Happy Thanksgiving

Today I'm getting ready for Thanksgiving. I've got a long list and after a good walk and proper caffeination I'm almost ready to tackle it. My Mom and my sister's family are coming here for dinner. Everyone is bringing something, so my job isn't too tough. I'm looking forward to being together.

Maybe a list of things I'm thankful for will be written as I go about my day today.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Grace and Peace,

Jane

small leaf rhododrendron

Praise the Lord.

Give thanks to the Lord,

for He is good;

His love endures forever.

Psalm 106:1

Grace and Peace,

Jane

azalea

The Lord appeared to us in the past saying:

I have loved you with an everlasting love.

I have drawn you with lovingkindness.

Jeremiah 31:3

Grace and Peace,

Jane

another leaf.

I took this picture a couple days ago. When I look at my yard this morning, there are only a few colorful leaves left on some bushes.

On my desk pile of papers I found a prayer written by Mike for when he led worship. I think it's worth posting and praying this morning. Here's just a part of it:

We call on your strong name
knowing the truth of Your power and love,
poured out for us.
Strong enough for our trouble,
Strong enough for our rebellion,
Strong enough to complete Your purposes.

Lord hold us by the arm
and lift our eyes to the truth
Be with us again today.
Amen.

Grace and Peace,
Jane

red leaf

Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens,

Your faithfulness to the skies.

Psalm 36:5

Grace and Peace,

Jane

bittersweet

Last week my friend Cheri and I went looking for bittersweet in the woods behind her house. For some reason, there wasn't as much as usual. It was a beautiful day though to walk the trails.

Cheri is one of my long time friends. We had babies together (literally) and I always refer to her as "my friend Cheri-who-had-her-baby-in-the-car." It's her claim to fame.

She knows I like bittersweet and so in the fall she invites me over for lunch, good conversation, and a hike. I love the tradition!

Grace and Peace,

Jane

berries by church

"drink deep of God's pure kindness.

Then you'll grow up mature and whole in God."

1 Peter 2:2 (from the message)

I took this picture by my church last week. It was one of the last warm days of the year and I enjoyed wandering around the gardens remembering God's love of me.

Grace and Peace,

Jane

snow on purple coneflower

It snowed!

Grace and Peace,

Jane

another berry

"O Israel, put your hope in the Lord,

for with the Lord is unfailing love

and with him is full redemption."

Psalm 130:7

Grace and Peace,

Jane

JoDee hat

Here's a picture of my JoDee hat. When Mike took me to a JoDee Messina concert for my birthday, I had so much fun that it seemed perfectly reasonable and necessary to buy this hat.

Grace and Peace,

Jane