Count Your Blessings

My Lloyd Family Blessings

My Brice Family Blessings

How often do we sit down to name the things and people we are grateful for?  Do we really do like the old hymn and count our blessings?  Well, we should do it often!  In fact, we are happier people when we take the time daily to name what we are thankful for.  Counting our blessings puts our lives in perspective.  It also lets the people who are important to us know that we are thankful for them.  Our hearts overflow with joy when we focus on what is good. 

Just call me Pollyanna because I can always find something to be glad about!  I'm grateful for lots of family and friends, a wonderful home, a car great for traveling, food always on our table, books to read, hugs given daily, I love you spoken over and over, and salvation in Christ.  Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly, and you will keep singing as the days go by!

Count Your Blessings

By Rev. Johnson Oatman, Jr.

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done

Smile!

Brody and Mimi

Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.  ~Mother Teresa

It's good to smile!  The world always looks brighter from behind a smile.  Today I thought I post some smiles from some of the pictures I took last week.  And since I love quotes, here are some of my favorite quotes about smiling!  They say smiling is contagious so I hope these bring a smile to your face.

Nanny and Brody

 A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.  ~Phyllis Diller

Me and my mom

 Life is like a mirror, we get the best results when we smile at it.  ~Author Unknown

Brody and Mimi

Everyone smiles in the same language.  ~Author Unknown

Alex and Brody

 Keep smiling - it makes people wonder what you've been up to.  ~Author Unknown

Brody, Pops, and Nanny

 Of all the things you wear, your expression is the most important.  ~Janet Lane

The Brices going to a baseball game

 Smile!  It increases your face value.  ~Robert Harling, Steel Magnolias

Here's me sending a smile to you because everyone deserves a smile given to them daily!

 Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been.  ~Mark Twain 

 A smile costs nothing but gives much.  It enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give.  It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever.  None is so rich or mighty that he cannot get along without it and none is so poor that he cannot be made rich by it.  Yet a smile cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away.  Some people are too tired to give you a smile.  Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give.  ~Author Unknown

Today, give a stranger one of your smiles.  It might be the only sunshine he sees all day.  ~Quoted in P.S. I Love You, compiled by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

I hope all my bloggy friends seize the day with a smile!!!

 

Six Wonderful Years!

As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.  Ecclesiastes 11:5

Thank you God for making Brody!  He has blessed our lives.  

My first time to see and hold Brody.

Our 2 lb. Tiny Wonder

Ryan's first time to hold Brody.

Happy 6th Birthday Brody!  Our "Tiny Wonder" is now a wonderful Big Boy!  He makes us smile, and he is a joy to have around.  Hard to believe how far he has come.  God is so good to us!!!

Our handsome 6 year old!

1st time to wear clothes- 6 weeks old  "Praise Jesus!"

God has taught us so much through Brody.  Because of Brody, I learned to completely depend on God to take care of our needs.  It has not always been an easy journey with Brody, but I would choose to have him again in a heart beat. I know God has a great purpose for him, and it's exciting watching God's plan unfold daily.  What a privilege God gave us to be his parents! 

We have made many awesome memories together, and there are more memories to be made. We had a small party for him on Saturday to celebrate life.  It was a Star Wars theme, and it was fun!

 
Life is good!

Life is precious!

Life is WONDERFUL!

And we are thankful for every moment of it!