Entry #19

#201 - My bed...it is an air bed, but I keep the air low and "fill" it with a feather "bed." Then I have two fluffy feather comforters. Feathers are incredible to sleep on and in and nestled in with! I LOVE my bed! (I see my last entry was for my feather pillows! LOL!)

#202 - When God opens a door clearly, what a blessing it is. To know that I am walking in His will, His ways...doing that which he prepared for me to do from before time began. What a blessing that is!

#203 - For Neighborhood Fellowship Group last night. It was nice to be with friends, sharing a meal...and the home we were in was so cozy and festive with holiday decorations laid out in such a lovely way.

#204 - For Jordan, my dog from the Sacramento Animal Shelter. He is a HUGE blessing to our family.

He takes on the energy of our crazy golden retriever, Daisy, and deals with it so much better than we ever did. He "smiles" this big funny toothy grin when he sees us. He is so well-mannered (most of the time) and is the best animal thing we have done in a long time.

#205 - A wonderful friend's little Arab mare, Tani, that I got to ride yesterday. She is so willing and eager and calm and reliable and just THE best.

#206 - For a horse back ride with my daughter yesterday. It was a bit warmer than it had been, but with the sun out and it was cool, crisp, beautiful...and the horses were dialed in and on our page. I loved having time with my daughter.

#207 - Twice this last week, my two kids and I did a three way group hug...This is HUGE! Daniel doesn't ordinarily want to show any physical affection for Michaela...but twice he did. Oh, how it makes my heart sing when that happens!

#208 - Daniel confessed his concern about a new computer game that he had bought..I guess it affected his conscience. I praise God that this is the case...his tender heart and willingness to confess his need not to play it.

#209 - For my husband's diligence...he has faithfully worked at getting our horse trailer screened as required by the property owners association. Yesterday we completed one big part of it and I am thankful for that and thankful for him.

#210 - I have loved all the rainless days we have had. I know that is about to end with the storm system coming in. I have enjoyed getting to ride four times this past week...three with friends...what a blessing! I have so loved getting to know one friend from church better as we have ridden this fall together 1 to 3 times each week together as the weather has allowed. We have similar hearts for our horses and training and we pray together before we go out...Thank you, Lord.

Entry #18

#190 - The wind whispering through the leaves of the trees.

#191 - The warmth of the sun's rays--even in mid-November!

#192 - A wonderfully soft pony nose -- Doc Tari's -- that is so kissable and the sweet smell of the hay that he enjoys on his breath.

#193 - For a husband who is so willing and eager to serve the Lord, serve His family, and love me through service.

#194 - For the smell of bacon wafting through the house...hubby made breakfast for the kids...bless him!

#195 - Warm feet, wrapped in my fuzzy furry slippers!

#196 - Good morning kisses from my 13 and 15 year olds.

#197 - Jesus has won the victory...it isn't a "maybe," but is a "DONE DEAL!"

#198 - For freedom in Christ that allows me to follow His leading personally and uniquely.

#199 - The way I get lifted up so totally when I praise and lift HIM up!

#200 - Feather pillows...all three of them! :-D

Entry #17

#171 For new trash cans (I know that sounds silly and I won't explain it, but God knows!)...
#172 For the cedar chest now snuggled into the bay window near our dining table (another one that God understands...LOL!)
#173 For my pony, Breezy, who continues to give me wonderful rides during which I can fellowship with friends with whom I wouldn't otherwise spend time.
#174 For lunches out with my Mom--that she is fun to be with and still in good health at 82 years of age.
#175 That God has removed the extra weight from my body, lowered my blood pressure, and that I no longer fear keeling over from a heart attack...
#176 For the privilege of leading a Thin Within class at my church.
#177 For the joy that the ladies in my TW class give me. Oh! How I LOVE them so! Lord, don't you just love them so? :-)
#178 For Jordan, the dog we got at the shelter about 6 weeks ago...God has used him to help heal our hearts, we missed Samson and Bo so much...and still do, though Jordan helps so much. He is such a blessing!
#179 That I can nap with my arms around "psycho-dog" Daisy...she is crazy much of the time, but does a good imitation of a stuffed animal when I snooze with her and cuddle with her.
#180 For my mustang, Dodger's, huge try...
#181 For Harley, my Morab horse, and his incredible beauty and the joy he gives me.
#182 For Doc, my big baby (another horse) ...who has the most kissable nose on the planet! He is just so incredibly sweet, even though he is in such pain all the time.
#183 For a husband who loves you, Lord.
#184 For a family time last night of watching the movie, Amazing Grace, and even how it tied in with some of the things the kids have been learning about in our history class in homeschool! That was an unplanned blessing! (Thank you that Daniel CHOSE to join us!)
#185 For the privilege of participating in the writing of the Thin Within book with Judy and Dr. Arthur...I still shake my head at how atonishing that was...is...and the continued blessings that come from that.
#186 For the pre-release copy of "Raising Fit Kids in a Fat World" that Judy sent me! Oh, Lord! I can't wait to see what you DO with this! It is sooooo reflective of your wisdom, your fun-loving nature, and joy in your Children! Thank you for the privilege of letting me participate in that project as well.
#187 That my two teenagers still cuddle me, hold my hands, put their arms around me--even in public!!!
#188 For the privilege of homeschooling another year...
#189 For my retreat time with you, Lord, where you helped me to see YOUR priorities for my life...I have your peace as a result, even if there seems to be so much to do in the time I have.
#190 For a church that preaches and teaches your Word...thank you.

Entry #16

#161 - Thank you for safety on the trail, Lord! So many things going on during yesterday's short ride, but you kept others of us safe. Please be with the woman who was life flighted out...heal her injuries and be her sustainer and her satisfaction.

#162 - That Harley is recovering from an overuse injury.

#163 - That I get to homeschool my kids this year after all!

#164 - For the beauty of the deep cerulean blue sky living here in the foothills...wow.

#165 - For the gift of music that you have clearly bestowed on my daughter. The way she can make the flute sing and never been given real instruction...it is astonishing to me and evidence that you are a Miracle Maker and Music Bringer. Thank you.

#166 - For reconciliation with a friend I have missed being close with. THANK YOU.

#167 - That a dear friend has such a godly spirit in the face of very challenging news. I see Jesus in you, my dear friend!

#168 - For BREEZY! He is MINE ALL MINE! (Well, no, I am just a steward of him as long as the Lord allows...LOL!)

#169 - THAT I GET TO HOMESCHOOL MY BABIES!!!!! (I know I said that already!)

#170 - For my riding buddy and dear friend who speaks truth to me...

Entry #15

#151 - For safety on the trail today with my daughter, Breezy, and Harley, even though there was a runaway horse (someone else's), a mountain biker, a scary oak branch that wanted to eat pony for breakfast, three pedestrians with ski poles (scary!) and various and sundry star thistle plants that planned to dine on horse hocks! Thank you, Lord, for a beautiful morning and that we were safe!

#152 - Bob home safely after being gone (again).

#153 - That Bob has a job, even if it *does* send him off a lot.

#154 - Safety from fire for another day. Thank you, Lord.

#155 - That I live in a place where I can do so many things in a day from snow skiing (in the winter), to water skiing (in the summer), to hiking the beautiful Sierras (even going to Yosemite!), to the ocean, horsebackriding on glorious trails (right off my property, too) and on and on. California *is* overpopulated and overpriced, but it is also BEAUTIFUL with access to everything!

#156 - For friends in women's biblestudy last Thursday night that allowed me to be authentic and honest about some of my biggest fears and biggest dreams...and that they felt safe enough to share there, too.

#157 - For my renewed friendship with "Susan," a friend from church with horses. She is one of only two people I feel I can totally focus on Harley when I ride with. Susan is a special lady with a lot of depth. I feel privileged to know her.

#158 - Daniel's newly emerging sense of humor. He has always had a sense of humor, but it is now officially "maturing" a bit. Instead of finding humor in making up jokes like : What do you call a Wal with a Mart? WALMART! (followed by dorky laughter, God bless him! LOL!), he is now able to bring humor into normal conversations in a very clever way. I am impressed!

#159 - Michaela's love for music and that she has fallen in love with yet another musical instrument she wants to teach herself to play. This time, it is the oboe! Goodness! Thank you, Lord, for placing in her a love of music and the skills to be able to learn so easily. WOW!

#160 - For my physical exam today with my doctor. Everything looks really good and since my last physical exam, my weight is down SEVENTY EIGHT POUNDS since June 6, 2006 on the doctor's scale. YOU ALONE, Lord! You alone! THANK YOU!

Entry #14

#141 - God speaks to His people, guiding, directing, convicting, encouraging, instructing. I am so thankful that He won't let me stay put, but continues to walk with me personally.

#142 - That Jesus is FULL of grace AND truth. Too much grace and holiness would be tossed aside, perhaps. Too much truth without grace and I would be pummeled without ever experiencing the encouragement that Jesus is so masterful at giving.

#143 - For Joe and Pam Donaldson - two amazing servants of God, dynamos, gifted servant-leaders to lead Thin Within into the next adventure or chapter!

#144 - For Judy Halliday, a precious mentor, friend, sister in the Lord who God has used profoundly in my life.

#145 - For a safe return home without any real problems...a totally safe and trouble free trip, in fact.

#146 - For Karla, a new friend who is also a Wycliffe bible translator to Papua New Guinea. Jan introduced us and wow...I was so blown away by the authentic walk this lady has with the Lord and that she shared with me. God is good. Not only that, but after hearing some of Michaela's story (my daughter who wanted to be a bible translator when she was four years old) about spiritual warfare, shared some encouragement that I could, in turn, pass on to Michaela.

#147 That Daniel loves tennis...I am praying it will be something God uses to help him connect at Forest Lake Christian School. He is taking lessons from the man who also happens to be the athletic director at the school.

#148 For Michaela's love for drama and music. I know God is using her even now and has plans for her life as well.

#149 That Bob did SUCH a great job caring for all the critters and kids while I was gone.

#150 That even when my weight vacillates, it doesn't have to spell disaster. I have a good attitude about it. I know God is freeing me from everything.

Entry #13

#131 For Jan, my friend in Tulsa, who God has used over the past 6 years to point me to Him repeatedly. Where would I be without Jan in my life? I am thankful I don't have to know!

#132 That a conference where we will share about the Lord and all He is doing in the lives of Thin Within participants is happening this weekend! THANK YOU, LORD!

#133 That He doesn't EVER give up on me. The Lord keeps working all the time, doing one new thing after another. He WILL perfect me until the day of Christ!

#134 For the beauty caused by rain in the summer here in Oklahoma (where I am on a trip). It is so verdant and lush, green and gorgeous! I hadn't counted on it raining the whole time I am here, but it is soooo green, it is hard not to be thankful for the rain at the same time!

#135 That Harley is home now (two weeks ago) and every day he has been home (until I left on this trip yesterday) he and I worked together and *rode* including trail rides. God has done an amazing work in this. I am soooooo thankful.

#136 God uses Harley to teach me about parenting. The thought "WHO is afraid of water crossings?" and the answer "ME, not Harley!" has made me realize that I have been projecting my fears of the kids going to school in the fall all over them...and if I do that (as I often do with Harley) they will take in *my* fear and have their own *as* a *result* of MY fear! God has shown me to believe Him for what HE wants to do in these things. We don't need to be afraid. When God is on the side of me or my kids, whom then shall we fear? :-)

#137 A slip off the path doesn't equate to quitting life. God grabs me and brings me back to the true course time and again.

#138 That I didn't gain weight through the ulcer...or the subsequent sucking on mints around the clock to negate the horrid taste left in my mouth from the antibiotic I was on. I am feeling much better, though not totally healed of it yet, but thankfully the antibiotic course is done! YAY!

#139 That Bo seems to have allergies caused by feeding him Kellogs Frosted Flakes (yes, you read that right...a wolfdog eating sugary breakfast cereal). My husband no longer gives Bo some of his cereal and Bo is coughing much less. He doesn't have heartworm and seems quite happy and healthy except now for an occasional cough!

#140 My kids have been HUGE blessings to me in the past two weeks. Going to volleyball camp without fussing, hanging out a long time with the other is in camp, enrolling in VBS class, going to tennis without fussing about it...wow...so many things and I have to go, but had to include this. I miss my babies while I am on this trip (Michaela turned 13 on Tuesday!!!).