Joy in the common things...

My new book " One Thousand Gifts"  by Ann Voskamp arrived the other day.  I have also been on her website again and it is worth a visit.....I have to go back to hear the rest of her interview that she had explaining how she wrote One Thousand Gifts.  She challenges you to start making a list, a journal of things that  you are thankful for.  That gratitude and praise in the common things help you to see how truly blessed one is and that is a reason for JOY.

So I have started my list, in a pretty journal that my dear friend, Erin, gave me.

1. Evening walks on our land
2. The smell of rain
3. A hard working husband
4. Lilac bushes blooming in white, deep purple and light purple
5. A God who knows me by name.

What are you thankful for as we start a new season of this year?

We have the sweetest neigbhours, C and her husband D.  They have 2 adorable little girls that call me Auntie and CnD are great friends to my niece.  They were there for her through the toughest time in her life as her young husband was taken from this earth too early, they were there for her two little boys and they are still there for M as she has remarried and is excited about life again.  This simple bouquet was for C as she helped me last minute with getting some details done for Darrell's 50th birthday party!....Thank you ... Thank you!

"God give me hope for each day that springs,

God give me joy in the common things!"

Thomas Curtis Clark

We have lots of great places around the yard to set up picnics and tables to enjoy eating outside.

I have always admired the pictures of long harvest tables set up with friends and family around them.

We celebrated Darrell's 50th with the Medicine Hat Motz's, that had to be indoors as the wind was blowing like a hurricane that night.

We celebrated again with our small group from church, and the evening was beautiful as we enjoyed eating outdoors!

Linking up to Tablescape Thursday :

May 25, 1963  A pretty good day!  

Happy Birthday!!