My Year of Thanksgiving ~

Days of Thanks for 11 May - 17 May  

Giving thanks for Adina's thoughtful care of us during Sabbath services yesterday - a blessing even though we were hearing with unskilled ears - and for her little gift; for a drier afternoon - the rain is necessary but a bit tiresome during daylight hours; for the beauty Evie is bringing to Robert's yard - it's been neglected with the construction crew at work during his absence; for escape from the plans of others for more travel today; for this experience in another part of my Father's world; for thoughts of going home to Riggins - and of that ultimate homeward journey when Jesus returns to gather all who've chosen to live as His people; for all the blessings showered on us over the past two weeks; for the streets of Focsani where abloom with chestnut trees in blossom; for women in colorful gypsy skirts and staidly dressed ladies walking to worship services at the nearby churches; for the majestic mountains and fruitful plains we've enjoyed here in Romania; for time here in Romania with Robert; for this day's sunlit skies over Frankfurt; for Evie's cheerful assistance wherever I'm not managing well; for surviving a day that seemed not to end as we chased the sun from Frankfurt to San Francisco, arriving "a couple hours" after we left (if we forget the time zones that slow the hours when one travels westward); for the United agent at SFO who put us on an earlier flight to Boise so we arrived before the sun went down instead of the middle of the night; for many helpers along the way - of whom my sister deserves my deepest thanks; for our safe return to Riggins; for a freshly painted living-room with no more smoky odor; for a rainbow of iris blossoms in the garden - how lovely!  I'm thankful, too, for Curt's completion of an heroic endeavor over the last several years, he graduated from his BSN efforts yesterday evening with his whole family in attendance.  He has demonstrated gifts of deep intellect and determination as he has met each challenge of a mid-life career change - he's one special fellow, and I'm very glad he's married to my daughter.  Can't forget to mention the gratitude I feel for the grace of attitude changes that develop with growing maturity, and for the precious gift of my little namesake's affection.   It's been a great week!