You Are Holy, Righteous, and Redeemed

  Honestly, I haven't thought about my five things in a while.  Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful, but I'm also a person who forgets how thankful she is only minutes after I thank the Lord for all the blessing he has given me.  It's easy for me to say I'm grateful for something and then not a minute later take it for granted.  I really wanted to give my five things some thought this week.  I am constantly thankful for my family--the one I was born into and the one I gained when I married my loving husband, but I also am thankful for way more than that.

  

This week I'm thankful for these five things:

The grace and mercy God is able to give to me

(Because I have someone to take my place and intercede for me)

The simple fact that I'm finally feeling better emotionally 

(I think it's mostly due to the sun coming out from under the clouds and bringing spring with it)

The opportunity to continue my photography business

(Not that it ever stopped, but without feeling well it's kind of hard to put yourself out there, or at least it is for me)

The special day of Good Friday that my husby gets to have off

(I can't wait for us to spend the day together; we've had a hugely busy past few weekends)

The support my husby gives me in all my endeavors

(Whether it is this blog, knitting, weaving, photography, and the occasional dabble in hand lettering and watercolors, he is always there to encourage me)

Plus:

The crazy, amazing day that is today

(The day of Jesus's death for me, even though I am the one who put him there and I was the one who cried out to kill him;  without today there would be no resurrection, no life everlasting, no hope for the future--for my future and for future generations to come)

And a totally unrelated, but adorable photograph

(They actually love each other to pieces, but Oscar is more like the annoying little sibling to Dante):

I promise Oscar will not be in every blog post, I am still working on taking more photos 

(With both my film camera and my iPhone/digital camera so I can post them immediately on here; otherwise there will most likely be a short lapse in photos of what's happened and when I post them)

Title:  "Greater" by MercyMe

I'm Going to Stand Up and Sing

Five Things I'm Thankful For This Week:

Fundraisers with good food, great friends, and gratifying causes

Dinners with wise women, choice cuisine, and fascinating fellowship

Projects with hand sketches, creative solutions, and plenty of firsts

Puppies with wagging tails, playful agendas, and muddy paws

Maxi dresses and skirts with pointy-toed flats (or boots), interesting details, and the perfect accessories

I'm also extremely thankful for God's timing and his providential nature over everything we do.

He has a plan.  One that is and always will be better than anything I could ever dream up.

Title: "Too Deep to Fill" by Ryan Bingham

Like Icarus Before Me These Wings Are Not My Own

5 things I'm thankful for this week:

Mary Margaret

I'm super thankful that she's my sister.  My life would be completely different without her.

(Happy birthday!!)

Formal Occasions

Sometimes a girl just needs to dress up.  The Crystal Ball gave me (and my parents that reason).

Auburn Hair

I love my new hair color, as I always say when I change the color of my hair.  I might stick with this one.

Homemade Pretzels

I'm extremely proud of my large and tasty pretzels.  It was my farewell present to Will since he went back to college last week.

Life Experiences

I guess this could go under something else, but I feel like my actions are finally starting to reflect the mature state of mind I've been claiming to have for years now.

(I'm not really sure how to put that into a picture.)

Saving Grace

My pride gets the better of me time and time again.  Without grace or mercy,  I would be a lost cause.

Like the title says these wings are not my own.  I could not and would not be anywhere near where I am today without God and the people he places in my life every day.

Title: "Icarus" by The Staves featuring Keaton Henson

I'm Waiting on a Sign

     Through a complete accident today (aka Twitter) I found this amazing NEW CD that was released TODAY (well, yesterday) of Christmas songs that are either original compositions or new versions of older hits.  Basically, Paste Magazine took a bunch of amazing artists and got them to record songs of their own for Christmas and released a new CD.  You can read more about the specifics here.  But you also get a super awesome, super FREE Christmas mix as a result.  You can listen to the whole CD before you download (to download all you have to do is enter your email address and your postal code).  Feel free to leave a tip for the artist, if you'd like.
     This evening a good many of the ladies from the church came over for some fellowship, good food, and some much needed words.  I was reminded that God uses everything for good which is a really nice thing to hear someone else say.  It's one thing to tell yourself that over and over and it's another to hear someone else say it.  Somewhat like it's one it's one thing to tell yourself that you can cook well and it's another to hear someone else say it.  Validation.  We all need a little validation now and then.  And a reminder that most of the emotions and desires we have aren't just our desires, they're human emotion and desires.  There's nothing new under the sun.  Nothing I have felt that you haven't. Most importantly there is nothing that either of us have felt that Jesus didn't feel while he was on Earth.

Title: "Tell Him I'm Not Ready" by Brettan Cox

Do We Ever Really Know?

5 things I'm thankful for this week

My parents.

They are always there for me, especially when I'm not feeling so well.

(And they listen to me whine and complain about my ills, plus are way more patient than I would be.)

Christmas.

It's in the air.

(It's even got the puppies excited! I'm especially grateful I'm not having to decorate my own place with my own tree.)

Christmas parties.
Good friends, good food, good fellowship.
(Do I need to say more?)

(Photo Credit Clockwise from Top: One, Two, Three, Four)

Christmas songs.
Finding new Christmas songs to listen to is challenging and rewarding because you can listen to them over and over again the whole season long.
(Did I mention I somewhat liked Christmas?)

Strength.
I'm thankful that God has given me the strength to carry on because he and I both know if I had to rely on myself alone I would not be able to get out of the bed in the morning.

Title: "How Long" by Julia Stone

A Tepid Flickering of Street Lights Wipes the Grief Across Her Face

     I've been feeling a little under the weather (if you can count joint problems as being under the weather) so I took a holiday from blogging, but now I'm back!!  And am hopeful that I won't be missing anymore for an extended period of time anyway.  I've been sickish for over a week now and am starting to get better (my feet are almost pain free, whereas this time last week I was having trouble putting any weight on my the balls of my feet, especially the left one).  The whole time I've been staying away from WebMD because I've been through some of this whole routine before a couple of years ago (where I was convinced for a whole TWO weeks that I had Lupus--I don't, btw).  But when  my toes turned a purply/blue color tonight I thought I'd go ahead and things up (I know very bad idea). I don't think I did too much damage, mostly because we've already ruled somethings out (like gout and arthritis--unless it's an arthritis that doesn't show up on tests).  Anyway, since I've thoroughly freaked myself out I'm just going to concentrate on my blessings and ignore anything I don't like for the time being.

Five Things I'm Thankful for This Week:

Family time this Thanksgiving with my Mom's side of the family whom I never really get to see

(P.S. isn't my little cousin so adorable?!?)

I've almost completed a whole pair of fingerless gloves 

(minus the thumbs which I haven't quite figured out how to do yet)

The wooly sheep-puppy I call Oscar

(and the fact that he seems to have been mostly good during our out of town trip)

Jack-ster

(who conquered his first circle rawhide recently)

The simple fact that I'm getting better

(I was really hoping this episode wouldn't last 6 months like the last one did)

And last but not least the love and care from God that gives me hope even during the rough times.

I just found out that one of my high school friends is no longer with us.

He will be greatly missed by all who got the chance to know him, especially by the wife he left behind.

Title: "Violence Out Tonight" by Little Comets

Gonna be an Optimist About This

5 things I'm thankful for this week:

Poetic Phrases

(and of course thesaurus.com that makes it all possible)

(Photo Credit)

Foreign Films

(as long as you can pay enough attention to them to read the subtitles you're in for a treat)

Editing Epoch

(I finally have almost all of my backed up photos edited--I just have 2 more sets that will be finished before Thanksgiving break is over)

Shopping Sprees

(Mom and I finally went to the Memphis Free People store.  If it was blasphemous to equate that store to heaven, I would in a heartbeat--mostly because of the decorations)

(Photo Credit)

Forthcoming Feats

(I'm making some fingerless gloves, if I can ever figure out what the pattern is talking about)

a Gracious God and Faithful Father (in Heaven) 

Title: "Pompeii" by Bastille

Been a Long, Hot Summer

I know I'm a day late, but here are the 5 things I'm thankful for this week:

Clean puppies

Hardworking volunteers

Part-time jobs

(photo credit: my boss, Sondra)

God's plans

(photo credit: link above)

Lasting Stories

Title: "Road to Somewhere" by Goldfrapp

They're the Memories I'll Always Keep With Me

     Even though it's Sunday and today is usually the day for my five items of thankfulness, I'm going to do something a little different.  I finally got off my lazy bum and posted all of the pictures that I took for City Project on Facebook (I had only posted Wednesday dinner until this afternoon).  I think it's highly unfair for me to keep the final two days from you and not share them until Monday.   So my Five Things post is getting moved to tomorrow and you're finally going to see Friday's work night and Saturday's dinner photos.  You're welcome.

Title: "Glory Days" by Roo Panes

Friday Work Night

Saturday Dinner