God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say "thank you?" ~William A. Ward
2 November: My parents. Tolerance, thy name is grandparents. I'm sure they bite their tongues more than I will ever realize, and I thank them for it. Even though I made mistakes, they raised me right. And even though my kids make mistakes, I continue to hope we're raising them right too.
3 November: Photos. Photos make me happy. They bring back so many memories, some awesome, some not-so-much, all life-defining in tiny snapshots. Taking photos and revisiting them remind me that life is bigger than whatever mundane moment I'm living in right now.
4 November: Books. Whether it's on paper or the Kindle, books are eye-openers in a literal sense. They give support to my self-deprecating claims of having no imagination in my own genes.
5 November: Cats. I am a cat person, from their fuzzy ears to their jelly bean toes. And cats seem to like me too. Win-win.
6 November: A healthy brain. Weird, huh? But having a healthy brain, one that is balanced and can reason and learn and differentiate and feel, that is truly a blessing.
7 November: Coffee.
8 November: Sugar. I know sugar is on the evil-do-not-eat list, but sometimes...
9 November: Spring, Summer and Fall. I'm thankful for warmth, breezes, sunshine, and blue skies.
Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.
William Arthur Ward
10 November: The ability to stay home. I'm grateful for the free time I'm allowed, the down-time from being mom, the freedom to pursue my own hobbies if/when I choose.
11 November: Hockey. It's fun to watch, something I can do with my husband, and players I can actually like.
12 November: Reading aloud to the boys. Even though Nicholas is nearly 12 and Jonathon is 10, not only do they let me read to them at night, but they still ask for it. That is a gift.
13 November: Health care and insurance.
14 November: My marriage. I'm so very blessed and grateful that my marriage is stronger today than it was at the beginning. I like the person I have become while married to Ian. His influence has definitely formed me into a better person.
At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.
Albert Schweitzer
15 November: Forgiveness. Giving it, and more importantly, getting it.
16 November: Sidewalks.
17 November: Kid insights. Especially Jonathon's insights. The kid's mind works in weird and beautiful ways.
18 November: A clean bedroom. The effort put into cleaning up a bedroom, really cleaning it down to the baseboards and closet and drawers, is worth every minute for the relaxation and comfort that ensues.
19 November: Music. Two boys learning cello, Katherine learning flute, Rebecca learning guitar. Music adds a dimension to a happy life that little else can.
20 November: Travel. Anywhere and everywhere.
21 November: Curtains.
22 November: Faith. Faith in a greater good and a greater God.
23 November: The unknown blessings, the unseen gifts, the forgotten bounties. All the wonders we take for granted every morning we wake up and groan over another day of duty.
Whatever our individual troubles and challenges may be, it’s important to pause every now and then to appreciate all that we have, on every level. We need to literally “count our blessings,” give thanks for them, allow ourselves to enjoy them, and relish the experience of prosperity we already have.” — Shakti Gawain
No comments:
Post a Comment