Multitude Monday #3248 - #3271...

"Did I ever tell you that the only difference between a good day and a bad day is whether you see everything as a gift or not?"  Ann Voskamp

Giving thanks with the Gratitude Community for His unending gifts...

...my mom's gracious offer to watch the boys for our anniversary dinner...

...cards/gifts in the mail...

...whipped Yukon gold potatoes with Berkshire blue cheese...

...a night to walk along the waters edge...

...stepping out of my comfort zone to bless another...

...deep conversations with the girls that know me best...

...low lying fog in the mountains...

...my dad's special birthday message to Joshua...life giving words...hidden for him to find when we arrived at the lake...

...well worn paths in the woods...

...geese in flight...

...time on the lake...

..the joy we all received watching Joshua enjoy the water...

...laughter and fun on a cloudy day...

...golf cart rides with Pap Sir...

...waterslide fun...

...time along the river...

...lunch with Grandma and Pap...


...a glimpse of His beauty right at my feet...

...reading this..."To live by grace means to acknowledge my whole life story, the light side and the dark.  In admitting my shadow side, I learn who I am and what God's grace means."  Brennan Manning

...Grandma and Pap's offer to take Will on an adventure for a few days...

 

...getting a glimpse of their love for one another...

...cool breeze blowing through the screened in porch...

...our small group taking up the 3 gifts a day challenge...

...God reminding me that you have to take the step of faith in order to see the blessing...

  

Today...

we celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary...

 

and I am reminded of this...

"Your marriage is more than a sacred covenant with another person.  It is a spiritual discipline designed to help you know God better, trust him more fully and love him more dearly."  Gary Thomas

Multitude Monday #3233 - #3247...

"All Thy works with joy surround Thee, earth and heaven reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee, center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Singing bird and flowing fountain call us to rejoice in Thee."

Giving thanks with the Gratitude Community for His unending gifts...

...Brent and Nicka time...

...summer baseball... 

...confession...

...Will's big boy bed (that he has been sleeping in for months now)...

...Wes' provision for our family...

...afternoon rest time...

...Micaiah's use of afternoon rest time...

...Matthew 5:6~~"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."...

...seeing this...

...conversation with Wes that lingers long into the night...

...our morning hike... 

...a line of scooters of to see the trains...

...Will's excitement in sharing everything with us...

...God's promise in Isaiah 18:4 "I will remain quiet and will look on from my dwelling place."...we can trust that at the perfect moment He will intercede...

...Will's door opening at 6:30am Sunday morning and then hearing him sing "Celebrate good times come on!"...

  

Let's Go Ironbirds...

Four rows behind home plate on a nice summer evening...we packed all the treats that Mom Mom had just dropped off at the house and cheered on the Ironbirds...

the highlight of the game for Joshua...the mascots...

 

they have two and Joshua wasn't satisfied until he had a picture with both!  The guys behind us were laughing because as soon as they got anywhere near us Josh was after them...Eli warmed up after he saw that Josh made it through the first picture ok...

 

...oh and he didn't miss this one either!

Morning Hike...

 

Will showing off his backward walking skills...

Will wanted Micaiah's full attention as we walked through the woods showing him everything...and Micaiah loved every minute of it...

Eli was in heaven...he loves the outdoors...

Joyful Josh was in full force too...taking a ride on a small tree that was growing across the trail...

Will found some water and threw some rocks and sticks...

Will was so excited to be up close with some animals at the nature center...

Micaiah was thankful there was a little glass to save his finger from this turtle!

my favorite capture of the day...Josh and Will...they sat down to rest but wanted to keep an eye on their brothers...

Multitude Monday #3214 - #3232...

Giving thanks with the Gratitude Community for His unending gifts...

...watching our painted lady chyrsalides transform into caterpillars...

...van packed for a trip to the lake...

...watching/listening to a blue jay call from our front oak tree and seeing another blue jay fly in...

...celebrating Wes' birthday...

...kids running off the dock into the water...

...time with a close friend...

...that our house was untouched during the storm...

...that our neighbor is alive with only a broken arm after his electrocution from the generator...

...days without power that help us to notice those important things that we take for granted everyday...

...family campout in the basement...

...his joy in the sprinkler...

 

...the newest little boy on the block...

...releasing our butterflies and watching them fly away...

...our power restored before the extreme heat wave...

...difficulties that spark good conversations...

...God's lovingkindness...

...celebrating Joshua's birthday as a family and with friends...

...this quote...

"We come to Him as ragamuffins--dirty, bedraggled and beat-up.  And when we sit at His feet, He smiles upon us, the chosen objects of His 'furious love.'"  Brennan Manning

...and this one too...I couldn't have come across this one at a better time...

 "You don’t always end up giving because you love. Sometimes you end up loving because you give."  Ann Voskamp

  

Happy 8th Birthday Joyful Joshua!...

 

Thank you for reminding us how to love well and to live each day to the fullest.  You are truly a joy!