November 11th ~ Night (Thanks a Day)

I'm breaking away from today's word - night - to give thanks for our veterans.  The final mile of yesterday's marathon was the Veteran's Memorial Mile.  It was lined with flags.  There were three Wounded Warriors competing who all finished faster than me.  They don't give up, on the race course or on the battle field.

Thank you, veterans!

Marathon #2 Is Done!

It was a tough one.  A lot hillier than my previous marathon.  But I did it!  Full details coming soon (or maybe on Monday!)

November 10th ~ Can't (Won't) Live Without (Thanks a Day)

Today, the One I'm most thankful for, the One I can't or won't live without is Jesus.  He said he would never leave or forsake me and He's kept His Word.  He's always been true.

Can't Live a Day
I could live life alone
And never fill the longings of my heart
The healing warmth of someone's arms
And I could live without dreams
And never know the thrill of what could be
With every star so far and out of reach
I could live without many things
And I could carry on, but...

CHORUS
I couldn't face my life tomorrow
Without Your hope in my heart I know
I can't live a day without You
Lord, there's no night and there's no morning
Without Your loving arms to hold me
You're the heartbeat of all I do
I can't live a day without You

I could travel the world
See all the wonders beautiful and new
They'd only make me think of You
And I could have all life offers
Riches that were far beyond compare
To grant my every wish without a care
Oh, I could do anything, oh yes
But if You weren't in it all...

Oh, Jesus, I live because You live
You're like the air I breathe
Oh, Jesus, I have because You give
You're everything to me

November 9th ~ Small (Thanks a Day)

Today I'm thankful for the small amount of rain we received yesterday.  0.05" is small, but we'll take it!

I went for a short run this morning, my final training run before tomorrow's marathon.  The air was cool and clean.  Just a small amount of rain makes such a difference.  It was a lovely 48 degrees.  We haven't seen that in a long time.

What small thing are you thankful for today?

November 8th ~ Something You Do Everyday (Thanks a Day)

There are a lot of things I do everyday, but none of them would happen if I couldn't breathe.  So today I'm thankful for breath.  Try holding yours for a little while and you'll be thankful that you can breathe, too!

On Saturday I'll be taking a few extra breaths - I'm running my second marathon!  This one will take place in Santa Barbara with some exciting Veteran's Day events added in.  If you want to see how long it takes me, you can follow me (bib #878) by signing up HERE.

November 7th ~ Reflection (Thanks a Day)

I blog a lot about not looking back and letting the past hold us down.  But today, I'm thankful for a time of reflection...

Four years ago, Les and I were walking through a storm.  Les had surgery on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 and ended up spending eight days in the hospital.  I went back and read each post that I wrote during that time.  It started with Election Day 2008 - Let God Arise, when our plan was a single night stay in the hospital.  You can start there if you'd like, and read each newer post.  When God Surprises Doctors happened on Friday, November 7th.  There was Good News on Monday and finally, on Tuesday, we were Home.  And then a beautiful guest post from Les called Her Price is Far Above Rubies.

I'm so thankful when I reflect on my life, I can always see God's hand there.

Good News

We got word that Dad will be moving back to Fresno tomorrow morning.  He will be going to Golden Living Centers which has both short and long term services.  Thankfully, Dad only needs short term to continue his therapy.  We are still looking at surgery down the road, but for now he will be much closer to everyone.

So I'm thankful for a lot today.  Including the continued prayers of so many of you.

Election Day Thoughts

#1 - Go Vote!  You cannot complain about your government if you don't take the time to vote.  It is a privilege.

Les and I had a great discussion about today's outcome while driving to church on Sunday.  We had already cast our votes, we vote my mail.  Les pointed out that as Bible believing Christians who are waiting for the return of Christ, there will come a time when our country will not embrace Christianity.  In order for Biblical prophecy to be fulfilled, our rights as Christians will weaken.  In order for a one world government to be in place, America will need to be weaker.

If the candidate who wins today takes us in that direction, we can rest assured that God allowed it.  His timeline is known only to Him.  As we see the day approaching, we can only pray "Come, Lord Jesus."

Now that does not mean as a Christian we should change how we vote. We should still pray and vote with a clear conscience.  If the candidate who will take us down the road of moral decline is elected, that will be "because iniquity shall abound." (Matthew 24:12)  The last days aren't going to be about religious freedom, but "perilous times shall come." (2 Timothy 3:1) 

So do your part and vote, but also pray.  If the next four years bring us closer to His coming, isn't that what we're really praying for anyway?

November 6th ~ A Favorite Thing (Thanks a Day)

Since the word is "thing" and not "person" I want to say how thankful I am for Mom's Bible.  Such a treasure she left and I'm so thankful it is in my possession! 

November 5th ~ 5 O'Clock (Thanks a Day)

5:00 on Monday and I'm thankful for simple things today:

I'm thankful that when I talked to my Dad today he sounded good.  He is still at Pacifica, but we are hoping he will be back in Fresno this week. 

I'm thankful that when I went grocery shopping, Pumpkin Waffles were still in stock.

I'm thankful that the Santa Ana winds have stopped blowing and it's suppose to start cooling (we were in the 90s today.) 

I'm thankful that marathon training will be over in just a few more days!

I'm thankful that I will no longer be pulling political ads out of my mailbox... at least for a few months!

Do you have something big or small to be thankful for today?  I'm sure you do! 

November 4th ~ TV (Thanks a Day)

When I saw today's topic I had to laugh!  I am NOT thankful for TV.  We do not have a television in our home and I'm glad about it.  I'm thankful that the people who influence my thinking are real, not make believe.  My heroes aren't on the screen, but in the prayer room.  I don't need to know what the latest star is wearing to determine my clothing choices.  I don't care about what cars they drive or which restaurants they dine in.  I really can't imagine having a television in my home - who has time for that?  Not me!

The Stranger

A few months before I was born, my dad met a stranger who was new to our small Tennessee town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer, and soon invited him to live with our family. The stranger was quickly accepted and was around to welcome me into the world a few months later.

As I grew up I never questioned his place in our family. In my young mind, each member had a special niche. My brother, Bill, five years my senior, was my example. Fran, my younger sister, gave me an opportunity to play 'big brother' and develop the art of teasing. My parents were complementary instructors-- Mom taught me to love the word of God, and Dad taught me to obey it.

But the stranger was our storyteller. He could weave the most fascinating tales. Adventures, mysteries and comedies were daily conversations. He could hold our whole family spell-bound for hours each evening.

If I wanted to know about politics, history, or science, he knew it all. He knew about the past, understood the present, and seemingly could predict the future. The pictures he could draw were so life like that I: would often laugh or cry as I watched.

He was Iike a friend to the whole family. He took Dad, Bill and me to our first major league baseball game. He was always encouraging us to see the movies and he even made arrangements to introduce us to several movie stars. My brother and I were deeply impressed by John Wayne in particular.

The stranger was an incessant talker. Dad didn' t seem to mind-but sometimes Mom would quietly get up-- while the rest of us were enthralled with one of his stories of faraway places-- go to her room, read her Bible and pray. I wonder now if she ever prayed that the stranger would leave.

You see, my dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions. But this stranger never felt obligation to honor them. Profanity, for example, was not allowed in our house-- not from us, from our friends, or adults. Our longtime visitor, however, used occasional four letter words that burned my ears and made Dad squirm. To my knowledge the stranger was never confronted. My dad was a teetotaler who didn't permit alcohol in his home - not even for cooking. But the stranger felt 1ike we needed exposure and enlightened us to other ways of life. He offered us beer and other alcoholic beverages often.

He made cigarettes look tasty, cigars manly, and pipes distinguished. He talked freely (probably much too freely) about sex. His comments were sometimes blatant, sometimes sugestive, and generally embarrassing. I know now that my early concepts of the man-woman relationship were influenced by the stranger,

As I look back, I believe it was the grace of God that the stranger did not influence us more. Time after time he opposed the values of my parents. Yet he was seldom rebuked and never asked to leave.

More than thirty years have passed since the stranger moved in with the young family on Morningside Drive. He is not nearly so intriguing to my Dad as he was in those early years. But if I were to walk into my parents' den today, you would still see him sitting over in a corner, waiting for someone to listen to him talk and watch him draw his pictures.

His name? We always just called him TV.

~Author unknown

I have always found this piece to be thought provoking.  I grew up with a television in my home.  I am thankful today that Les and I made the choice not to invite this stranger into our home.

November 3rd ~ A Special Day (Thanks a Day)

I'm deviating from today's challenge word (breakfast) to share something I'm really thankful for!  22 years ago today, in beautiful Yosemite National Park, Les asked me to marry him!  We have had such a wonderful adventure.  God has blessed us so much and I know He's going to keep us in the palm of His hand.

November 3, 1990 ~ Yosemite National Park ~ after I said "Yes!"

I was reading Anali's blog this morning about God's will.  Everything she said is true!  You cannot force the will of God.  You cannot force your "love" on someone when they are not even interested.  Just as I finished reading, I remembered how many steps Les went through before he asked me to marry him...

After dating for over a year, Les talked it over with his parents.  They were in agreement with him going forward to ask me to marry him.  Les then talked to his Pastor and got his blessing.  Les then talked to my parents and got their blessing.  Les then talked to my Pastor, Elder Morton.  The final step.  They went for a drive and after Les told him he wanted to marry me, Elder Morton said, "I hate you."  Hahaha!  True story.  I had been Elder Morton's secretary for almost 10 years and my marrying Les would take me 200 miles away.  After that little statement, Elder Morton said, "but I know it's right."  He gave his blessing as well.

November 4th ~ I was a "little" happy about being engaged!

I was 26 and Les was 27 at that time.  We really didn't need anyone's permission.  But Les had already decided if any of those people (parents or pastors) said "No" then he would not ask me to marry him.  Whew!  Glad they all agreed!  But more importantly, I'm glad God's blessing was on it.  It was right and is still right.


So I'm thankful today for Les, for his spiritual leadership in our dating and marriage.  And I'm so thankful everyone gave their blessing!!

November 2nd ~ Color (Thanks a Day)

It's cool to play around with photos, making them black and white:

But what if our world had no color?

I'm thankful for a Creator Who made color!

What a difference color makes.

Update on My Dad

Rick was with my Dad for two appointments today at UCSF.  Here is a brief summary:

 

Dr. Ames, the spine surgeon, thinks it will be another 3–4 weeks before Dad is ready to have surgery.  They will have to extend the hardware, along with tightening or replacing the screws.  Physical therapy will be mandatory leading up to and after the surgery if Dad ever plans on walking again, otherwise he will be bedridden.  While therapy is going to be painful, we need to really encourage him to keep at it.  He has lost a lot of weight and strength and he needs to concentrate on getting stronger at this time.

 

The infectious disease doctor says that some of the infection around the hardware may have to be treated with antibiotics for a while longer.  They did blood work, so no report yet on how his infections are progressing.  

The main thing Dad wants right now is to be transferred to a rehab center in Fresno. It's been very hard being so far away from our entire family for so long. Both doctors agreed that this would be okay, it is now a matter of figuring out where and how to get him there. He would then go back to San Francisco when he's ready for surgery. He still isn't ready to be at home because he isn't able to get around on his own.

I've already been thankful today, but I'm so especially thankful for the prayers of all of you and how God has kept His hand on my Dad.

November 1st ~ Something Beginning with 'C' (Thanks A Day)

When I saw today's challenge, I immediately knew what I was thankful for ~ Chocolate!!!

I know there are people who don't actually like chocolate, but in our household chocolate was its own food group.  We start em off right at a young age:

I knew I could survive on Weight Watchers when my first leader said, "I have a little chocolate everyday."  I'm thankful that I can eat chocolate, and long time blog readers know in about a month I'll be making a bunch!

October 31st ~ Whatever You Please (VAD)

Judges 17:6 "In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes."

Judges 21:25 "In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes."

The book of Judges has many examples of what happens to mankind when he does whatever he pleases:

Judges 2:10-16 "And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.
11 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim:
12 And they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the Lord to anger.
13 And they forsook the Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.
14 And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.
15 Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the Lord was against them for evil, as the Lord had said, and as the Lord had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.
16 Nevertheless the Lord raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them."

November Challenge

I've done a Photo a Day Challenge and a Verse a Day Challenge.  It's November, so how about Thanks a Day Challenge?  I have so much to be thankful for, but I think following the Photo A Day Challenge list will make it a little more fun!

What will you do in November?  Photo a Day, Verse a Day, Thanks a Day, or some combination?  Take a challenge and have fun with it!

Here is the original list from FatMumSlim.com.

October 30th ~ Clothes (VAD)

Matthew 6:31-33  "Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

I'm not one to stand in my closet full of clothes and say, "I have nothing to wear!"  I might say, "I don't know what to wear," but I've always had plenty of clothes.  My heavenly Father has taken care of my every need and I trust Him to keep on doing what He is fully capable of.

Verse a Day Catch-Up Time

With all that was going on with my Dad last week, I let my verse a day challenge slip.  Dad is now back at Pacifica Rehab and doing better.  Thank you, again, for your many prayers!

Let's catch-up,  shall we?

October 26th ~ Listening To

Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

When a family is going through a stressful time, sometimes things get said that are hurtful.  I was the recipient of that last week.  Last night I thought of this verse and reminded myself that not everything I was listening to was true or honest. I'm doing my best to stop thinking of those things.

October 27th ~ Morning

Lamentations 3:22-23 "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."

I've always run early in the morning.  I love the promise of a new day filled with God's mercy and compassion.

October 28th ~ Looking Back

Genesis 19:26 "But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt."

Luke 17:28-33 "Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;  But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.  Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.  In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot's wife.  Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it."

Philippians 3:13-14 "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Looking back and reviewing God's goodness and mercy is a good thing, but looking back with longing to the things God has delivered us from can only bring harm.  I'm pressing forward!

October 29th ~ Moon

Revelation 21:23 "And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof."

The moon is full and lighting up the sky tonight, but the light of the Lamb in that heavenly city is the one I'm looking forward to.

Update on My Dad

We girls (Kim, Krysten, Lauren, Barbara and I) just got back from visiting Dad in San Francisco.  He was greatly improved today.  The doctor was in and his heart is fine.  The diarrhea seems to be clearing up and they are slowly getting his body chemicals right again.   We had a great visit.  The problems with confusion are completely gone.  He will probably be going back to Pacifica rehab center tomorrow or Monday and he was really happy about that.

He has two followup appointments at UCSF on Thursday, 11/1, so that is the next item on the agenda.  One is regarding his back, the other is about the various infections he has been fighting off.

It was a long day, but ended on an upbeat note and we're very glad for that.  We were blessed on every turn by kind people.  Our waitress at Casa de Fruta was extremely kind.  When we told her where we had been, she was so sweet and said she'd be praying for Dad.  She said she meets so many people who are traveling due to an ill loved one that most of her days are spent praying for people she has met.

I'm so very thankful for the many prayers that have gone up on our behalf.