Multitude Monday

This week I'm thankful for...

102. A steady job/paycheck
104. Board games
105. Sunshine
108. Getting some quality time with my sister Kelly


109. Curiosity
110. Imagination
116. The smell of a barbeque
121. Fits of giggles
122. Free Coffee
129. Getting to visit with my good friend Kimi


130. French fries
132. Time to myself
133. Living in a breathtakingly beautiful place
142. My snuggle bug (a.k.a. Penny)


143. My sugar booger (a.k.a. Rocky)

145. Freedom
151. God's provision
157. Developing relationships
158. Singing
161. Pajamas


The rest of the list is under 1,000 Gifts at the top of the page.

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Story of My Life: Salvation

I have believed in God as long as I can remember. Although raised in the (Catholic) Church, during my childhood and adolescence I experienced God more outside the church than in. I heard Him in the sound of children's laughter, felt Him in the warm, summer breeze against my shoulders, saw Him in the kindness of strangers, and felt His love demonstrated in the beauty and faithfulness of the sunrise. Despite my confidence in His existence, the world beckoned, and I sought excitement and satisfaction elsewhere - if you haven't yet been or can't remember being a teenager, consult a teen flick and you'll know what I mean. (Don't let your imaginations run too wild - I was still a pretty good girl.) My freshman year in high school, tragedy struck and my world changed. Two very close friends of my family passed away, both unthinkably young, and in completely separate but equally tragic circumstances. Suddenly going to dances, cruising the mall, and talking about boys was not quite cutting it. Life was short, cruel, and unfair from my new perspective, and what was the point of it all, really? After about a year of seeking various ways to ignore, suppress, numb, deflect or deny my painful emotions, I found hope. By some completely non-coincidental series of events that seemed random at the time, I ended up going on a houseboat trip with a church that I had casually (mainly socially) attended in junior high. I saw people who were joyful, peaceful, and genuine. People who had hope, and were not just living for the moment, but for eternity. I saw Jesus in them. I recognized the voice that had been whispering my name throughout my life, but now that voice was calling out, "Come to me! Rest in me. I have what you need." And I went to Him. And in Him I found abounding hope, limitless joy, profound peace, and unconditional, crazy love. Nothing has ever been the same. Thank God for that.



More of the Story of My Life in Roots, Answered Prayer, Bumps In The Road, and Freedom.



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Multitude Monday... Er, Tuesday

I am one day behind on this post too, but I've been working diligently on counting my blessings this week, so I wanted to share. I will be posting the highlights on Mondays, but if you are interested in viewing the whole list (with added pictures) you can click the "One Thousand Gifts" link at the top of my blog (under the header/picture at the top.)

3/30/10 - 4/5/10

I am grateful for...

19. God working through me
20. Heart-to-hearts
22. Lions, Tigers, and Bears Oh My! (as seen at Wild Things in Salinas, CA)

38. Naps
39. Sweet friends
41. Sleeping in
42. Snuggles with my pups
43. Mindless television
44. Catching up with my best friend, Arletta:

45. New life! (Welcome Tyce Jeffrey Thompson!)
46. A stable family
47. Days off
52. My salvation




54. Cake

61. Getting dressed up
62. Seeing some of my SLO girls:
63. Krissy
64. Brittany
65. Camille
66. Mollie! (Home from Wisconsin)

67. Friends who are as sarcastic as I am (maybe even moreso...)
72. Philosophical debates (oddly started by the question, "what's your favorite color?")

74. A new engagement - congratulations to my sweet friend Jenn and her fiance Kenny!

76. Jesus' resurrection!
79. Going to church on a Sunday morning!
80. Worshipping with a huge room full of believers
83. Getting to spend the afternoon with my WHOLE family
84. Four nieces and nephews that I adore

85. Hearing a profound worship song out of a 3 year old's mouth (Bennett)
86. My 5 year old nephew Tommy, who knows the names of ACDC songs
87. Watching my niece Ally (10 yrs.) jump rope in the rain
88. The scrunched-nose smiles and mischevious giggles from Elodie (age 1)
89. A shard, home cooked, delicious meal
90. The best Easter I've had in a very long time!
95. Singing in the car
99. A nice dinner out
100. Getting to visit with (another!) old friend, Ginger

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Happy Easter

This post is a little belated, because I had a very busy Easter. It was amazing to get to go to church and see my whole family, instead of working all day. Despite the rain, it was a beautiful day!

Jesus' Tomb:

The Door To The Tomb:

The writing says, He Is Not Here - He Is Risen!

Hope everyone had a blessed Easter!

Good Friday

He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter; And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.

Isaiah 53:7

Then Jesus said, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do."

Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father into Your hands I commit my spirit." Having said this, He breathed His last.

Luke 23: 34, 45-46

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5

My feet on the ground where Jesus was beaten.

Golgatha, where Jesus was crucified:

Holy Thursday

"Father, if it is your will, take this cup away from me; nevertheless not my will but yours be done."

Luke 22:42



Me, in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus spoke these words the night before He died.

Words of Encouragement

Today my sweet co-worker, Martina, who does not have a relationship with Jesus (yet) or associate with any religion, said to me, "You're a great example to me of a Christian person. You mean what you say and your actions are in line with your words."

Best. Compliment. Ever.