Sixty Reasons to be Thankful

My sixtieth birthday will arrive any minute!  For the past several days I've been compiling a list of things for which I'm thankful and decided to hsare them here.   What I've chosen won't mean a lot to many of you but I invite all of you to do your own list of gratitude.    Please notice that I simply had to include some of the most challenging times in my life.  It was in those times that I really sensed and felt the presence of God, of other's praying, of inner strength.  For those things and for each of you as well as everything else, I humbly give thanks!

SIXTY REASONS FOR THANKFULLNES

Beginning at childhood - - -

 

  1. A mom who read to us
  2. A dad who prayed with us
  3. Parents who loved each other and us spoke it and showed it
  4. A brother and sister who were fun, funny, and sometimes annoying
  5. Recovery from rheumatic fever
  6. A wonderful grandma living next door
  7. Uncle Hal who was funny and smart
  8. Elaine Day – my first Sunday School teacher
  9. Pastor Philip Rentz who taught confirmation but mostly about God’s love and grace
  10. The talented fingers of my mom who whipped up outfits for every occasion
  11. Large and loving extended family
  12. Trips to Aunt Joan’s in Lakewood
  13. Camping trips?
  14. Mom as a Brownie and then Girl Scout leader
  15. Ruth McCaudy who taught Sunday School and was my “idol”
  16. Ron Rhodes and my dad who led Luther League
  17. Barnhills
  18. Best friends Lauren Schuerman and Pat Ludwig
  19. Jim Dixon – my first “love”
  20. Learning to drive
  21. Winning high school essay contest
  22. Acceptance to Edgecliff College
  23. Greg Wagar – my long time boyfriend, young husband, and father of our kids
  24. Creative Circle
  25. Jenny Gorman, Vie Moses, Jody Kapsandy – dear friends
  26. Kurt Hier – colleague and friend
  27. The chance to serve God through music
  28. Jim and Mary Namoski who gave us land
  29. The experience of building a house and making a home
  30. Sootie, Captain, and Ditzie..
  31.  Dan – born 1973
  32. Amy – born 1975
  33. Dave – born 1978
  34. Ben- born 1981
  35. Living next door to my brother’s family
  36. The scary financial times
  37. John Luoma and family
  38. The opportunity to attend college classes
  39. The friendship and support of my brother and sister
  40. Going through lung cancer w/ dad
  41. All the children I worked with during my years as junior choir director
  42. Howard and Nancy who found us a home
  43. Friends from OSLC who helped in a myriad of ways
  44. Kurt’s help when my brother needed support
  45. The physical presence of the Holy Spirit when Greg died
  46. So many people who shared love and support at the same time
  47. Avon and especially Sherri Mauter
  48. The prayers of many as I argued with God’s call to ministry
  49. God’s enduring faithfulness as I took one step at a time and the doors were (almost) always open
  50. New members of our family Travis, Carrie, and Mandy - - how lucky we are to have them!
  51. NEOS staff & TEAM  ministry
  52. Nieces and nephews who are so precious
  53. The relationship with Kurt which grew and flourished and became marriage!
  54. Bruce and Bobbie, Linda and Kim, Vickie and Joe – friends who went (and continue to go) above and beyond in their support
  55. Faith Lutheran, Pastor Jean, Dineen, Wendy, Polly, Judy, Karen, Donna, etc
  56. Emmanuel Lutheran
  57. The blessings of grandchildren:

Jake, Brody, Molly, Myah, Riley, Max, Joseph, and Delaney

  1. The continued health of my mom
  2. The chance to do something I love every day
  3. Our newest “baby” - a furry cute puppy named Nora

 

And the great thing is….I could go on and on!