Thankfulness Journal Day 16

Tsh Oxenreider's 5 Christmas Carols are the five things I am thankful for today. Each brings its own joy to the celebration of the birth of Christ and the wish for peace on earth and good will tomards mankind.

Tonight I will be decorating our Christmas tree listening to these and other favorites. I can't wait.

Thankful Journal Day 15

Today is focused on Christmas. I know some object to how Christmas has gone toward all the "stuff" and moved away from the Nativity story... But I am thankful for:

1) The Christmas specials I loved as a child, that still bring me joy
2) The decorations and lights that make the neighborhood so pretty even on cold wet nights
3) Cards from friends and my family- even my cousin Catherine, who doesn't even wait till December to mail them anymore...
4) My angel tree topper- I have had her since my daughter was a baby and I love seeing her perched on top of my tree
5) Fake trees- Love not having pine needles I need to pick up afterwards.

Thankfulness Journal Day Twelve

My favorite websites are what I am thankful for today:


1) BBC news, because it is not all about America

2) Pinterest, because I like to pretend I could ever be that crafty

3) Facebook, because my family and friends cover the globe and it is a great way to stay in touch

4) Blogspot, because I can pretend to be a real writer any time I want

5) Yahoo, for mail, cheesy news stories and Dear Abby

And I am thankful for the Chausmers, my friends who are also family

Thankfulness Journal Day Ten

Today I am thankful for my teachers. Here is a shout out to 5 of them:

1) Pat Munhall- I am a nurse because you made me believe
2) Marion O'Connor- You brought out the writer in me
3) Alan Shapiro- You taught me what Pediatrics is in real life
4) Janet Quinones- You showed me the nurse I want to be- YOU!
5) Father Shelley- You shared the history of the world, and geography to boot.

Thankfulness Journal Day Nine

So today I am thankful for the giants of the written world.

1) Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, for Sherlock Holmes
2) JK Rowlings, for Harry Potter
3) CS Lewis, for Narnia
4) Helen Dore Boylston, for Sue Barton
5) Tom Clancy, for Jack Ryan.

Thanksgiving Day- Thankfulness Journal Day Eight

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Today I was thinking about the wonderful gifts we have around us every day, thanks to the innovations of the last century.

So I am thankful for:
1) Refrigeration
2) Modern plumbing and water treatment
3) Electricity
4) Antibiotics
5) Vaccines

Each of these items are things we really don't think about. Things we take for granted, expect to have. A century ago, they would have been unheard of... How quickly time changes.

I am off to my aunt's to have a wonderful dinner in the company of family and friends.

Thankfulness Journal days 5, 6 and 7

Okay- 15 things today (daily posts are clearly not my strong suit)

Technology:
1) Computers- a gift from the gods!
2) On-line translation- so much easier to let Bing conjugate my verbs.
3) Google and Wikipedia- my kids don't know how good they have it
4) My low tech cell phone- it never holds it against me when I drop it on hard surfaces
5) The electric kettle- I now realize how much I took it for granted before it died- having now boiled dry every pot in the house making tea...

Home
1) Self propelled lawn mowers
2) Indoor plumbing and running water- until you live without it, you don't realize how wonderful it is
3) Hot water all the time- it is so cold outside
4) My washer and dryer- laundry at home is something you appreciate after renting for a lifetime.
5) Ceiling fans with lights- a new addition this year thanks to Kenny, I don't know how I lasted so long without them

Health
1) Good health insurance
2) Excellent doctors
3) First world dental care
4) Food abundance on my journey to a thinner healthier me
5) The health of my children- a gift that is so underrated...

And the people are Ann and Gail- who have always made me feel like a part of their family, and Connie, a friend for the long haul...

Thankfulness Journal Days 3 and 4

Opps, missed day three- I will need to do 10 items today to make up...

1) My very comfy bed and warm comforter on cold nights
2) Hot tea on a cold morning
3) More than enough clothing for my family (the positive spin on way too much clothing)
4) Cosy slippers to keep my feet warm
5) An abundance of books to read and take me to places I haven't seen yet

6) The ability to borrow tools to do work in my house
7) My Honda- cause it is all good
8) My Ipod that lets me revisit the music of my life
9) Scented candles that make my house smell like home
10) Pictures of all my family all around.

And My thankful people are Andy and Sara, my cousins who are just always so kind and loving to me...  

Thankfulness Journal- Day Two

Day two-

I am thankful for:

1) My work and the wonderful people I have met in the EB Community
2) My experiences traveling and seeing the world
3) The Peace Corps and the amazing people I got to know as a volunteer- I can't wait to do it all again
4) The farm my mom grew up on- it is still home in so many ways
5) The small town I lived in when I was in Guatemala- Saltan is always in my heart.

My sister Ellen is the most amazing woman I know- her life is full of challenges and she is the best mom, wife and sister I know.

So who are you thankful for?

Thankfulness Journal

A Reminder to be Thankful was posted today by Lysa. She discusses how her son, living in an orphanage, was able to find peace in faith, even when he was hungry and digging in garbage for food.

Wow!

She challenges us to look inword and be thankful so I am going to follow her lead and do a Thankfulness Journal for the next 30 days. The rules are simple:

Reflect and Respond:


Start a thankfulness journal where you daily list five things for which you are thankful. Do this for the next 30 days and see how much more peaceful your mindset about life becomes.

Think of someone who is really thankful. Despite the circumstances they face, are they more peaceful? How does this inspire you?


I am thankful for:

1) My children
2) My siblings
3) The rest of my large far throw family
4) All the amazing friends who bless my life every day
5) My little ranch house that is my home

As for a thankful person, I think my friend Eileen is the person who comes to mind. She has faced the biggest challenges a parent can, and her faith steadies her. One day I hope to grow up to be like her.

What are you thankful for today?



Journal of Gratitude Day 6

"Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods." Psalm 95:2-3


Today is Election day. And today I am grateful to live in a country that allows everyone a say in government.
I am also ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTED that after today, I will not have to watch political ads, have any political pollers calling and there will be discussion about something other Romney Ryan vs. Obama Biden.

Oh The Joy!

Journal of Gratitude Day 2

From Lysa:
November 2: "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever." 1 Chronicles 16:34

I am grateful for reliable transportation- I love my little Honda and as I hear stories from friends about their struggles back East, trying to buy gas and travel to work with restrictions and limited Mass Transit service, I was happy to jump in my car, turn on the heat, crank up the music and enjoy the ride.

What are you thankful for?

Lysa TerKeurst posted on Facebook:


In the days leading up to Thanksgiving, keep a journal and reflect on one thing every day that you are truly thankful for. I will post a daily verse on Facebook that you can write down and use for praising God in His faithfulness.

November 1: "But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in Your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for He has been good to me." Psalm 13:5-6

I am grateful my family is safe after Sandy tore up the East Coast...

Election 2012

On Facebook, Lysa TerKeurst wrote:

I read a quote this morning that said, "The tongue weighs practically nothing, but few people can hold it." How true! But Proverbs 18:21 reminds us, "The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences."

It seems to me this wise advice is missed by many in the social media.

I am fine with everyone having their own opinion and we live in a great country where you can say what you think.

But...

It is disheartening to me how so many are so ugly.

Hurtful...

I started to read a piece written about why the author didn't like ____.

And stopped half-way.

He was not writing about a candidate I would vote for...but was so ugly... I chose to stop reading.

I don't need more ugly in my life. I want beauty and love and kindness, and agreement to disagree...

I am counting the days till we have something else to talk about.

Election 2012 has left a bad taste in my mouth.