Thank You!

In 2006, I wrote s "thankful" note. Since then, I read and make changes as needed each year around Thanksgiving time, and as usual there were important additions and updates needed. So, without further rambling, here goes:

I Am Thankful...

for a personal God who knows me and loves me anyway. ~1 Cor. 8:3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him. NLT

for my security in Christ. ~Psalm 98:2 The Lord has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations. ~ Phil. 4:6 Be anxious for nothing... NLT

for my husband~No, I don't understand my husband's theory of relativity, but I know my husband, and I know he can be trusted. ~ Elsa Einstein. Thanks Elsa, for eloquently conveying that trust is a most critical component of marriage--or any relationship.  I am blessed to be your wife, Mr. Broome.

for my daughter~ as a woman, you embody the essence of Proverbs 31 better than I ever could have aspired to, and I admire you as much as I love you.

for my son-in-law~ who knew I would gain another son when Leslie married you? I am grateful for the relationship we have--you make me laugh and I especially love to listen to you when you're on a roll sharing your heart of passion for God, your family or your music. You bless me.

for Ava Grace~ you light up the rooms you enter with a personality ten times your physical size!  As John Mayer would say: you're "bigger than your body gives you credit for!". I pray that you never stop loving me the way you do now--it makes me understand the delight God must feel when we express genuine adoration for Him.

for Lilia Carolyn~ you are a serious, hilarious dichotomy of pink princess preciousness.  You make me smile, you make me laugh and I am smitten by you.

for Steven PATE~ we can already tell that you are going to fill the big shoes of your namesake (Tiffany Pate) who had a heart the size of Mt. Rushmore and enough faith to fill the seas seven times over. You are my dear little "Pate-Pate," and my cup runneth over with love for you!

for my son~ few joys in life will ever compare to seeing you be a wonderful father to two of my precious grandchildren. I can only pray that your children bless you half as much as you bless me. If they do, you will be a wealthy man.

for my daughter-in-law~you are so much more than an "in-law"--I am proud of you and your accomplishments as if you were my own flesh and blood. You're a wonderful mother and precious gift to our family, and I cherish our relationship.

for Cadi Lou~ you radiate sweetness and you are a love magnet! I can't wait to see the special plans God has for your life unfold--you are unique and adorable.

for Anderson Glenn~ wow, how can one child be so good natured?  Contentment and joyfulness define you as a baby and you captured my heart the day your were born.

for my mom~ you are such a pillar of faith and strength and I hope to be half the woman you are if ever faced with the trials you've endured for the past year.  You are a precious blessing to our family.

for my dad~ not a day passes that I don't recall something he said to me that has challenged, inspired or made me a better person and as much as I miss him, I know he's where he longed to be and I'll see him later, but I will always be thankful for his impact on my life.

for my sisters~both of you are special blessings to me and are uniquely treasured as unmatched, undeserved gifts to my life.

for my family~ "call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one."  Jane Howard. I need AND love all of you.

for special friends~ you challenge me, you inspire me, you correct me, you forgive me.  what more could ANYONE ask for in a friend?  To Melanie, Sherry, Wanda, Sara, Heather, Sarah, Kristina, Jennifer, Johnna, Kim, Julie, Alli, Brittany, Kathy, Teresa, Kelly, Christa, Lindy, Laurie, Lindsay, Mardelle, Rosa, Trena, Susan, Linda, Elaine, Ellen, Rachel, and Jess: each of you in particular have said or done something this past year that has blessed me. I love you and I am grateful.

for my work~ I long to accomplish great and noble tasks, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker. ~Helen Keller

for life~ Life is a process of becoming, a combination of states we have to go through. Where people fail is that they wish to elect a state and remain in it. This is a kind of death. ~Anais Nin

for blog readers~ i am grateful for each of you and I am humbled that you would consider reading anything I write worthy of your time.  May this season be one of special blessings and precious celebrations for you and the people you treasure!

Now, as in '06, I will again assert that there are still areas of my life that need lots of work.  Do not mistake my "thankful list" to be an insinuation that everyone and everything surrounding me (including me) is perfect--Whoa! to that crazy notion! But you know what?  I'm grateful for all of the messes, mishaps and imperfection.  I do not live in "fantasy land," and I'm glad.  Why? Because this world should never be too good or seem too much like home because that might lead me to take the beautiful blessings of life for granted.  God forbid!

So...Lord, thank you for your patience with me. Family, bless you for your tolerance of me. Friends, keep me in your prayers for I fail daily. But remember this, I am grateful for each of you from the bottom of my heart--at Thanksgiving and every day.

Love,
Sandy

Haunted...

Today's confession:  It's Halloween and I am haunted.  But not by a ghost or goblin, by the very real awareness that there are so many ways that I haven't lived up to the potential to make a difference in the world for Christ that I've been given.  So on a day that celebrates the supernatural, I'm asking the God of all creation (natural and otherwise) to give me the wisdom to do what I can, while I can, with whatever is needed in the moment, so that I won't die with any regrets regarding the coulda's, shoulda's and woulda's that are potentially the most haunting of all realities. 

Halloween is traditionally a day for thinking about life after the grave, dead stuff and roaming spirits, so ponder these compelling words from scripture with me: "And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment..." Hebrews 9:27.

Now, if I have successfully done this "holiday's" duty and scared you by sharing this haunting reminder from Hebrews, do yourself a favor and read the entire 9th chapter for some peace-giving encouragement. Happy Halloween!

Love So Amazing...

~When God fills an empty vessel He doesn't stop at the top--His love fills to the brim and floods over the rim!

Forgiveness...

Christlike is she, who though pierced by the rose's thorn, sees only its beauty.

To Anyone Who Reads My Blog...

I would love to know a little bit about anyone who actually reads my blog posts.  As you might know, this began as a journal of "thoughts" for my grandchildren and has morphed a little since I started this process.

This morning, it occurs to me that as a result of having an online journal, there are people in the world who "know" me (at least a little about the way I think and my own spiritual journey) that I will never meet.  If you are willing, send me a note and tell me how I can pray for you, where you are in your faith walk, and anything else you'd like to share.  You can email: mugsy1959@hotmail.com, or you can leave a comment below.  I am all ears and I am praying for every person who reads my ramblings.

Love,
Sandy

One Foot in Quicksand...

It's time to catch up the study notes for my chronological journey through scripture. Picking up where I left off, today's passages are Isaiah 31-34, a period of time that in so many ways mirrors today's headlines. 

Having forgotten the many reasons for trusting in God alone as their source and strength, Isaiah chastised Judah for trusting in Egypt's numerous chariots and mighty horsemen. The very creator of life and breath who had miraculously delivered them from destruction and doom had practically been forgotten--and instead--these people believed that the strength of human armies merited their trust.

Quick to dispel the notion that there was any credence to this fallacy, Isaiah reminded them of God's might and supernatural power that exceeds the strongest horsemen or sturdiest chariot.  I was reminded here of the contrast with Psalm 20:7 which reads: Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

Just as then, I see us as a people (myself included) forgetting the source of blessing, protection, provision and power.  We lament the conditions of this world and feel defeated. We decry the lack of logic demonstrated by our leaders, failing to remember that we are trusting in humans rather than Almighty God when we look to them for our deliverance, success or survival. I claim to have set apart Christ as Lord, but do my actions, reactions, words and deeds, always reflect that?

The people of Judah had not abandoned their faith entirely, they simply had their feet planted in two places.  One foot was planted on the rock--God, and one on quicksand--Egypt.  It doesn't take someone with super-intellect to figure out that sinking's going to happen in a case like this, does it? Lord, help us remember that you alone are our firm foundation!

Lord, plant both of my feet on the solid rock, permeate my thoughts with your promises, and keep my heart wholly devoted and undivided so that I do not misplace my trust and sink with the masses into the world's mire.  You alone are the one who delivers and rescues.  Thank you and Amen.

Authentic Pursuit...

Weeks ago I mentioned that Leslie was working on a new format for her blog.  I'm pleased to announce that http://www.authenticpursuit.com/ is now up and running!  If you have preschoolers, you will enjoy her candid posts related to the joys and trials of homeschooling her little ones, and you may even get an idea or three to use with your children even if you are not a homeschool family. 

I will be the first to say that I was not the perfect parent.  I have regrets and a list of "shoulda's" a mile long, but the children God blessed me with (in spite of myself) are another evidence to me of His unending grace and mercy.  I want to encourage all mothers who feel like failures at least once a day  that our God is generous and willing to answer to the fervent pleas of a desperate mom! I asked Him so many times to overcome my parental inadequacies, and it is with humble praise that I acknowledge His goodness and thank Him daily for hearing my prayers and saying yes.