#99 - Shine

Sydney's favorite song....

shine
make ´em wonder what you´ve got
make ´em wish that they were not
on the outside looking bored

shine
let it shine before all men
let´em see good works, and then
let ´em glorify the Lord

I love these lyrics and I don't get tired of hearing them (every day!) I'm thankful she likes such a fun song.

#98 - New Places to Explore

We drove over to Washington today and got some fabulous views of Mt. St. Helens... I'm thankful I finally got some pictures of it!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

from our house to yours!

Let's mix things up today....
instead of ME telling YOU what I'M thankful for, why don't you leave me a comment tell me what you are thankful for!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

#97 - Praise Music and Drums

Kevin just got home from work...a stressful day, a stressful week.

How is he unwinding? By listening to Hillsong (a worship band) and jamming along on his drum set. And the girls are dancing.

So cool. I'm thankful for a husband who loves Jesus!

Psalm 118:1

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

#96 - Skype

I love technology and how "connected" it keeps me to my family. I try to limit what I do (email, blog, cell phone...no facebook), but recently we hooked up to Skype so we could "see" Grandma and Grandpa Redman. They are out in Virginia visiting my brother and Darren so today I got to sit and chat, face to face, with my brother - smile. I am thankful for those minutes.

#95 - So Many Things...

I am so many things today....

the beautiful sunshine we had this morning, a wonderful Bible study lesson,
the fun day I had with my girls, talking to my mom, cards from friends and family that came in the mail...

so many things

What I'm really thankful for, is that since I started this blog, I spend much of my day thinking about what I should post. I spend much of my day reflecting on what I am thankful for...very cool.

IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS!!! (paraphrase of
1 Thessalonians 5:18)

#94 - Compassion

I love the ministry of Compassion International.

It would have been enough to just have been a sponsor for the past 16 years.

But 14 years ago, God called me to be an advocate as well...to take my commitment one step further.

And that would have been enough, too.

But 10 months ago, God called me to become an Area Coordinator...to take a step towards leadership.

And the journey has been so amazing and so fulfilling. I feel so complete - like I am doing what God created me to do. Thank you, Lord.

I just had another round of training this weekend. This was training I have already gone through, but I was able to absorb it at a new level...with fellow advocates.

And the highlight...I got to meet and talk to a formerly sponsored child, Alex Mutagubya. He, his wife and 7 month old daughter are living here in the states, attending seminary. What an honor and privilege to meet someone who personally experienced the life-changing effects of Compassion's ministry.

I am so thankful that I get to partner with God in this awesome ministry.

#93 - No More Headache

Yesterday I had a headache. By last night I was feeling sick from it - I had to turn off the light in every room I walked into. The headache lasted all night and I did not get a good night's sleep. I woke up with a lingering headache.

But by the time I went to my Compassion training event tonight, the headache was gone. For that, I am very thankful.

I even asked some specific friends to pray for me...that it would go away. Thank you, friends. Thank you, Lord.

#92 - Psalm 100:4

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name." (NIV)


"Enter with the password: Thank you!
Make yourselves at home, talking praise.
Thank him.
Worship him." (The Message)

#91 - The Cross

I started out this blog by being thankful for the cross...but I think I need to start out each day with this praise.

Yesterday someone suggested that when we wake up in the morning and begin thinking of all the important things we have to do that particular day...the MOST IMPORTANT thing we should do is take time to reflect on what Christ did for us on the cross.

It truly is amazing, isn't it?

I love these lyrics...
Lead me to the cross
Where Your love poured out
Bring me to my knees
Lord I lay me down
Rid me of myself
I belong to You
Lead me, lead me to the cross



and I love the way another group puts it...
On that beautiful scandalous night
you and me were atoned by his blood
and forever washed white
On that beautiful scandalous night

On the hillside you will be delivered
At the foot of the cross justified
And your spirit restored
By the river that pours
From our blessed saviour's side


Thank you, Father, for the beauty of the cross. Your sacrifice for us...for me.
May the reality of that sacrifice be the focus of my life.

#90 - Nowanda

This beautiful girl, Nowanda, is 12 years old today! What makes it even more exciting is that we got a letter from her today. I am so thankful that we have the opportunity to get to know this girl through Compassion. What a blessing she is to us!

Happy Birthday, Nowanda!

#89 - Meaningful Traditions

We went to the mall yesterday after church. I was shocked to see Santa was already there and people were lined up to see him. I immediately had the thought...."I'm so glad we never started that tradition."

I remember wondering what to do with the whole Santa thing when Sydney was born. I'm not against Santa, but I didn't want him to be the focus of Christmas. We decided to do nothing and see what happened.

It seems like we tell the story of Santa, but both girls know it's just a story. And we focus on the gift of Jesus....NOT the gifts Santa bring us. I don't want Christmas to be about us...it's about Christ - plain and simple.

So I'm thankful we don't stand in line and tell Santa what we want for Christmas. It seems greedy and meaningless. "I want, I want...me, me, me"


The girls' journal entries....
Sydney...movie night and my grandparents
Kayleigh...pizza and the dentist (we had pizza last night and we are going to the dentist this morning)

#88 - People Who Live What They Believe

Today I am thankful for guys like THIS...

He is no longer living for himself...He is living for Christ, doing what God created him to do.

I am thankful for his example. I am thankful that God used a little girl, living in poverty, to change his heart.

If YOU want to sponsor a child, let ME know!

Thankful

lyrics from a song we've been singing...


I like to think about the goodness of the Lord
He gives me everything I need and so much more
So I just want to lift my hands and say that I love Him
I just want to lift my heart in praise...

And I want to be thankful,
I want to be grateful
I want to remember everything
that the Lord has done

I want to be thankful,
I want to be grateful.

And the girls...
Sydney...the planets, we haven't gotten sick, my bed (with siggy and Cincy)

Kayleigh...my bed (with baby doll, Pete the Penguin and baby blankets)

#87- Vaccinated!

Finally, the girls were able to get the H1N1 vaccine today. We are so thankful that we were able to get it and, in a week or so, we can be somewhat sociable again.

Both girls journal entries were that they were thankful for the flu shot!

#86 - Nature

The Foley family makes an effort to spend time in nature every week. There is something healing and rejuvenating about being in God's creation. We mostly rested on Saturday as I was still pretty sore from my fall, but Sunday we set out on another hike. It was drizzling, but it was still beautiful. We hiked along Salmon river (located toward the base of Mt. Hood). I'm so thankful for the time we spend outdoors as a family - it is a wonderful opportunity to bond and connect as a family.

#85 - Only some bruises

I had a pretty scary fall this weekend...I was checking on the girls in the middle of the night and passed out at the top of these stairs.

I then proceeded to fall down the entire staircase and landed on the nice, soft, marble floor.

I am so thankful that I only suffer from some pretty nasty bruises - it could have been much worse.

Why did I pass out? We have a motion detector light inside our house...we woke up and found that it was on so we were concerned someone might have broken in. I shot out of bed to go check on the girls. I'm sure the combination of getting up too quickly, and my adrenaline rushing is what caused me to pass out.

No one was in the house.

Like I said, I'm thankful God protected me from much worse. Next time, I hope He also protects me from the stairs!

#84 - A Strong, Solid House

The size of the house we are currently living in is quite large - excessive is what I call it. But I am thankful that we are able to live in a sturdy home.

The girls and I have been reading The Three Little Pigs this week. We were going over the story again today, and then they colored pictures of a straw house, a stick house and a brick house. Very basic...not a lot of deep learning going on there.

But then it was time to get the mail. In the mail today was a letter from Suresh, one of our Compassion children in India. In the letter was a form he filled out...All About Me. And at the bottom of the form were some small pictures of houses...straw, concrete, mud and brick. Do you know which house he marked that best resembled his own?

The straw house.
There was some deep learning going on in my heart. I hope the girls got some of it too.


As for the girls' daily journal entries...

Sydney...the sea and Halloween

Kayleigh...my Compassion friends, Lian (in Columbia) and Yoselin (in the Dominican Republic)

Calling All Compassion Sponsors....

I need your help...

If you sponsor a child through Compassion, please go to the Christmas Child site and order a special child, assigned to you. You will pray for this child and commit to finding a sponsor for the child. There is a great little video you can watch that will tell you more about what the kit will include.

Christmas Child

It would be a great family project that would help your family focus on others this holiday season.

Please JOIN ME...

If you don't sponsor a child, please consider sponsoring Isela...I need to find a sponsor for her by Friday!

#83 - All of God's Creatures

The past two days have been beautiful fall days here in Oregon. The girls and I have taken advantage of the sunshine and explored some nearby parks and paths. Yesterday, on our walk, we saw not one, but two snakes. I'm not a snake lover, but it's cool to see them out in nature. We also saw two ducks and a friendly cat. The day before we saw an interesting blue bird...still not sure exactly what it was. And the day before that we saw a skunk (from the safety of our car) that was aiming to spray us!

The girls' journal entries for today:
Sydney...My new friend, Paige and Thanksgiving

Kayleigh...God and the world

#82 - Sunsets over the Columbia River

Kevin kayaked 14 miles of the Columbia River on Sunday...when we picked him up, we saw this beautiful sunset.


I decided to get the girls in on gratitude this month. They are making "Thankful Books" and each day will write and draw what they are thankful for. I'll add them to my post so you can see what they are coming up with.

Sydney....the world and winter

Kayleigh...Mommy, Daddy, and Sydney