Seasons of Giving

by | Nov 30, 2024 | let's chat

SAT AM COFFEE CHAT

My sweetie and I are in our sixties and we have a certain flexibility that comes with this season in our life. We don’t have little ones hanging on our legs (except when the grandkids visit). Our needs are simpler and we have more say in how we spend our time.

I have a friend with a busy husband, two kids, and a newly-walking toddler. She homeschools and chases her toddler.

Another friend has a hubby, four kids that are school age, and does the occasional temp job.

Another friend is my age and has a more flexible lifestyle with hubby and several creative pursuits.

Another just closed a business and is currently sitting and drooling with her husband and kids (some with special needs).

I mention all this because we are all so different and we can’t always do the same things in the same way. It would not make sense.

COLORFUL BUTTONS

We can, however, take concepts and themes and work them into our lives in a special-to-us way. And that’s what I’m all about.

We can all be honest. We can all serve our spouse, speak gently, or be a good steward. It will just look a little different played out in our lives.

Love y’all. Have a great weekend!

One of the reoccurring themes in our lives is reaching out to those in need. Recently, my sweetie has invested more time in a local food bank. He spent part of a day joining others to box up Thanksgiving meals.

250 TURKEY DINNERS

Two hundred fifty dinners ready to go!

 

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Image credits – colorful buttons © Paul / Flux Schnell AI, 250 turkey dinners © Paul / Doing Marriage Well
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Many Thanks

by | Nov 29, 2024 | conclusions

MY THOUGHTS

BE THANKFUL –  (Day 6 of 6)
(Need to start at the beginning? Day 1)

I hope y’all had a lovely holiday with family and friends.

I wanted to take a moment to thank you all.

THANK YOU CANDLE

You bless me with your desire to build your marriages. In a world that doesn’t value marriage that all fired much, it is a joy to see so many folks intentionally investing in their marriage relationship

Thank you also for your prayers and support of our ministries (my sweetie writes and does a podcast as well). You make it possible for us to have the time to create marriage-building resources and help couples in need.

May the rest of this holiday season be a joy for all of you and your respective sweeties.

Paul baked a mincemeat pie and a Basque pumpkin cheesecake.

MINCE MEAT PIE AND BASQUE PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

Lots of yumminess to share over the next few days as we play games with family and friends.

 

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.
Image credits – thank you candle © Daniel Andrade / Unsplash, mincemeat pie and basque pumpkin cheesecake © Lori / Doing Marriage Well
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Happy Thanksgiving!

by | Nov 28, 2024 | second try

SECOND TRY

BE THANKFUL –  (Day 5 of 6)
(Need to start at the beginning? Day 1)

Today is Thanksgiving Day in the US. (If you live elsewhere, just know that any and every day is a great day to give thanks.)

I am so thankful to God for His daily provisions, grace, strength, protection, guidance, and blessing. Lailah Gifty Akita

What a fun day to practice thanksgiving. 🙂

FAMILY PRAYING OVER A MEAL

Enjoy the day with your sweetie, family, and friends. Look for opportunities to thank others.

We’re gathering with over thirty people this year (extended family and several friends). Yes, we’ll be a bit snug.

LOTS AND LOTS OF PIES

We have a Thanksgiving rule that there must be more pies than people. No, we don’t eat them all in one day. Thanksgiving is followed by several days of playing games, enjoying leftovers, and eating all those pies. 🙂

 

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.
Image credits – family praying over a meal © deagreez / Adobe Stock, lots and lots of pies © Lori / Doing Marriage Well
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Life Can Be Difficult

by | Nov 27, 2024 | road blocks

WHAT'S STOPPING YOU?

BE THANKFUL (Day 4 of 6)
(Need to start at the beginning? Day 1)

What stops us from being thankful?

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  Colossians 3:17 ESV

I’m generally upset when things don’t go the way I want them to. That becomes the focus for my emotions. All the good gets set in the background and ignored.

GRUMPY COFFEE

Any kind of entitlement seems to negate thankfulness too. If we feel we deserve what people do for us, then we’re less likely to see it as a kindness and thank them for it.

And, truly, it’s hard to be thankful when something really bad happens. Can we trust that in our broken world that God is still in control and will work it for good? It’s an exercise in trusting the goodness of God and His power to work through it all.

What makes it harder for you to be thankful? Is there someone you talk to about it?

Just a pretty picture for the season …

PUMPKIN

… and a reminder to eat lots of pumpkin pie. (You didn’t need a reminder?)

 

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Image credits – grumpy coffee © Tech Hendra / Adobe Stock, pumpkin © Megan Lee / Pixabay
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Thanks So Much

by | Nov 26, 2024 | first try

GIVE IT A TRY

BE THANKFUL (Day 3 of 6)
(Need to start at the beginning? Day 1)

Let’s spend the day practicing our thankfulness skills.

The more you practice the art of thankfulness, the more you have to be thankful for. Norman Vincent Peale

Look for little kindnesses to thank folks for.

THANK YOU NOTE

Is there someone in your life who has been particularly helpful? Give them a call or a visit and let them know how much you appreciate them. Look especially at your spouse. Where can you offer words of thanks. Try something like, “I am so thankful for you. The way you do (whatever) blesses me so much.”

And, of course, be sure to thank God for your spouse and all the other good things in your life.

It started with one Cheeto and one grandkid. (Isn’t that the way it goes?)

CHEETO BURGER

Eventually, all three grandkids ate burgers with Cheetos decorating the top of the buns. We were told they taste better that way.

 

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.
Image credits – thank you card © Adrian / Pixabay, Cheeto burger © Paul / Doing Marriage Well
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Let’s Be Full of Thanksgiving

by | Nov 25, 2024 | self-examination

SELF-EXAMINATION

BE THANKFUL  (Day 2 of 6)
(Need to start at the beginning? Day 1)

How do you do with thankfulness?

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  Colossians 3:17 ESV

I tend to see both good and bad, but I’d like to major on the positive more often.

HALF FULL GLASS OF WATER

I’m OK with being aware of the imperfect or of things that need to be fixed. I’d just like to be more upbeat and full of thankful words. Thankfulness just adds such a lovely flavor to any conversation.

Do you naturally see the good in most situations? Or do you struggle when things aren’t quite the way you’d expected? Is it easy for you to speak words of thankfulness?

I’m so proud of our church!

136 OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD BOXES

We gathered 136 boxes of goodies for Operation Christmas Child. Check them out here. Please pray that hearts and lives will be changed through this ministry.

 

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.
Image credits – half full glass of water ©  Cagkan / Adobe Stock, 136 Operations Christmas Child boxes © Paul / Doing Marriage Well
We’re Donation Supported