Counting My Blessings... 81-85

81. This sweet girl
82. Fresh, cooling rain
83. Books full of good stories

84. The miraculous transformation that a nap works on a three and a half year-old
85. Time with my girls

Counting My Blessings... 71-80

I thought I would spice up this list with a couple of silly pictures. 

71. Motivation to overcome bad habits
72. God's grace empowering my motivation
73. Forgiveness (and boy do I need the Lord's forgiveness!)
74. Biblical accounts of failure, repentance and forgiveness
75. Sabbath songs
76. Uplifting music and stories
77. Learning new words (one of Haven's words is bababa, which is her way of saying papaya).

78. Baby sign language (Haven can say "all done" and "more" using her hands)
79. Mosquito-eating geckos and bats
80. A peace-filled house and heart

Counting My Blessings... 61-70

We have so much to be thankful for, every day. This is my latest continuation of thanksgiving and acknowledgment of blessings the Lord has given me.

61. Splendid rainbows that remind me of God's covenant with me and all mankind

62. Hearing my daughter talk to Jesus
63. Haven learning new words, like the word "pray"
64. A wide variety of fruit available to us at great prices
65. Music that lifts my spirits
66. Goosebumps when something I hear or read really speaks to my heart
67. Daughters who love to read all the time
68. A big yard where Hope can play without my worrying about her
69. Feeling creative after years of neglecting my creative side
70. The smell of clean laundry

See You In the Morning

I've been thinking about death a lot lately (I know, that doesn't sound great). I've been thinking about the hope that I have in Christ. I believe, based on what the Bible says, that all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and follow Him, when they die will rest in Him as in a dreamless sleep. Then, when Christ shall come in the clouds of glory He will raise up those who have died in Him to life everlasting. This is the hope that I have. I began to have a poem form in my heart, and thought I would share it. I am dedicating this poem to Jared and Damie, my friends who just lost their little girl.

Two months shy of one year old is much too young to die.
I love you, sweet and happy one with bright and smiling eyes.
But should death come to claim you, or catch you by surprise...
Goodnight, sweet baby, I'll see you in the morning.

What a spirit! What a will! At only three years old.
I cherish you, my precious one, whose hand I love to hold.
But should death reach to take you with hands so pale and cold...
Fear not, my precious one, I'll see you in the morning.

Almost five years we have lived as husband and as wife.
Your thoughtfulness and caring heart have brightened up my life.
But should death come, cut short your days with its unsparing knife...
Goodnight, my love, I'll see you in the morning.

I'm still too young, though getting older, not old enough to die.
I still have energy and strength, and dreams I've yet to try.
But should death come and terminate my journey, I will cry...
"Goodnight, goodnight, I'll wake up in that morning!"

Jesus, you faced death for all. You conquered, life to bring
To all who would believe in You and trust You as their King.
O grave where is thy victory? O death where is thy sting?
Jesus will make all things new. He'll wake us in the morning.

Umbrella Haiku

Hope and I had an impromptu photo shoot with an umbrella as a prop just a few minutes ago. I decided I'd write some haiku to go along with these, from Hope's perspective...

Holding umbrella

Up so high above my head

Will I float away?

Is there rain up there?

My umbrella is ready.

So clouds, bring it on.

Together we stand,

Ready umbrella and I

To endure the rain.

Rainy season here

Under umbrella I wait

For the drops to fall.

I'm safe under here

I hold tight to the handle.

Peekaboo, Mommy.

Daddy, I will share

this big umbrella with you.

Come before it rains.

So happy to share

Daddy and I smile so sweet.

We love each other.

I love you Daddy.

Bunches and bunches and stutch.

All the so muches.

Some of the words used are invented family words, such as stutch, which means more than I can ever say. Muches is plural for much. Hope invented the saying "All the so muches."

Counting My Blessings...51-60

Maybe it's because I write this too late at night, but by the time I get around to writing this, I have a hard time thinking of things. I think I need to keep a small notebook by me all day so that I can jot things down when they happen, or when I think of them...

51. Fun activities to do with Hope

52. Cooking for my family (really I am thankful that I get to do this. I never used to like cooking much, but cooking for others is an honor.)
53. Friendly neighbors
54. The lessons I can learn from ants
55. Opportunities to learn patience (for example, when both girls wake up out of a sound sleep at 11:30 pm).
56. An email from a good friend I hadn't heard from in a while
57. Much needed information being provided after several attempts to acquire it
58. Snuggles with my girlies
59. The smell of jasmine flowers
60. Our view of the mountain, Doi Suthep, out the back window.

Counting My Blessings...41-50

Continuing on with counting my blessings, and the things I am thankful for, intermixed with pictures of Buatong Waterfall, where we spent Sabbath afternoon. So beautiful and relaxing.

41. Thunderstorms with torrential rain.
42. Baby babble

43. Humor
44. Encouraging words

45. Clean floors
46. A good night's sleep

47.  Biblical discipline that works (God's Word is faithful and true)

48. Fresh, clean air to breathe



49. Yummy burritos on homemade tortillas

50. Happiness and joy in our hearts

Counting My Blessings...31-40

31. The smell of rain
32. Limestone waterfalls that are perfect for climbing

33. Family
34. The Sabbath
35. Spending the Sabbath with good company
36. Friendship
37. Nutritional yeast flakes on popcorn
38. Clean water

39. An air-conditioned room
40. Funny Hope sayings that make me laugh

Use Sunscreen!

Since it's getting to be summertime, please watch this, and share it with those you love (especially the ones who love a good tan).

Counting My Blessings... 20-30

20. God's empowering grace
21. Birdsong coming through my open windows
22. The ability to read in another language

23. Communication of all kinds
24. Baby open-mouth kisses
25. The smell of clean laundry
26. Watching my children fall asleep
27. Girly giggles

28. A good core exercise program (I just need to do it more).
29. Healthy bodies for all four of us
30. Breastmilk

Counting My Blessings... 12-20

Here are some more blessings and things I am thankful for...

12. Nature right outside my backdoor.
13. Smiles
14. Bible promises for every trial possible to humans
15. Sunshine: nature's stain remover
16. Sweet, juicy, ripe mangoes
17. Hugs
18. Sleeping in (sometimes, hardly ever. Which is why I am thankful when I am able to).
19. Homemade tortillas
20. Making new friends while speaking a foreign language.

Comfort

My friend and her husband are burying their 18 month-old daughter today. This candle is in memoriam of the life of Ryann. I am praying that my friends will experience the comfort and peace that only Jesus can give when we face a loss like this.

‎"Through all our trials we have a never-failing Helper. He does not leave us alone to struggle with temptation, to battle with evil, and be finally crushed with burdens and sorrow. Though now He is hidden from mortal sight, the ear of faith can hear His voice saying, Fear not; I am with you .... I have endured your sorrows, experienced your struggles, and encountered your temptations. I know your tears; I also have wept. The griefs that lie too deep to be breathed into any human ear, I know. Think not that you are desolate and forsaken. Though your pain touch no responsive chord in any heart on earth, look unto Me, and live. 'The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the convenant of My peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.'Isaiah 54:10." - The Desire of Ages, p. 483.

Counting My Blessings...11

Continuing on with my counting of blessings and things I am thankful for, I would like to add number 11.

11. Naptime

Counting My Blessings...1-10

A friend of mine was diagnosed with throat cancer in January of this year. On her blog, she has written a list of 1,000 blessings, or things she is thankful for. I think I will do the same, only this will be an ongoing list, that doesn't end at just 1,000. Here is a small start:

1. Jesus

2. A husband better than what I deserve

3. Two great daughters

4. Laughter

5. Fireflies in Thailand (makes it feel more like home)

6. Meeting someone and just knowing that they're a friend

7. Divine appointments

8. Mosquito-eating geckos

9. Clean sheets

10. God's mercies that are new every morning.

I Love My Husband

I was just thinking about how great a guy my husband is and how much I love him. So, since he is the father of our children, I think he's relevant to my blog.

Tragedy

Please excuse me for writing about something other than my children. This is really on my heart tonight...

I wonder what the average age of a person is when they experience their first completely devastating loss. In my life, I have experienced a lot of loss. I don't know what the most devastating one was. I do remember the most recent one, and that was an episodic event in my life. I was 26 years old. Other losses, that are older and have had more time to heal don't seem so terrible as the most recent one, but they were devastating at the time that they happened.

Just recently, there has been much tragedy. In the news, in the lives of my friends, everywhere around us there is immense suffering as people suffer loss of loved ones, livelihood, homes, pets, and security. It is appalling to witness.

What do we do when we are faced with tragedy? Of course, there are the five stages of grief: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance. How do we get through these stages though? I guess that depends on if we were prepared or not...

What do I mean? How do we prepare for the tragedies that come upon us unexpectedly and suddenly? Let me just say that when I suffered my latest loss, I wasn't ready for it. But I was able to trust in the love of Jesus. In my time of deepest sorrow and suffering, I knew that He was right beside me weeping. He held me in his arms. He knew EXACTLY what I was going through. My relationship with Jesus prepared me to face the tragedy that came into my life. I knew that He had been beside me up until then, and that He would be with me through it.

I pray for all that are suffering loss now: The many people who have been affected by tornadoes, floods and other natural disasters. My friends who just lost their 18 month old daughter suddenly. Another friend who was diagnosed with throat cancer at the beginning of this year. Friends whose sister-in-law has just been diagnosed with a brain tumor. So much loss. So much suffering. So much tragedy.

I pray that all those who mourn would be comforted by Jesus. "Weeping may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning." Psalm 30:5