes up to Oregon to see her sister and her dad. It's always great to catch up with her. I am glad that I am able to take her to the airport, or pick her up from the airport, and also take her down to Woodburn to meet her sister. It is a blessing!

Blessing #33

I am blessed to have friends that I've known for 33 years. Going to the Cudahy Reunion, I was able to see many friends who I have not seen for several years. We are like family, and it was like we had not been apart at all. God has blessed those who attended Cudahy Community Church, and I am blessed to be part of that group since 1976.

Blessing #32

Blessing #32 is my friend, Diane. Because of her I was able to fly to LA and attend our Cudahy Reunion (my former church from the 80s). She is such a blessing to me. She has been a true friend for many years, and I truly appreciate our friendship. I pray God will bless her many times over!

Blessing #31

I am blessed because I was having a problem getting my rebate that I was supposed to get with new cell phone. I was afraid I wasn't going to get the $50 gift card promised because I got a rejection letter. BUT, I went to the AT&T place where I bought my new phone, and they re-entered my information, and a few weeks later, I received the $50 GC! God is so good, even in the small things! (but it was really a BIG thing to me!)