Welcome to Day 20 of 31 Extraordinary Days to Be… Or…simply: Be…
Together, we will learn to Be… to live fully and beautifully in our “skin”
and in our homes and beyond. If you missed The Introduction or you’d like
to follow the entire series, you can find each post listed here.
Last Sunday we took a drive with some friends to visit a local university’s gardens in the country. On our way home we drove past a small lake and were totally blown away by the awesome color.
Four excited adults exited the car and quietly shouted for joy, exclaiming the glories of the beautiful colors, and snapping photos.
It was the golden hour. The air was still. The water silent except for an occasional circle of ripples.
The whole earth was proclaiming the glory of God.
And we witnessed it.
You made me so happy, God
I saw your work and I shouted for joy.
Psalm 92:4 MSG
Day 20 Challenge: Have you “shouted for joy” at something God has done? Okay, maybe not out loud, but in your heart? This week, look for “shout for joy” moments. It might be something like the color in the garden, the woods, and the fields. It might be something the new baby or grand baby does. It could be an answer to prayer. Get out a notebook, or a piece of paper, and write down those moment. Next week…share them here for Joy Day!
It’s Joy Day!
It’s the day when we take time to count our blessings from the past week. To give thanks for the really good things and the things that weren’t so good.
I’ll start:
I’m grateful for…
- God’s everlasting love
- a perfect fall afternoon to spend outside in God’s amazing creation
- a camera to capture those beautiful moments
- amazing friends
- a temporary (permanent ?) fix to the fuel line leak
- dogs who delight in going for a walk and playing ball
- possibilities
Now it’s YOUR turn!! Please join me by tapping in your ‘seven’ in the “Please Share Your Extraordinary Thoughts” section below. Something happens when we take time to list out our bits of gratitude. I guarantee your joy meter will rise.
Want even more joy? Take the Joy Dare here.
Thank you for stopping by today.
I appreciate you and your sweet comments make my day.
Joyfully…
Diane
I hope you’ll consider visiting each day during this #31Day series.
All the posts in the series will be added to this page each day of October.
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What a wonderful adventure this will be as we journey together to Be…
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Sharing with these Extraordinary spots:
Mod Vintage Life + Cozy Little House + A Stroll Through Life + Cedar Hill Farmhouse – The Scoop + My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia + Cupcakes & Crinoline + Our Home Away from Home + The Gunny Sack + Kathe with an E + A Bowl Full of Lemons + Elizabeth & Co. + Memories by the Mile + Coastal Charm + Savvy Southern Style + NY Melrose Family + City Farmhouse + The DIY Dreamer + Lavender Garden Cottage + DIY by Design + Free Pretty Things + We are THAT Family + Ivy & Elephants + Trendy Treehouse + Polkadots on Parade + In the Studio
1. The amazing, instantaneous nature of God’s forgiveness when we ask for it!
2. My incredible husband, his health, stamina & integrity
3. My health, imagination, love of reading & creativity
4. Joy that is not dependent on my circumstances, the color of my hair or lack of wrinkles
5. While I’m there, I’ll give thanks for the laugh lines. My life has been good. I have laughed a lot!
6. A nice home, even tho’ I can’t clean it all on one day anymore; I can still do it room by room!
7. Eyesight & a good ophthalmologist!
Carolyn…I love your spirit! And I rejoice with you in the goodness of the Lord in your life!! How blessed you are on so many many levels.
May you be a joy-splasher wherever you go!!
[hugs]
Love the inspirational quote!
Thank you so much Melanie!!
Blessings!!!
Shout for Joy!
I will make a list this week!
Today I count my joys of this past week:
1. A stop in visit to see my daughter and two year old grandson, happy to see us!
2. Hummingbirds keep coming and I think God for the extra few warm days to keep blooms coming for them to feed.
3. A kind friend who sent these made in USA little pods that look exactly like little pumpkins!! I had fun filling various glass holders and adding a few to potpourri made in Cambria, some to a vase with dried greens from my yard and dried agapanthus fronds. She laughed as she dumped her whole bag in one big jar with a candle and said, Fall decor. Done .!!”
5. A nice place to lie down
6. Kind friends
7. The Bible to help me find my way when nothing / everything seems confusing
Gwen…I’m so happy that you were able to get out for a lovely family visit. Yay God!!
I too have some of those pods…I wonder what plant they come from. Mine are packed away of course…but they are so sweet!!
Rejoicing with you in the blessings of the week and God’s word to give you comfort.
[hugs]
~Diane
Good plan, the writing down bit. LOL. Things fall out of my brain. Now, if I can just remember to write it and not lose it, it’ll be a really good deal. 😉 What a gorgeous display unfolding in froont of you….amazing reflections in that sunlight. Lucky youse guys!!
My seven:
* the surprise package with hand crafted, wee clay witchie hats to hang in special places
* the discovery of a ‘stuck it away and forgot’ tray that I happily filled with wee pumpkins and gourds
* the goat who refused to eat my crutch. LOL.
* careful hugs from the 4 year old
* being able to show up for a friends surprise party
* the patient, caring fella who can see small progresses and points them out to me
* the morning sunlight on the tree outside the study window
Oh…here’s to more joyfilled moments for you and yours!! 🙂
Yay for so many wonderful blessings this past week. God has been showering your with goodness. I can feel your joy leaping off the screen. 😉
BTW…new interview tomorrow morning. 😉 Fingers crossed.
Great post and beautiful pictures! My seven are
-cool fall weather
-pumpkins
-a hubby who lets me spread my projects out everywhere
-my girls who love me even though I’m not always a great mom
-good health to get out of bed and do the things I want to do
-God always providing for our needs
-A cozy home to call my own
Thanks for making me stop and think about what I have to be grateful today!
Sweet Abby…I am overjoyed that you would take the time to count ‘seven’ with a grateful heart. You DO have much to be thankful for. 🙂
May your days abound with blessings and JOY!!
~Diane
Love Ann Voskamp and her Joy Dare! We all have so much to take joy in…we just have to search it out. And I believe that the more often we are thankful, the easier it becomes to find the joy in the little things. Hugs.
Isn’t she the best?!!! Truly, reading her book was life-changing for me.
Thanks Valerie for popping be to share the joy with me!
[hugs]
I am going through the Ann Voskamp bible study right now at church on One Thousand Gifts where she talks about Eucharisteo. I started a journal of thanks, or joy and just need time to write it all down. There are joys to be thankful for everyday! Visiting from What’s It Wednesday.
AnnMarie, a year or so ago I went through the book on my own…little bits by little bits as there was so much to chew on. It was life-changing for me. I know that your study and experience will be for you too!
Wishing you JOY!!!
~Diane
What a wonderful inspirational blog. My seven are:
– My wonderful exceptional daughter who takes care of me so wel and is always there for mel. She has turned into the best mother and amazing daughter. I come home from work and find that she has been over and cleaned my house when I least expect it even though she has a home of her own and family to take care of.
– A roof over my head and the ability to make a living to keep it that way.
– My wonderful therapist who is doing such a great job helping me recoup from shoulder surgery.
– All my wonderful neighbors.
– My friends at work.
-The beauty of the changing seasons – autumn is truly a gift from God.
-the goodness and kindness of strangers – it is so appreciated.
Brenda…I rejoice with you on all your fabulous blessings!! What a wonderful daughter….truly!!
May your joy-cup overflow this week!
[hugs]
Wow! The reflection is stunning, too.
It was really amazing! Wish you could have been there. The photo doesn’t really capture the incredible beauty. I know…hard to imagine. 🙂