Weeks of blessings!

Since returning to the States, I have had a problem getting into any kind of 'normal' routine.  I was in Colorado for the first two weeks getting over jet-lag and just going through some reverse culture shock.  This place is really different from Kenya! :).

Last week I was in Indianapolis for a CMF furlough retreat and then I flew back out to Colorado to be in Colorado Springs.  I am the missionary for Academy Christian Church's VBS (vacation Bible school).  The travel means that I am a bit behind in getting a blog post done.  I am again doing two weeks of counting my blessings in one.  I hope you enjoy my counting of a few of the daily gifts that God gives to me.  Why don't you join me in counting the gifts.  I'd love to see your list if you do!

638.  Meeting new people (real characters!) at Mom's work.

639. Going to a bookstore.  I restrained myself and only got 3 books!

640. Seeing chipmunks scampering into the rocks.

641. Enjoying time with my Mom as I helped her haul her uniforms around to be sold.

642. Meeting the Plymales for dinner.  It was so good to catch up with them!

643. Velvet antlers on the deer we saw this morning as we left our driveway.

644. Mountains and trees and the beauty around me!

645. Pizza!  My first since being 'home.'

646. iPhone - I took the plunge. :)

647. Sitting outside on the deck enjoying the morning.

648. Packing done for my 3 1/2 week trip.

649. Tasty grilled salmon - yum!

650. Arriving in Indianapolis and seeing my brother!

651. Hugging my niece, Indera!

652. A breaded tenderloin sandwich - "back home again in Indiana!"

653. A great time praising the Lord with friends at MPCC.

654. Watching lunch sliced, diced and cooked at the table in a Japanese restaurant.

655.  A wonderful time catching up with a good friend!

gifts hanging down

656. A squirrel spotted in a tree looking down on me.

657. Leaves hanging down on the trees because there has been very little rain.

658. A vine seen hanging down while I was on my walk.

gifts learned

659. We learned about spiritual warfare today from Roy and each other.

660. Getting to see and learn from several CMF families at the retreat.

661. A chance to share about Kenya.

662. A trip to the spa!

Thanks, Betty, for making it happen!

663. A moisturized face and pretty toes. :)

664. Singing praises together with fellow missionaries.

665. A fun picnic with folks from the CMF office.

666. A nice discount for gas at Costco.

667. Getting some rain and an amazing display of lightening.

668. Saying goodbye to a fun group of friends.

669. Getting to see some old Milligan friends and meet some new ones.

670. Ladonna's strawberry shortcake.  Yum!

gifts of story

671. Reading a mystery on the plane from Indianapolis to Denver.

672. Working on my VBS stories for next week.

673. My stone reminder in my car.  God has faithfully brought me this far and He will go with me wherever I may roam!

674. A wonderful church family at ACC in Colorado Springs!

675. Donuts before Sunday school class - cinnamon roll covered with maple glaze.  Lip smacking good!

676. Seeing so many friends!

677. A wonderful first day of VBS.

678. Visiting beautiful Glen Eryie.

679. Seeing God's creativity at the Garden of the gods.

kissing camels - but one camel is missing its hump

Well that is my list for the last couple of weeks.  I will try to give a schedule of my next couple of months in my next post.  If I am in your area, I'd love to see you.  Drop me an e-mail and I will try to work it out to see you.  Have a great week!

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The Lord has been good to me!

Last week I had just gotten back to the States from Kenya via Switzerland.  I was trying to let my body catch up with this time zone.  So, I only posted from June 19-25.  So, this week I need to give you my list of gifts from the Lord for two weeks.  The first week I was primarily still in Switzerland where the internet did not cooperate with posting pictures and the second week was my week of jet-lag.

This listing of gifts is a wonderful way to increase my awareness of the goodness of the Lord all around me every day.  I hope that in my listing of a few of my gifts, that you are encouraged to look around you and see how the Lord has blessed your life every day too!  Enjoy my counting of the gifts and the pictures.

591. Rain yesterday and today - it is what makes this place so green!

592. Sleeping with the sound of rain and a "rain river" running outside my window.

593. Time to explore a bit of Interlaken town today on my own.

594. A nice compliment to savor.

595. A Scottish Ceildh dance right here in Switzerland - a fun time of folk dancing.

596. A time to consider the wonder of His grace.

597. A nice walk in the woods.

598. Exploring a church and enjoying a snack of food and the Word.

599. Pondering God's goodness and grace to this sinner!

gifts small, big and just right

600. The kids performed for us this evening.  Small bodies, but big hearts.

601. Big - Celebrating the Lord's Supper together with this community of missionaries before we all depart to our separate homes/ ministry locations.

602. Just right - This time for retreat to just breathe in God's goodness.

603. A wonderful afternoon out seeing a palace and a multi-leveled waterfall.  Such wonderful creations give to us to enjoy by our amazing God.

604. I managed the train and getting to the airport.  I even had time to get some chocolate gifts.

605. Beautiful countryside seen through train windows.

606. Safe flights and finally home!

607. Prime rib steak and salad at Texas Roadhouse - Yum!

Gifts loved

608. Happy birthday, Mom!

609. Time worshipping the Lord with the GMCC church family.

610. Singing patriotic songs and being thankful for this land that I love. 

611. Waking up way too early and being reminded that this land isn't my body's home just yet.

612. Visiting Costco.  This is the land of plenty!

613. Seeing deer in our front yard.

gifts in faith, family and freedom

614. Trusting for the future because of the truth in Ps. 116:7

615. Time with my parents and the Taylors who came for dinner today.

616. So many choices here - a sign of our freedom.

gifts in red, white and blue

617. Cherry juice found on the way to Estes Park today.

618. Hard cherry candies packed in a white sack.

619. My blue flowery flag shirt.

620. Little Daisy Mae - a TN short legged beagle belonging to the Taylors.  Daisy Mae got so much attention today in Estes Park that she fell asleep on the way home.

621. Starbucks PTL (passion tea lemonade) - A yummy drink and a reminder to praise the Lord all in one.

622. Steak-N-Shake - my first for this furlough and it is in Denver now!

623. Curly hair!  :)

gifts of enthusiasm

624. Going to the men's prayer breakfast and hearing their enthusiasm for prayer and missions.

625. Me enthusiastic about picking up my car.  Not so enthusiastic about the price of getting it ready for furlough.

626. The eye doctor was very enthusiastic about explaining all about the eye as I got a check up.

627. New wheels so my car doesn't shake, new tires, wind shield wipers, air filter and an oil change.

628. Seeing a whole herd of elk on the way home from picking up my car.

629. Getting to see the Nagle family and say goodbye to David as he gets ready for a deployment.

630. Seeing lots of friends I haven't seen in a while at David's going away open house.

631. A gully washer rain and hail as evidenced by our driveway being in the road.

632. My first church reporting interview today for this furlough and it went well.

633. A fun lunch with about 25 of the GMCC church family today.

634. A Sunday afternoon nap!

635. Chicken biscuit on the way to an appointment this morning.

636. New glasses.

637. A nice high altitude walk this afternoon at my 8500 ft. home.  The air was thin, but the flowers were pretty.

The Lord has been so very good to me and I am happy to celebrate his many gifts!