by jphilo | Jan 11, 2013 | Daily Life
My, I was surprised yesterday morning to glance out the living room window and see a fox trotting across the yard. Who knows what drew the critter–the first of it’s kind seen on our property in the 21 years we’ve lived here–to grace our snow covered lawn with it’s dainty feet. Perhaps the fox is as enamored with Hiram’s cross country ski trail as the squirrels are. Those bushy-tailed rodents zip down the man of steel’s carefully groomed trails like they’re on the interstate.
But I digress.
Back to yesterday morning’s bushy-tailed non-rodent. The fox. It was trotting toward the edge of the yard at an impressive pace, but just as I grabbed the camera, our visitor struck a majestic pose. I managed a few shots through the window–hence the blur created by the screen–and then followed my model’s gaze to see what it was staring at.
It was another fox.
Just as big as the first, but quicker on its feet. Much quicker. Frisky. Really frisky. Like I-just-got-wheels-and-you-can’t-stop-me teenager frisky. So frisky that when I swung my camera to digitally capture the visitor’s image, this is what I got.
Like I said. Frisky.
The more sedate older fox, who gave the distinct impression of the tired parent of an impulsive teen, joined its frisky counterpart, and they rounded the side of the house. By the time I made it to the dining room and looked outside, the foxes were on the far side of the hedge. They crossed our driveway without looking both ways, slipped through the fence, and disappeared into the neighbors trees.
Easy come. Easy go.
I put the camera away, thankful for the pictures I’d taken. Thankful to be inside on a winter day instead of outside trotting across the snow. Thankful I’m no longer the tired parent of teenagers. Thankful for the unexpected beauty of one fox, two fox, old fox, new fox on a winter day.
Thankful.
by jphilo | Nov 27, 2012 | Top Ten Tuesday
November’s 30 days of gratitude project will be over in just a few days. For the past two Tuesdays, because I seem to have trouble following the rules, I’ve listed ten reasons to be thankful per week rather than one per day. Today, I’m back with ten final reasons (in no particular order) to be grateful.
- Mom’s love of reading and history which she passed on to all her children.
- A public library that turned our kids into avid readers, and offered books, audiobooks, and DVDs that provided endless free entertainment.
- Our seven years in Camp Crook where we were loved, supported and made life long friends among the hearty people in cowboy country.
- My dad had a great sense of humor he passed on to his kids and grandkids.
- Burgie’s Coffee Shop in Ames.
- My Uncle Jim and Aunt Donna. They added adventure and love to my young life.
- Family Camp in Idaho every summer.
- The best group of high school friends ever.
- A solid public school education thanks to dynamite teachers.
- The television show, Parenthood.
That’s the last of this year’s thankful lists. But it wouldn’t be hard to think of more. What about you? What are you thankful for today? Mention one thing or two or ten or even thirty in the comment box.
by jphilo | Nov 20, 2012 | Top Ten Tuesday
Many of my Facebook friends are still participating in the November 30 days of gratitude project. As was mentioned in last Tuesday’s post, I missed the memo about when to start, and played catch up by listing 10 things for which I was thankful. This Tuesday, because I seem to have trouble remembering to post one thing per day, I’m back with ten more reasons (in no particular order) to be grateful.
- My twenty-five year career as a teacher provided our family a good livelihood and was perfect preparation to be a writer and speaker.
- Being an uncoordinated kid because it gave me compassion for students who hated recess.
- Our warm house, preferably mouse-free, but even with unexpected company, it’s a great home for over twenty years.
- My son’s early medical adventures and my father’s illness taught me to never take good health for granted.
- Being raised in Iowa and raising our kids in Iowa.
- Attending a church where the pastor preaches truth and makes in interesting.
- A loving church family.
- A mom who taught me to cook and to love cooking.
- Being able to spend most Tuesday’s with Mom, though this week she’s visiting my sister in Minnesota.
- Siblings who do all they can to make Mom comfortable and happy.
So what are you thankful for this Tuesday before Thanksgiving? Leave a comment…or two…or ten!
by jphilo | Nov 13, 2012 | Top Ten Tuesday
Since the beginning of November, many Facebook friends have been doing the 30 days of gratitude thing. Somehow, I missed the memo about when to begin. So today, I’m playing catch up with this top 10 list of things (in no particular order) I’m thankful for this Tuesday.
- My husband Hiram, also known as the man of steel, who is patient, kind, forgiving, and faithful.
- My children, their spouses, and our little grandson.
- I can walk.
- The freedom we enjoy in this country.
- Micro-back surgeries and the amazingly skilled surgeons who perform them.
- My mother’s years of wise management of her finances. Because of them, her needs can be met for the rest of her life.
- My dad’s 38 year struggle with multiple sclerosis. Because of him, I am grateful for each day of good health.
- Hiram’s good job, caring co-workers, and excellent benefits.
- Every day, I get to do what I love–write and speak and use my imagination.
- Looking back at over a half-century of life, and seeing God’s hand guiding all of it.
How about you? Do you need to catch up on the 30 days of gratitude thing? Leave your top ten in the comment box.
by jphilo | Mar 2, 2012 | Church Newsletter Columns
Wretched man that I am!
Who will set me free from the body of this death?
Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Romans 7:24-25a
We’ve had plenty to be thankful about this winter. Not much snow. Warmer than average temperatures. Good driving conditions. With the days getting longer and spring around the corner, my heart should be positively overflowing with gratitude. But it’s not.
Instead, I do plenty of complaining. About the miserable state of our gravel road. About how every mild day brings the stink bugs, box elder bugs, and Asian soy beetles out of the walls and into our old farmhouse. About the possibility of this winter’s mild, dry conditions morphing into a blistering hot, summer drought.
Yet I rarely express dissatisfaction with my penchant for complaining, even though plenty of scriptures warn against the practice. In Numbers, complaining earns the Israelites earn an extra forty years in the wilderness. Job describes his complaints as rebellion. Two of Jesus’ best buds, Peter and James, advise new Christians to stop complaining, too.
However, scripture doesn’t just warn against complaining. It tells us what to do instead. In Leviticus the priests are commanded to offer sacrifices of thanksgiving. The Psalms advise turning thanksgiving into song. Jesus gave thanks as he broke the bread that signified his imminent crucifixion. Over and over Paul tells believers to give thanks in everything, rejoice always, rejoice in everything.
Rejoice.
Rejoice.
Rejoice.
Still, complaining remains my default response unless the Holy Spirit exposes my ingratitude for the joy killer it is. When that happens, God breaks my heart. He shows me how complaining dims His glory, and Paul’s despair become mine.
Wretched woman that I am! Who will set me free from this body of death?
But Paul’s hope, spoken in his next breath, becomes mine as well.
Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Christ, who gave thanks in the face of death.
Christ on the cross.
Christ in the tomb.
Christ, risen from the dead.
Christ, who sits on the right hand of the Father and intercedes on my behalf.
Christ is my hope and weapon and protection as I struggle with ingratitude.
Christ, not the weather or other circumstances, is a reason to give thanks always.
Lord, may you be a reason for rejoicing in my life and in the lives of all who love you. Amen.
