Thankful Thursday #4

Missed a few weeks.  But I love being thankful because it shines light into my day and with it being winter, who couldn't use some extra light?  Although, it has been pretty sunny, which leads me to my first thing on my thankful list!

1. SUNSHINE!  I guess living in Florida for 10 years, I under appreciated the sun.  Maybe even loathed the sun.  However, living in the North (which is still the South to most people in the country) and not seeing the sun on a daily basis has made me really appreciate those days where soaking up vitamin D is an option.

2. Beth Moore. Wowsers. This woman is amazing. I was watching her video last night (I am studying "James: Mercy Triumphs") and I kept thinking about her story and how different it could have gone. Now she is such a well-known teacher. It just reminded me how God's word is so true and He uses everything for good.

3. My husband being supportive of my "me time". (I think he will probably make every list I ever make in regards to thankfulness.) I just appreciate his willingness to be home on nights I have things to do. It hasn't always been this way, at least in my mind, so I guess I appreciate it a little extra.

4. Clean floors. My children told me this week that they were bored and needed something to do. They asked if they could wash my floors. Ummm...Yeah! So, they all washed floors. I got busy with other things and heard the 4 year old calling for me. He was stuck, he said. I came around the corner and saw this:

5. Clean air I breathe. I have had a battle with a smoking addiction for a LARGE part of my life. Today is day two without a cigarette. I am thankful that I am not purposely sucking in poisons on a daily, hourly basis.

7. Parking Lots 'til midnight. Love hanging out with my G-friends talking and laughing! It's definitely something I look forward to!

8. Ipod. I have used my ipod so much this week listening to my favorite music. It's really kept my spirits up!

9. Photography. It's a difficult thing to learn, but soooo worth it.

10. Opportunity.  I am going to try to appreciate this more often.  In honor of opportunity and also seeking Joy, I am going to add something new into my day everyday for the next week.  It may be something simple like jumping on the trampoline with my kids.  It might be a little more complicated, like trying to plank or something.  I don't know.  I just know that I have taken for granted all of the freedom I have and so now I am going to start taking advantage of it like a 15 year old takes advantage of a sale at "forever 21", or maybe more like an old man takes advantage of the early bird special.  Either way, opportunity lay silent no more.  Here comes trouble.

Thankful Thursday #3....on Friday

I have a lot to be thankful for this week.  I am really liking the anticipation of sharing these things.  It helps me recognize things during my week that I normally would pass over, but should be grateful for.

1.  I am thankful for Birthdays.  With over more than 5 birthdays in the month of January in my extended family, I am thankful that these people are in my life and I am able to celebrate their birth and their presence on this earth, even if I am unable to be present at their celebrations.

2.  I am thankful for cupcakes.  Need I say more?

3.  I am thankful that I am able to take a photography class.  Although I am still working on understanding the vocabulary of said class, I am seeing things in a more artistic way.  This is just in one class, so I am really looking forward to the progress.

4.   I am thankful for a counselor.  He sheds a whole new light on situations in my life and helps me keep my perspective in check.

5.  I am thankful for a husband who loves me.

6.  I am thankful for my children's humor.  Last night my 10 year old was noticing I was a little stressed with all I had to do.  She said to me, "Don't worry mom.  That's why you made me...so I could help you!"  We laughed and laughed and laughed!  I LOVE that!  I love laughing with my children.  Their laughter lifts me higher than any elevator could ever reach!

7.  I am thankful for the people in my life that are able to show humility, grace, mercy, love, kindness, and hope.  They are the face of Jesus to me and call me to a higher standard of living.  I learn so much from these people.

8.  I am thankful for the people in my life who are not humble, graceful, merciful, loving, kind and hopeless.  These people also call me to a higher standard of living.  My interactions with these people must be full of the character of Christ.  Without these people, I would have no witness.

9.  I am thankful for the good and bad decisions in my life.  They made me who I am.  They help me mature and gain new understanding of the world.

10.  I am thankful for clean dishes in the morning.  In my house, dishes are not always done right away.  But when they are, and I wake up early to a clean house, I feel motivated to do the things I need to do.  I should really be thankful for the dishes undone, too.  Because when those said dishes are left in my sink for the morning, that means I spent my evening playing games with the family or watching a family TV show or I put the kids to bed early and had some time with my hubby or myself.  

Here is the definition of "Thank" from dictionary.com

thank 

verb (used with object)

1. to express gratitude, appreciation, or acknowledgment to: She thanked them for their hospitality.

2. thank God, (used interjectionally to express relief, thankfulness,  etc.) Also, thank goodness, thank heaven.

Thankful Thursday #2

I'm glad today is Thankful Thursday.  I need it.  I've been in a little rut lately and I know that when I am thankful - verbally - it helps to lift the mood.  So today I am thankful for:

1.  A great group of gals that studied the book "Created to Be His Helpmeet".  I wasn't exactly looking forward to reading this book, but I am glad I did.  And I am extra thankful that the gals were reading it with me.  They encouraged me and challenged me.  The best way to read a book?  With friends.

2.  A husband that plays with his kids.

3.  Little Ceasers.  I mean, it cost the same as a frozen pizza and I don't even have to turn on the oven!  Of course, my freezer is full of meals for the month, but sometimes you just have to say "NO" to dishes.  Really loudly.

4.  Pinterest.  I know...kind of lame.  But without Pinterest, I wouldn't know that my cousin in Minnesota loves to read, and I wouldn't have a Valentine's Day wreath on my front door, and I wouldn't have made cute little "Chore" Flower Charts with 7 little 6 year olds.
  Cute little chore flower pot!


5.  That the real estate market is down.  I know it's hard for some people, and I understand that.  We fell victim to it's harshness 16 months ago.  But now that we are on the other side and ready to buy, it's good.

6.  It's an election year.  Need I say more? 


7.  All of my books that I get to read with my kids.  I moved shelves and shelves of them today and thought, "Why do I have so many books???"  Then I sorted them.  As I picked books to put in their new homes, I had the privilege of remembering reading some of those books to my kids.  It's a precious memory.

8.  My van.  I spent a lot of time running around town this week.  

9.  Hamsy - the Hamster.  I never thought I'd be thankful for a little RAT!  But he makes everyone else in my family happy.  They enjoy him.  They really like to put him in his ball and watch him run around.  Especially if I'm not paying attention because he will run that ball into my feet and I scream and jump about 3 yards into the air. 


10.  A good church.  I'm looking forward to going back this Sunday.