Happy Thanksgiving

No matter what the day or evening brings...what sets each moment apart is finding thankfulness. There is always a reason to be thankful. When you can focus on something to be thankful for...it eases the present suffering. Sometimes it cures it.

Spiritually speaking, I have found that thankfulness & praise not only changes the spiritual & physical atmosphere but empowers the spirit too. Thanksgiving isn't just an American holiday..but an attitude and state of being.

The more we find to be thankful for, the MORE we find we have to be thankful for.
Gratitude is always lovely.


366. supportive friends & family of faith
367. a generous church body-family
368. good health
369. amazing children
370. peace that passes understanding
371. faithful prayer partners
372. blessed words to write
373. thrift store deals
374. a new-to-me love seat
375. $1 brownie mixes
376. Winco
377. bulk food selection
378. great grocery deals
379. being able to help others
380. foodbanks
381. Trader Joe's food bank donations
382.the freedom to vote
383. youtube playlists
384. like minded believers
385. an encouraging word in due time
386. Big Lots
387. curved shower curtain bars
388. Ivory soap
389. nightly prayer line
390. spiritual insights
391. catching my first writing break
392. my editor
393. friendly debate
394. understanding
395. positive words of passion
396. watching my 3yo dance
397. childhood memories of holidays past
398. extended family
399. a praying Mother-in-Love
400. grey stripes
401. endurance
402. dreams
403. weekly walks on the beach
404. walks w/ friends
405. Food4Less chocolate chip cookies
406. never knowing true physical hunger
407. free homeschool days @ the Natural History Museum
408. the Psalms
409. reconnecting w/ friends
410. real truth
411. vanilla chai tea
412. licorice spice tea
413. the Holy Spirit
414. pots & pans
415. birthday party invitations
416. YOU
417. the musical stylings of Jesus Culture
418. new found FB sisters in Christ
419. the memory of TMI's boot camp
420. someone to share that memory with
421.  remembering the giant rubber tire mountain
422. the word 'author'
423. dreams that come true
424. John Steinbeck
425. potlucks
426. the kids charter school
427. cheap as-seen-on-tv hooks to hang things on the wall, that actually work
430. scented candles
431. distractions
432. worship
433. endurance
434. safety
435. parents that stayed together
436. witnessing changed lives
437. a mother who chose life
438. stories of restoration
439. good preaching
440. beaded jewelry
441. supportive Mother-in-Love
442. a praying Mother-in-Love
443. PBS television shows
444. scented candles
445. homemade chicken soup



 

Song from my Daughter

My daughter sang this song to me today, accompanied by a miniature guitar the Mr. found at the thrift store.
She wrote it herself. The tune is upbeat and fun...and now *I* want to go to Mars!

I'm Traveling to Mars

Oh, I'm traveling to Mars
Oh, I'm traveling to Mars
Oh, I'm traveling to Mars in a rocket ship that only holds two.

And I wonder if they'll take my paper dollars
Oh, I wonder, wonder, wonder, wonder
wonder, wonder, wonder, wonder, wonder
wonder, wonder, wonder if they'll take my paper dollars.

Cause I really, really, really,
really, really, really,
really, really,  want to get a souvenir for my family.

And I have a magnifying glass
and a microphone
to speak to my family at home.

Oh, I'm traveling to Mars
Oh, I'm traveling to Mars
Oh, I'm traveling to Mars in  a rocket ship that only holds two.

Especially Thankful for #352 & #353

321. nature trails
322. state parks
323. federal parks
324. empty campsites
325. dreams
326. prophetic words
327. encouraging words
328. new insights into God's Word
329. future jobs
330. that I have never been starving
331. I have never been homeless
333. cheap fun
334. unexpected rocky waters to wade in
335. an honest pastor
336. generosity of others
337. friends that seek to hear & obey God
338. my 8 yo-but paid for-van
339. sheer curtains that let  the sun shine in
340. full moons
341. shooting stars
342. backyard bonfires
343. flexible schedules
344. 2 camping tents
345. air mattresses
346. the love of camping
347. a photobucket account filled w/ visual memories
348. monarch butterflies in my backyard
349. free parking near the beach
350. my favorite pink, school logo sweat shirt
351. my new writing job
352. finding out the guy sitting next to you in church was once in jail for murder
353. realizing THAT is the meaning behind the verse 'love covers a multitude of sins.'
354. grace that allows others to perceive me as stronger than I am
355. wisdom when needed
356. forgiving children
357. the ability to keep on keeping on
358. adversity that builds character
359. a steady stream of memories that prove God's faithfulness in my life
360. friends willing to listen
361. friends willing to pray
362. new friends
363. finding unconditional love in unexpected places
364. the striped quilt my dad let me have--just because I liked it
365. my dad. period.

Summer Version: Poem of the Month

 The Summer Day 
 Mary Oliver 


 Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean-
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down-
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?












 

I am still thankful.

It's been awhile...but I am still counting my blessings.

274. graduating
275. the way God worked out all my classes during a very stressful time in my life.
276. the support of very generous friends who provided the menu for my graduation party.
277. the fact that I have never been homeless.
278. I have never been starving.
279. God's provision.
280. encouragement from unexpected places.
281. gift cards for a special treat.
282. fine point pens for journalling.
283. Target clearance aisles.
284. the diligent prayers of prayer warriors.
285. car insurance.
286. being able to afford this month's car insurance.
287. a car accident that had minimal damage.
288. grace under pressure.
289. God's gentle character training.
290. meeting new sisters in Christ.
291. a home full of love.
292. a heart full of love.
293. tears.
294. a camera on my phone.
295. brownies.
296. a son who is a fine young man.
297. a heart of prayer.
298. fresh strawberries.
299. freshly bathed children.
300. free parking @ the beach.
301. close parking spaces.
302. giant inflatable inner tubes.
303. God's unconditional love.
304. that God is the same yesterday, today & forever.
305. cheap dog food from Winco.
306. Winco. period.
307. my preschooler's smiling face greeting me every morning.
308. Joann's fabric coupons.
309. lovely printed paper.
310. long term friends.
311. my brother & his family.
312. the fragrant scent of jasmine.
313. that I'm finished w/ school....for now.
314. vacation memories.
315. friends that always bring the focus back to our creator.
316. that I was the only person in my car for the accident yesterday.
317. that the car seat was not in the car during the accident.
318. that the Mr. happen to drive by when he did.
319. that he was able to stop & pull over to assist me.
320. being broke.

I am truly thankful for all that I have. My heart is full to over-flowing w/ gratefulness. I am blessed to see God's hand moving....& even blessed when I can't see it but still believe He is at work in my life.

What are you thankful for today? When I am at my lowest...I seek to be thankful and through the process of thanksgiving...it takes me out of that low place. When I am patient in the dark moments--the light reveals itself and the dark passes. I need not give in to it. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.