Stuff
April 16, 2009.(Randomized rambles and positive ponderings, hopefully in fun, bite-sized paragraphs without *too* many parentheses. Please forgive typos. I am sleep deprived)
*I am thankful for my dishwasher, which I often fondly refer to as our "portable indentured Maytag dish washing servant". I mention here, in public, in front of the entire world wide web that I am grateful for this, my loyal, most esteemed and ever necessary household appliance so that it may know that I appreciate it and I do heretofore vow to never take its faithful and capable service for granted. (We had a little "incident" yesterday evening. I just want our dishwasher to know that we promise to appreciate it. ::grin::) Long life to our dishwasher, which just recently celebrated its second anniversary at our abode.
*I am thankful for 85 cent angelfood cake pans from the thrift store which are infinitely better and need considerably less pampering than the $25 dollar ones from upscale department stores. (I am also thankful for angelfood cake with fresh, juicy, ripe, red strawberries topped with dollops of real whipping cream with French Roast coffee.)
* I am extremely grateful for the gift of hearing, even though with migraines and such, my ears can go bionic from time to time. I would starve to death spiritually/emotionally/mentally if I couldn't listen to music. And that's another gift I'm grateful for: the gift of being able to enjoy music, and to appreciate so many different genres of it. I just hope I don't render myself prematurely deaf by my frequent listening to an MP3 player. I also pray that I don't inherit Grammy's tendency to deafness.
* What a consolation a kitten is! What would I ever do without my little cat daughter (Miss Maggie McGee, the Wild Celtic Kitty)? She's not only a joy and a constant source of delight; she is also a lesson book in the practical application of learning how to take care of the needs of someone other than myself. Not only that, Maggie, in her littleness and helplessness and dependence upon me to take care of her needs and wants, is an example to me in how Abba delights in my littleness, helplessness, dependence upon, and loving and confident trust in Him to take care of me and give me good things. The tenderness and compassion I have for my little pet is nothing compared to the tenderness and love with which God the Father takes care of me.
*I praise God this night for Vitamin L, specifically
Wallace & Gromit. I had a hard day on Wednesday, and some comic relief was a much needed medicine.
* I am grateful that even though the chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS in the US, ME in Canada and the UK) is wiping me out lately, I am recovering from that terrible case of influenza sufficiently enough that I can work out (small workouts) on the Air-Dyne and take walks again. It was a long six weeks without my friends The Endorphins (wouldn't that make a cool name for a rock group?!) to help me through everyday health challenges. Happy days are here again - Whoo! Now, maybe I can drop a few pounds? (I am on a post-workout endorphin "high" right now).
* I am so thrilled that my dad and I have such a nice yard and patio to enjoy. We have a pleasant combination of mature shade trees, large spruces, and ample sunshine for apricating (a word I learned from Xanga's greatgrandpadog which means to soak in the warm rays of sunshine) as well as for gardening.
* I am happy that I felt well enough for part of yesterday afternoon to sit outside on the patio and soak up some of those healing rays from the sun... and that I didn't get a sunburn (or not much of one - my face is just a little pink right now).
* Yippee! I found a basket full of garden seeds from last year, and plan on planting some patio containers with spinach, lettuce, snow peas, and sugar snap peas this week. (I am reasonably certain that those can endure the overnight low temperatures at this time of year).
* Yippee! Mr. and Mrs. P, my back yard neighbors, have put up a small greenhouse in their back yard this past week. Mr. P has fibromyalgia like I do but he still gets out there all summer and gardens (veggies - especially prize winning tomatoes) and is quite devoted to firing up the Lawn Boy to mow the lawn. I think it safe to say that lawn care might just be Mr. P's second religion.
Mrs. P has lovely climbing roses and a myriad of flowers and herbs in a multitude of beds and containers in both front and back yard. I am going to beg her to let me come over to take my time taking pictures of all of their gardening glories this summer.
* I am thankful for my dad who is so faithful to wanting to help out with dinner by firing up the Weber charcoal grill even when he's having a really tired, bad allergy day. It makes things easier for me (not to mention his grilling is extremely yummy!). Wednesday night's main course was whole chicken seasoned with Spice Islands Beau Monde spices and was simply succulent and cooked to perfection - so much so that I was too busy enjoying chicken to want to engage in my current favorite dinner time vice: excessive mashed potatoes consumption.
* I am thankful for my mom who understands when it is too difficult for me to talk on the phone for too long, or to talk on the phone at all on certain days, and who tries to cheer me up with emails even when she is busier than the proverbial one armed paper hanger.
* I am grateful for two parents who pray for me. Do you realize how many people's parents don't believe in God, and who don't have anyone to pray for them? Parents have a special God-given power to bless their children with their prayers, and I feel deeply sad and sorry for those dear people whose parents don't pray for them. Both of my parents pray for me and I'm sure that, when it's all been said and done, that even though we've all hurt each other throughout the course of our lives, their prayers have won tremendous graces and blessings for me.
* Okay, this is getting to be too long for one blog entry, but one last point: I am thankful to God for the things I *can* do, despite the challenges of my illnesses. I choose to focus on the blessings and the abilities which Abba has gifted me with, and I recommit myself to NOT focusing or worrying about those things which I cannot do or which are beyond my control.
***
I hope that my staying up late tonight/early this morning counting blessings instead of sheep, has somehow been a contagious joy to at least one other person reading this blog. God is a God of love, and He is all good, all kind, all merciful, all forgiving, all understanding, all compassionate, and all wise. Together, dear friends, let's choose to focus on the blessings we do have today.
Much love in Jesus to each and every one of you who honor me be dropping by, and please know that I keep each of you in prayer. I might not know your name or who you are, but the Holy Spirit does, and I trust Him to lavish some blessings and love and healing upon you all!
~Miss Chris
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