"Attitude of Gratitude" or "1000 Gifts"

In reading someone's eblog today I was reminded to revisit Ann Voskamp's blog. I like the way she writes. She has a "challenge"for this year of 2012 that she has posed for us: write 3 things every day for which you are thankful... so by the time we reach the end of this year you'll have well over 1000 things on your list! Well, I'm getting a late start here... but IF I were to do this every day for the rest of this year, I'd end up with 1026 items on my list! So I'm thinking I'll jump in on this!  :)  It would also be fun if I could take 3 pictures per day of those things.... "Pretty lofty goals, Herb!"  Well, I can try!

The "Porter's" at Wendy & Steve's Wedding, 9AUG08

From the album:
"My Niece's Wedding 8-9-08" by Anne Fowkes

My how we've grown!!! :)

In this photo: Cathy Walker, Anne Fowkes (photos), Margaret Porter (my mom), Randy Porter, Roger Porter (my dad), Nancy Walker

"True Love" = Family! 2009

Evan, Grant, Brittany, Jenelle, Derek, Nancy, Jim, Leiana




Evan, Grant, Brittany, Jenelle, Derek, Nancy, Jim, Leiana


These are the people on earth that I love THE MOST! They are second in line only to my precious Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ!
We had so much fun being together July 1-8, 2009, at our home in West Chicago. The boys drove home from CA and arrived at 11 PM on Tuesday evening, 6/30/09. Jenelle's family flew in on Wednesday evening, 7/1/09, arriving at Midway Airport in Chicago at 8:06 PM.
The "kids" spent a LOT of time working on making a "music video"...which is hilarious! It makes me laugh every time I watch it. It's called "Punch Them In The Face." :-0
Yep. Well, you have to understand my kids' sense of humor to really fully appreciate this form of . . . art. ;-)

The boys left yesterday (7/10/09) at 1:00 PM to head back west to CA. Claire's folks got a car for her... and they "hired" Evan to drive it out to her...since he was headed back to her place to pick up his 2003 Ford Pickup Truck he left parked there (the boys drove home in Grant's 2006 Ford Pickup Truck). So...today, I am sad. :-(
Yet....
I am growing quite "accustomed" to my house being filled with just the 3 of us: Jim, Brittany and I. It is a bit overwhelming and dizzying to keep up with 9 people in the house!!! Especially when there's an adorable, beautiful 8 1/2 month old baby girl named Leiana Arwen here!!! ;-)

I truly wondered how we were going to financially swing it...feeding all these folks for a week. The Lord provided!!!!! An anonymous donor gave us $800 cash and a very encouraging sweet note that reminded us to "not lose heart" and that God loves and cares for us!!! (Philippians 4:6~"be anxious for NOTHING!..."

WOW! What a fantastic display of God's perfect timing! And what a great demonstration of how He is the One we can trust to meet our needs!

My heart is full of joy in the Lord! I wish I could be as full of joy even when the circumstances are dire and overwhelming! The Lord knows the desires of my heart; He is the One who will equip me to do what HE wants me to do!
"In God We Trust."

He's back in his old uniform number!

Grant Playing Baseball

In California

Evan took this photo of Grant hitting a double off the left-field fence. It was his first hit of the 2009 baseball season in a GSAC (Golden State Athletic Conference) game.
SDCC (San Diego Christing College) vs. The Master's College on 14FEB09. <3

Singing...gives wings to our prayers!

Brittany sang two songs for her annual recital. As she sang, I heard someone behind me whisper, "Wow!" It really was SO beautiful! Maybe I can somehow post it on You Tube...
Anyway, in the group photo, she is in the back row 3rd from the left in the blue top.
Stay tuned for info regarding her recording career! ;-)

March, two, three, four, March, two, three, four...

Yes, the month of March is marching on by us! Here it is the 27th day already!
Wow! and today it is snowing! Ick!
I had fun going on the WA Women's Chorale tour with them to St. Louis, MO! It was a short 3 day trip, but that was a perfect amount of time for my first time to chaperone a WA group!
St. Louis is a very impressive city! Both times I've seen it in the last 9 years, it seemed to be a very clean city. I would not want to live that close to the Mississippi River, though! It can be a monster sometimes!
If I can figure out how I imported photos before on this blog, I'll include some of the tour photos.
Cheery-O.

Blessings

I think that the start of a New Year is as good a time as any to stop and count my blessings!
At the top of my list is my husband of 29 years, Jim! If ever you need a model of a servant's heart, look no further because he has it!
Not only did he care tenderly for me when I had the flu two days before Christmas, but he did the same for our son-in-law Derek all day Sunday (12/30/07)! He stayed home with him so the rest of us could go visit my sister and her family, who had my brother and his family over visiting! And it's not only at Christmas that Jim "lives to serve others"...it is a way of life for him! So the Number 1 blessing that I'm thanking the LORD for today is: JIM!

At the Chicago Auditorium theater before going to see "The Phantom of the Opera." It was bitterly cold in Chicago that night! Wow! It must have been quite a shock to California-girl Angelina!  :)