“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:31
Someone once dumped over 50 old truck tires down in our lower field near the lovely stream that runs through our woods. I must confess that it made me really angry when I first found out about it. But God turned it into the most amazing blessing. When our grandchildren discovered the tires they turned them into boats and had the most wonderful time playing on them. 
Sometimes we just need to look at things through the eyes of a child. The creative imagination of children enables them to enjoy the simple things of life. Watching them melted my anger and filled me with laughter. 
I am reminded how God can take an old worn out and seemingly useless life and renew it making something beautiful and useful that fulfills his purpose and glorifies him. What about you, dear reader. Has God turned one of your problems into an unexpected blessing?
Another unexpected blessing 
I received some time ago was to be nominated for the One Lovely Blog award. Unexpected blessings are a gift from God and since I have unexpectedly discovered so many blogs that have blessed my heart, I wanted to give my readers an opportunity to also have their hearts blessed by some of them.
First of all I want to give a big thank you to and recommend that you visit the blog ilovesunsetsbythesea.wordpress.com, which nominated me for this award. Her post One Sunny Day has breathtaking pictures and Lessons From a Little Girl Named Jaja will inspire you to talk with and pray for those you meet when you travel.
Here are the guidelines for accepting this award:
1. Link back to the blogger who nominated you. 2. Paste the award image on your blog, anywhere. 3. Tell them 7 facts about yourself. 4. Nominate 15 other blogs you like for this award. 5. Contact the bloggers that you have chosen to let them know that they have been nominated.
So, in accordance with the rules of the award, here are 7 facts about myself (this is the hardest part!):
1. I worked as a librarian in our small town library in the summer and on Saturdays when I was growing up. I was happy to be making a $1.00 and hour.
2. Reading beautiful and inspiring books has always been a favorite way I like to spend my time.
3. One of my favorite books growing up was “The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
4. I love to read and look at the pictures in gardening books. One of my favorites is “Tasha Tudor’s Garden” with text by Tovah Martin. Another favorite garden book of mine is “Monet’s Passion” by Elizabeth Murray. Looking at pictures of beautiful gardens is a delight to the soul!
5. I love to bake homemade bread – it makes the house smell so good. I never can resist cutting a slice and eating it while it is still warm with butter melting on it.
6. I was afraid to get a microwave for years after they came out for fear it would cause my family health problems. My children still laugh and tease me about this.
7. I love to paint landscapes of God’s beautiful creation and can totally forget the time when I’m painting.
Now I would like to nominate some of the blogs that have blessed my heart over and over again with their inspiring posts. It is very possible that many of them have already received this award but even if that is the case, I just wanted to give my readers an opportunity to discover their posts because I am sure that their hearts will also be blessed by what they read.
I would like to thank each one of you and my prayer is that you will continue to bless others with each of your posts.
illumylife 
My kids LOVED turning those old tires into boats! I’m sure it will be one of their favorite memories of fun times at Grammy and Daddo’s house! 🙂
Your children (our grandchildren) are such a blessing to us. Thanks for your comment and have a beautiful week!
“Sometimes we just need to look at things through the eyes of a child.” oh yes…so very true! Striving with you for the faith and vision of a child…
What kind of medium do you like when you paint? I love painting contemporary landscapes with watercolor that I add details with acrylic over on canvas. So relaxing and a perfect time to reflect on His amazing creation!
And I’m always blessed by you and am completely humbled you’d include me in this list of amazing bloggers. Thank you so much!
I use to paint in oils but now I enjoy using acrylics because they are so much less messy and dry quickly. I do so agree that it is the perfect time to reflect on God and the wonders of His creation. May you have a blessed and relaxing week.
Joy
what a lovely and true reflection: yes, to look imaginatively through the eyes of a child…praying that today…thank you, Joy, for giving us a glimpse into your life…what a gift to be able to paint, and homemade bread…how yummy!
Thank you for the honor of being included in a list with such wonderful bloggers…grateful, Joy 🙂
Children have so much to teach us I am always learning something new. Have a beautiful week.
Joy
What fun! Free boats!! I can understand your anger, though, as your pristine woodland was desecrated by those nasty oily black things….but, then…they turned into magical ships!! rafts, pontoons, canoes….fantastic tools for imaginations to go wild sweetie!! I love how our grandkids keep imagination alive in us. Makes you wonder if the person dumping the tires were actually following God’s leading??….nah, I don’t think so…however He made good out of their evil. Joy, I’ll have you know that I now have a real craving for hot bread….sigh…it’ll pass…maybe finding me a tad of lunch will make the cravings go away faster!! LOL
Hi Donna, I like the way you said that , “Our grandkids keep imagination alive in us.” How very true. Blessings to you.
Joy
from one Joy to another…. I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but I prefer to keep my blog award free. I truly appreciate the nomination, but I regretfully and respectfully decline. If you prefer, you can remove the link to to my blog, I will understand. Thank you anyway!!
I understand completely and I shall keep the link to your blog because I want others to find it and enjoy it as much as I do. Blessings.
Joy
very kind of you.
I love what they did with the tires! Reminds me of my childhood spent exploring the creek. And you are so sweet to nominate me! I am humbled and appreciative. Thanks so much!
You must have had a wonderful childhood. Would love to hear about it sometime. Have a beautiful week!
Joy
Joy, thank you so much for including me in your list…I am beyond humbled. I’ll do my best to blog about this sometime this week but If you don’t hear back from me, know that I will be writing about it soon. Take care and blessings to you!
Oh, love what they came up with the tires and I wish I could paint 🙂
You are so welcome and it took me a couple of months before I responded to the nomination. Hope you have a blessed and joy filled week!
Joy
Did I ever say thank you, from the deep down places of my heart, for your kind words and for nominating me. Humbled. Thank you. Thank you for reading along on this journey with me and for your encouragement here. Hope I told you, but it was pressing on my heart to tell your now. Bless you day, whatever it hold, may it be full of rich joy and drip with His grace, elizabeth
Thank you for your beautiful words and I enjoy your blog so much. Your post on “when a glimpse is not enough” blessed my heart. You have such a beautiful spirit and may your day be filled with His grace as well.
Joy
Sigh 🙂