Thankful

What a blessed life I live! If you are reading this, I just wanted to challenge you to keep a list of things you are thankful for, maybe in a journal, maybe on a post-it…however you want, and just keep it available to remind yourself how blessed you are. I promise you, life is better when you focus on the positive! We all have challenges in our lives, and periods of our lives that seem hopeless, but we can never EVER lose hope!


MAY THE GOD OF HOPE FILL YOU WILL ALL THE JOY AND PEACE AS YOU TRUST IN HIM SO THAT YOU WAY OVERFLOW WITH HOPE BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. ROMANS 15:13

In honor of the month of November, and Thanksgiving, I have been participating on facebook in the Thankfulness Project, which was to post something you are thankful for every day of November. Below are my entries along with some commentary in italics, because, I am me after all, and always gotta have commentary:

November 1 - just some inspiration for the project – Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Phil 4:8

November 2 – Today, I am thankful that I live my life surrounded by remarkable people. Whatever the world throws at me, there is always someone who has gone through it before. Thank God for surrounding me with “a cloud of witnesses.” Heb 12:1
November 3 – Today, I am thankful for my job. I get to do work I enjoy, for a company I believe in, with people I really care about. I am truly blessed!

November 4 –Today, I am thankful for my smart, hilarious, adorable, sweet, big-hearted oldest son, Hunter! I am totally in love with my kiddos – they brighten every day, and I know I am annoying about it but choose to do nothing to correct my annoying behavior…sorry!

November 5 –Today, I am thankful for my adorable, strong-willed, smart, precious, active, wild, snuggly, squishy and sweet youngest baby boy, Ben, Benny Boo or Benjy! I was going to try to use the same number of adjectives to describe Benjy, but forgot!

November 6 – Today, I am thankful for my amazing parents. If I grow up to be 1/10 as awesome as them, the world will be a better place from having me in it. Words fail me, but just trust me: they are even more awesome than you think!

November 7 – Today, I am thankful for my church. It is not a perfect institution, and certainly not a perfect group of people, but we are on a mission, and our Leader is perfect. So that is pretty cool! Our church is going through a “Healthy Church Initiative” project right now, where an outside consulting firm came in to do a checkup and give us some suggestions for change. This was the day those suggestions were announced, and it just showed me how great of a church I am blessed to belong to.

November 8 – Today, I am thankful for perspective. Things are rarely as hopeless as they appear, and when we trust in the Lord, He fulfills His promises, just not usually how we expect. “And we know that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

November 9 – Today, I am thankful for Fall. What a beautiful season. I think this was a day where the trees were in their most beautiful state, it was an amazing Fall in the Ozarks this year!

November 10 – Today, I am thankful that I can read. Literacy is a gift, and without it my life would be vastly different.

November 11 – Today, I am thankful to live in this country. We were founded by deeply optimistic principles, and have been defended by deeply committed veterans. What a testimony to the world that Freedom is not Free, but is worth the sacrifice. Thank you Veterans! – This was veterans day.

November 12 – Today, I am thankful for the lake. So peaceful.

November 13 – Today, I am thankful that my husband, kids and I are healthy. I absolutely never take good health for granted!

November 14 – Today, while I am not thankful for Mondays, I am thankful for weekends! Especially ones that are as blessed as this last one was. And, I survived Monday! Goodnight!

November 15 – Today, I am thankful for laughter. Sometimes it is all we need to get through a day!

November 16 – Today, I am thankful for my busy schedule. I am living a full life and I love it! When I do get overwhelmed, 30 minutes in my chair usually does the trick. Calm in the middle of chaos…so I guess that is two things today: busy life and calm breaks.

November 17 – Thankful for some really good news I heard this morning!! Seriously, people. So much to be thankful for! A brother getting married, a friend having a baby and another friend getting a new car! (those are all really awesome things, trust me!) Thankful day 17 is super-easy! Keep the good news coming!

November 18 – Today, I am thankful it is Friday. I really need a weekend!

November 19 – Today, I am extremely thankful for a day at home. I cant even begin to tell you how badly I needed a day like this! Spending the day at home with my boys, trying to catch up on chores = my idea of a perfect Saturday!

November 20 – Today, I am thankful for three things: Sabbath rest, coffee, and girlfriend. I’m really looking forward to church this morning, chicken chili in the crockpot for lunch, my hubby coming home from deer camp and…girls night out tonight!!

November 21 – Today, I am thankful for a warm home, car, coat and workplace. So blessed to have a warm place to be!
November 22 – Today, I am thankful for friends. Specifically, friends who can make me laugh when things are tough. Life is short, belly laugh as much as possible. That is my advice.

November 23 – Today, I am thankful for JEANS DAY!! One day a year, we get to wear jeans to work as a fundraiser for the ADA. Best work day of the year! Then a 4 day weekend, SWEET!

November 24 – This was Thanksgiving, and I saved being thankful for my hubby until the actual day. I mean, I was thankful for him everyday, but wanted him to get Thanksgiving as his day to be thankfulled for. Today, I am thankful for my husband. Through all that life brings, he continues to be my partner and friend. Life is hard, and I am thankful to get to spend it with that man. He has a servant’s heart and is a fabulous dad. My kids and I are blessed to have him as ours. Happy Thanksgiving!

November 25 – Today, I am thankful for my whole fan-damily, including those near and far, my side and in-laws! I am extremely blessed to get to raise my children surrounded by such love!

November 26 – Today gets an A+. I guess I forgot to say what I was thankful for that day. Probably just my life in general. We spent that day at home all day, and then went on a date that night…our first in at least 6 months! So, that was pretty nice!

November 27 – Today, I am thankful that my boys spent the night with my parents, and I slept till 8am. Seriously disoriented from sleeping so late. Good morning.

November 28 – Today, I am thankful that my children have such different personalities! Makes life extra extra fun!

November 29 – Today, I am thankful for Christmas!! Best season of the year!

November 30 – Today, I am thankful that I have so much to be thankful for! I could easily list thousands of things I am thankful for, and still be forgetting some. Particularly, today, I am thankful that I am able to follow God’s call to Haiti and know that my kids, my home and my work responsibilities are all in good hands. I feel at peace because I am surrounded by people who make my life easier than it could be.