Thankful Thursday~Vacation Edition

In spite of a few unmet expectations on our vacation, we were never lacking for praise to the LORD. How great He is, and yet, He blesses us so generously in the details of life.

I'm thankful for the many gifts God showered on us during our week away:

1) His provision to even be able to take a trip like this.
2) Our van driving wonderfully and not needing repairs.
3) The wonder of our children as they experience things for the first time. I wish you could have heard Cap'n saying "river" over and over. :)
4) Cameras that took such great pictures.
5) Horseback riding, rafting, fly-fishing

6) Smores made late at night over the fire
7) Laughter
8) I didn't go into labor!!! What a mercy this was!!
9) Forgiveness
10) Enough...enough money, enough gas, enough food, enough fun...God always gives the perfect amount, even when we don't think so.
11) No mouse invasion of our home while we were gone! How wonderful not to see their droppings in the linen closet or their teeth marks on potato chip bags.
12) Our children's delight in the simplest of things.
13) Family worship

14) Insight into our children hearts. What and who do they love? What and who do they worship?
15) My Beloved's efforts in everything.
16) Discovering Blue Belle ice cream. It's my new craving...vanilla and dutch chocolate in a waffle cone! Yum!
17) Ink getting better just as we left for the trip. Antibiotics that worked perfectly!
18) Cap'n not having any side effects from the Borax/baking soda he ingested just days before we were leaving.
19) No car accidents or river accidents!
20) Seeing deer up close for the first time, right in the backyard of our vacation rental.

 (Don't let the expression fool you. Luke loved his first experiences with fly-fishing. Guess what most of the books he's reading are about? :) And Daddy is just a bit thrilled to have a fly-fishing partner in the making.)

21) The washer and dryer and dishwasher that worked so well! I was washing at least two loads a day each of dishes and clothing. What a blessing these working appliances were.
22) The good health to serve my family and learn in each moment to die to self. The purging of "It's not all about me" from my veins. (This purging will go on until the day I die. I'm full of my Self.)
23) Several of us not getting sick until close to the end of the trip!
24) Hearing our children say it was good to be home, even though they had such a wonderful time away.
25) God's patience with me. How undone I would be if He gave me everything I deserve.

"To show forth all God's praise is to enter largely into the work. An occasional "God, I thank Thee," is no fit return for a perpetual stream of rich benefits."
~William S. Plumer

With love,
Trisha