Grace Notes - Counting the Gifts 441-473

"That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all Your wondrous works."

Psalm 26:7

In my beloved country, Canada, we are celebrating Thanksgiving this long weekend.  I have gathered some wonderful ponderings on the subject of gratitude that I would like to share with you before I get into my ongoing list of "thank-you's" to God.

Remember God's bounty in the year. 

String the pearls of His favor. 

Hide the dark parts, except so far as they are breaking out in light! 

Give this one day to thanks, to joy, to gratitude! 

~Henry Ward Beecher

For each new morning with its light, for rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends, for everything Thy goodness sends.
For flowers that bloom about our feet; for tender grass, so fresh, so sweet;
For song of bird, and hum of bee; for all things fair we hear or see,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee!
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thanksgiving was never meant to be shut up in a single day.
~ Robert Caspar Lintner

Thanksgiving is the holiday of peace, the celebration of work and the simple life  . . . a true folk-festival that speaks the poetry of the turn of the seasons, the beauty of seedtime and harvest, the ripe product of the year - and the deep, deep connection of all these things with God.
~ Ray Stannard Baker

 
 
And now I continue to count my blessings . . .
 

441.  Gathering again - ladies group

442.  Loved with an everlasting love

443.  Words that encourage

444.  Hydrangeas that don't fade away

445.  A friend's generosity

446.  Pumpkins climbing the fence

447.  A sunny fall day when the forecast was for rain

448.  Sharing a table with a stranger in a coffee shop

449.  One soft and spicy ginger molasses cookie

450.  Inspiring words about the power of Your Word to change a life

451.  Morning coffee sounds and smells

452.  A chorus of birdsong as I step outside

453.  My camera at the ready

454.  Squirrel-thieving flower bulbs . . . they need to eat too

455.  A simple red elastic that gives Gracie so much pleasure

456.  Homemade butternut squash soup

457.  Shoes scrubbed clean of garden soil

458.  Feeling smiley inside for no particular reason

459.  Sweet morning meeting with You

460.  Bluejay and squirrel visiting again today.  It so tickles me to spy the critters that come and go

461.  Message light flashing on the phone

462.  Listening to their sweet voices . . . we love you, Grandma!

463.  Hearing them play their piano recital pieces over the phone

464.  Youngest little miss - 9 months old.  Thank You for bringing so much healing, Papa, she is a miracle.

465.  Singing in the car

466.  Wild goose chase

467.  Calming down by the duck pond in a nearby park

468.  Warm towels fresh from the dryer

469.  So thankful for my car

470.  Sun hiding behind the clouds . . . but I still see you

471.  Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world

472.  He first loved me

473.  Cat-grass treats for kittens

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts . . . and be thankful." 

Colossians 3:15

Linking up with Ann @

Scavenger Hunt Sunday Photo Challenge 2

Yay . . . it's reveal day at Ashley Sisk's Photo Challenge.  Want to join the fun? Click the button below to go to Ashley's site, Ramblings and Photos and get the low-down.

Here's what I came up with . . .

1. Landscape

 Along the pathway to the duck pond in Hawthorne Rotary Park, the leaves are only just beginning to turn colour. I suppose that since we had such a late summer that fall is dragging its heels too.

2.  Colour Wheel - Complementary/Triadic

 I love my wooden pear pepper mill and apple salt shaker.  Here they are perched on a shelf in my hallway along with a treasured little green jug. A vibrant example of complementary colours.

I am also including a couple of shots from our fall fair, the PNE, which were taken about a month ago.  They too fit this category so well that I wanted to include them. 

 Complementary . . . Purple and Yellow

(Notice the bird perched in the bottom right corner)



Triadic . . . Purple, Green & Orange. 

Just hanging around waiting for the "Cliffhanger" ride to start.  I think it's pretty cool that the "triadic" colours appear in a "triangular" shape in the sail.

3.  Black & White

These bottles sit on the window ledge in my bathroom with a couple more.

I love the way this turned out. 

4. Food

One of my favourite meals . . . spring mix greens, red onion, cherry tomatoes, long English cucumber, walnuts and shaved asiago cheese with an olive oil and sundried tomato dressing.  Pomegranate and jar of navy beans in the background with my ears of corn S & P shakers.

5. Blank Space

 I was out shopping with my daughter and we were stopped at a light when I saw this building and noticed the big blank space on the one side, so I whipped out the camera and took the shot.

And once inside the mall I noticed this large section of walkway to a side exit that I though also qualified as blank space. It was too hard to choose so this one gets posted too.

I love how this scavenger hunt challenges me to look at things differently, to play with alternate interpretations.  So stimulating on so many levels . . . improving photography skills, exercising the gray matter, engaging with fellow bloggers and giving and receiving constructive feedback.   Please stop by Ashley's to view the work of some truly amazing photographers.

The clues for next week's scavenger hunt are:

1.  Abstract 
2.  Round
3.  Fire
4.  Seeing Faces in Strange/Unexpected Places

5.  Stars

Setting the Stage - 5 Minute Friday - "Ordinary"

There is something to be said for ordinary. Ordinary sets the stage for the extraordinary.  Without the everyday, commonplace happenings  . . . the morning mug of steaming coffee, quiet moments spent reading, making shopping lists and folding laundry, the extraordinary would not stand out at all. 

To think that a massive collection of metal and bolts and dials and engine parts could lift off the ground and fly through the air is extraordinary . . . but to a bird, it is commonplace, customary, ordinary.

And the ordinary can become extraordinary over time.  With the advent of new technology the ways most of us do things have changed dramatically.  What was once an amazing jaw-dropping sight to those who travelled by horse and buggy has now become the ordinary . . . and the horse and buggy, extraordinary.

Reading at Ann Voskamp’s  today I thrilled to the story of hundreds of ordinary farmers who came together to do what they have done all their lives.  But in this setting it became extraordinary and the entire harvest was donated to combat world hunger.  What is there inside ordinary little me that can make an extraordinary difference to someone today? What is there in you?

Linking with the wonderful writer's in this community hosted by Lisa-Jo, the Gypsy Mama. If you would like to play along click the button to view the rules and read other entries.  You will be blessed.

Grace Notes - Counting the Gifts 410-440

" . . . giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our LORD, Jesus Christ . . ."

Ephesians 5:20

Joining the multitudes who give thanks in this community:



410.  Women gathering together seeking God

411.  Chains falling off locked up hearts

412.  Steady rain . . . watering the earth

413.  Giving help . . . receiving help

414.  Big smiles for a repaired wheelchair

415.  Remembering to top up my cell phone with just minutes to spare

416.  A date for my knee surgery - 6 weeks

417.  Surprise lunch date

418.  People watching . . . . smiling at them as they walk past

419.  Joining in this photo scavenger hunt . . . such fun!

420.  My daughter's hand on my shoulder, her encouraging words

421.  Your name . . . my Strong Tower

422.  Organizing cupboards

423.  Catching a mistake

424.  Hot soapy dishwater feels so good on my hands

425.  Getting the recycle bin out in time for pickup

426.  Checking out my brother-in-laws new blog

427.  Sleeping through the night 2 times in a row

428.  Making a list

429.  Checking things off the list

430.  Transplanting in the garden

431.  Fresh raspberry treat

432.  Glorious going down of the sun

433. Doing a favour

434.  Speaking at the ladies breakfast

435.  Staying in peace

436.  Yummy omelette squares

437.  Thanks for the ladies who prepared food

438.  Gas in the car

439.  Fall planting

440.  My lawn buddy  . . . allows me to garden despite my bad knee

Scavenger Hunt Sunday Photo Challenge 1

Today I am joining up with Ramblings & Photos by Ashley Sisk for Scavenger Hunt Sunday. 
First time . . . woohoo! Sure had fun!
Each Sunday you are given 5 new items to hunt for . . . they can be found at Ashley's site which you can get to by clicking this button:





The rules are simple:

1. Anyone can participate.
2. You're encouraged to take five new photos this week for the challenge. Creativity is also encouraged!
3. If you get stumped, you may use one photo from your archive (although I'm not too strict about it - I do my best to take fresh shots).
4. Link up here on Sunday (or Tuesday at the latest) - you can use the button above.
5. Leave comments for at least five entries around yours (we have so many new participants each week, this is the only way I know to be inclusive).
6. Have fun!

So here's what I came up with . . .

1. Inspired by a book or movie

Book -  A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, 1943 novel by Betty Smith

 2. Brown

I love the details on the back of this lovely old brown chair.

 3.  Hazy

Buildings in the distance seen from the Alex Fraser Bridge.

 4.  Coffee or tea

Contents of my tea cupboard . . . Bengal Spice is my favourite (the one with the tiger).

5.  Linger

Raindrops that linger on leaves after the sun comes out.

Grace Notes - Counting the Gifts 381-409

O give thanks unto the LORD for He is good . . .

Psalm 116:1a

381.  Just knowing You are with me

382.  Butterfly on dandelion . . . long enough to take a picture.  Oh, how long I have tried . . . so quickly they flutter away

383.  New buds on the rose bush

384.  Hearing the stories behind family treasures passed down to my daughter

385.  Lemon-pepper chicken wings

386.  Birthday shopping

387.  Ministering angels

388.  Kitten dozing in sun-soaked spot

389.  Climbing stairs

390.  Cleaning up flower beds

391.  Thinking about changing seasons

392.  A dirty job that somebody had to do . . . me

393.  A retired neighbour offering to do the weed-whacking

394.  My job is over . . .  where now, LORD?

395.  Little miss Ema scooting around, cutting teeth

396.  Choir & piano lessons starting up again

397.  Days where you just know that without Him you would either explode or implode

398.  Trusting that though my job has come to an abrupt end my provision hasn't . . . Jehovah Jireh

399.  Moved to tears by this post

400.  News of my 5 good things that grow in Ontario.

401.  A great idea for a birthday gift that turned out better than I hoped

402.  My daughter . . . one of the greatest gifts I have ever received . . . Happy Birthday, Shannon

403.  More energy, less pain today

404.  A papa helping his girl with landscaping

405.  Grace for a young lady with a broke down wheelchair

406.  Birthday dinner

407.  Pumpkin pie and sunflowers

408.  Praying friends

409.  Tears, tears and more tears

Linking again with this community of thanks-givers @

Found in the Translation

Source: verycalm.blogspot.com via Andrea on Pinterest



Though silent . . . I can feel You near

I try to pray and feel the fear

that floodgates opened

never stop.

You read my tears

translate my groans

my words, quite simply

unnecessary.

But Your words are . . . I need them . . . now

I read them now . . . aloud

so faith that comes by hearing

has place to sink roots deep.

These words I read

"Be silent, all flesh,

before the LORD"

and so I stop.

I lay the Book across my chest

my prayer . . . Your words

go unexpressed

in forms I am familiar with,

but . . . I wait . . . I rest

My heart You see

my frame You know

and spirit words

they come and go in ways

not easily explained

in earthly terms.

I cannot say

what passed between us

I only know

that I've been seen

and heard and understood

And He is good

And all will be well.

© Andrea Dawn Olsen - 21 September 2011