Grateful/Thankful/Blessing Jar

This is the Sunday School lesson from Sunday.  If you are in our class and were out on Sunday, drop by the classroom and pick up your surprise (on the bench in our room).

Bing Crosby used to sing and you can still hear him through the magic of tv and itunes:

When I'm worried and I can't sleep

I count my blessings instead of sheep I fall asleep counting my blessings

When my bankroll is getting small
I think of when I had none at all
I fall asleep counting my blessings

Or maybe you have sung this old hymn in a worship service: (thought only Baptists sang this - found out the Methodists sang it, too!!)

When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed

When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

Count your blessings, see what God hath done!

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.

Or how about this -- In Paul’s letter to the Colossians, he wrote:  So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Thankfulness – thankful – to be grateful; to be filled with gratitude; appreciative

Gratitude – readiness to show appreciation for and to return a kindness

Blessing – a special gift from God; a special favor, mercy or benefit (encouraged class to also listen to Nathan Carden's sermon about blessing from last year -- not saying that we are blessed while others aren't)

Or how about Philippians 4:11 – I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

That verse speaks to me of having a “joy filled  heart” – everything around me may be in complete chaos but my heart can still be filled with joy.

You may or may not realize this, but while the general public is running around in the 25 or so days between Thanksgiving and Christmas eve, people who work in a church are scurrying around also.  Just not in the same way.  While Joe Q. Public is picking out wrapping paper and tissue paper, church staff members are selecting the paper on which countless bulletins will be printed for all the special services.  While others are eating Christmas Eve breakfast, church staff members are scurrying to make sure that supper is ready – you know – the Lord’s supper --  making sure that all the communion elements are prepared for over 2000 people and some one has to make sure that baby Jesus is fast asleep in the manger.

Christmas doesn't come for church staff members until midnight on Christmas Eve . . . and Christmas Eve is a wonderful night . . .and then there are the twelve days of Christmas.  

I’m so thankful for Christmas Day through January 6 – ephiphany – the 12 days of Christmas.  I’m not complaining about my job  – I love it.  But Christmas just takes on a slightly different slant. Those things are just the reality of December and lots of folks don’t understand it – sometimes even my own family.  The beauty is that the week after Christmas can be lived at a slower pace than those previous 25 days. (that is probably true for most of us)  The week between Christmas and new year’s gives me – and perhaps many of you - time to think – time to appreciate life – time to realize just how many things we have in our lives for which we can be thankful.

One of my main thoughts during these last few days has been about being thankful.  I've been thinking about being grateful.  When I start really thinking about those things for which I’m grateful/thankful, I’m actually a little overwhelmed -- a lot overwhelmed.  Think with me for a minute – many of these things might be applicable in your own life.

I woke up this morning.  Yes – I’m grateful that my eyes opened and I could see.  I said a prayer for those who are sight impaired.  I was also able to throw back warm covers from a mattress.  I’m thankful for a bed in which to sleep – warm in winter, cool in summer.  I said a prayer for those who live on the streets of Birmingham, those sleeping on cots at the firehouse shelter and those who are displaced by war.  I then hopped into my luxurious shower and used all the hot water that I wanted.  I am so grateful to have not only clean water to drink but the luxury of bathing in heated water.  I gave thanks to God for sight and beds and water and I asked God to be with those who have no clean drinking water and to send those who know how to dig wells to help them.

I was then able to go into my kitchen and turn on my gas stove and oven and make pigs in a blanket because there was excess food in our refrigerator from the holidays that needed to be cooked and eaten.  I gave thanks to god and I prayed for those who have to cook on an open fire inside a tent and I prayed for folks like Dave Barnhart who know how to make a rocket stove that reduces the smoke output and I prayed for those momma’s who have to make a box of rice and a can of beans stretch for several meals and I thought about our next mission project in our class here or on Tuesday nights and what we could do to help.

I then opened my Bible and looked up several scriptures using the concordance in the back of the Bible.  I gave thanks for the holy scriptures – some of which are words of Jesus that he spoke all those years ago.  I gave thanks for a mama who raised me in the church.  I gave thanks for parents who pushed me to do well in school so that I am able to read and comprehend.  I gave thanks for education.

I also got in my car and drove to the store.  I gave thanks that my car runs well and that I had a full tank of gas.

Do you see where I’m going with this?  How many things do we take for granted every single day . . .when instead we should be very grateful?  As one of our young adults recently stated, “young adults are of the entitled generation.”  Our whole society has become a little bit that way. . . or maybe a lot that way.   Yes, I know that most of you have worked hard to get where you are and I know that some have more than others but everyone of us in this room has many things for which we are thankful.  But do we take time every day to give thanks to God?  Do we take time every day to even realize how many things we have for which we should be grateful?

Every day we see things of beauty – we are surrounded by nature – we live in a world where the sun comes up every morning and the moon comes out at night and the oceans crash against sandy beaches and rocky crags.  I am thankful – are you?

Most of us have some family that we love and hopefully, some friends.  For that I am thankful, are you?

For what else are you thankful?  Think with broad strokes . . .(health, our church, freedom)

So, here we are on January 4, 2015 – we are at the beginning of a new year.  We have a choice.  We can get up every day and be grateful and give thanks . . .or not.  You know what is interesting?  If we do get up every day and we do give thanks and we realize that we have much for which to be grateful, our whole attitude will change.  Sometimes I need an attitude adjustment. We won’t be nearly as grumpy.  We won’t wallow in self-pity nearly as much.  We will keep our eyes on Jesus Christ a whole lot more.

1 Thessalonians 5:16 says, “Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances.

 I've made each of you a little something.  I have a jar per “family unit” – whether that means there is just one of you or a couple – There is a snack to enjoy now.  When you've eaten your snack, wash and dry your jar.  Every day, take a little slip of paper and write down something for which you are grateful – something for which you give thanks.  It could be any of those things that I mentioned in the lesson.  It could be that you are thankful for the kindness of someone else.  It could be that you are thankful your money lasted the whole month.  It could be that you are thankful for the smile of someone you passed on the street or in the parking lot.  After you jot down your note, Fold that piece of paper up and drop it in your jar.  Do this every day until your jar is full . . .and then get a bigger jar if necessary to complete the year.  On December 31, 2015 . . .the words from the two songs I quoted at the first of the lesson won’t just be words from a song – you can actually COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS . . .name them one by one . . .at the end of the year, you will be able to realize that you can give thanks every day – even in the midst of chaos.  You will be able to see how friends have surrounded you.  You will see that you have MUCH for which to be grateful.

Christmas Eve Eve Service

It's a tradition around our house and among our family.  We always go to Christmas Eve services at our church.  We LOVE worshiping with our friends and family.  Christmas arrives at that point for me each year.

This year, our church added another service - Christmas Eve Eve.  We weren't sure what to expect. The weather outside was frightful (sorry - just had to use that phrase!!).  We were having torrential downpours of rain.  As a staff, most of us thought it would be a large service but we just didn't really know.  When it was raining, we still weren't sure.  Mark's joke is that Methodists don't like to get too wet!!

That frightful weather didn't keep many people at home . . .or if it did, I don't know where we would have put those extra people.  The chairs are wider than normal in this room and we had more people on our row than there were chairs.  I think they will have to expand to two services next year or move to the main sanctuary!!

Our senior minister read the Christmas story and our other ministers told scripture and stories between the music.  The music was OVER THE TOP!!  I don't even have words to describe the music.  

We sang Go Tell It On the Mountain and Silent Night, among other selections.  All of the music was Blue Grass - banjos, guitars, piano, more guitars.

When the service ended, Mark said, "is that all?  I want more!"  We are hoping that Christmas Eve Eve becomes another tradition.  Thanks be to God!!  

2014/2015

so . . .2015 is here.  2014 was an unusual year in many ways.  Our beloved friend and family member, Nancy, went to be with Jesus.  We had to have our old man kitty put to sleep.  Mary, our co-worker and friend, died.  I changed jobs (within the church).  We sold our house in a day (four days after it went on the market) and we bought a house and moved 22 years worth of stuff.  We determined that we are way too old to carry heavy boxes up and down flights of steps, etc.  I fell at work and tore my hamstring (clutz!).  When I type those things, I think - well, that could have been a crappy year.  Instead, it was a year of blessings.  I felt the presence of God at many funerals this year.  I celebrated at weddings.  Our daughter has been staying with us and she brought her rescue kitty - Charles - Charlie - Chuck - upChuck (Mark's name for him) - with her.

Can you tell we call him all sorts of names??  I have learned/am still learning a new job and I get the awesome responsibility of working with two incredible senior pastors (and as a side benefit, I'm in charge of baby Jesus! - really!).

We moved into a new house and the house itself is wonderful and I LOVE cooking in my new kitchen but the added benefits are my commute is shorter and the neighborhood is a great place to walk and we've made some new friends.  Because we moved, we cleaned out lots of stuff we no longer needed and made multiple trips to the Salvation Army and we gave furniture to Chris Yarboro at Community Furniture Bank.  and . . . .I got to buy some new stuff!!

 (always fun!!) Speaking of friends, we've spent many an evening with good friends around a table.  That is certainly something for which I give thanks!  It is also something I want to do more of this year.  We went to the beach for a week with our son and daughter-in-law and MY SISTER!

 Our son invited her as a treat for me!  Speaking of sisters, Becky came to spend Christmas with us and my nephew came, too . . .and while she was here, we met our other sister and step-mom for lunch!

 My hamstring is healing and I am still marveling at our bodies and their ability to hurt and heal.

I don't think I'm going to make any resolutions this year.  I think I'm simply going to focus on gratitude/thankfulness.  I plan to look for the bright side.  I plan to be filled with joy.  I hope to give thanks in all things . . .all things . . .that can be hard, can't it?

2015 is going to be an exciting year filled with much change.  I think I had better buckle my seat belt and hang on for the ride . . .all the while giving thanks to God!!

FULL . . .OR . . .EMPTY

I was thinking today about how much food MOST of us will consume over the next few days.  In our Tuesday night small group, we played Halloween trivia back in October and this week, we played Thanksgiving Trivia (as our ice breakers).  I can't remember the actual numbers, but the amount of chocolate consumed in October and the amount of turkey consumed in November would blow your mind. (ok - had to look it up -- in 2011, 736 million pounds of turkey were consumed in the US (all year) -- we eat on an average of 46 MILLION turkeys on Thanksgiving day ALONE!!)  (Americans purchase 600 million pounds of candy per year for Halloween . . .I would believe that after our 800 trick or treaters!!)  My mother-in-law buys a 24 pound turkey every year for Thanksgiving!!  I have a picture of our turkey from last year - it was huge!  I would like to show you but for some reason, I cannot get the picture from my phone to my computer. (wonder if German Chocolate Cake - homemade - counts in that chocolate consumed at Halloween???)

We are a people who love to eat . . .and we (talking about our family here) have enough money to purchase the foods we want and the transportation to drive ourselves to the store or the farmer's market.  We also have multiple grocery/market/combo stores within easy driving distance to our home.  I'm certainly not bragging about this.  As a matter of fact, I'm humbled by this.  During November, I've been writing thank you's to God every morning.  It is amazing how our attitudes can and will change after saying thank you for multiple things each day.  We can even get fresh vegetables year round!

So where am I going with this?  Are we not serving turkey this year?  Yes, we are - probably another 24 pounder + a 12 pounder that Mark and I purchased for our neighbor to fry for us.  Fried turkey? Yes, thank you!!

A picture just arrived in my inbox . . .yes, it is!  Mr. Turkey, himself! . . .No . . .not Mr. Turkey but a platter of pie slices . . .lots of pies.  Mark's momma usually makes 7 different pies.  Mark wants a slice of six of those pies (he doesn't like pecan - yes, he is a southern boy.  I don't know what happened to him)

He's here . . .it took over 20 minutes for a picture to move from my phone (which is sitting 3 inches from my computer) to get to my computer.  That is just weird.  Here is Mr. 24 pounder himself in all his glory . . ..drum roll, please.  Golden brown on the outside . . .moist and juicy inside!

This is where I'm going -- there are a lot of folks who do without good food during much of the year. Hopefully, they will go to one of the local shelters on Thanksgiving day and have a meal just as lovely as the one we will be eating at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday night.  But what about those other days?

We are having a Community Wide Thanksgiving service at our church - Trinity UMC - 1400 Oxmoor Road Homewood, AL 35209 - on Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m.  We will be collecting non-perishable food items for Greater Birmingham Ministries.  First -- a quick commercial: we would love for you to come and join us.  Rev. Brian Erickson will be preaching and it will be GREAT.  This man is a man of God and he can PREACH.  There will be great music.  Our Sanctuary choir and the choir from Dawson Baptist will combine.  You can read about it here.   But DID YOU HEAR ME? We will be collecting non-perishable food items for Greater Birmingham Ministries.  This morning, I called GBM and asked if she could give a list of much needed items to me.

They need:
Cans or bags of dried beans (pinto, kidney, navy, black-eyed peas, etc.)
Cans of corn
Cans of sweet potatoes
Cans of English peas
Cans of tomatoes of any tomato product - sauce, paste, etc.
Plastic (remember that - plastic!!) jars of applesauce
Cans of good fruit - my note here -- packed in juice -- buy what you would buy for your kids - peaches, pears -- buy the good stuff!!
Canned meat - not just tuna, but chicken, salmon, ham
Canned soups - chili, good filling soups, ravioli, spaghetti, beef stew - something to fill up an empty belly
They need boxes of powdered milk or cans of evaporated milk
Boxes of pasta, rice,
Plastic jars of peanut butter and plastic jars of jelly
I read recently that you should always try to purchase plastic jars for food banks or cans or boxes (as much as possible) because they hold up better and food items don't get crushed.
They could use cereal - once again, buy good cereal - cold cereals, grits, oatmeal.
Staples such as flour, sugar, corn meal.

We have much for which we are thankful.  Oh goodness - we have MUCH for which we are thankful.  Be generous.  Do something nice for someone who doesn't have as much as you.

Now thank we all our God . . .with hearts and hands and voices!

Hodgepodge Wednesday

A fellow female blogger . . .and a faithful United Methodist, I might add, has a fun hodgepodge today and I thought I would participate.  Check out her blog:  http://stillmagnolias.blogspot.com/2014/11/freezing-wednesday-hodge-podging.html

and actually, I just realized that she got the link from another blogger

http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/

Welcome to the Wednesday Hodgepodge! So glad you joined the fun here today. It is freezing here in the deep South (very cold - brrrr!).  What better way to stay warm than participate in the weekly Hodge Podge.   

 1. What's something you take for granted, that when you stop and think about it you feel truly grateful for?  oh my goodness . . .I think I take way too many things for granted -- clean drinking water is just one of many.  
2. The color brown-love it or no? What's your favorite shade of brown? Most loved something in your home or closet in a shade of brown?  hmmmm . . .not sure that I am a fan of brown.  I have a brown skirt that I wear often but that is about it.  I have lots of tan, taupe and oatmeal things in my home that I love from sofas and chairs to wall paint!!
3. What's something you're looking forward to today?
I'm so shallow . . .a new episode of Modern Family tonight!!  I'm also looking forward to a long weekend (next week - Thanksgiving).  I need a break to just "be at home."
4. The word 'feminism' is not new, but it has been generating all kinds of headlines in recent days and months. What do you think/feel when you hear the word? If you're a woman, do you want to be described as a feminist? Why or why not?
I've never considered myself a feminist.  I don't think I have a problem with the word.  Heck - I am a strong southern women.  I do notice if a man doesn't open the door for me - or offer to help if I'm carrying something heavy.  I do actually feel very accomplished when I do something "strong" -- like yesterday, I wanted to cut a big branch and the only saw I could find was a hand saw and so while I cooked for Bible study, I also sawed (trying to make a Thanksgiving tree).  When I finally cut through the branch, I cheered for myself!  It was a thick branch!!
5. What's something you personally can't eat without making a mess?
I can't eat anything without making a mess.  I feel like every shirt or dress I own has a splash of something on the front.  My mother-in-law says that is what happens when you have "bosoms" - hahahahaha!
6. When did you last surprise someone with a little gift or when were you last surprised by someone with a little gift? What was it?
My friend, Donna, brought a honey bear to me and it is sitting in my office!!
7. Share a favorite quote, saying, song lyric or scripture relating to gratitude.

Give thanks with a grateful heart . . . give thanks to the holy one . . .give thanks because he's given Jesus Christ, his son. . . .I also love the old hymn, "Now thank we all our God, with hearts and hands and voices . . ."

8.  Insert your own random question here.

Next week is Thanksgiving.....so big family meal or small intimate one?  

I'm going to answer her question . . . .we have a fairly large one  . . .always at my mother-in-law's house -- always at 6 or 6:30 p.m. -- because she wants to light the candles on the table -- all the traditional foods - turkey and dressing and gravy (dressing and gravy are my all time favorite) and all the sides.  I'm making twice baked mashed potatoes and cranberry/apple casserole.  A neighbor also offered to fry a turkey for us, so we bought a turkey - heck - why not?

Birthday month

This month, my "babies" will have a birthday and they will be 28 years old.  How could that be?  Surely I am just 28 years old myself!!!  Actually, I was 28 years old when I gave birth to these two babies . . .and I was scared to death.  I remember that day (actually that "in the middle of the night") like it was just yesterday.

Our funny story from that night - and this is TRUE . . .Mark had a company car - seems like maybe it was a TBird.  My water had broken and it was not time - they were coming 6 weeks early!  Mark made me stand in the driveway and wait while he covered his seats with black plastic bags and then he made me sit on them on the way to the hospital so that I wouldn't ruin the company car.  Today I can laugh about it - not so much back then!!

Another funny story - our neighbor was a nurse practitioner and she had been over to visit earlier in the evening.  When my water broke . . .we weren't sure . . .so we called her!  In the middle of the night, we called our neighbor and woke her up to ask her if she thought my water had broken!

I stayed in the hospital with my babies for several days and I had the hardest time telling them apart (of course, I could tell them apart if I was changing their diaper).  I kept having to ask "who do I have? who am I holding?"  Of course, that only lasted a day or so and then I knew who they were by their cry and many other ways - in addition to looks.

It seems like they should still be little . . .or at least in kindergarten . . .or maybe college.  How could they possibly be grown ups?

They are indeed grown up and I am so proud of them.  This picture was taken several years ago but it was the only one in my computer.  I'm glad it was there because now I have not just two children but three!!

Where has the time gone? Faster . . .and faster . . .and faster :-)

One very looooong post

I thought I would do a quick run down on our fall.  The main reason I'm recapping is because of my poor memory!!

So . . .we started off with a week long trip to Orange Beach and it was wonderful.  I felt like it was the first time that I had relaxed since I had been in the new job.  The weather was amazing.  I didn't do anything except sit in the sun, talk to my sista, hang out with the rest of the fam, read books and craft a little.  Heaven.  Happy place!!

Lauren caught a baby crab.  Tiny!!

It rained in the middle of the day at the first of the week, so we went to Doc's Seafood Shack and had some yummy seafood.

I loved spending time with Becky!

It was a fried food palooza!  Is that even a word?  I don't think so because my computer has underlined it in red . . .hmmm.

Sweet tea and pina coladas.  Makes sense to me!

 My goal was to read a novel, mystery, etc. every single day.  I didn't quite meet my goal but I came pretty close.  I think I talked too much!  Does that surprise anyone?

A pirate ship appeared on the horizon one day.  I trotted to the end of the pier to take pictures.  I was sort of hoping they would pull up close and say, "come aboard matey" or some other fun something or other.  They didn't.

We saw LOTS of BIG sharks.  People - you might want to think twice before getting in the water.  There were swarms of sharks around the pier at night.  Lots, people.  Lots!

 

Glenn practiced with the casting net.

Mark and Glenn caught fish and we picked up fresh shrimp . . and fried everything in sight - fried green beans, hush puppies, corn nuggets . . .we never eat fried food at home.

We sat on our balcony almost every night.  Heaven.  Yep.

Then we were back to the real world which included Magic City Miracle.  I blogged about making seed bombs last year.  This year, Mark and I manned the food drive bins at the Pig in Bluff Park.  I practiced my eye contact and "sales" skills that afternoon . . .and sweated a considerable amount.

 We've watched a lot of Auburn football - War Eagle!

We've hosted the young adults every Tuesday night.  This was the mission project night.

Just in case I've never said it - :-) - we love these young men and women.  They have become family to us!!

One of our favorite places in the new house . . .is the upstairs porch.  We have done a lot of "porch sitting" since we moved in.  Love it.  Yes - margarita.  It has been a stressful year.

We decorated . . .and I mean decorated . . .for Halloween.  Our neighborhood gets into the holidays.

I have shopped for and purchased some new furniture items.  Isn't this the cutest bench?  I bought it at a local antique shop and it is now sitting at the foot of our bed.  It is the perfect place to sit and put on your walking shoes!!

Same antique store - bought this for the corner of the dining room!

Oh yeah - about that decorating.  I wanted to win the prize - but we didn't :-(  But it was fun anyway.

Our newest adventure involves a big cat named Charlie.  Laura rescued him (or however you say that!) and he is staying with us for the month.  He is a sweet kitty!!

I also shopped for antiques, etc. in this cool store in downtown Bessemer.  I didn't buy anything but it is such a cool old building!!  Isn't that the funniest name?  The Paisley Pig - love it!

Well, dang - more margaritas?  

We are now up to this weekend.  There is a sundog or rainbow in this picture.  It was so incredibly cool - sort of like a fat and short three colored rainbow.  I have never seen anything like it.

I volunteered to work at the neighborhood Halloween party.  I met lots of new folks.  Lord, help me - I can't remember their names!!  A cold front blew through - literally BLEW THROUGH the pavilion.   The evening was called "meet, eat and trick or treat."  We served pizza and raw veggies and dip and kettle corn and cuties and juice boxes and water bottles. 

There were children everywhere.  Really.  There were a lot of Elsas and a lot of Olafs.

People go ALL OUT in our neighborhood.  Look at the tricked out golf cart.  No, we don't have a golf cart but lots of folks do.  That is the side of our house - just in case you haven't seen it yet.

This daddy is Olaf - a big Olaf.  His white baseball cap has a carrot nose!

I've shopped for more accessories.

On Saturday, Mark and I walked down the hill just two blocks and we were at the Moss Rock Festival.  It was COLD.  I had on shorts and sandals because I had been for an early morning pedicure . . .and I couldn't change shoes or pants.  I almost froze to death.  I am never ever cold.  Once again, hear me - I almost froze to death.

One "booth" had goats for petting . . .and an airstream trailer.  I guess the goats live in the trailer???

 They had art out the wazoo.  Mark liked one painting and thought it was $150 . . .it was $1500.  oops - we didn't buy it.  Did I mention that it was cold?  Really!

We also hosted our supper club this weekend.

Guess what we served in these mason jars?  iced tea?  yes.  water?  yes.  margaritas?  (again - really?) yes!!  I bought these cute paper straws . . .but they fell apart in the drinks.  It was still fun to use them.

So now we are all the way up to today.  Oh wait - I forgot to tell you.  Last year (old neighborhood) - we had four trick or treaters.  This year, we had about 800.  It was so much fun.  We ran out of candy.  We turned off our lights.  People kept on ringing the door bell.  Mark was not polite to said people.  Oh well.  While I was sitting on the porch in the cold . . . handing out candy (at the end, folks were getting one smartee or one jolly rancher - no kidding), I thought to myself, "I am so dadgum happy."

So back to today - today was all saints sunday and worship was good.  A lot of really good folks went to be with Jesus this year.  We sure do miss them.  then we went to Gmom's for lunch.  Mark took me to a tea on the way home - he let me out in front of the house and I went in to the party and he drove around the block!  After that, I bought groceries and I've done about five loads of laundry and I have chicken cooking downstairs (ten pounds of chicken to be exact) and I'm telling you about the weekend.  My clock says 9:04 but we also had the time change this weekend.  Could we possibly have anything else?  I'm tired but I have a smile on my face.  How about you?