A Bread and Butter gift!

 Here is a picture of our good friends Monica and Michael with Kaitlin.  They used to live in LR and came back for a visit.  We had the privilege of having them stay in our home for their visit.

I bought some fun cereals for us to have for breakfast, changed the sheets on several beds and got ready for them to arrive.

We had a great visit!!  Lots of laughing and sharing and then more laughing.  I have a few new books to try from Monica's reading list, we laughed about the fun dancing at John and Marisa's wedding reception and we watched lots of Sportscenter plus a few bowl games.  Their son, Parker, told us he was glad they stayed in a home where he could watch lots of sports.

Just before they were to leave our house, their daughter, Olivia, brought me a gift.  My mother would have called this a 'bread and butter' gift- a gift you bring your hostess.  I was so impressed with their gift that I wanted to share it with you!

First- a thank you note that they all signed! In the gift was a grocery gift card,

   

some shower gels and lotions

 and some fun dish towels!  I was so touched by everything.   I was inspired to leave a fun gift the next time we are guests in someone's home.  Thank you Michael and Monica!!


Here is a fun article about writing Thank You's !  They are always appreciated.

Thank you for reading my blog!

Do you see needs?

...make a meal for someone, write a thank you or two or three to folks who do things that make your life better- from the garbage man to the piano player at church-the note just needs to say thanks and why you are thankful, make a booklist for a shut in, then get the books they like for them from the library,  pay for the person behind you in the drive through at Starbucks, babysitting, tithing, getting to Sunday School early and helping set up the chairs, take time to speak to folks you usually brush past, let someone get in front of you in the grocery line, make bookmarks for all your friends that read... 

 I could list here a million ways for us to give this Thanksgiving month and some would spur you on and we all need that.  But what we really need is Situational Awareness.  Our hearts and eyes need to be so in-tuned with what is going on around us that the needs of others are so apparent to us that we can't help but be aware of them.  When you are really in-tuned with the needs of others sometime that is a very heart heavy place to be.  I also believe that a need doesn't always mean a call, we need to be discerning, but it would be better to err on the side of giving too much than not enough.

Pray today that the eyes of your heart will be open to see all the needs around you and also for the wisdom to know which ones you are to meet.

Today is the half way point in this month.  I have seen several blogs that are participating in a 30 days of giving challenge, it's not too late for us to start.  Just do two a day!


...give someone who is late to church your hymnal so they don't have to take the time to look it up, let someone in front of you in traffic, smile at all those you see today, rake your neighbors leaves, pick up all the trash on your street, get the email address of a missionary and ask them what they did today and tell them about your life, do another family members chores for the day-without telling them...

Ps 65:11

You crown the year with your bounty;

1/11/11

I want to be deliberate this year with thanking Him.

1- firewood

2- friends to share a snow day with

3- goals that are hard

4- husbands that text

5- my daughter

6- having power especially during an ice storm

7- electric blankets

8- beginnings

9- scrapbook stickers

10- Wendell Berry poems

11- soft peppermint candy

Thank you, Mr President

Here are the lyrics to a song Steven Curtis Chapman wrote for President Bush back in November. As we uphold our new President Barack Obama in prayer, let us also remember to give thanks for President George W. Bush and his service to our country these past eight years.
Good-bye Mr. President,I guess the time has come for you to,Pack up all your things and turn the page,So I was thinking as you left,I’d try to write a song to tell you,What so many of us want to say.
For all those sleepless nights,I am sure you must have had,For all the prayers I’m sure you prayed,For how you tried to lead us when the way was so unclear,I am sure it wasn’t always evident,But thank you Mr. President!
Good-bye Mr. President,You will not be forgotten,All the courage and the hope you helped us find,I can’t imagine how it felt,To stand where you were standing,And to try to make the calls you thought were right.
So for those sleepless nights,I am sure you must have had,That put those lines around your eyes,For how you carried the weight,Even when the lights went out,I am sure you’ll never know how much it meant,I thank you Mr. President.
So for those days ahead,When they write about the past,And everybody has their say,From all of us who know,You gave us everything you could,We hope you will remember this,Thank you Mr. President!Good-bye Mr. President.
- by Steven Curtis Chapman

Mine is second from the left

My friend, Nancy, had the fourth one of her five daughters get married on the 2nd of August. For pictures go to Kaitlin's blog www.kpmphotography.blogspot.com I got to help by making cupcakes. 600 to be exact. About 400 white with white icing and 200 chocolate with chocolate icing. Many hands make light work and I was helped by Nancy, the bride Alyssa, Clare, KimT, Kaitlin and Marisa. Sandy and KimT helped ice them the day of the wedding. As a Thank-you, Dan, the dad, who is a potter made us these mugs. I just love them. Below you see mine and Kaitlin's and Marisa's and one for Carl because he does lots for these weddings too. Aren't they darling?????

A Salute to all the Military Wives!

Please read this post from Annie Ferguson.

Here's to you, Annie and to Anne the Palm Tree Pundit, Blessings upon your day and Thanks