Today Thanksgiving took on a different meaning. I wask more thankful than I have ever been before.
We made our own Thanksgiving. We did it once before 2 years ago.. but this time we committed to doing it, our own family tradition, every Thanksgiving. Danny and I made a Thanksgiving plan and worked our plan. (I know.. sounds OCD.. Danny humors me) The plan was so neurotic that I kept it to put in a scrapbook. But it was awesome.
It hurt to not be with our extended families.Moms, Dads, brothers, sisters, uncles, Aunts, Grandparents, etc... That's where we've always been. But now we've realized it's time, or long time coming, that we take what we, as parents, loved about our Thanksgivings growing up and share that with our kids to make our own tradition. It was bittersweet. There was a part of Danny and I that held back tears, from onions, missing family, and the overwhelming blessings and feeling we got when we all sat down at our table to eat together....we were like kids in how excited we were to share with them they stuff we loved most about Thanksgiving.
We all cling to the happiness we felt as kids around the Thanksgiving table,the smells, aromas, colors, how warm the house was inside from cooking in comparison to how cold it was outside, the recipes we feel that no one can ever match to our Moms, Grandmas, Dads, Aunts, Uncles, etc.... No one makes it the way they can.. but we sure do try... because those priceless details find a way into our hearts and plead for a way to be shared.... and that's perhaps why we have kids. =)
Thanksgiving is a day for miracles. I actually enjoyed watching my kids, the neighbor kids, and some adults play football in the cul-de-sac... MIRACLE. I got to scrapbook. I wished Happy Thanksgiving to people I haven't talked to in a while, and they wished me one back. MIRACLE. my Danny went to church because he wanted to.... MIRACLE...and then I remember, God has provided, has always provided and is in the business of making MIRACLES.
Everyday should be held as high and magical as Thanksgiving.
I remember this song from when I was a kid, I used to sing it in church...
and this Thanksgiving it takes on a whole new meaning for me...
I will enter his gates with thanksgiving in my heart
I will enter his court with praise
I will say this is the day that the Lord has made
I will rejoice for He has made me glad
with my eyes completely full of salty tears... I am SO GLAD.
by Stevie Marie Armstrong
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
my moment of gratefulness translated into one photo
11-8
Take a picture of one thing, person, place or specific moment that makes you feel grateful. Share it with
your social network.
I share a lot of photos with my social network. lol. but one that I'm particularly grateful for is this one.
Take a picture of one thing, person, place or specific moment that makes you feel grateful. Share it with
your social network.
I share a lot of photos with my social network. lol. but one that I'm particularly grateful for is this one.
gratitude writes
11-7
Take a few minutes to call someone you haven’t talked to in a while. Tell them how much you appreciate them.
I did this but put a twist on it. I wrote a note. I love hand written letters, notes, cards, etc. So I wrote one to a beautiful lady that is somewhat of a mentor to me. I hope she enjoys reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Take a few minutes to call someone you haven’t talked to in a while. Tell them how much you appreciate them.
I did this but put a twist on it. I wrote a note. I love hand written letters, notes, cards, etc. So I wrote one to a beautiful lady that is somewhat of a mentor to me. I hope she enjoys reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
5 mins.
11-6
Take five minutes to write about how grateful you are for all of the wonderful things that you currently have in
your life. Don’t long for what you don’t possess—instead, take stock of all the blessings you already enjoy
I know the things we have are exactly what we need. Of course there are things that we could all think of that we would love to have, however we don't *long* for those things. Instead I pray and, encourage my husband and kids to pray if what they want is what God desires for our life and it can be used as a blessing so that it may glorify God then he will surely make sure we get it. I love that God reveals to us what we need by simply providing the neccessities. LOVE being the biggest of all. I am thankful for all the love in our home.
Take five minutes to write about how grateful you are for all of the wonderful things that you currently have in
your life. Don’t long for what you don’t possess—instead, take stock of all the blessings you already enjoy
I know the things we have are exactly what we need. Of course there are things that we could all think of that we would love to have, however we don't *long* for those things. Instead I pray and, encourage my husband and kids to pray if what they want is what God desires for our life and it can be used as a blessing so that it may glorify God then he will surely make sure we get it. I love that God reveals to us what we need by simply providing the neccessities. LOVE being the biggest of all. I am thankful for all the love in our home.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
hmmm. STUMPED.
11-5
Write a short message of thanks for some of the “negative” things in your life.
this is gonna sound crazy but while I know there are negetives in my life, I can't think of any that really feel heavy, or THAT negetive. . hmmm...
yep, thats all folks.. God makes everything betta.
see ya tomorrow
Write a short message of thanks for some of the “negative” things in your life.
this is gonna sound crazy but while I know there are negetives in my life, I can't think of any that really feel heavy, or THAT negetive. . hmmm...
yep, thats all folks.. God makes everything betta.
see ya tomorrow
grateful for my life today
this was yesterday's
11-4
Write about something you feel grateful for in your life today.
I spent a lot of time in the car on Thursday and Friday, but it was totally worth it. God revealed to me blue-er skies after the rain, a couple of rainbows, some snow capped mountains, great music,a sandwich and some peace for the ride home.
11-4
Write about something you feel grateful for in your life today.
I spent a lot of time in the car on Thursday and Friday, but it was totally worth it. God revealed to me blue-er skies after the rain, a couple of rainbows, some snow capped mountains, great music,a sandwich and some peace for the ride home.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
day 2 gratitude challenge
11-3
Use the alphabet as a fun and quick format for making a list of things for which you feel grateful. Share this list
with your social network through email, a blog post or a Facebook
A} ancestory - I am thankful to know who I am and where I come from.
B} boys- dirty smelly sweaty boys who call me "Mum"
C} clearance
D} danny - my danny
E} Eating together as a family
F} Frankenstien- knowing there's someone else there that looks worse than me, some days, makes me feel a little better.
G} Good Mornings, Good afternoons, Good evenings, & Good nights
H} humbling myself before the Lord in prayer
I} Ice cream- did you really think I was going to put anything else???
J} Jesus- he died for my sins
K} kids- singing kids especially
L} Lenses- I have children that wear glasses and I am grateful for scratch resistent lenses!
M} mascara- without it I would look too wierd. (so you should be thankful that I have it too)
N} needs- I am thankful that our needs are ALWAYS met. ALWAYS
O} opportunites
P} Pinterest- that's right! I SAID IT! PINTEREST.
Q} quilts - they're heirlooms
R} running
S} salvation
T} today
U} unanswered prayers
V} vehicle- our beat up old work truck feels like home.
W} worship - worship speaks to me
X} x-ray machines (cause goodness knows we need 'em with the kids we have in this family)
Y} YOU. I am grateful for what everyone brings to the table.
Z} zippers- the invisible ones you use with your hand and mouth to tell your kids to "ZIP IT". =)
Use the alphabet as a fun and quick format for making a list of things for which you feel grateful. Share this list
with your social network through email, a blog post or a Facebook
A} ancestory - I am thankful to know who I am and where I come from.
B} boys- dirty smelly sweaty boys who call me "Mum"
C} clearance
D} danny - my danny
E} Eating together as a family
F} Frankenstien- knowing there's someone else there that looks worse than me, some days, makes me feel a little better.
G} Good Mornings, Good afternoons, Good evenings, & Good nights
H} humbling myself before the Lord in prayer
I} Ice cream- did you really think I was going to put anything else???
J} Jesus- he died for my sins
K} kids- singing kids especially
L} Lenses- I have children that wear glasses and I am grateful for scratch resistent lenses!
M} mascara- without it I would look too wierd. (so you should be thankful that I have it too)
N} needs- I am thankful that our needs are ALWAYS met. ALWAYS
O} opportunites
P} Pinterest- that's right! I SAID IT! PINTEREST.
Q} quilts - they're heirlooms
R} running
S} salvation
T} today
U} unanswered prayers
V} vehicle- our beat up old work truck feels like home.
W} worship - worship speaks to me
X} x-ray machines (cause goodness knows we need 'em with the kids we have in this family)
Y} YOU. I am grateful for what everyone brings to the table.
Z} zippers- the invisible ones you use with your hand and mouth to tell your kids to "ZIP IT". =)
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
day 1 Gratitude challenge
11-2
Today you start The Gratitude Challenge. Sign the contract and make a commitment to take note and give
thanks for the next 21 days. Express why you accepted this challenge and what you hope to achieve from it....
I signed the contract and wanted to do this because I have many reasons to be grateful. The words for my gratitude doesn't begin to cover everything I'm grateful for. I hope to do this challenge and have my kids look back on this someday and hope to have this help them realize how blessed they are, even in the worst of circumstances.
I am thankful for scripture, for the good-bye waves and blown kisses this morning when Shane & Rozzy were walking up to the school, for the crossing guards that keep my babies safe, for the under paid teachers that dedicate themselves to my kids everyday and extra time before or after school, for the non-paid teachers that have a passion for seeing my children succeed. and I was especially grateful for the wind last night and early this morning. I heard it howling between the houses and it made me smile and snuggle up to my Scotty and Rozzy a little more. I am so grateful and my day has barely began.
Today you start The Gratitude Challenge. Sign the contract and make a commitment to take note and give
thanks for the next 21 days. Express why you accepted this challenge and what you hope to achieve from it....
I signed the contract and wanted to do this because I have many reasons to be grateful. The words for my gratitude doesn't begin to cover everything I'm grateful for. I hope to do this challenge and have my kids look back on this someday and hope to have this help them realize how blessed they are, even in the worst of circumstances.
I am thankful for scripture, for the good-bye waves and blown kisses this morning when Shane & Rozzy were walking up to the school, for the crossing guards that keep my babies safe, for the under paid teachers that dedicate themselves to my kids everyday and extra time before or after school, for the non-paid teachers that have a passion for seeing my children succeed. and I was especially grateful for the wind last night and early this morning. I heard it howling between the houses and it made me smile and snuggle up to my Scotty and Rozzy a little more. I am so grateful and my day has barely began.
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