Thankful for coffee time , and for 1lb off (4-5/1000)

4. Thankful for coffee, not just any one, a skinny one of course, and with some sugar free hazelnut syrup but more than that, what made this one extra special, having a good friend to share the time with, to speak truth to and be spoken truth to, to build up and be built up, to encourage and be encouraged by.

5. One pound, not money but weight, some of you will know I lost 4 stone last year but since my gallbladder surgery I have not lost any, in fact and in honesty I have gained....but tonight I had my first loss in 12 weeks, not a gain , not a stay the same but a loss, and no matter how small 1lb may seem, to me it could have been 100lb, for the feeling I had to finally have turned a corner. By no means were all my food choices good this week, but there were more good ones than last week, and next week there will be more good ones than this week. For those of you who wonder what 1lb fat looks like here's a pic......

Thankful for Hugs 3/1000

I am thankful for hugs.

Today felt like hug day, there we hugs to welcome my sister and her family home for a short holiday, hugs for my parents who treated us all to lunch. There were squishy hugs with my niece and nephew as we snuggled on the sofa playing games, and tonight were some special girlfriend hugs. One was for someone I wanted to know was not alone but have so few words to help them with and one was with one of my GiGs, (Girlfriend in God) that just said missed you and love you and I'm so blessed to have you in my life.

A Simple Hug by Johnny Ray Ryder Jr

There's something in a simple hug
That always warms the heart;
It welcomes us back home
And makes it easier to part

A hug's a way to share the joy
And sad times we go through,
Or just a way for friends to say
They like you 'cause you're you

Hugs are meant for anyone
For whom we really care,
From your grandma to your neighbor,
Or a cuddly teddy bear

A hug is an amazing thing -
It's just the perfect way
To show the love we're feeling
But can't find the words to say

It's funny how a little hug
Makes everyone feel good;
In every place and type,
It's always understood

And hugs don't need new equipment,
Special batteries or parts
Just open up your arms
And open up your hearts

1000 things to be thankful for, 1&2

This morning has been a housework morning, getting the house straight before a family lunch...think that will be a good picture opportunity.

I read a blog recently that said the first place to start to get your house organised was the kitchen sink, give it one big clean then shine it daily, there was a whole load of other stuff that seems far too domesticated for me but a shiny sink was small enough for me to accomplish, so today I am thankful for my shiny sink, and sticking with the domestic goddess theme my second thankful is for a large working washing machine for the piles of clothes my family goes through

A journey of thankfulness ....

I have been inspired by two people I work with to start a new blog challenge. Dave Betts has started a blog a day for a year challenge and Heather Pocock blogged about a book she had read and the challenge to record those things we are thankful for.
Dave Betts Blog
Heather's Blog

Both these hit a chord with me, Dave's because I am terrible with starting and not sticking with things, I lose my way and then am too embarrassed or scared to start again, and Heather's because i really hate when I write a whole day off as a bad day because of one thing and go bed with a negative focus.

So I have that each day I will pictorially represent my 1000 things I am thankful for. These will not be epic photos, I am no photographer, but candid snaps on an iPad, or representative images. I will not be offering profound writing, just simple thoughts. My focus is just to develop a better attitude of thankfulness in me and if anyone else is along for the journey that's great too.

In a year it works out about 2.7 pics a day, so if I aim for 3 then that gives me about 30 days of grace if I fall behind. I am a girl who knows she needs grace, and who needs to remember deep within my spirit that whilst not everyday may be a good day, there will be good in every day..

Texts for Life

In my head at the start of the year I planned to restart blogging and aim for 20 episodes/ blogs for the year, giving me two a month with some grace leeway for the busy times.

So my second entry for the year is already belated and using a grace slot. It is part of a Sermon series we are running at Kerith Community Church with lots of guest bloggers, and today is my turn.

Please click through the links at some of the great previous entries and enjoy.

http://textsforlife.org/

Sometimes you need to check the spelling

On Sunday in church we were asked to spend some time listening to God as He had a word for each of us that He wanted to speak over our life this year.  As I closed my eyes I smiled as I had already heard God speak, my word was hope, and I started to pray but my thoughts kept being interrupted by the word 'no'.


My words not hope? I asked, 
'no' came the reply, 
so what is my word?
'no' again.  

I dismissed this as there was no way my word for the year was 'no', I was not going accept what I thought was a negative word, this was to be year of change and growth and I had decided that hope was my word, I needed hope to be my word. I was clinging onto hope.

Throughout the night I wrestled with this, each time I prayed, or thought of the word hope I heard 'no' and eventually after a rubbish sleep I woke and as I started my quiet time thanking God for the hope I had for the day and heard once again 'no'.... I argued back asked why, why could I not have hope, why did I have to have 'no'?

And then, as I really listened I heard the word one more time, 'know', be still and 'know'.

So my 'hope' borne out of a place of uncertainty, from a situation I felt alone, something I was clinging onto,  has  been replaced with a 'know' coming instead from  a place of assurance and has me wrapped in security.

Psalm 46:10
“Be still, and know that I am God;

If it was good enough for Moses it's good enough for me!

Here is my first 2012 ramble.......

I have a good life, I have a wonderful caring funny husband with an infectious laugh, talented amazing kids, family who support us and friends that make the journey of life such good fun. I also have a great job, I manage events for our church, and get to combine my organising skills and love of people in one roller coaster ride.

In December God put the brakes on the ride as I had surgery to remove my gallbladder. the timing was not great, I would be away for all the Christmas events and not surprisingly Christmas tends to be quite big in my job! He was gracious with me and I knew it was coming up so I had time to put plans in place for all the events at church and home and then I had to walk away and let others take on the reins.

Delegation is not an easy thing for me and I really don't know why. I know that plenty of people can do what I do, that my way is not always the better way, but somehow I struggle to ask, not wanting to impose, or put people out. Sometimes this gives me a task list overflowing and I hit headless chicken mode, cramming my days with good stuff and then the God stuff slips off track and the days become like treacle.

But earlier in the year God had been putting things in place to help me and since September I have had a Kerith Academy student working alongside me. These young guys and girls give a year to Kerith, to learn, to serve and work in different ministry areas. I know Pauline is learning but goodness me she is helping me to learn too. I have had to delegate stuff to Pauline so that she can learn and this process has been has been a revelataion to me, she takes full ownership of tasks she gets and does them amazingly, and importantly she does them her way and to my surprise I am cool with that. Both Pauline and the amazing Kerith Team of staff and volunteers picked up all my tasks during my recuperation, and did amazing jobs putting on amazing events.

For me I am now going into 2012 with a renewed attitude to delegation, handing over, seeking help, because it's so much more fun, relaxing, growing to do things together and share responsibility, and leaves more space for God stuff in my day. Plus there is Godly biblical principle to back up my choices, in Exodus 18 Moses is working himself day and night serving the people, getting weary and the task list ever growing.

His father in law pointed out "What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone." (Exodus 18:17-18 NIV) and with encouragement Moses finds a capable group to delegate to giving him space to do a good job with God time.....so like the title if its good enough for Moses...

xxxx