#625 For hand reaching over to hold mine as we drive to run our errands.

#626 For warm arms wrapped around me, comforting me.

#627 For hope that God authors. Hope in Him will not disappoint. He is inviting me to a new adventure of trust. He is more worthy of my trust than all my manipulations and machinations.

#618 For the companionship, partnership, joy--and even sorrows--over the past 30 years (28 of them married) with Bob Bylsma. It has been a "slingshot around the sun" and I am grateful! No more coy disguises.

#619 That no matter what challenges God ordains in my life, he is sovereign and he is good. He intends these challenges to purify, perfect, and be for the best.

#620 For a home in the country...it is beautiful and like being on a mountain retreat. I can't imagine ever leaving this place. How could I leave paradise for anyplace other than heaven?

#621 For the freedom to come and go as I please...I have been spoiled these many years and haven't fully appreciated the incredible life that God has given me through Bob.

#622 That God provides the strength I need *as* I need it. Bob's mom taught me so many years ago (I miss you, Phyll!) that God won't give me the grace I need one moment before I need it, but when I need it, he will supply it abundantly! (To quote yet another line from Star Trek IV, "Now would be a good time, Mr. Scott!")

#623 That I can choose to praise my God no matter what I face. This is an amazing, powerful truth. If people change, if pain (physical or emotional) is beyond belief, if those I love die, if I can't see through to tomorrow, one thing I *can* do...it is praise. No one can take that from me! I can praise my God and experience the joy that comes from doing what I was created to do!

#624 For song...I can sing. It is amazing the way music affects the spirit. At least the way it affects MY spirit! I am so thankful, God, that you have given us music.

After the Storm

#616 - Every cloud really DOES have a silver lining!

#617 -Velvet green blanket spread across the hills.

Gifts from the past 12 hours...

#610. Road signs that bring a smile.

#611. Mysterious midnight moonlight wash over a darkened world.

#612. Tummy dropping undulating country road taken at speed!

#613. Meadowlark's melodic song ringing in the stillness of late summer grasses.

#614. Velvet nose kisses and sweet grass breath.

#615. Treasure hunt, gifts recognized in the moment--skin-splitting joy embraced!

Still Counting

#601. The Voice found and singing! Words on the page...relief!

#602. Honest people who turn in lost wallets of worried 18 year olds.

#603. Fur free floors and carpets.

#604. Less dust now that "Mr. French" does the vacuuming each day.

#605. Writing space and time and the dependence it causes on God.

#606. Friends' and family members' status updates on Facebook.

#607. Hooded sweatshirts and warm ears.

#608. Soft nickers, a request for a horsie back rub.

#609. Predictability of seasons.

Continuing to Build...

#595. Whisker stubble in the sink.

#596. Bubbles scrubbling my throat and tongue.

#597. Dog cuddles.

#598. Guitar strings singing.

#599. Paths winding around our home--carved by repeated use of so many deer.

#600. Down comforter comforting.

With An Act of My Will ... Continued...

#589. Clean dish towels. They are no longer are all over the floor left to "blot up" imagined drips. LOL!

#590. Music playing throughout the house whenever I want. Nanner nanner MOO MOO!

#591. Space in the kitchen for making dinner. No need to negotiate around someone else making his dinner (since he rarely ate the one I prepared).

Now...in all honesty, even though yesterday and today I have been choosing to give thanks to God for things that I can experience now that the "nest" is "empty," I also have to fill in the gaps left... so I do all the laundry now (there is less of it, true), empty the trash, and do all the horse chores. I do miss those things that the kids did to chip in as members of our family. I miss the DLF lunches we enjoyed, too.

But I am definitely learning to enjoy these other things and I think it is ... ok!

#592. Twilight drives with hubby with the convertible.

#593. Texts from baby-dre.

#594. Activity of "D" man visible on Facebook. :-)