Hearts in Service Blog

Beauty Confucius ~ "Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it" Beauty is all around us, yet as this quote says, we so often we miss it. It requires us to stop, focus and be still for a time. We can miss it if we don't take the time to see it in the unexpected. It can be found in the mundane things we take for granted. This week I saw beauty in so many places. They are part of the blessings of this week. Blessings #166-180 ♥ A beautiful view out my living room window. ♥ A phone call from the school asking for my help to encourage a homeschooling family. This was a beautiful affirmation of an educational choice I made for so many years. ♥ Candles glowing at night. ♥ Cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg mixed together in a heavenly smell in applesauce cookies. ♥ The sweet smell of clean clothes. ♥ A sun that rises each day. ♥ Beautiful smiles of children. ♥ A lively discussion with our small group about how we live a beauti...

Thank you to everyone who participated in the blog drawing. I put all the names in a basket and Emily drew the winner. Congratulations to.... Nadine I'll be sending you an email to get your address.

I happened to look this morning as I was typing up my post and realized that this morning's, "Wednesday Words of Encouragement" was my 1,000th post. I have been blogging for exactly 3 years. It started out as a way to keep in touch with family and let them see the daily happenings of our children. We live so far away from all of our family and only see them once or twice a year. However, over the years I've gotten to know so many different women through this blog. Some of you I've never met face to face and yet I feel like I know you because we've had almost daily conversations for three years. Others I know through church and work. Some live close to home and others live across the ocean and in other countries. It's been such a wonderful experience for me getting to know you! The main purpose of my blog is to try and be an encouragement to others. So what better way to continue to offer encouragement than to host a blog give-away. All you have to...

There are so many little things that I miss every day. Little ways that the Lord blesses me. Little details that could go unnoticed except for this weekly exercise. I've been working hard to keep my eyes and mind open so I don't miss them. When I catch a glimpse of them, I realize how blessed I really am. This week, I'm thankful for Blessings #151-165 ♥ A doctor who came through in a pinch. ♥ A winter sun peeking through the clouds. ♥ Being able to listen to and pray with a friend going through a crisis. ♥ Friends who take some of our load off by helping out. ♥ A daughter discovering a new hobby. ♥ A new furnace and boiler that gives us hot water. ♥ A warm home. ♥ A son who has found his purpose and enjoys living each day. ♥ Completing tasks that have been hanging over my head. ♥ Unexpected gifts from an anonymous person. ♥ Children who enjoy creating. ♥ A full refrigerator. ♥ Sharing a meal and fellowship with friends. ♥ A daughter who is well again. And finally, ♥ Ren...

I am very proud of Emily! This child has never taken a picture in her life. Nathan got a camera for Christmas and gave Emily his old one. It's a little point and shoot that is falling apart and it's not in the best shape. Yesterday, she sat by the window and watched the birds on the bird feeder. Now, keep in mind that the tree and feeder are about 20 feet from the house. And she took the pictures through two, count them.... 2 panes of glass!! I can't take a decent picture of a bird to save my life. Look how good she did on her first try! This girl is a photographer in the making!

Snow and more snow. That is the forecast. We had a snowstorm on Monday night into Tuesday and now have another one predicted for tomorrow. On top of that, Emily has been under the weather since Monday night. Fever, sore throat, and a nasty cough. I actually thought she was doing better yesterday afternoon, but by bedtime she had a 101 degree temperature again. It looks like today will be chicken soup, hot tea and snuggling under the covers for her.

Winter is always a difficult time for me. Once the holidays are over, I find that January and February seem to stretch unending before me. It's hard not to feel down and yet, I feel glad that I can recognize that it's because of the weather and not anything else. So looking at the blessings in my life helps to get through these long, dreary days. This week I'm thankful for... Blessings #134-150 ♥ Having time to create. ♥ Fun in the snow. ♥ Snuggling and praying with my daughter before bedtime. ♥ Helping a co-worker get through her classroom evaluation. ♥ A landlord who works hard to make sure things are in working order around here. ♥ A son with a great sense of humor. ♥ Friends who took time to listen and pray with me. ♥ Watching curious birds. ♥ Dinner out with another couple. ♥ Finding simple things around the house to decorate. ♥ Steaming bowls of chowder. ♥ God, who speaks truth into my life. ♥ A lively discussion with our small group. ♥ A winter sun that lifts my s...