Teach us to number our days.... (and blessings too!)

Some days feel like several days crammed into one, don't they? Today, after a very full day of homeschooling, the boys sprinted home to tell me that one of our goats was having babies! Our little herd of Nubian Dairy goats are more like pets than livestock. We primarily have them as a source of hormone and antibiotic-free affordable milk for the children. (I also love having ways to keep the children "profitably occupied" and for us, the goats fit the bill.)

I had not planned on having kids (as in, baby goats!) yet, so I immediately began planning where we would put the babies, and wondering where the heat lamp was, etc. Before I could even get up to the barn, the sad news arrived that our doe had delivered three premature babies, and all died.

Soon after, I left to take Hannah and Abbie to teach at the Good News Club that they work at every Monday. While they were teaching I went for my bike ride. I love this time as a great workout, but mostly as a quiet time to pray and think.

After picking up the girls we returned home to news that the doe who had delivered the triplets didn't look very good. I rushed up to the barn and arrived only minutes before she died as well. We are guessing that she had preeclampsia. So, so sad. We have been raising Nubians for almost 9 years now and have never lost an adult goat.

The older boys dug a hole and buried her. And I contemplated~ our days are brief and the length of them unpredictable. Yea, I know, just a goat, not a person. But still, our days are brief. We do not know what tomorrow may bring.

Today, I choose to live thankfully, cognizant of many things that I might otherwise overlook. Certainly, life is not always happy, but I am endeavoring to live joyfully, fully engaged with all that the Lord has given me to do. here. now.

Here's this week's edition of my "thankfulness project"...

51. A daughter who is discovering the blessing of deliberately giving thanks... in all things.
52. A husband who will ask the hard questions... drawing others out in conversation.
53. A new book~ new challenging thoughts for me.
54. Chickens with fluffy bottoms...
55. A newly 13 year old daughter who loves flowers


56. little boys in fuzzy-footed sleepers. (Especially snuggly when on my lap for a book!)
57. a journal... a humble God-finding reminder and delight... a specific place to document my thankfulness


58. our ever-faithful and eternally happy Great Pyreneese, Lance (can you tell that he loves bread?)


59. early morning quiet~ before the (blessed with joy) fray begins.
60. for the incredible priviledge of being part of the Body of Christ. i'm humbled.
61. persistently blooming autumn flowers displayed in memory-laden antique pitcher and


62. the fluttering winged beauties who frequent them.


63. a pickup full of happy children, husband. Memories being made here....


64. a full moon, sailing clouds, created by God, admired by all here

Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master,
As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,
So our eyes look to the Lord our God,
Until He is gracious to us.
Psalm 123:2

And He is gracious, isn't He?

Rejoicing in gifts given, in overflowing abundance,
Susan