Wednesday’s Ode #10

April 15, 2015April 15, 2015 / The WheatandTares

Since today marks my 10th Wednesday’s Ode, I’d like to dedicate this one to YOU. Without your desire to read my odes and my blogs, without your encouragement and enthusiasm along the way, these wouldn’t really have much of a point, except to maybe fulfill my own inner need to write and express through those words…

So, today, I say, “Thank You” to all of you who follow these posts and for all who are just now finding my blog. It really means a lot that you would take time out of your busy schedule to read something I’ve written down, and you’ll probably never truly know how deeply you’ve touched my heart.

With this in mind, I have to give my highest praise and tribute to my God who has read every single word and knows every single syllable before it’s even formed on my heart. Through these moments, here on this blog, He has chosen to breathe on me, inspire me, and even heal me through the “pen and paper” in my hand. So, I say, “Thank You, Lord,” for all You’ve done, all You’re doing, and all that You’re going to do!

I am humbled, and I am grateful. Words don’t seem quite adequate to describe. My heart is full. Thank you all. ❤

Thankful for friends

March 10, 2015March 7, 2015 / The WheatandTares

I am currently working on my list of “Gifts of a Thousand” in following the example given by the book, One Thousand Gifts, by Ann Voskamp. You can read and find out more here. Making a list of 1,000 things of which you’re thankful is not such an easy task. Sometimes, I feel I am making great progress; then, at other times, I wonder if my heart is even grateful.

The other night, I was at a restaurant with about 30 ladies from our church, enjoying a Girls Night Out, and this time of fellowship, coupled with thoughts of those who couldn’t be there that evening, inspired quite a few notes on my ‘thankful list.’ I thought it might be fun to share a little of this list with you today, and maybe it could even inspire you to start making your own ‘grateful’ list…

205. Watching someone be surprised when their meal is paid for
206. Hearing nice, decent men tell a group of ladies, “Have a nice evening, ladies!”
207. One waiter serve 30 women their meals both joyfully and graciously
208. A young mother smile through tears; even though, the doctor has said, “no more babies.”
209. A young wife testify, “The name of the Lord is great!” even after two miscarriages and no promise of a single child
210. An recent widow enjoying time out with friends even while she’s still grieving
211. An elderly widow enjoying time with the girls even though she has a tough time hearing while in big crowds
212. An ethnic friend sharing about challenges she’s facing, trusting God is in control
213. A mom to young girls, whose past could offend, but whose faith in God and surrender to His ways will change the greatest scoffer
214. A young grandmother, new to the event, comes on her own just to meet new friends
215. Young college girls being tight friends through thick and thin
216. A seasoned mom/grandmother whose words of wisdom is a cherished treasure
217. A grandmother whose grown children have gone through various tragedies and trials, yet her faith in God cannot be shaken
218. A vibrant grandmother whose young son lost his fight with cancer, yet through her grief, she’s learned to laugh again
219. A mother to three youngsters, all under the age of five, lead women with grace, compassion and poise
220. A grandmother who has a mother in a nursing home, just lost her daughter-in-law to organ rejection and is less than a year removed from her husband having a heart attack, share exciting news of an upcoming cruise
221. A mom of two teenagers who longed to ‘get with the girls’ and couldn’t due to illness, but sends a text of love and “I’ll miss you!”
222. A mom of three youth, who still grieves the loss of her momma, yet has learned to smile again in spite of the pain

These are the women, and many more, who make up my life. Some of them have been friends for years, some I had just met that night, but I still call myself blessed to be surrounded by them. They are women of strength, women of tears and women of God. They are each a piece of this wonderful tapestry called life, and for each of them, I am eternally grateful. 🙂

Wow, Thank YOU!!

March 3, 2015March 3, 2015 / The WheatandTares / 7 Comments

I just happened to on the actual ‘home page’ of The Grizzle Grist Mill today (usually am on the posting//dashboard side), and guess what I saw? 200 FOLLOWERS!! Wow, thanks to YOU, I now have two hundred people following this blog! I am humbly honored. So sweet. Thanks for stopping by for a ‘grind,’ and I do hope you’ll come again! 😉

100 POSTS

October 31, 2014October 31, 2014 / The WheatandTares / 4 Comments

TODAY

marks the day of 100 POSTS on WP!

Wow. I have posted 100 writings in 3 months.

That’s exciting to me…

Thank you to all who have given an encouraging word,

clicked a “happy” like,

or just simply followed my blog incognito

(as “a stalker,” as my good friend said to me yesterday! haha).

YOU

are who have given me the inspiration to continue on this journey of writing,

(and God, of course, HE is my central source!)

even in those moments when I think no one is reading and maybe no one cares.

THANKS FOR JOINING ME ON THIS JOURNEY! 🙂

I Feel Like a Kid In a Candy Shop! (part 2)

October 23, 2014October 31, 2014 / The WheatandTares

I know I posted a note of thanks just a few weeks ago for the 100 likes on my blog; however, tonight, I’d like to say THANK YOU for the 100+ followers (102 as of this posting) of my blog! Having just started this in June, my original goal was 100 followers in a year; so, having received 100+ in only 3 months, I just stand amazed, and I am very humbled. I just want to say, “Thank you” from the depths of my heart! Thank you for your kind words, your encouraging notes and your simple approval “clicks.” You inspire me to extend my goals, to blog more consistently and to believe that I might just have something worth reading out there. Thank you. ❤

I Feel Like a Kid in a Candy Shop!

October 14, 2014October 31, 2014 / The WheatandTares / 6 Comments

My phone “chimes” each time I have a like, comment or follow on my blog. It just chimed for the 200th like on thegrizzlegrist. I’m sure I won’t keep the chime once this blog gets “REALLY” popular (my goal: 100 follows in 6 months), and it desires to chime all through the day; however, while I am still a novice, and it only chimes a few times throughout my day, I feel like a kid at Christmas time. Every chime feels like a little present that says, “You’re on the right path here. You’re following a purpose…His purpose.” It makes me feel like I’m a kid again, and my grandfather has taken me to the candy shop and told me to get what I want. (See more about that on October 6 post, “Bigger Than Life.”)