30 Days of Thanks: Day 15

Today's blessings:

• quiet day to recover from a tooth extraction yesterday afternoon
• peach milkshakes and mashed potatoes
• a warm fire in the wood stove started by the lovely Tera
• laughter of my children
• the Word that speaks truth into our lives
• music
• easy hearty dinners

30 Days of Thanks: Day 14

Thanks: His Love Endures Forever

(a poem in the style of Psalm 136)

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
for His steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to the Lord that His mercies are new every morning;
for His steadfast love endures forever. 

Give thanks to our Prince of Peace and Savior;
for His steadfast love endures forever. 

Give thanks to the Comforter, who comforts us in our sorrow;
for His steadfast love endures forever,

to the One who has seen us through hard times;
for His steadfast love endures forever,

to the One who came close to our side in the midst of our sorrows;
for His steadfast love endures forever,

to the One who has provided our every need;
for His steadfast love endures forever,

to the One who redeems our mistakes and uses them for the good;
for His steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to the Lord, FOR He is good;
for His steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to our Redeemer and Friend;
for His steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to the Lord, for His faithfulness never ends;
for His steadfast love endures forever.

It is He who sees me;
for His steadfast love endures forever.

It is He who created me and formed me in my mother's womb;
for His steadfast love endures forever.

It is He who places the lonely into families;
for His steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to the Lord for His excellent greatness;
for His steadfast love endures forever. 

Give thanks to the Lord, for HE is good;
for His steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to our God that goes before us;
for His steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to the One that breaks the chains that held us captive;
for His steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to the Lover of our souls;
for His steadfast love endures forever. 

to our Deliverer and strong tower;
for His steadfast love endures forever.

to the One whose yoke is easy and burden is light;
for His steadfast love endures forever. 

to our Rest when we are weary;
for His steadfast love endures forever.

It is He that is Immanuel--God with us;
for His steadfast love endures forever.

It is He that heals us completely;
for His steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He IS good;
for His steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is GOOD;
for His steadfast love endures forever.

30 Days of Thanks: Day 13

Today's blessings:

• a rare morning (lately, anyway) at home
• Michael had a great time learning about photography at 4-H

• Daniel attended his first science bowl practice
• finding a new place in the dark twice-- successfully
• dinner on the table and laundry put away
• Tera got the days off she needed
• Christmas art projects

• That the steadfast love of God endures forever! 

30 Days of Thanks: Day 12

Today's blessings:

• umbrellas
• a nice volunteer at the door waiting with an umbrella bag
• electric heat and our wood stove
• a dry home
• dinner together as a family
• a doctor I trust

30 Days of Thanks: Day 11

Today's blessings:

• being able to worship and pray to God
• music
• attending a symphonic worship band concert with Daniel tonight
• safe travels
• catching up with people you haven't seen in a while in the grocery store

30 Days of Thanks: Day 10

Today's blessings:

• new insights from the Scripture
• date night
• Charlie Brown Thanksgiving party with some great kids
• a cleaned chimney that's ready for the first fire of the season
• Dairy Queen ice cream
• a family that loves and likes each other
• the luxury to lay in bed and read before starting the day

A Charlie Brown "Friendsgiving"

Today, we hosted several of Michael's friends for our own Charlie Brown "Friendsgiving" party.

Gratitude Skittles Game

Thankful Wind Spinners

 A few pictures before watching "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving"

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving snack

My friend, Akemi decorated these CUTE Snoopy cookies for all the kids to take home.

What a wonderful time with friends! 

Fun Fridays: Japan

I have been looking forward to this Fun Friday for a long time.  My friend, Akemi treated us to a day learning all about her Japanese culture.

We started the day with a lesson on using a topical Bible and concordance.

My contribution to today's co-op was to share these three books:

Once Upon a Time in Japan
K is for Kabuki:  A Japanese Alphabet
It's Cool to Learn About Countries:  Japan

I also did a short lesson on writing haikus.  We wrote this one together as a group:

Bright colored poppies
Flourish "In Flander's Fields" to
Make one remember  

The boys will write their own haiku to share next time we meet.

Now for the really fun stuff planned by Akemi:
Sweets--One of Michael's favorite parts.  The Japanese are big fans of small sweet desserts!

Samurai swords and origami helmets

Sumi-e Japanese calligraphy practice

Michael LOVED the calligraphy part of today's co-op.

Sushi demonstration.

Akemi was so hospitable to us today.  She purchased soy wrappers and prepared fillings that she knew her non-sushi eating friends would enjoy!   Now, I can say that I like one type of sushi-- inari sushi--my favorite today.  And I managed to actually eat my rice with chopsticks! 

The expert at work!

Green tea

I appreciate so much the work Akemi did to share with us and let us experience parts of her cultural heritage.  Akemi is a patient and encouraging teacher.   Michael and I enjoyed this day so much!