Counting My Blessings: Week In Review
Last week past in a whirlwind of activity. I have to admit I did not get all 10 blessings listed each day last week with all that was going on and the later nights with after school events, however, I was thinking about it a lot. I am thankful for my family. The girls have been doing well and I am proud of their hard work at school and with STEM Club. I am looking forward to having fun with them over Spring Break!
I want to be accountable to you so the following are snip-its of some of the things I am thankful for this past week. Counting My Blessings – Week In Review:
Monday – Thankful for a husband who pitches in and helps with the kids and around the house!
Tuesday – Thankful for kids who enjoy learning and have the courage to speak in front of a large crowd. We attended the school’s Family STEM Night. We participated in a lot of the special activities, enjoyed a hot dog supper at school, and the girls shared with everyone some of their feedback regarding their STEM Club experience and what they did at State Competition the week before. Proud of all their hard work and that they earned a trophy!
Wednesday – Thankful for a thoughtful daughter who was looking out for her sister and others. Also, grateful for extra one-on-one time with one daughter even if that meant spending time at the Orthodontists together.
Thursday – Thankful for an opportunity to go see my daughters artwork pieces that were on display at the Art Gallery at the Pickens County Museum. They were up the entire month of March and we finally had a chance to go see them. Grateful too that the kids are now out of school for Spring Break and for the extra time we get to spend together starting tonight!
Friday – Thankful for kids who help around the house, a husband who willing picks up a couple groceries at the store on his way home, and a chance to spend an evening relaxing and catching up with extended family members. So many reasons to be thankful every day!
What are you thankful for today? I encourage you to take the time to write down a few blessings that you have in your life today. It will help cheer you up and turn your focus on the amazing blessings you encounter each day!
Counting My Blessings: Week In Review
We were closer to our normal schedule last week even though it was busy and Jake had a quick work trip. It was nice for the most part to be back home again. I was able to get most of the laundry and unpacking completed in time to pack our suitcase for our STEM Robotics Competition trip this past weekend. Thankful for the opportunity to spend time with the family and be able to coordinate my schedule so I can do packing throughout the days or in the evenings once the kids are in bed.
I want to be accountable to you so the following are snip-its of some of the things I am thankful for this past week. Counting My Blessings – Week In Review:
Monday – Thankful for good news from a family member today. I love being able to rejoice and celebrate with those around me! 🙂
Tuesday – Thankful for a dentist who cleans and takes care of my kids teeth. Also, grateful that neither one of the kids have cavities again! YAY!
Wednesday – Thankful to have Jake back home again and to have an opportunity to talk for awhile about our days.
Thursday – Thankful for a thoughtful husband. It was a crazy, rainy morning and everyone was hurrying to get ready to start the day. I was running behind schedule. He made me toast for breakfast that way I would have something to grab and eat before heading out the door to drop the kids off at school and go to my appointment.
Friday – Thankful for an opportunity to go down to Columbia the night before the State STEM competition with the family. We had a chance to hang out together and relax as a family before the busy activities of competition began. Proud of our kids for all their hard work and for their team getting this far in the competition!
What are you thankful for today? I encourage you to take the time to write down a few blessings that you have in your life today. It will help cheer you up and turn your focus on the amazing blessings you encounter each day!
Counting My Blessings: Week In Review
Last week was super busy, but truly amazing at the same time. The girls and I were able to join Jake at his work conference in Orlando, Florida. While he was in his conference the girls and I bounced around town, explored, swam, went to the Disney Parks, and so much more. We had a blast and met people literally from around the world.
The kids were up at the break of dawn every day and were going strong until about midnight every evening. After Jake’s conference ended we had a couple days together as a family to spend time exploring. Thankful for our time together, the fun, memories, and the opportunity to go on the trip. With the altered schedule and long days I was not as consistent in writing down my blessings, but as I reflect back there are many things for which I am grateful for last week.
I want to be accountable to you so the following are snip-its of some of the things I am thankful for this past week. Counting My Blessings – Week In Review:
Monday – Thankful that we woke up on time (3:00 am) and made it safely to Orlando, Florida. Grateful for an opportunity to stretch our legs at Downtown Disney before heading to our hotel to check in and Jake start his first conference meetings.
Tuesday – Thankful that the girls and I were able to spend the entire day at Animal Kingdom. They did fantastic and we had a blast seeing all the animals, going on rides, safaris, watching the shows, and so much more.
Wednesday – Thankful for a chance to play miniature golf with the kids, even though we lost 3 balls and had crazy high scores, we had grand time. Grateful that the resort had several pools so we spent a good part of the day bouncing around from pool to pool, swimming, and splashing around with other kids at the resort.
Thursday – Thankful that I was able to spend the day at Magic Kingdom with the girls. Even more thankful that Jake was able to join us after lunch once his conference ended. It was great spending time together as a family and having fun!
Friday – Thankful for a day with the entire family at Epcot. The girls loved the rides, shows, and learning about the different countries around the world. Thankful for my brother’s family who watched the house and pets while we were awhile on our trip.
What are you thankful for today? I encourage you to take the time to write down a few blessings that you have in your life today. It will help cheer you up and turn your focus on the amazing blessings you encounter each day!
Counting My Blessings: Week In Review
I have so much to be thankful for in my life. This week as I as counting my blessings I realized that coming up with 10 things to be grateful for each day was relatively easy if I really think about it for a few minutes. I don’t ever want to take these blessings for granted as they are a gift from my heavenly Father who truly cares about me in the good as well as the struggles I face every day.
I want to be accountable to you too so the following are snipits of some of the things I am thankful for this past week. Counting My Blessings – Week In Review:
Monday – Thankful for Brina writing me a reminder note to adjust her meal schedule because she liked one of the meals I made her so much! My family knows me well! 🙂
Tuesday – Thankful that Skipper is always jumping up and down excited to see me when I get home! Such a great way to be greeted upon arriving home!
Wednesday – Thankful for the girls curiosity and love of learning – we did a spontaneous celery and food coloring experiment before school.
Thursday – Thankful for a chance to talk with Jake on the phone in the morning as he was getting ready for his busy day in Charleston and even more grateful to have him back home that evening.
Friday – Thankful for a washer and dryer to help get our clothes and laundry cleaned in an efficient manner.
What are you thankful for today? I encourage you to take the time to write down a few blessings that you have in your life today. It will help cheer you up and turn your focus on the amazing blessings you encounter each day!
Counting My Blessings: Week In Review
A few weeks ago I had a little wake up call… In a conversation with someone close to me it was mentioned during our discussion that I wasn’t as “positive” or “cheerful” as I used to be. Unfortunately, I did not react very positively to the comment. The comment hurt. It struck a raw chord, something I already knew in my heart, but didn’t realize how much it was effecting the people around me.
I know the comment wasn’t meant to be mean, but to call out some things that are going on my life that they have noticed recently. I am truly thankful for people in my life who are honest, even if it hurts a little. This was a sincere concern about me and the things I have been struggling with these last few months. When someone feels comfortable enough to speak the truth even if it is difficult to say you know they care deeply about you, your spiritual growth, and the struggles your hanging onto.
My first reaction was that I had a reason to be a little more frustrated recently. It has been a tough few months. I herniated a disc in my neck back in October and I am still in pain from it. It has been a very slow and painful recovery so my first instinct was to excuse my behavior. This person knows how much I have gone through these past few months so it was seen as the excuse that it was. The purpose for the comment was to encourage me to take my focus off all the crazy stuff that has been going on and focus on the good things that God is doing in my life as well as the lives around me.
After a couple weeks of praying, wrestling with it some more, thinking about it, and admitting I have been grumpier lately I decided I needed to do something specific. In addition to prayer, having someone I had to be accountable to, I also needed a daily activity to refresh my memory of the good in my life. I wanted something that would redirect my focus back to the many positive blessings everyday that have been overshadowed by some other more stressful items going on in my life. What I decided to do is to write down at least 10 things I am thankful for each day. I titled my list “Counting My Blessings”. I hope that this activity will encourage and help turn my focus more on the positive things in my life. I want to appreciate and enjoy the amazing blessings I have been given. To be content with the season I am in at the moment.
I want to be accountable to you as well. The following are snipits of some of the things I am thankful for this past week. Counting My Blessings – Week In Review:
Monday – Thankful for the car ride into school where I can chat with the girls about life, their days, and more!
Tuesday – Thankful that Jake reads devotions to the girls and patiently answers their many questions about God, life, the bible, and so much more.
Wednesday – Thankful for a chance to catch up with someone I have known for years, but haven’t seen in awhile. Her twin grandkids are now 3 years old. I remember how excited she was waiting for them to be born. It was great catching up for a few minutes.
Thursday – Thankful for a fresh snow fall so the girls could have a day off school and we could build a snowman, go sledding, hike in the woods, play games, read, play, and have fun together.
Friday – Thankful for additional time with my girls since school started two hours late due to black ice today.
A Bagel, Hot Chocolate, & Sweet Friend
I am truly blessed with amazing people in my life! Yesterday was a marathon day of running errands. One of the stops was to meet a friend briefly to drop off some goodies for a local Christmas Party for foster kids. Praying that those cute kids have an awesome party!
My sweet friend came bearing gifts, including hot chocolate and a bagel from Panera Bread! Yum! It was a cool rainy day and the hot chocolate was absolutely delicious. I ended up running errands until it was time to pick up the girls so the bagel was a perfect lunch treat on the run.
We all have had those crazy days with full schedules and numerous projects to tackle when someone does thoughtful act that makes your day 110 times better. Even though I know my friend, Ash, was extremely busy with everything she was tackling that day she was a huge beam of sunshine on a rainy day in mine. Ashley’s thoughtfulness reminded me of the multiple blessings in my life and how important it is to take time to make those around me feel appreciated. Thanks for the reminder sweet friend (and for the goodies)!
Qualities Of A Great Friend…
The Best Stuff in Life is FREE!
I have come to learn that most treasured things in life really are “free”! You cannot purchase these items and they come spontaneously and sincerely from the giver. They are little wonderful gifts to those on the receiving end. It is easy to get wrapped up in the day to day life and not realize that some of the best stuff that we can get in our lifetime is free. These simple acts of kindness can be a huge blessing to us on a tough day. As a Mom I am thankful for girls who freely and generously shower me with these blessings quite frequently.Here are some of the BEST things in my life that are free:
- A hug from a child
- Word of encouragement from a friend
- Smile from a stranger
- A handful of freshly picked dandelions, weeds, or flowers picked from the yard
- Simple act of kindness
- A handwritten note in the mail
- And Many More Special Blessings
I can think of so many more amazing blessings in my life that a free yet have a positive impact on my life as well as on the lives of others. Another thought to consider is……how often do I give these gifts to others? Often times it is when you demonstrate to your children, family and friends these blessing that you’ll see the ripple effect and eventually the other side of it.
What are some ways you are a blessing to others? Does it take much time or cost you too much to make a positive impact on the lives of the people around you?
Giveaway: Book “Speaking Mom-ese” by Lisa Whelchel
I will be doing a giveaway for the month of April! The winner will receive the hardcover book called “Speaking Mom-ese: Moments of Peace & Inspiration in the Mother Tongue” by Lisa Whelchel! As Moms it is difficult finding a moment of “quiet” in our days and I liked how each chapter was short so I could fit it into even a busy day. A friend gave me the book when I was pregnant with the girls and I have read through at least it twice. Lisa shares insights and stories about her children as well as encourages you as a Mom. I think it is important even on the busy days to have even a few moments to relax.
All you have to do to enter this giveaway is sign up to follow my blog (if you haven’t done so already) and leave a comment below by 10 PM EST on April 30th telling us how you follow Blessings Multiplied. You can get a BONUS entry into the drawing if you leave a separate comment below telling us one of your tips for squeezing in a few moments of peace and quiet into your already busy day! We love our family but they have a way of keeping us running all day! On April 30th I will randomly draw a winner from those who have entered the giveaway.
Recipe: Friendship Bread
A friend, Jan Thornton, gave me my first Friendship Bread at my bridal shower and it was delicious. I have always wondered about the starter for that recipe then a couple years ago Jake’s cousin Mandy gave me another starter recipe. Here’s the starter recipes as well as the steps you need to follow to make the Friendship Bread:- 1 (.25 ounce) package Active Dry Yeast
- 1/4 cup warm Water (approximately 110 degrees)
- 1 cup All-Purpose Flour
- 1 cup granulated white Sugar
- 1 cup Milk
Dissolve yeast in water and let stand for 10 minutes. In a non-metal bowl combine flour and sugar. Mix thoroughly. Slowly stir in the milk and dissolved yeast mixture. Cover the bowl loosely and let stand until batter is bubbly. Do not refrigerate batter.
- Consider this Day 1 of the 10 day cycle. Leave loosely covered at room temperature or store in a ziplock bag.
- Day 2 – Squeeze Bag
- Day 3 – Squeeze Bag
- Day 4 – Squeeze Bag
- Day 5 – Squeeze Bag
- Day 6 – Add 1 cup of Sugar, 1 cup of Flour, and 1 cup of Milk and Mix in a Non-Metal Bowl
- Day 7 – Squeeze Bag
- Day 8 – Squeeze Bag
- Day 9 – Squeeze Bag
- Day 10 – Add 1 cup of Sugar, 1 cup of Flour, and 1 cup of Milk and Mix in a Non-Metal Bowl
Scoop out 4 (1 cup) portions for of the starter mixture and put each cup in a separate ziplock bag. Give 3 of the bags to friend and keep one for your family. With the left over starter mixture add the following ingredients:
- 1 cup Oil
- 1/2 cup Milk
- 3 Eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla
Mix together thoroughly then add the remaining ingredients to the mixture:
- 2 cups Flour
- 1 cup Sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 2 teaspoons Cinnamon
- 1 large box of Vanilla Instant Pudding
- Optional Items to Add – 1 cup nuts, Chocolate Chips, Coconut, Raisins and more!
Mix the dough thoroughly then divide into two greased loaf pans. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour.
Once you have made the starter (the 1 cup you kept for your family) you can consider it Day 1 and proceed to Day 2 the next day. One of the problems I encountered the last time I did this recipe is that before long you have more Friendship Bread then you can give away. If you are getting too much and want a break from doing Friendship Bread for a couple weeks you can freeze the starter batch measured out into 1 cups for later use. The frozen starter bread will take at least 3 hours at room temperature to thaw before using. This gives you the ability to always have it to restart but also an opportunity take a break for a little bit too! Just remember to pull it out and start the process since it takes several days if you are planning on using it on a specific day! You’ve hear the saying that “Good things come to those who wait…..” this friendship bread is so delicious it is always worth the wait!
Photo by Binder of Daemons
