Give Thanks . . . With A Grateful Heart

61. A wonderful message on Israel at church

62. Homemade pancakes with our own syrup and the delicious blueberries we picked this summer. Soooooo good;)

63. Hubby was able to drive me through the snow and ice to my doctor appointment this morning

64. All wheel drive

65. Even though I'm tired of this winter weather, thankful I can see the beauty in the flakes that fall and the ice that forms

66. Little girls that snuggle with bunnies ~ and keep big boys soft

67. Darkness coming later each day

68. Friends safely home from vacations

69. Breakfast with a dear friend over the weekend

70. Enjoyable dinner out with the kids last weekend

71. Songs of praise that lead to studying the Word

72. A new book to snuggle up and read

And We Have A Winner!

I wrote down the names of all the people who were involved in the syrup contest and had my kids pick one! Don't worry, if you didn't win this time, there will be more contests in the future . . . keep trying! And thanks for participating!







Congratulations! I will be in touch with you soon!

He Knows Us By Name

Not thrilled that it is snowing AGAIN:) I must admit, it looks so very peaceful and beautiful out my window. I couldn't help but try to take a picture of a few snowflakes. It always makes my mind spin when I think about the fact that not two of them are alike! Looking at the piles of snow in just our yard, how can that be!

The Glory of God always amazes me! Just as the snowflakes are not alike, none of us are alike. And he knows us all by name . . . . knows the very number of hairs on our heads. Awesome.

"But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered."

He is mindful of US! Like the song I posted below. He knows us all by name, he knows our every need, every prayer before we can even utter it. He knows the hairs on our head. Oh How He Loves Us!

So even in the snow that falls, we see his Majesty. Don't miss out on his Majesty all around you.

"He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” John 10:3b

Song For a Sunday

Saturday was the birthday of the late Johnny Cash. This is a song that he wrote, and I just love the words. It reminds me very much of the song "God With Us" by MercyMe. Both wonderful songs:)

What is Man?

What is man that you are mindful of him, Lord
You made the stars you made the sun
And all the worlds that came to be at your command
What is man? What has he done?

Then you crown him with glory and with honor
Give him dominion over land and sea and air
And store up an inheritance in heaven
O what is man that you would care

What is man that you would let him live at all
to shed the blood of his own kind
And ever fail to even follow where you call
What is man? Why do you mind?

Yet you crown me with glory and with honor
Give me dominion over land and sea and air
And store up my inheritance in heaven
O what is man, that you care?
What is man, Lord, that you would care?

"Freebies"

Here are the "freebies" that I've gotten this week so far. Not too bad!

Maple Syrup Giveaway!

I will be giving away a glass "Maple" bottle of our homemade syrup! To win, you must be an official follower of one of my blogs. All you have to do then, is leave a comment, and a person will be randomly chosen on Saturday, February 26th, 2011.

Give Thanks . . . With A Grateful Heart

51. Fresh maple syrup made by hubby

52. A visit at church from a Gideons speaker ~ amazing testimonies

53. Sleeping in and waking up to sunshine and fresh coffee

54. Kids quietly doing their school

55. His timing is right . . . and learning to wait for it

56. This quote from the speaker yesterday, such a great reminder from the Word. "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper [in the thing] whereto I sent it." Isaiah 55:11

57. Inspiration

58. A reminder to trust

59. Visiting in the sugarhouse and that wonderful smell of sap boiling down to sweet, rich syrup

60. Hubby home today, kids all here

Bottling Syrup

We bottled the syrup that we made on Saturday. Ended up with about 2 gallons total. It was so yummy, and I think it looks so beautiful in the glass bottles. We were able to take some and bless some friends with it. Can't wait to boil again, but probably won't be until Saturday.

Pancakes With Fresh Syrup

A yummy sample of the syrup that hubby made today. Grade A ~ light and delicious!

Collecting Sap

Yesterday was our first time collecting sap for the season. Benjamin yoked up his oxen and they spent a good part of the afternoon collecting. It's going to get cold again, so they will boil on Saturday and probably not again till next weekend, as the sap won't be running with these cold temperatures.

Tapping Day

Hubby and Ben went out today and tapped the maples. I love this season! It means that spring is almost here:) I can't wait till we get enough sap to fire up the evaporator for the first time this year! Love to make pancakes and enjoy the first golden syrup of the year.
It makes for a lot of late nights boiling at the sugar house, but it's always been fun. Sitting there by the fire chatting and relaxing, and lots of people stop by to visit and see how it works.
When the kids were little, they would bring their sleds to the sugarhouse with them and enjoy sledding wtih dad. When they got cold, they would go inside the sugar house and chop wood for the fire or dad would teach them to whittle.
My uncle Dana, who has now passed away, would visit us for hours our there. He would show up with a cup of black coffee and hold it under the evaporator spout and add some syrup to it.
Lots of wonderful memories!

~ Sweet Day ~

We had an enjoyable Valentine's Day. The sun was shining, the sky was blue and the snow was melting. That's enough to make for a happy day! I did some cooking for friends and neighbors, made a meal for a friend that had an accident, and spent some time with my loves.
Hubby brought me beautiful flowers and a sweet card. We shared caramel/chocolate fondue with the kids after dinner.
A Blessed day!

Give Thanks . . . . . With a Grateful Heart

38. Our 22nd Married Valentine's Day

39. The beautiful arrangement hubby brought home for me . . .. even my favorite . . . hydrangeas

40. Thanking Jesus for keeping Felisha safe in her car accident

41. Snow melting and dripping off the eaves

42. His Perfect Love

43. Valentine cards handmade with LOVE

44. Sunshine and Blue Skies

45. Chocolate Covered Strawberries

46. My car washed by my hubby

47. Promptings of the Holy Spirit

48. Being asked to pray for a friend and her family

49. A great testimony at church, that shows hope for planting that seed and offering the way of Salvation ~ even if they don't want to hear it, they won't forget it

50. Tears of a church friend missing her husband who died five years ago after more than fifty years of marriage. All of us around her cried with her, as we sang her favorite song "I Will Rise.' That wonderful promise to believers.

Song For a Sunday

Since tomorrow is Valentine's Day, I thought a hymn from our wedding would be appropriate for my Song For a Sunday post.

"O Perfect Love"


1. O perfect Love, all human thought transcending,
lowly we kneel in prayer before thy throne,
that theirs may be the love which knows no ending,
whom thou forevermore dost join in one.

2. O perfect Life, be thou their full assurance
of tender charity and steadfast faith,
of patient hope and quiet, brave endurance,
with childlike trust that fears nor pain nor death.

3. Grant them the joy which brightens earthly sorrow;
grant them the peace which calms all earthly strife,
and to life's day the glorious unknown morrow
that dawns upon eternal love and life.

Light of the World ~ Shine on Us

"Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD."

Coupon Collection

The winter has finally gotten to me . . . I spent the better part of the afternoon making myself a coupon binder. I hope that I have the smarts to use it and keep up with it! I have saved quite a bit of money the last two weeks . . . and even $11.00 at Target with a couple of freebies this week:) It's very exciting to be able to save even a little bit!