#690. The luxury of this moment.  I love that I have moments like this...where I could be doing a million things but either because of where I am (perhaps waiting for something/someone) or because it is "in between" the "must do" moments of life, I get to just sit, contemplate, be still, wait and enjoy. These moments are precious.

#691. That through one of the most difficult trials of my adult life, God is showing me that the strategies that he has taught me over the years work. I can do this trial for the glory of God. This isn't just some sort of bizarre, unhealthy, dysfunctional, denial. It is God at work, doing a new thing.

#692. For baby girl's chipper voice last night on the phone. For the friendships she is developing, that she is experiencing life outside the four walls she grew up in (and the mom who sheltered her oh-so-overly-thoroughly), and that she is planning to go to England this summer. Wow...I am in awe of all she is becoming.

#693. For the soft heart of the "baby boy," who is still willing to apologize for an email sent too hastily. I treasure that he is so willing to reconsider his words--and do the right thing.

#694. For the crazy technology that allows us to connect with people on the other side of the world instantly, to share a message, to post a video for others to view...gosh...it really is amazing!

#685. The gradient in the sky at dawn and the silhouettes of the barren trees. It really is serene.

#686. For the capacity humans have been created with to experience pleasure.

#687. Texts from my 18 year old daughter that cause me to know she is thinking of me in the midst of her busy life.

#688. For devotions that just "happen" to speak to the very thing that I have a heart burden for. It is a love note from the Lord straight to my heart. An answer to my plea, "Please, Lord, I need some encouragement....just to know you are there!"

#689. A wonderful time playing tennis with a player I admire who stopped to pray for me. Wow...what a gift that was. A holy moment. There. On. The. Tennis. Court.

#681. This may sound gross, but well...I am grateful for this anyhow. My husband has this great big bushy mustache and last night he kissed me right after having a drink of water. When he kissed me, he "transported" a bunch of water that was hanging in his mustache to my face. In the past, I have fussed a bit about that. Right now, I am so thankful for those drips of water that dribble onto my face when he kisses me. I wouldn't trade it for a dry face and no husband-kisses!

#682. Late-night Harley nickers that ask me why I am 4 hours late in bringing dinner!

#683. The incredible energy and unbridled joy of under-eight year old girls, squealing about hitting tennis balls with racquets! They came in as "new best friends" and celebrated moving their bodies with one another with such abandon!

#684. Down comforters in the early morning hours that cradle me so cozy.

#675. Making the bed with my husband. :-) What a sweet blessing it is.

#676. The humming sound of his M Roadster coming down the street at day's end.

#677.  Friend's loving face across chips and salsa at Chevy's.

#678.  One more sniff of Doc's mane.

#679.  Early adulthood dream realized in the dawning of twilight years. Strange, God-ordained, irony!

#680. Buzzing cell phone--text from a friend who has been praying, asking, inquiring. What a blessing!

#671. The redemption I find in writing about strategies that I am using to navigate through the rough waters of the trial I am going through. See my From Fear to Faith on the Path of Praise blog to see what I mean. It is such a blessing how it is encouraging me to write about it!

#672. A wonderful tennis lesson that I got to teach a little girl yesterday. What a delight she is to my heart!

#673. The fun, joy, and uplifting of my spirit to be at worship practice last night--I seem to say this each Friday. There is something "re-centering" about being there with others, talking about the book we are reading--about God's amazing faithfulness to us, about the joy of worshiping him no matter what, and then to sing praises even as we practice for Sunday. Last night, the songs were especially meaningful to me.

#674. The confidence that God has placed in my heart that HE WILL REDEEM THIS. (Guess redemption is a theme right now...I have to find value in what seems awful to me. I know I don't see the full story.)

#667. No matter what life brings, God is unchanging. There is such comfort in knowing that the Rock to which I cling is immovable, steadfast, strong.

#668. Sleeping dogs. There is something about a dog sleeping that captures the peace that I think God has for me when I stop, be still, and know.

#669. The quiet in the early morning hours.

#670. That God meets me, greets me, welcomes me, comforts me any time, any where.

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#661. Establishing an almost daily "habit" of adding to this blog, is tranformative. I am so thankful for the way God uses thankfulness to change me.

#662. The joy that God is putting in my heart as I obey his calling during this challenging season. Who would have thought that scrambling so much to find a way to make a business out of teaching tennis would be so fulfilling? I don't think it is the business that is fulfilling, though. It is doing what I am called to do that makes what could be overwhelming to me so enjoyable.

#663. Discovering new truths just by living life with my eyes open!

#664. For the talented homeschool student I got to meet yesterday. Teaching him a tennis lesson was so much fun for me!

#665. Anticipating the transformation ahead as I continue to post to my Path of Praise blog. I can only post there what God is teaching me as it happens. It is a joy to do so.