Counting
You know that movie, Holiday Inn, with Bing Crosby and what's-his-face plus the two Haynes sisters? I like that movie. Anyhow, bingy-baby sings a song halfway thru the movie that talks about falling to sleep 'counting blessings instead of sheep'. It gets stuck in my head. I was thinking today that as a practical application, it really does help to count your blessings. People who are consistently whiney, complainy and who always drone on about negative things are total downers to be around. I think being negative can be addictive; it's easy to just fall into this dumpy rut and stay there. One year I was really stuck and just plain always mad, particularly at my poor perfect husband. All I saw were faults and failings. Then a wise woman counseled me to sit down and write 10 things that I was thankful for about him, and it did wonders. It turned out I wasn't able to stop at ten… i couldn't stop remembering (and writing down) everything I loved about him. This also works well with general everyday things. So here I go, counting my blessings. Feel free to leave some of yours, too.
1) A husband who will eventually be back home with me to stay (6 weeks is a loooong time — boy does my hat go off to military and single moms) 2) A car that runs 3) Children whom I love 4) Food, and plenty of it 5) Friends, new and old, who love God and who encourage me 6) Plants. I just like them. They're pretty to look at 7) Rain. It rained today and it was glorious 8) Fat babies (when they're not crying) 9) My sister, whom I've held hostage at my house while Geo is gone 10) Knowing the one true God of the universe. I actually know Him — I didn't just meet Him or sort of brush up against Him at some social thing; we're actually really close. We met about 13 years ago. He is so dependable and does not threaten to drop me when I act like an idiot (which is quite often). Is there a king, president, prime minister, or any other general major celebrity or powerful person on this earth who could come close in comparison? I know people who'd go star crazy if they met Dolly Parton. How silly that is. My greatest blessing is knowing the Sovereign Lord of the entire universe. My Lord, My Saviour, My King, My Friend. How I long to know Him more. |
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September 16th, 2005 - Posted in Uncategorized | | 0 Comments No Responses to ' Counting 'Leave a reply |
on September 16th, 2005 at 10:47 pm
No whining here!
Counting my blessings today too 🙂 Spent all day sorting, unboxing, piling, moving, laughing, eating, getting ready for a HUGE hurricane relief fund drive rummage sale this weekend started by a homeschool mom here. We were so tired by the end, and the stuff is filling this carpet warehouse. Her hubby was giving kids rides on the donated couches……with the forklift. What a crack up! Anyway, we gotta be there at 5 a.m. and this crazy thing starts at 7. Pray for us, we need volunteers to show up.
Oh, and back to your blog entry, I count you as one of my blessings, dear friend. I think right up there next to chocolate!
Nancy
on September 16th, 2005 at 10:50 pm
Thank you…
for commenting on my blog!
And here are a few of my blessings this evening (in no particular order):
1. A Honey who might be coming home two days early from an out-of-town trip!
2. Daughters who spring into quiet, helpful action when their sister gets sick.
3. The knowledge that the Lord has blessed me to get to this place where I can accept His peace and calm even though I have the prospect of a weekend with a sick child and no spousal help (3 or 4 years ago I would have already been singing "poor, poor, pitiful me…")
4. Great, wonderful hsing neighbors across the street.
Thanks for the idea to count blessings! It is a treat to be reminded of the mercies of God!
In Love,
Katie Barr
on September 16th, 2005 at 11:06 pm
I'm thankful for great friends too!!
I am thankful to be able to serve and know Jesus too, for a wonderful husband, awesome kids, the freedom to homeschool, green tea fraps., snow, running cars, trees, gold pans, good books, flannel sheets in the winter, walk-in-closets, a full pantry, chocolate, toe rings, great friends and great blogs!
BTW- My mom to my kids and I for a two day trip to the mountains to go gold panning on a mine claim where we are allowed to 'prospect' on. I have some great pics to share here soon… we did get rained on, hailed on and snowed on all in one day… I LOVE snow bty! We didn't find the 'mother lode' in gold (just some teeny tiny pieces of 'flour' gold. As my grandfather says, "We didn't find a million dollars worth in gold but we did get a million dollars worth of fresh air and scenery!" Oh, and the aspen trees have started turning… so pretty! (I wanna go back! Oh wait… I'm taking my husband up Sunday!)
Love,
Dianna
on September 16th, 2005 at 11:47 pm
In no particular order…
1. A great husband whom I adore and who adores me (it would really stink if this was one-sided)
2. Two boys who absolutely love their baby brother– when they hear him in the morning (before I do), they climb into his bed and play with him until I get up or get there
3. Dh having a job that he loves and that actually pays well (hard combo to find in this world!)– even though it means him being gone for days at a time
4. Enjoying the company of my in-laws, whom I love dearly
5. JenIG's sense of humor– sarcastic and witty– just my style! And I can give her a hard time without offending her
6. Gena being related to Jen– how dull it would be around here without their antics
7. Having a very long asphalt driveway– perfect for riding bikes, skating, etc
8. Coffee
9. My Bunn coffeemaker– piping hot coffee in 3 minutes flat
10. Highspeed internet
on September 16th, 2005 at 11:51 pm
Good TIMING!
This will be good for me b/c I tend to be sort of the melancholy type. I am happy and peaceful on the inside, but always a skeptic on the out. Not to mention I have bene in a rather foul mood the last day or so, uh, still so thankful for so many things.
My hubby and kids are number one. I get such undeserved pleasure from just being around them and listening to them. They are all non-stop funny and sweet.
on September 17th, 2005 at 12:40 am
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And how is your back-neck-head situation doing? BTW, I think you are entitled to whine a wittle bit for a pwesent from Maggiewaggie, you've done enough lately. We're going to be moving too, except my stuff is gone and my husband is here instead of visa versa. Much better this way. Can't get a hug from stuff. Hang in there! (But only if your chiropractor says it's okay to hang, otherwise lay still. ~Jen-not-ig
on September 17th, 2005 at 1:05 am
My blessings…
1. My husband who is adorable, fun and sweet
2. My 2 boys wo are also adorable, fun and sweet
3. Getting to spend time with my boys and my father in law today at the Reno Air Races. He's s funny guy and I never realized it! LOL
4. Finding this blog.. I'll be visiting again!!
Erica
Edited by hakujin on Sep. 16, 2005 at 11:06 PM
on September 17th, 2005 at 7:55 am
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JenIg wrote:
<<<You know that movie, Holiday Inn, with Bing Crosby and what's-his-face plus the two Haynes sisters? >>>
Huh? The great Fred Astaire is "what's-his-face"? Sheesh! You kids today! Don't they teach you anything in homeschool? Just for that, you need to quickly snap up a copy of "Blue Skies"! (Unless you meant Danny Kaye with Bing in "White Christmas"!!! Which gives me a great idea for another blog post….)
And thanks for the nice comments at my blog. Wow, the world-renowned JenIg reads my blog! That's another honor!
I'm grateful for a great wife, great kids, steady employment, and a mighty God who works wonders, the source of all other blessings.
on September 17th, 2005 at 10:19 am
Hey, I've met Dolly Parton!!!
I even have a picture to prove it! lol
Looking forward to coming over on Fri. I told Gena we will bring a bucket of Super Glue for your kitchen cabinets, and a case of air freshner for the back yard! 😀
Here is a small list of what I am thankful for…
1. I am thankful for God sending his Son, Jesus. His grace and mercy.
2. For "The Man of My Dreams"
3. My children
4. My mom & dad
5. My in-laws
6. The circle of Godly women that God has placed in my life. I draw so much strength from each one of them.
7. New friends.
8. God's hand of protection.
9. My house, and food to eat and clothes to wear.
10. For the beautiful place God created and I call home.
Have a great week!
~Amy Beth <><
Edited by MySmokyMtnHomeschool on Sep. 17, 2005 at 8:27 AM
on September 17th, 2005 at 12:57 pm
Attitude of Gratitude Notebook!
I had a year of being hateful and crabby. I was advised to keep a notebook with a section for "counting my blessings" daily in regard to my husband! I was supposed to write at least one thing every day that I was grateful for/about my husband.
It became a habit! My attitude of INGRATITUDE changed to an ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE and now I encourage other wives to do the same.
I will blog about my gorgeous hubby today- 'cause I am so grateful for what he did the other day. He's my hero and Knight. He's really cute too, with big muscles!
on September 17th, 2005 at 1:34 pm
Hee hee
…I thought it was "White Christmas", too! My favorite Christmas movie 🙂
on September 17th, 2005 at 2:08 pm
I Was Indeed Wrong
JayFromCleveland and Prairie girl are right. it TWERE White Christmas that I was thinking of; not Holiday Inn.
on September 17th, 2005 at 2:09 pm
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What a great list~~ it helpss to do this every so often so we can reflect on all the goodness abounding in our lives… I told my dh the other day… if we are drawing a breath and we are a child of the KING… the rest is just gravy!
Lea
on September 17th, 2005 at 4:37 pm
Hey Jen!
Well, it seems you and I are on the same page today…thanks for the comment.;) I'd even planned for my next post (hoping this evening) to be a list of things I'm thankful for, and especially what I'm thankful for in my dear hubby! No kidding! So, right on…great advice. And my list will be up asap… right now we're off to church… blessings!
on September 17th, 2005 at 11:42 pm
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You'd love my fat little baby, then : ) Just went to a doctor's appointment, and she is in the 95th percentile for weight (and 80th for height). She's my little pudge…she even has little pudges in the arches of her feet.
I'm thankful for today…it was a good day, and I was really needing it after some doubts earlier this week…we did a lesson on Jesus, the Bread of Life…all afternoon. It went wonderfully…you can see the pictures on my blog : )
on September 18th, 2005 at 12:54 am
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What a beautiful blessing to yourself and others to write what you are thankful for! I was at Gena's site and she inspired me to write 10 things I'm thankful for. You were the catalyst for all this and it's so important for all of us to remember how blessed we truly are! "White Christmas" is my MOST favorite movie! I watch it over and over to the horror of my husband who absolutely despises the song "Snow, snow, snow". LOL He just doesn't know classic when he hears it!! The song "Sisters" always makes me think of my sister, whom I'm very thankful for!! God Bless and take care!
on September 18th, 2005 at 3:39 pm
Counting Blessings with Y'all!
I am going to post these on my blog! I love that song – thanks for sticking it in my head now too!
on September 18th, 2005 at 10:35 pm
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This is a really neat idea! I will have to remember it…
on September 19th, 2005 at 8:34 am
gratitude
I love Bing! My favorite movie of his is Going My Way. i always watch this when I am sick in bed. It is my feel good movie. My list that I am grateful for is:
1. my husband who loves me as much as I love him
2. my children, who can be pains in the neck at times, but are really good kids
3. my two dogs and cat who make my house lively all hours of the day and night
4. a roof over my head and a floor under my feet
5. food in the fridge, freezer and pantry
6. extended family both mine and his
7. the opportunity to homeschool my kids
8. my dh's job
9. vehicles that run to and fro
10. my faith, even though i am struggling trying to find the right fit in a church I know I do have a faith and that is what counts up above!
on September 19th, 2005 at 10:15 am
Thank you!
Thanks so much for playing the cat on my young son's silly post! 🙂 That made his day! You are such a good sport! Yes, those old movies just can't be beat… in today's movie-making industry, anyway. They make you feel good after watching them, unlike today's movies, which leave you feeling a little guilty, like you shouldn't have watched them. Anyway, we have so many blessings! Among them is the fact that God gives us a new, clean slate every day. Wow… am I thankful for that! Last week didn't go well in our homeschool. Since then, He has given me new ideas, new insight, and we are ready to start afresh! God is good!!!
~Connie
on September 20th, 2005 at 11:14 am
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"Is there a king, president, prime minister, or any other general major celebrity or powerful person on this earth who could come close in comparison?"
No, Jeni, not a one! Without Him, I would have not have the blessings that I have in my life! He is my very breath, my life and without Him this life would not be worth the living! I can tell you that He is Faithful, for I've experienced His faithfulness over and over and over. He is my Redeemer and redeems me from my sin and myself. He is my Rock, my Hiding Place, my Strong Tower of refuge. He so patiently teaches me and leads me in His way. There are times when I struggle with the world that we live in, the times I have been born into, the circumstances of my life and sometimes even with His existence (I'm so like the children of Israel) and He will keep on working in me, showing me Himself. When I get down and want to throw in the towel, I realize that without Him, there is no life and no hope and He keeps me going on, learning to persevere and endure. I know that I can take anything to Him and even express all my frustration as David did in the Psalms and that He will just help me to turn my heart back to Him and fill me with praise and thanksgiving to Him. There is absolutely no one like Him! No one!
Love and shalom,
Serena
on September 21st, 2005 at 7:17 pm
I'm happy too, as well as lucky…
I'm happy too, as well as lucky….lucky to have you, mom.
you are very funny when it comes to blogging! i don't know why you get so many comments on 1 thing, hmm, I guess that means your famous, huh? wish i was famous as you.lol.
love you mom,
love your,
RedHead
on September 26th, 2005 at 7:04 am
Thank you!
Thank you for reading my blog! What a blessing your comment was. I look forward to reading here every so often! Ü
What a neat thing to do — counting your blessings. I love fat babies too… my skinny babies sometimes remind me of rodents. (Oh… Oh… don't tell anyone just said that!) Rodents — but I still LOVE 'EM!!! Love them to death!
on October 2nd, 2005 at 11:10 pm
That was "White Christmas" dear
Don’t believe me? I’ve got a copy and I’ll bring it in November when Psycho Baby and I launch our attack on your home.
You can sit in the corner and watch it and try to protect yourself from random “marbles” tossed your way.