A Compilation of Blessings in Belgium...

One of the things Rebecca taught and demonstrated so well to me while I was with her in Belgium was how important and influential and attitude of gratitude is. And so, with that in mind, I've created a compilation of 13 weeks' worth of gratitude, praise, and blessings from my Bit 'o time in Belgium to remind me how wonderful, faithful, and amazing our God is!!!

~ MB

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Week 1
* Safe travels to get here* The kind and loving treatment, relationships, and peace in this household I am in* The relationships I am forming and people I am getting to know* The NEW sights, tasks, experiences, people, places, foods... new just about everything! * Surviving my first full week here without any major physical, emotional, spiritual, or mental breakdowns!* The "heart surgery" God's doing on and in me during this time... painful, but good. :-)* The gift of a dear family to miss*The blessing of dear friends to miss* A God that precedes and follows everywhere I go

Week 2
* Another full week gone by smoothly and happily* The peace and comfortable-ness (new word :-) I have felt here since the first few days* My wonderful friends and family who have been keeping me updated on life at home with pictures, letters, cards, and stories (Thank You!!!) * The beautiful weather and town to walk in and admire. What a neat place to get to live for 3 months!* The French I am gradually picking up and enjoying practicing (please don't ask me to say anything though... it's so Frenglais! :-) * The faithfulness of God every day... His mercies are new every morning!

Week 3
* The grace of God for me to be here, be happy, at peace, and enjoy what I am doing!* Another full week gone by smoothly and happily!* My wonderful friends and family who I am priviliged to miss! (Missing people is hard, but not having people to miss would be even harder!) * The letters, notes, e-mails, pictures, and encouragement I have received from friends and family members!* The beautiful weather, town, country, and continent to get to be in!* The life, ability, and provision God has given for me to do and be where I am right now!

Week 4
* The beautiful weather* The smoothness and peace of this week, even with a change in "typical" schedule and all the people coming and going* The wonderful people I'm getting to meet* The example of love, life, joy, and living the journey with Rebecca * The knowledge I am gaining here in areas so different from those I had at home* The ability to communicate with "all ya'll" at home and throughout the U.S.!
Week 5
* A healing wrist and good health!
* The amazing people I'm getting to meet and learn about!
* The example Rebecca is to all of us!
* The knowledge and experiences I am gaining here in areas so different from those I had at home
* The ability to communicate with "all ya'll" at home and throughout the U.S.!
* The beauty of this place and the world we live in!

Week 6
* The opportunity to sight-see a little!!!
* The amazing people I'm getting to meet and learn about!
* The giving of time and self from other people, which has allowed me to see and do what I have!
* The knowledge and experiences I am gaining here in areas so different from those I had at home
* The ability to communicate with "all ya'll" at home and throughout the U.S.!
* The beauty of this place and the world we live in!
* The amazing privilige it is to be here in this place, doing what I'm doing, with the people I'm with!
* The surprising enjoyment I have found in the challenge of learning and practicing a bit of the French language!

Week 7
* The time and ability to see the "beauty of simplicity" all around me!
* The amazing people I'm getting to meet and learn about!
* The giving of time and self from other people, which has allowed me to see and do what I have!
* The knowledge and experiences I am gaining here in areas so different from those I had at home
* The ability to communicate with "all ya'll" at home and throughout the U.S.!!
* The amazing privilige it is to be here in this place, doing what I'm doing, with the people I'm with!
* The uniqueness and intrigue of the cultures here and throughout the world that season our lives!
* Good health and physical, spiritual, and mental strength to get through each day!

Week 8
* The opportunity to sight-see a little!!!
* The amazing people I'm getting to meet and learn about!
* The giving of time and self from other people, which has allowed me to see and do what I have!
* The knowledge and experiences I am gaining here in areas so different from those I had at home
* The ability to communicate with "all ya'll" at home and throughout the U.S.!
* The beauty of this place and the world we live in!
* The amazing privilige it is to be here in this place, doing what I'm doing, with the people I'm with!
* The surprising enjoyment I have found in the challenge of learning and practicing a bit of the French language!
* God's faithfulness and grace each and every day...
* Good sleep and less tiredness this week!

Week 9
* The amazing people I'm getting to meet and learn about!
* The giving of time and self from other people, which has allowed me to see and do what I have!
* The knowledge and experiences I am gaining here in areas so different from those I had at home
* The ability to communicate with "all ya'll" at home and throughout the U.S.!
* The beauty of this place and the world we live in!
* The amazing privilige it is to be here in this place, doing what I'm doing, with the people I'm with!
* The surprising enjoyment I have found in the challenge of learning and practicing a bit of the French language!
* God's faithfulness and grace each and every day...
* The abatement of the "mystery itches"! (I actually got several more itchy red spots over the next two days after last week's post, but since then they have all started to heal and disappear and no longer itch... yeah! :-)

Week 10
* The amazing people I'm getting to meet and learn about!
* The giving of time and self from other people, which has allowed me to see and do what I have!
* The knowledge and experiences I am gaining here in areas so different from those I had at home
* The ability to communicate with "all ya'll" at home and throughout the U.S.!
* The beauty of this place and the world we live in!
* The amazing privilige it is to be here in this place, doing what I'm doing, with the people I'm with!
* The surprising enjoyment I have found in the challenge of learning and practicing a bit of the French language!
* God's faithfulness and grace each and every day...
* God's little and big miracles I've gotten to experience and grow in faith through
* The ways I've been "pushed" to grow up and do things I may not have dreamed of doing before this!

Week 11
* The amazing people I'm getting to meet and learn about!
* The giving of time and self from other people, which has allowed me to see and do what I have!
* The knowledge and experiences I am gaining here in areas so different from those I had at home!
* The ability to communicate with "all ya'll" at home and throughout the U.S.!
* The beauty of this place and the world we live in!
* The amazing privilige it is to be here in this place, doing what I'm doing, with the people I'm with!
* The surprising enjoyment I have found in the challenge of learning and practicing a bit of the French language!
* God's faithfulness and grace each and every day...
* God's little and big miracles I've gotten to experience and grow in faith through
* The ways I've been "pushed" to grow up and do things I may not have dreamed of doing before this!
* The ability to be able to capture and share some of this experience through pictures, videos, and e-mails!
* The prayers of my friends and family and the many ways I've seen them answered... faith builders indeed!

Week 12
* The amazing people I'm getting to meet and learn about!* The giving of time and self from other people, which has allowed me to see and do what I have!* The knowledge and experiences I am gaining here in areas so different from those I had at home! * The ability to communicate with "all ya'll" at home and throughout the U.S.!* The beauty of this place and the world we live in!* The amazing privilige it is to be here in this place, doing what I'm doing, with the people I'm with! * The surprising enjoyment I have found in the challenge of learning and practicing a bit of the French language!* God's faithfulness and grace each and every day...* God's little and big miracles I've gotten to experience and grow in faith through * The ways I've been "pushed" to grow up and do things I may not have dreamed of doing before this!* The ability to be able to capture and share some of this experience through pictures, videos, and e-mails! * The prayers of my friends and family and the many ways I've seen them answered... faith builders indeed!* JESSICA arriving safely and doing well so far in the adjustment!* The opportunity to share this experience with a dear friend and also get to spend a few days together before I leave! * 3 months gone by in a blink of an eye... sometimes a blessing, sometimes not so much! :-/

Week 13
* Safe travel back to the United States of America, Ohio, and my family and friends!
* The gift that my friends and family are to me!
* The awesome greeting party awaiting me at the airport!
* A smooth and fascinating transition back into life with my family in the U.S. of A.
* The experience and opportunity I had to do what I did and be where I was...
* The growth, knowledge, and changes that have take place in me over these past 3 months
* The faithfulness of God to be with me at every moment, in every location, and for my entire life!