It was spirit week recently. On Career Day, The Boy decided he wanted to go as an undertaker. (actually, he looks a bit zombie-ish, doesn't he? Or maybe he looks like someone who wishes his mother would put the silly camera down.)

canine capers

I can't decide if they are making sure dad can't go anywhere or they are annoyed that he's in their chair and they're trying to make him move...
(I guess he doesn't have to worry about that leg getting too cold this winter.)

Gratitude

I was having one of those mornings recently. No clean school clothes, (yes there were. Just not the ones he wanted to wear.) why wasn't breakfast ready, the biscuits are too brown, the cars parked in the wrong order, the lightest of rain...not enough to water anything but certainly enough to provide curl in my hair where no curl should be, running behind for work, driving behind a school bus...thinking of of the chaos left at the house, knowing that the mess would still be there when I returned home for lunch. Normally I pray on the way to work but on this particular morning, the only words that left my heart and lips were, "show me Your Glory, Lord." My soul was too weary to utter anything else.

As I turned to the right, I noticed a most glorious sunrise on display before my eyes. Vivid pinks and oranges. And I tried to be grateful for the display of His handiwork before me. Really, I did. I found myself thanking Him for the picture He provided...but there was a small part of my heart that muttered, "I've seen sunrises before. Yes, it's beautiful...but it's nothing new."

And on I drove.

Somewhat ashamed of my less than grateful spirit.

But still wallowing in my weariness.

More traffic. (because I left the house a few minutes late.) More sighing.

But then...

I noticed something smack in the middle of my windshield.

A tiny bit of color.

I peered closer, not sure what the little splash of red might be.

As I watched, it seemed to expand. And as it did, I began to smile. The color grew longer...bigger...and I had to laugh...with tears in my eyes.

Because right in front of my face, where I couldn't possibly miss it...God gave me a rainbow! It's been years since I've seen a rainbow and here was one, just for me. I could almost here Him saying, "So the sunrise didn't impress you? Well, here my child...take a look at this. Here is My Glory..."

My heart sang. My spirit was refreshed. And I was grateful.

Won't you take a moment and share what He's done for you lately?

gratitude

Your cleansed and grateful life, not your words, will bear witness to what I have done.
Matthew 8:3


Counting these blessings over the past days...

The last of the plumeria blooming beautifully...(before they head off to their winter home in my mother-in-law's spare shower.)

three (!!!) lemons on the lemon tree...

a man-child who still has some boy in him...(I came down to breakfast to find dragons battling it out on the counter.)

Possibly the last blooms from the tropical garden Josh put in this summer. (since we are not tropical climate dwellers, most of the garden will be dug up to be replanted next spring.)

freshly laundered quilts and blankets as we prepare for cooler fall nights...

Won't you consider joining the gratitude community and offer thanks for your daily blessings?