Thankful Thursday ~

It's thankful Thursday and I'm linking up with Rebbeca Jo at http://www.knitbygodshand.com/

So much to be thankful for!

~ I received this beautiful verse this morning from someone that loves me, and whom I love!
    So great to be thought of isn't it!
   Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer. Romans 12;12

~ A note from my sister who is praying for my health and for peace in the journey.

~ Though I'm not ready for summer....at all.....I'm thankful for days like this!
   

~ Especially thankful for flowers in bloom, those attempting to do so, my favorite tree filling out.

~ Thankful for sweet memories of my forever friends below, aka book club gal pals!

~ Especially thankful that as of tomorrow, 29 days until this guy is officially retired!!

Thankful for all this and more, it's what echos from my heart today.....

Fresh On Friday ~

Fresh on Friday!

en·cour·age·ment

inˈkərijmənt,enˈkərijmənt/

noun

noun: encouragement; plural noun: encouragements

the action of giving someone support, confidence, or hope.

 

How hard can that be?

 

Occasionally a review of the word is helpful to remind us how simple it is to encourage someone, never knowing for sure just how big it is to the receiver ~

“Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.”

- Harriet Beecher Stowe

Look for opportunities to encourage someone!
A phone call, a written note, a word.......
It's what echos from my heart today.....

Thankful Thursday ~

Thankful Thursday means linking up with Rebecca Jo over at http://www.knitbygodshand.com/
A day I've committed to taking part in, a day to purpose to be thankful!


Today first and foremost I am thankful that I'm at last, feeling better. Health is not something to take for granted!

Thankful for Spring still!! (not so secretly hoping for rain...)

Most thankful that my hubstir  has made the decision to retire (again), May 29th is the day we are looking forward to! He has been on the job with Verizon nearly 49 years, its time!

If I mentioned it before, I will mention it again, I'm so thankful for my Son Mike, wife Katie, and of course Khloe and Ellery, as they are fast approaching the official move in date of their first home! Who doesn't remember the excitement of that first home? The freedom to do as you wish with it, because it's yours!! Which also means you become responsible for repair costs....but well worth the trade off. I can't wait!!

Thankful for each of you!

 What are you thankful for today? Thankfulness, It's what echos from my heart today.

Thankful Thursday ~ The Eyes Have it!

    Linking up with Rebecca Jo at http://www.knitbygodshand.com

THE EYES HAVE IT!

Been sick with a sinus infection/sore throat/earache/cold/cough since returning from San Luis Obispo :-(

It seems since November I'm sick at least two- three weeks and good for two....with my bad lungs everything is super sized. The lack of energy and hacking cough take it's toll to say the least. Keeping a thankful spirit, well, I have moments of not feeling so thankful but that's when I'm looking inward.  The focus on me rather than outward...with eyes, given as a gift to see all there is to be thankful for.

For me a spirit of gloom always appears when looking inward, "self" as my focus. It's when eyes open outward  that I am bombarded with that which fills me with a spirit of thankfulness. It really can't be helped, I become filled with thankfulness to overflowing. It's when the heart feels its best!

Sometimes it's a matter of really opening our eyes to who and what surrounds us.....changing the focus to that. It's in the midst of whats stealing our joy, that we can experience our fullest hearts.

~

"The world has enough beautiful mountains and meadows, spectacular skies and serene lakes. It has enough lush forests, flowered fields, and sandy beaches. It has plenty of stars and the promise of a new sunrise and sunset every day. What the world needs more of is people to appreciate and enjoy it." Michael Josephson

Thankful for thankful Thursday...It's been a useful teaching tool to realize if we stop and think about "what am I thankful for?" that we see just how much there is.

Proverbs 20:12 Ears that hear and eyes that see - the LORD has made them both.

The lesson for me, thankfulness is found in eyes that see.
Its what echos from my heart today.

Fresh on Friday Encoragement ~

 Been a busy week but not to busy to remind you all to be encouraged!

Never Give up!

Ecouraging others is what echos from my heart today.

Reach out and encourage at least one person today!

It may just be the person who needed to hear it  :-)

Thankful Thursday ~ Core Four

Linking up with Rebecca Jo at http://www.knitbygodshand.com

The Core Four (two sisters and two cousins) just finished our annual Core Four Cousins trip.  Sister Deanna and I picked up our cousins Dona Dee and Shelly at the Los Angeles airport. The excitement of being together was evident. We decided, first things first, we were in search of the perfect Margarita (tends to be a theme) so we headed to Hermosa Beach.

 ~

 This year was a train ride to San Luis Obispo for four days, so Saturday morning we were headed to Union Station where we boarded our train and headed North.

We lunched in the dining car with a great view of the beautiful Pacific.

At last we reached our destination!

~
Arrived at our beautiful hotel ~

We checked into our rooms, unpacked and searched for a special spot to chit chat,
and the photo taking did not stop for several days.

Looking upward..... this was my view.

We each choose a day to share a devotional with the others, it was a special time. The four of us, along with our siblings grew up together and we know the many blessing of those days past.

 They were not lost on us to be sure.

Our commonality is that each of our Mom's were sisters. In fact Shelly's Mom was my Mom's twin sister, and the only remaining of eleven Herndon children.

~

We walked every day, did some shopping, and ate some great food.....

Shenanigans

 
And the search for the perfect Margarita continued.......

 For the record, this was just for grins, we did pour this into our own glasses.
(Which is not to say I wouldn't of done so)

  

Our last day and last toast with water :-) ....we were successful in our search.

Then is was all aboard as we returned South, tired and full of memories to carry us through until next year.

 ~

 Back where we started, beautiful Union Station

I am ever thankful that I was placed into the awesome extended family that I was. 

We are much more than cousins. 

We are friends, sisters, and confidants, who lift each other up when the need arises.

This Thankful Thursday I am especially thankful for each one.

We never part without knowing exactly what we mean to one another.

~

Full of thankfulness today.....

Be thankful, it's what echos from my heart today!