I can't believe it's been a whole year since I started my month of praises posts. I started in August of 2006 when Sheri from blogspot created a "What makes you Happy" post. The idea being that each day of the month you post something that makes you happy. I decided that instead of posting something that makes me happy, I would look for all the ways God has blessed me and begin keeping track of His blessings on a daily basis, so that when I was in a desert place in my spiritual life, or if I felt like He wasn't listening, I could look back and see all the many ways in which he has truly  blessed and answered prayers. Now I have 365 days of blessings from God to look back on and here, besides sharing in detail the blessings from July, I want to share some of the monthly highlights. If you want to read more about my month of praises posts just click on the Month of Praises category in my sidebar.

August 2006

 My son's sense of humor even after just having surgery, having someone you've never met before tell you they've been praying for you everyday, watching the schoolbuses go by and knowing God has called me to keep my children home.

September 2006

 My car brokedown in driveway before going on a day trip, instead of in the middle of the trip, being able to attend the convocation ceremony as my first son begins his first year at college, going to the beach in the middle of a schoolday and meeting some new homeschool families, an essay written about home as a college writing assignment, having a contract renewed that we were told was being cancelled.

October 2006

 Watching a praying mantis devour it's dinner, God's awesome creation, free firewood, having clean laudry in the car when my daughter got sick, having the money to attend family weekend at my sons college, an unexpected scholarship and financial gift to help with sons college expenses, getting a property tax refun large enough to pay current taxes due.

November 2006

 Being able to attend a womens retreat for a night with my mom, a silly welcome home from my husband, my four year old asking me to look at him and smile and say good morning, delivery of more free firewood, opportunity to talk to school officials about starting a Good News Club in the public school, finding rosebuds on my rosebush in the middle of November.

December 2006

 Getting an extra check just in time for Christmas, brand new air purifier given to us to help dh and dd's allergies, promise of funding to help with Good News Club expenses, free movie showing at a local theatre, Good News Club started, waking up and finding my 11 year old reading his Bible.

January 2007

 Unexpected check in the mail, exuberant phonecall from 7 year old friend, promise of raise and extra hours for hubby, scholarship money available for ds16 to attend TeenPact in April, holding a prayer meeting in a public school, discovery of the neti pot and finally being able to breathe freely after a lifetime of decongestants, dh's step of faith and decision to attend a mission trip with two oldest sons.

February 2007

 Spontaneous praise from a six year old in Sunday School class, our 23 year old monitor heater is still running and heating our home, ds4 did not get sick from salmonella tainted peanut butter, dh's unexpectedly calm reaction to a very stressful situation, new bedroom set given to us including much needed twin bed for ddd8 who was still sleeping in toddler bed.

 March 2007

 Free plowing done by a kind neighbor who saw me trying to shovel the driveway, outdoor winter picnic and hike on the lake, able to pay off almost half of our personal credit card debt, another unexpected check in the mail to help cover expenses,  being able to attend a marriage conference at the request of my husband, having my husband take my hand and ask me to pray with him.

April 2007

 Tulips from a dear friend, surprise dinner cooked by my 16 year old, having one of my Sunday School students say "I Love You," ds16 nominated to National Honor Society, finally had money to buy a new tent for camping, being given a clean bill of health from my doctor.

May 2007

 Hearing 16 year old give Godly challenges to other teens, hearing memebers from another church tell me they have been praying for me, ds19 given an all expense paid trip to Europe, dd8 raised $770.00 for crisis pregnancy center, unsolicited check to go towards mission trip, came from uncle who claimed to be atheist.

June 2007

 Night time fieldtrip and discovering new frogs in pond, having friends to trade curriculum with to save on expenses,  ds19 made the Dean's list for his entire first year at school, anonymous donor financing remainder of D.R. trip,

July 2007

July 1 ~ day off from teaching, music in the park, afternoon nap
July 2 ~ veggies look like they doubled their growth overnight, nice afternoon showers to water everything, a rainbow
July 3 ~ Finally found some blogging time, got to sleep in late, ds4 dry two mornings in a row, got to watch Facing the Giants for the first time, new favorite movie
July 4 ~ parades, picnics, horseshoes, strawberry pie and family
July 5 ~ passports came in the mail
July 6 ~ found Wordsmith craftsman for 25 cents at a book sale
July 7 ~ major thunderstorms held off just long enough for us to finish selling our berries
July 8 ~ able to hear my husbands testimony about why he chose to go on mission trip
July 9 ~ first day of Camp Cornerstone for dd8 and ds11, spent day alone with ds4
July 10 ~ nice heart to heart talk with ds19,
July 11 ~ last minute shopping done for DR trip
July 12 ~ tea party with ds4, job offer to make up some of money lost while husband is away, going away dinner
July 13 ~ trip to airport and home without any problem
July 14 ~ card from my secret sister letting me know she's praying for me daily
July 15 ~ great VBS closing program and picnic, fellowship with some ladies I grew up in church with, but no longer attend same church with, everyone to bed early
July 16 ~ time at the park with dd8 and ds4, dd8 wrist is completely healed
July 17 ~ fun package from my secret sister, great night on the island with dd8 and ds4 and some good friends
July 18 ~ card from my secret sister, delicious supper cooked by my mom,
July 19 ~ card from my secret sister, call from my husband, reassurance that the DR trip is gong well, treated to lunch by mother in law
July 20 ~ portfolio done, turned in and returned, complete set McGuffy readers for $20.00
July 21 ~ ds11 home from camp, had a great week,
July 22 ~ DR team, hubby and two boys arrived home well, and excited about missions
July 23 ~ two calls from friends made in the DR great encouragement to hubby and sons
July 24 ~ lady helping with some of hubby's work, refused payment, no lost money because of trip, praise God! ds19 came up with a 6 or 7 pound bass he caught, very excited, five hours alone with hubby, stroll on the beach, dinner
July 25 ~ got to watch a Bard owl in the woods out back, beautiful bird
July 26 ~ feelings of falling in love all over again after 23 wonderful years of marriage
July 27 ~ beginnings of open and honest communication with my dear hubby
July 28 ~ got to visit with my sister, her daughter and grandson from New York, as well as other family members
July 29 ~ got to hear wonderful testimonies from the mission team, relaxing day at the beach, find over 100 hermit crabs
July 30 ~ beginnings of a renewed relationship with my husband
July 31 ~ encouraging email from mission team guides