Tulip Greetings

This is one of my favorite recent edits.
Since some of you use these “Little Inspirations” photos for emails and printed cards,
I added a few different greetings to this one.

You are welcome to share.

This is often referred to as the “You Are Special” Psalm
Psalm 139

…may the LORD reward you for your kindness…
Ruth 1:8

Let Him have all your worries and cares,
for He is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you.
I Peter 5:7

Thankful Hearts

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Thank y’all for stopping by to visit Little Things.
May your life be filled with little blessings, little chuckles,
and little deeds of kindness (both given and received)!
♥
I hope all of you have a wonderful day tomorrow…
be safe if you travel…
and may every day be a day of thanksgiving
for all the blessings we have received.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In Everything Give Thanks

This is a repeat of a previous post.

Many of our family members and friends are going through some very rough patches right now.
I hope the words in this message will help to encourage you during this holiday season
when it’s hard to feel festive and joyous.
If you’re blessed to be doing OK right now,
perhaps you know of someone else who could be encouraged by these thoughts.

- – - – -

In everything give thanks.
I Thessalonians 5:18

It’s easy for us to be thankful when things are going well.
We don’t always take time to express our gratitude to God as we should,
but we don’t actually find it difficult to do.

However, in tough times,
when we can’t even feel that God is with us,
how are we supposed to feel thankful?

There is wonderful joy ahead,
even though you have to endure many trials
for a little while.
I Peter 1:6

In His kindness God called you to share in
His eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus.
So after you have suffered a little while,
He will restore, support, and strengthen you –
and He will place you on a firm foundation.
I Peter 5:10

We can find hope and gratitude in the promise that He is working in our lives –
even through the hard times –
and that He will one day restore us to a place where we will be able to feel thankful again.

No matter how hard life is for us,
if we really search our hearts,
we will find that every day can be a day of thanksgiving.

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Thank y’all for stopping by to visit Little Things.
May your life be filled with little blessings, little chuckles,
and little deeds of kindness (both given and received)!
♥
Don’t forget to reach out to others who may be lonely or ill
or suffering in some other way this Thanksgiving…
and are hungrier for a loving touch than for a turkey dinner!
May we all find ways to express our gratitude to God…
and may we be aware, even in the midst of our troubles,
that we all have something to be thankful for — every day!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Sunday Evening Smiles

We got RAIN today, and that has brought smiles to everyone in our little part of the world!!!

Of course, we are still in a severe drought, but this is the first really soaking rain our community has had in months –
and we are very grateful.
We enjoyed watching the birds splashing in the water.
I’m sure the rest of our resident wildlife had a refreshing day, as well!

- – - – -

I found a news article online yesterday that was really special.
Our daughter shared it last night on her blog.
I’m going to be a copycat and post it here!

I don’t think she’ll mind –

This is a beautiful “Cinderella story”
that won’t take long to read,
but I’m pretty sure it will warm your heart.
There are some cute pictures, too, of a beautiful young lady.
Check out her story here at “Dreams Come True.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Thank y’all for stopping by to visit Little Things.
May your life be filled with little blessings, little chuckles,
and little deeds of kindness (both given and received)!
♥
I hope you have enjoyed your weekend…
and that you have had at least a few little reasons to smile.
Have a good Monday, everybody!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Random Quotes

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

A smile is a powerful weapon; you can even break ice with it.
Author Unknown

You’re never fully dressed without a smile.
Martin Charnin

A glad heart makes a cheerful face…
Proverbs 15:13a

What if the only things we had today were what we thanked God for yesterday?
Author Unknown

Sometimes it seems the things we find hardest to be thankful for
are actually what God uses to bring us His best blessings.
me

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Thank y’all for stopping by to visit Little Things.
May your life be filled with little blessings, little chuckles,
and little deeds of kindness (both given and received)!
♥
…and may you always be thankful enough to smile
…even if you have to smile through tears.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Before you leave, here’s a blog you might enjoy.

I just read Lissa Rabon’s post from the Texas Hill Country.
Our state’s severe drought continues, and her family has been searching for hay for their cattle.
Her husband finally located some in Louisiana,
and it arrived this morning.
I think they’re pretty grateful and joyful about today’s delivery!
Lissa’s post includes some very interesting first-hand information about the cattle and drought situation,
as well as wonderfully descriptive comments about her relationship with their animals.
“The Louisiana Round Bales have arrived…”

♦

– and here’s ONE more I just found –

MJ has a heart-warming post on the joys found in everyday life
on Joy

♦

OK.  I’d better let you go.
I’m sure I could find more good ones to share…
but as my southern sistas would say, “I have to wash the supper dishes!”
Hope y’all have a good weekend!

Crepe Paper Petals

If you’ve seen my drought pictures recently,
you might have an idea why this is a beautiful little scene to us(!)

We woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of raindrops on the roof!
The thunderstorm didn’t last long,
but we got maybe half an inch of rain –
the most we’ve had in quite a while.

This morning the ground under the crepe myrtle trees was decorated
with what look like little crepe paper petals washed off the branches by the rain.
If you look closely, you’ll also notice that the driveway still looks damp
instead of dry and dusty, as usual!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Thank you, God, for Your refreshing gift of rain.
Thank You that, in Your time, You will send us more!
♥
…and thank you all for stopping by to visit Little Things.
May your life be filled with little blessings, little chuckles,
and little deeds of kindness (both given and received)!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~