Thankful Thursday

It's my favorite blogging day of the week, Thankful Thursday. I'm linking up with Jen over at Overflowing With Thankfulness, who continues to host the link up as Rebecca Jo is still on a blogging sabbatical.

This week I am thankful...

** Everything is coming together for my church's back-to-school bash this Saturday evening. We are a small church, but we are prepared with school supplies for 200 children and thanks to donations from generous local businesses and individuals, we have very nice prize baskets to award, a $250 gift card for the teacher the kids vote as their favorite, free food, and most important...100 free copies of the Action Bible (it's a great Bible done in comic form to interest kids) as well as copies of The Kindergarten Bible for younger kids. There will be live music, a double-dutch jump rope exhibition, and 11 or 12 game booths! The fire department is going to be there, too, with the big hook and ladder truck for the kids to see up close and sit in. It's a big outreach event and for the first time ever, the school has allowed us to hold it on the school property with the hope of drawing more families. Because of the late date, there is no rain date so, please, pray for good weather!

** for a wonderful birthday celebration. I got to spend Saturday with my hubby going to farmers' markets and having a wonderful lunch out. All day Sunday with my grandchildren. And Monday I was treated to lunch by my daughter and overwhelmed with birthday wishes via text and Facebook. Oh, and Tim brought dinner home with him so I didn't have to cook!

** My daughter and I made progress today with sorting things out to sell at the garage sale (not this coming weekend, but the next one) and hauling them up to my mom's garage. I am really being brutal with thinning out all my stuff. I am keeping sentimental stuff for sure, but even with that, I'm really, really looking at it and maybe choosing to only keep a couple of things that are representative of  a whole pile of stuff (like school papers, greeting cards, etc.)

** Our great-nephew checked into Children's Hospital on Tuesday and had the surgery to insert 2 ports for his chemo treatments. Yesterday he had his first IV chemo in the morning and another oral dose in the evening. He did well with them only spiking mild fevers both times in reaction. Today he gets a double dose of what he got yesterday. He's been doing great and has a good attitude for the most part, but yesterday he did give his mom some grief about taking all his medications. It came down to the fact that pretty much everything in his life is out of his control right now and he was trying to control something. They got it worked out, though, and he took his meds.

** For all of you who are praying for him.

** My mom is able to go to her class reunion this weekend. There were only about 60 in her graduating class and there aren't too many of them left or of those left, who can travel. They are marking 60 years! Yikes! That's a reminder that this year marks 40 since I graduated. How can that be?!

I would, however, welcome your prayers for me while she is gone. She is leaving her dog with us. The dog is sweet, but...well...a bit of a hyperactive idiot. It's always a bit rough when she stays, but this time I have a cat. Mom's dog had never met a cat until we introduced her to mine a couple of weeks ago. Let's just say it did not go well. I imagine my poor cat will spend the entire time behind the couch hissing and growling. Mom's dog doesn't learn or give up so I'm afraid at some point she will either go after my cat or the cat will lay into her. Pray they both come through the weekend okay...and that my house survives!

** The feel of fall in the air and the coming season of pumpkin spice flavored everything!

** and I'm thankful for each one of you!