Thankfulness for the last week

Wow am I way behind. I would like to give thanks for last Saturday, that:
1/ That I was able to catch up on things around the house.
2/ I was able to spend some time in quiet reflection.
3/ I was able to spend some time looking after my sick wife.
4/ I was able to spend some time with Nathan.
5/ I was able to catch up on a few other jobs.

Sunday, I am thankful for:
1/ A very good conversation with Nathan in the car.
2/ Time with Carolanne.
3/ That the George Forman meals are still going well.
4/ I had time to play with Nathan in the afternoon.
5/ We had a relaxing night.

Monday, I am thankful for:
1/ Some productive times at work.
2/ Some crisis at work were resolved.
3/ I went with Carolanne to the shops and she took a great photo from the car park (see her blog).
4/ We had some great family time together.
5/ We caught up on family time.

Tuesday I am thankful for:
1/ Time spent preparing for the working bee.
2/ The working bee which was most profitable.
3/ I finally got my glasses as I was able to go to the Optomerist on my day off.
4/ A productive afternoon as Nathan and a girl from Carolanne's class helped me to pain the building.
5/ A good meeting with some people who I am intending to help in a voluntary capacity this year.

Wednesday I am thankful for:
1/ A court case for an eviction didn't turn out as bad as expected.
2/ Some productive times during the morning.
3/ Some issues were resolved with clients. I talked to one client about the opportunity to take some responsibility. I met with this client in jail one year a go and she promised to change. Unfortunately not much has changed, but maybe this time.
4/ A good Board meeting.
5/ A proposal I have been working on was given the green-light.

Thursday I am thankful for:
1/ Some resolution to a difficult family at work.
2/ Some productivity during the day.
3/ The difficult family were given a reprieve from eviction and I am able to put conditions on this which will help them.
4/ There was another good outcome for another client.
5/ I was able to start preparing for the Australia Day lunch with my family.

Friday I am thankful for:
1/ The preparations went well for the lunch.
2/ A great time with my family for the Christmas lunch a month late. Almost all came.
3/ That my niece and her husband and daughter seemed to like the presents I got them for the Kris Kringle.
4/ That the catering worked out well. I am not used to catering for that numter.
5/ That I had a great time catching up with all family members. I also had a great time looking through the photo albumns that we dig out once a year. My nephew's wife was suffering from post-natal last year, and seems to be much better now. It was good to talk to other family members too. It was nice that Russell came to visit at the end of the day, that Nathan got a ride on the bike and that he and my sister and brother-in-law got to see Carolanne's school.

Thankfulness for Thursday and Friday

I would like to give thanks for on Thursday:
1/ Being able to finally resolve the crisis from the day before. Also, for God intervening that before I had to confront, the client's attitude had changed.
2/ For others who I have built relationships with and help me with my work.
3/ For an opportunity to meet with a young boy who needs some guidance and direction in his life.
4/ For a good meeting with a group of people I am exploring an idea with.
5/ For time with my son and family.

I would like to give thanks for Friday, that:
1/ The opportunity to go for a run each morning.
2/ I had an opportunity to catch up with filing while the computers were down.
3/ I was able to help somebody from a different department and their client with a problem they were having by organising a meeting with the Office of Housing.
4/ That a very sad situation had some happiness. I had arranged to pick up one of the girls from the camp and take her and her father home. However, this family had another crisis last night, and the father and mother were in children's court all day. All the other parents were there to greet their children, but once again this little girl had her needs overshadowed by the "out of control" older brothers. The thankfulness part, is the children sang some songs they had learnt on the camp (Christian songs that Carolanne sings with her children at school). The little girl obviously bonded with the leaders and she can go back to the camp for the next 3 years. There is some light in this girl's life.
5/ We had a nice tea and time together as a family.

Mid Week Catch Up

Wow-I am a bit behind, so here is my catch-up:
Monday--I give thanks for:
1/ I dropped a child off at the church for the camp, and met with two other clients and their children. It was quite amusing seeing the "clean-cut" leaders and the clients in the same context. The parents seemed deeply appreciative of the church supplying a free camp.
2/ I was able to sort some other things at work.
3/ Nathan had a good time on his camp and that was a real blessing.
4/ We had a good time watching the Waltons.
5/ I got some good sleep.

Tuesday--I give thanks for:
1/ I had a beneficial conversation with a Real Estate Agent.
2/ I got a good response from a client about joing a group that will help her new learn patterns of relating to others.
3/ We had a good time at McDonalds.
4/ I was able to help Carolanne clean out things in her room.
5/ We had a good time sharing together.

Wednesday--I give thanks for:
1/ One of the clients who has had a long pattern of unhealthy relationships, told me how much better it is to be working cooperatively and being truthful.
2/ Another client has joined the A.O.G and is finding this helpful in overcoming her drug addiction.
3/ I was able to avert a crisis (with God's help) when I got called to the Office of Housing to settle a situation down.
4/ The George Forman Lean Mean Grilling Machine meals are still a hit with the family.
5/ I was proud of my son and a friend when they discovered a power pole making noise and Nathan thought to record the power pole number on his mobile phone.

Serene Sunday

I am thankful for:
1/ A message on thinking yesterday, which was good to be reminded of.
2/ Time to talk to my wife in the car about a range of subjects.
3/ A relaxing afternoon.
4/ The purchase of a skipping rope with a counter (for $3 from Bi-Lo) which will help in my quest to keep up with my son.
5/ Getting everything organised for the week ahead.

Thankfulness for Saturday

Reasons to be thankful include; (in chronological order):

1/ I forgot that when Kevin arranged to come the other day that it was his birthday. I rang him in the morning and was going to offer to change it but he wasn't home. I appreciated his help in finishing the fencing job and his on-going friendship.
2/ Nathan and I do an excercise program which is connected to his playstation and eye-toy. I did Nathan's for him and I did my own. Technology has many benefits.
3/ We had a lovely time at the show. It was interesting to see the variou exhibits and it was great that some of Carolanne's students had exhibits.
4/ I am making progress with my lean-mean George Forman grilling machine. I was really happy with tea (if I don't say so myself). A low fat meal was very filling.
5/ We had a lovely night seeing A Night at the Mueseum. It was very different to what I imagined. I enjoyed spending the time with Carolanne, too.

Why I Am Thankful Today

Today I give thanks for:

1. God watches over me each day as I travel.
2. I organised for a client's child to go on a camp for "disadvantaged children". The client was desperate for her child to go on the camp. It took me ages to find out about the camp, then it took some time for the camp leader to get back to me. However, the camp leader then emailed me and asked if I had girls aged 7-11 who qualified for the criteria and wanted to go. I checked out a few other families. To be honest these things are a lot of mucking around. But, when I saw the face of the young girls who are going they were so excited about the possibility of going. One young girl had already packed her bag in the hope she may be able to go. I was so relieved when the camp leader said they could come.
3. This camp is actually run by a group of Christians. I work for a secular organisation. I recognise that I am in a position of power and that my opinion carrys a lot of weight in the client's eyes. Seeing as a I don't work for a Christian organisation, I have to be careful that I don't mis-use my position (some of my predeccessors have reportedly done this). But, this camp meets the work requirements and it is a bonus that these young girls will hear a Christian message in the context of the camp. I am thankful for this.
4. Speaking of camps I am thankful that our son is on a camp this weekend. This backs up on his involvement in Beach Mission for the last week and a half. I am thankful he is so keen to go and he can be involved in this way.
5. I am thankful for time with my wife in going out for tea and watching the movie. The movie was the Queen and it was very eye-opening. It helped me to understand English culture a lot better and it was interesting about politics and protocol. In light of that I read Psalm 12 after we got home, and this is what it said: "Lord! Help! Godly men are fast disappearing. Where in all the world can dependable men be found? Everyone deceives and flatters and lies. There is no sincerity left..." I am thankful for God's perspective that is above all human wisdom.

I Am Thankful For

I am thankful for:

1/ That I am still able to catch up on a back log at work.
2/ That one of my clients was talking about the benefits of truth telling and treating other people with respect. If you knew where she had come from, this was hugely significant.
3/ That Carolanne's family came to join with us.
4/ That we have finalised arrangements for Nathan to get to his camp.
5/ That Nathan's cousin gave Nathan some exercises which can help him achieve his goal of "slam dunking".

Thankfulness

I would like to give thanks for:

1/ Having some breathing space at work to catch up on back log a little bit.
2/ Meeting and getting to know some new people.
3/ That some clients seem to gain insight so they can build on a better foundation for the future.
4/ For an experience at K.F.C, that gave my wife another great story to add to her repertoire.
5/ For going to the SUFM concert and seeing all the children and teenagers perform.

Thanks for Tuesday

I would like to give thanks for the following for Tuesday:

1/ For good health for our family.
2/ That our son enjoys the Beach Mission so much and enthusiastically participates in wholesome activities. Unfortunately, I see many children who are involved in self-destructive behaviour in my work.
3/ That my wife had a good day yesterday.
4/ For a stimulating and helpful discussion at a meeting at work yesterday.
5/ For a good time with friends and time to talk to my wife in the car.

My Reasons To Be Thankful

I have talked about the benefits of thankfulness, but have got slack on the practice in recent years.
So, here are my five for today:

1/ For a supportive work environment—Even though I am a bit restless in my current job that I am not sure about, I do appreciate the people I work with.
2/ For my wife and son and being able to talk to them and share with them today.
3/ For the laughs which I receive from my wife, my son and from listening to the radio.
4/ For our dog who is so cheerful and obediently comes for a run with me every morning.
5/ For some good things that have happened in clients lives while I have been on holiday.