July Blessings ~ Counting It All Joy! (Week Three)

COUNTING IT ALL JOY!

The birth of a nation

A celebration 

Of epic portions

Celebrating the red white and blue

A salute to those who gave their all

Families and friends gather

Displays of fireworks 

That light the evening sky

Happy Birthday 

America

You are 215 year young

God bless us

Each and everyone

~Beth~

God Bless America

God bless America, land that I love

Stand beside her and guide her

Through the night with the light from above

From the mountains to the prairies

To the oceans white with foam

God bless America, my home sweet home

God bless America, land that I love

Stand beside her and guide her

Through the night with the light from above

From the mountains to the prairies

To the oceans white with foam

God…

Kate Smith

July 15~ Good morning! Oh how I just want to sleep. But it's time to get up. Last morning at sister's before heading back home. It was a great weekend with them like it always is. Love spending time with my sisters. Thank you for always including me in the fun. Time for that coffee and to get myself pulled together to get on the road. Life is good and I know there are many blessings today. I woke up and I'm breathing is a good start. Means I'm alive. Look how many thankfuls I already have and I haven't even started my day. 

1. The coolness of my sister's finished basement where I slept last night. Comfortable. 

2. The beautiful morning sunshine. 

3. Some bacon for breakfast. 

4. Sitting on the back patio having coffee and visiting with Rosie and Jen this morning before leaving for home. 

5. A good hair day. 

6. A beautiful drive down the Gorge heading home.In a air conditioned car. Thank you Lord! 

7. A nice lunch with great service thank you. 

8. A walk up to the Stagecoach parking lot and back for a bit of exercise. It was a bit warm but enjoyed the walk. 

9. A drive to Dairy Queen to get a banana split for national ice cream day. Very yummy! 

10. Great friendship being made and built with a really awesome person. I'm really enjoying getting to know them. 

Thank you Lord for another day filled with treasures of blessings and opportunities to share your amazing world with others. Blessings

July 16~ Good morning! Monday and new week that will be filled with many blessings to be thankful for. 

1. Laying underneath the fan blowing across my body while I rested an extra hour this morning. 

2. Good morning messages that brought smiles to my face. 

3. Thankful for my landline and being able to make the phone calls needed to see about getting help for air. Though there was none available I was thankful that there were numbers to call; and each person on the other end was very kind and helpful to the best of their ability. 

4. Getting my perm exchanged. Both stores and clerks were helpful today at Sally's beauty supply. 

5. Seeing Judi today and exchanging my wallet. Thank you. Enjoyed our chat. Have a great time on your conference and trip.

 6. Walking Troutdale outlet malls today to get my walk in even. Though it was hot it was very enjoyable; I ate ice cream while I walked. 

7. Catching up with Kellie Suetta Amaru. I can hardly wait for your upcoming visit. 

8. My air conditioner in my car. Drove around in it today to stay cool. Good thing I had lots of errands to do. So wasn't just driving. But didn't mind the traffic. Which usually I do. LOL 

9. Dental floss and other mouth hygiene items that care for your teeth and mouth. 

10. Door locks 

Thank you Lord for another day to celebrate the gifts and blessings of everyday living. Each one to be thankful for spoken and unspoken. Each day holds billions of big and small gifts to be thankful for. Just waking up is a gift. Thank you! Blessings

July 17~ Good morning! Another hot muggy night......little if any sleep. Cooler outside than inside my home. But so very thankful for my residence. And of course my ceiling fans and other little fans that blow over the top of me, giving me some relief and comfort. So time to get myself put together to get errands done. Feet haven't hit the ground and I already have plenty to be thankful for. 

1. A good morning message that was thought provoking. 

2. Happy for blotting towels between the heat and tears it was most needed to apply makeup today. 

3. An ice coffee from Country Coffee in Fairview. The surprise was they gave me a 24oz for a med. Thank you! The other surprise was I thought it was going to be a hot coffee and it was an iced one. Which was nice. 

4. Meeting up with Randi Hilary at the nail salon. WOW! Another surprise blessing. I got my nails done. Thank you! My hands loved it! And they look so pretty. Forgot how nice it feels to get a manicure. 

5. Hello Melissa Simmons! Thank you for meeting with me and for lunch. What a nice treat. Loved catching up with you as well. 

6. Loving the air conditioning in my car. 

7. Hello from Canada! You bright smiles my friend. Thank you! 

8. Tires and battery on car had there checkup this afternoon. All is well.

 9. A walk around the Gresham stores where Firestone is located. Getting my walks in even with the heat. 

10. Phone call from mom. She was checking on me. I love her so much and am so blessed to have her. Love hearing I love you from my mom. Priceless! 

11. Feeling very special today. 

Thank you Lord for another great day of Summer smiles and treasured moments made into memories. The gift of today.....I am thankful! Blessings

July 18 ~ Good morning! Ugh! Seems I just fall asleep. Now it's time to rise and shine for some smiles of beauty. Oh we have a cooler day ahead. Yeah! Sadly it's cooler outside then in my house by almost 30 degrees. Crazy! Thinking my fans just aren't cutting the heat. But thankful each and everyone of them. I can't imagine how horrible it would be without them. So much to be thankful for as my early morning day starts. 

1. Cool comfortably clothing. 

2. Water 

3. A friend with an early-morning ear thank you Crystal N Koch. Thank you for the love, support, encouragement, words of wisdom, and prayers. 

4. The beautiful morning drive along the country roads and river to Oregon City. 

5. Della's perm turned out beautiful. 

6. GPS that takes you on quite the detour; going to the bank. What a much different route than in past travels. It was an adventure for sure. 

7. Referral from Pat Holzbach for a hair client. Thank you! And thank you for checking in with me about my family. Blessings 

8. A wonderful couple of calls checking on me. Thank you for loving me and caring. 

9. Setting up new appointment and getting product. 

10. Most definitely my air conditioner in my car today again. Very blessed to have that air conditioning. 

11. An afternoon catnap 

12. Talking to mom 

13. Feet propped up. 

Yet another day overflowing with blessings to be thankful for. Thank you Lord for knowing just what I need and for all the additional blessing as well spoken and unspoken. Blessings

July 19~ Good morning! Finally a little cooler. I actually got a little sleep thank you Lord. Slept in a bit and caught up on some sleep. So thankful for the extra rest and shut eye. So nice to have so many thankfuls before I even get out of bed. I know my day will be chalked full of many blessings. 

1. Coffee 

2. A wonderful morning chat. Seemed to be a great way to start the day. 

3. Getting out in the front and working on some of the rock and yard. So much more to do but looks so much better. 

4. For garden gloves, garden rake, and garden clippers, and an almost full green garbage can. 

5. Two nice hot showers today. I know that is a blessing. Funny thing about it.....took one in bathroom and then the other in the other one. Too funny! 

6. Having two bathrooms 

7. Going and getting a portable air conditioner. Super blessed! Saved $70 on a nice room model. I think this will work. 

8. Picked up fresh fruit and veggies today on sale. Yum! 

9. Meeting up with Cindy Forsythe Rieder and Mary Ann Forsythe Wimberly for happy hour. Thank you for invite so enjoyed it. 

10. Going with Cindy to watch Katelyn play sand volleyball this evening. That was fun. And they WON! Thank you for inviting me. What a wonderful evening of fun with great friends. 

11. A much cooler house. 

12. Learning new things about my computer. Never a dull moment. 

13. A walk to mailbox and back. 

Yes Lord you have filled another day with your many rich blessings. Thank you for giving me another day to dance the beautiful dance of life with. Those you have graced me with daily. Blessings

July 20~ Good morning! Grrrr.....no sleep again! Guess there will be plenty of time to sleep in the Winter months. Phone is ringing.....I'm sure the first of many blessings today. 

1. My beautiful daughter Webber Heather called me this morning. So wonderful to hear her voice. She called to ask for specific special prayers. I love standing in agreement with her. But loved hearing her voice and I love you mom. 

2. Another ringing phone. My dad's wife Joanne Good. Loved hearing from her and hearing what's going on with her and dad. Love you both. 

3. Talking and praying with Crystal N Koch this morning before my day got rolling. 

4 God is so faithful to bring such loving and up lifting calls to start my day. 

5. A morning laugh on me. A drive to Clackamas for a perm.......a week earlier than I should be there. I think we will call it my dry run. 

6. Stuffed mushrooms for lunch and dinner. Got them on sell yesterday at Freddy's. 

7. Watermelon 

8. A walk around the community. 

9. Working out in the front area doing another hour and half of gardening. Little five little making improvements out front. 

10. Afternoon naps. 

Thank you Lord for all my many blessings small and big, the everyday and the unexpected; but best of all the ability to laugh at one's self. Blessings

July 21~ Good morning! Yahoo! I actually got a decent night's sleep. Funny...I even had to use a blanket last night. I would say that is an oxymoron. But so is life in the grand scheme of things. What a beautiful dance it is! Today is filled with lots of amazing gifts. So I need to get up and get this day started. 

1. A nice big pot of coffee to start the day. 

2. Thank you David for coming over and putting the portable air conditioner in the window for me. I know it's not rocket science but I sure do appreciate that you did it for me. 

3. Seeing Cathi Forsythe, Cindy Forsythe Rieder, and meeting the other ladies; helping with the wedding decorations. What a great time with great people. 

4. Formosa's 

5. The beautiful sunshine 

6. Mom's phone call to just check in on me. Got to love that. I love you mom! 

7. So many wonderful phone calls today and chats. Feeling really blessed. Thank you everyone for the calls, messages, and texts. WOW I am feeling the love. 

8. Going to the all class reunion at Montavilla park today; for Vestal Elementary and Junior high. 

9. Seeing Mr. Roy one of the best loved coaches and teacher. Though he did remember me.....after today I'm sure he will never forget me. I spilled his pop all over. We chuckled and cleaned it up. 

10. Seeing that big beautiful black lab Marshall today. Had fun throwing the ball for him. What a sweet heart of a boy he is. 

11. Seeing old friends and meeting lots of new people today. 

Thank you Lord for waking me up to enjoy this incredible full amazing day; stocked full of treasured friends and memories. Life is a journey with beautiful dance steps if we just stop and take a breathe and take it all in. This day will not come again. Live fully and in the moments because those are the gifts and treasures. Thank you Lord for so many today. Glad I stopped and said yes to life and living it fully. Blessings

July Blessings ~ Counting It All Joy! (Week Two)

COUNTING IT ALL JOY!

The birth of a nation

A celebration 

Of epic portions

Celebrating the red white and blue

A salute to those who gave their all

Families and friends gather

Displays of fireworks 

That light the evening sky

Happy Birthday 

America

You are 215 year young

God bless us

Each and everyone

~Beth~

God Bless America

God bless America, land that I love

Stand beside her and guide her

Through the night with the light from above

From the mountains to the prairies

To the oceans white with foam

God bless America, my home sweet home

God bless America, land that I love

Stand beside her and guide her

Through the night with the light from above

From the mountains to the prairies

To the oceans white with foam

God…

Kate Smith

July 8~ Good morning Sunday sunshine! Left the front door open all night and the sun is just popping my home with Summer warmth and sunshine to start my day. And yes that would be around 6 a.m. So up with the early birds chirping their good morning song. Another day of wonderful thankfuls before my feet ever hit the ground. Thank you Jesus! I know there are many more thankfuls waiting to be told about. 

1. Morning coffee 

2. Good morning snap and good morning messenger to start my day on track. Which definitely brings smiles of happiness in my day. 

3. Long hot showers and fluffy towels. 

4. Magic with the makeup as well as the blowdryer and curling iron. They work wonders. 

5. Laundry washed dried, folded and put away. 

6. Getting my yard mowed and some weeding done. Still so much more to do. Looks so much nicer. 

7. Fresh water to hydrate. 

8. A walk up the neighborhood. Under sad circumstances I meet some of my neighbors in the first and second cul-de-sac. Nice to meet them, wish it wasn't because of a standoff. Lord be with her family. 

9. For friends that understand and just listen and get it. 

10. For our call enforcement, EMTs and firefighters. And all that serve our communities. 

11. Knowing that God holds me in the palm of His hand. 

12. Prayers 

13. That the little boys have been found that were lost in my neighborhood the other day. 

14. My mom and hearing her say I love you. 

15. Flip flops 

Thank you Lord for another day filled with lots of love, understanding, prayers and so much more. Even when things don't look good and bad things happen there is always something to be grateful for. Thank you for blessing me each and every day in this crazy world where life is taking place; and if I just stop and look around and feel my heartbeat.....I will feel and see so much to be thankful for. Blessings

July 9~ Good morning! Hello Monday and new week! Marine layer overcast muggy day. Great for those that love the cooler weather. I'm looking for the fireball in the sky as I prefer that yellow fireball warming me and brightening my day. Though I know blessings are lurking around everywhere waiting to be found and those daily ones we take for granted to be thanked for. 

1. A cool morning to sleep just a little longer. 

2. Fresh air 

3. My morning coffee 

4. A good morning from messenger and one from snap too. Making me smile. 

5. Body lotion 

6. Money that paid for gas. So very thankful. 

7. Money to purchase my groceries. 

8. New sheets for my bed. 

9. Help with my cases of water today Costco. Thank you! 

10. My fresh cut daisies from my garden. Looks so nice on my dining table. 

11. The stories of the survivors of the Holocaust. Thank you for the living history in that they share their stories so that it may never repeat again. God bless each and everyone of them. 

12. Thank you David for taking out my green can to curb today. 

13. Getting great information from my phone companies both AT&T and Frontier. 

Thank you Lord for another day of life to celebrate the gifts of life given daily. Blessings

July 10~ Good morning! Think I will rollover and go back to sleep for an hour. Much cooler to sleep in the morning. Love having this choice to do this. What a wonderful gift to have that option to do so. First wonderful thankful of the day. 

1. Having options and choices 

2. Two big pots of morning coffee. 

3. Banana and yogurt 

4. A lovely good morning message from messenger. Thank you! 

5. Getting my Mary Kay delivered today. 

6. My vacuum repaired for 12 dollars. Who knew a belt could be bad even when it wasn't broken. Thank you repairman. 

7. Meeting up with Mary McCormick Loomis for a late lunch early dinner. So good to see you and catch up. 

8. Talking with Crystal N Koch and praying with her. Always an encouragement. Love you and miss you. You are a treasure. 

9. Getting my motion porch light put in. Thank you David. So needed! 

10. Having great friends 

11. Ears to hear 

12. Arms to give hugs 

13. A heart to love 

14. A journey filled with my life story and memories to share. 

15. Prayers and answered prayers. 

Thank you Lord for another day to see and celebrate the beauty of each new day I'm blessed with. All the ordinary everyday living life fully and completely as if it was the last. Thank you! Blessings

July 11~ Good morning! It is a sleepless night early morning rise to a wonderful good morning message from messenger. It is smiles of beauty today. Sure love that I still have my fingers working in the profession I have so enjoyed for near 40 years. Already so much to be thankful for on this Wednesday morning. 

1. My morning coffee 

2. The doors open letting the cool morning fresh air and light in. 

3. The beautiful river road drive that I never tire of. It is a timeless beauty year round. 

4. That Dolores perm turned out beautiful. 

5. A sunshine country drive to Wilsonville. Love all these countless country roads I can drive on.

 6. A yummy lettuce wrapped Ortega burger today for lunch. 

7. Lots of water to drink to keep hydrated. 

8. Walking around Troutdale and the Troutdale outlet stores today in the beautiful sunshine. 

9. Finding ice cream after 3 tries today. Two of my favorite stores were out of business that sold ice cream I was so sad. But went to the Troutdale Mercantile and found me some yummy licorice ice cream. And yes I had a black tongue. Sat outside on the patio and ate my ice cream, it was lovely. 

10. A drive-thru Redland, Viola today on the Redland Road over to Springwater Road, what a beautiful drive on more country roads. 

Been a day chalked full of treasured country roads with the warm sun beating through the windshield and windows. Thank you Lord for giving me another day; one filled with the work of my hands, and lots of countless country roads with beautiful views. Blessings

July 12~ Hot muggy morning. Good morning! Hot July Summer days ahead. Looks like Summer has finally arrived. Ways to stay cool will be on our agenda on this day. 

1. Fans 

2. Water 

3. Sundress 

4. Doors open for cross breezes 

5. The gentleman on the other end of the phone to help me with my AT&T bill. 

6. The nice young woman who helped me with one of my business accounts this afternoon. 

7. My phones and the lines that keep them running. 

8. Talking to Jim Gentry this morning. Great catching up with my friend. 

9. Good health debates with my friends. Though we may view things differently. 

10. Finding great photos of my daughter Webber Heather and her family on Facebook. Miss them so very much. 

11. A walk to mailbox 

12. Finding my water packs for my phones protection when near the water. 

13. Door locks 

14. Feeling loved and cared about. 

Thank you Lord for this Summer day and all the many gifts and blessings you've given me to fill this day. Thank you for meeting all of my many needs that are mentioned and those that aren't. Blessings

July 13~ Long sleepless night. So muggy.....no rest for Beth. But body rested. Good morning! It's Friday the 13th. I'm going with it's going to be a great day with many blessings. 

1. A light sheet covering me with fans blowing to cool my body. 

2. A cool relaxing shower to take the sticky icky away and wake me up. 

3. Morning coffee 

4. Doors and windows opened to the morning breezes and fresh air. 

5. An afternoon phone call that brings a smile. Hope your internet gets fixed. 

6. Luggage packed 

7. A beautiful drive down the Gorge to my sister's house for the weekend. 

8. Finding a great pair of jeans for 14. dollars. Best part 13-14. Guess I am losing at least inches anyways. 

9. Watching TV with my sister Rosie. Very relaxing! 

10. Yummy dinner with family. Thank you Chris for cooking. 

11. Fresh ice cold water to stay hydrated. 

12. Playing with the four legged fur babies here at sister's. 

13. The beautiful flower blooms. 

14. The view of the Klickitat mountains and Mt. Adams from my sister's porch. 

15. The air conditioning at my sister's. 

16. Body lotion 

17. White cheddar popcorn. 

Thank you Lord for this day filled with the dance of life. Another day to see the world in new eyes of wonder; a gift from you. Thank you for meeting all of my many needs above and beyond. Always exciting to see what awaits me each and everyday. Blessings

July 14~ Good morning! Waking at sister's for a fun filled Saturday. Always a good time and fun for all. Excited for the day to start. The day's plans are stocked full of fun with family and friends. So many gifts to be thankful for as this day gets rolling. 

1. Coffee and breakfast with family. Thank you Chris for the egg scramble. 

2. A hair tie to pull my hair up. Haven't wore a ponytail in a longtime. It was nice to have it pulled up and back off my face. 

3. The drive to Maupin through the high desert and canyons. 

4. Lunch at the Imperial on the Deschutes River sitting outside, just gorgeous. 

5. Time to head up to Forward Paddle, to enjoy a rafting adventure down the Deschutes River today. 

6. Seeing deer and lots of wildlife along the Deschutes river. From the birds of prey to beavers. 

7. Riding the bull into the rapids. What a blast! 

8. The views of Mt. Hood going to Maupin and coming home today. 

9. Watching the barrel races this evening. 

10. Meeting new people and making new friends. 

11. A nice big bowl of ice cream. 

12. A nice hot shower to take the days river grim and the dirt off of barrel racing off. 

Thank you Lord for this Summer day filled with all the adventures that childhood dreams are made of. Being with family and great friends with laughter and fun and memories made. Blessings