This past weekend was incredibly FANTASTIC!!! I attended my first WOW retreat and the experience was uplifting, encouraging and so joy-filled!!! The Worship music lead by Karla, April and Melissa set the tone for the weekend while the amazing table center pieces (LOVED the candy!!!) and room decorations made you drop your jaws in awe (Mary Ann's talents and creativity ROCK!!!)!!! Our theme Pathway to Joy with Nancy Beach reminded us that joy is born from gratitude and so not an option! And then, I was given the best table group (the rumor is true that our table 5 had the best women ever... and I'm not biased either!!!)...!!! I loved every minute with them!!! I'm looking forward to reuniting with my group in two weeks... can't wait!!!
I came home and caught up with the kids. Krista filled me in on everything I missed and Michael filled the rest of the time with random topics in conversation! While driving home after dropping Krista off at youth group, he informed me, "I wouldn't last one day in the old days!" Well, me neither! I have no idea where these random thoughts of his come from! But they keep me amused!!! That started a conversation on what it was like looooooong ago and we both agreed we were thankful to be born in a time where there's indoor plumbing, refrigerators, washing machines and dish washers! He also wanted to hear every detail about the games we played at the retreat (Unique & Shared and the Minute-to-Win-It) and decided he liked the Cookie Face challenge because he loves Oreos! It was a lovely weekend but I'm glad to be back home because I want to implement the Gratitude Jar idea where we write what we're thankful for everyday and put it in the jar. It's something fun to do with the kids but I want to write out my own list of 10 things I'm thankful for everyday, so here goes...
1. I'm thankful that I get to be home with the kids and relax with them!
2. I'm thankful for new friends and for old friends :o)
3. I'm thankful for gluten free bread because I love toast with butter and mango butter (it's really a jam from Trader Joe's)!
4. I'm thankful that technology allows us to stay in touch with the ones we love!
5. I'm thankful for the beauty of an overcast day where the snow on the ground and the silhouettes of trees against the sky paint such a breathtaking picture by our Creator.
6. I'm thankful that I get to hear my six-year-old randomly exclaim, "I can't wait to go to Heaven!"
7. I'm thankful I got to hang out in bed with the kids this morning and listen to them chatter about Pokemon!
8. I'm thankful that being away this past weekend allowed my sink counter top to dry for more than 24 hours so I was able to finally spray the sealing stuff on the granite top this morning!
9. I'm thankful for heat because I get cold easily!
10. I'm thankful that both of my children love to snuggle in bed :o)
I like what Colossians 3:15 says from the Amplified Bible (thank you, biblegateway.com)...
"And let the peace (soul
harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in
your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that
arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of
Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful
(appreciative), [giving praise to God always]."
Got thanks???
