Category: Gratitude

Here’s what I’m thankful for this month:

1. A great birthday. I felt loved and spoiled by all.
2. One last taste of winter. I know many people are more than ready for Spring, but I’m not quite done with scarves, sweaters, and cuddling under warm blankets.
3. Funerals. As sad as they are, I’m thankful for the closure they offer and the love and support that’s present in the room.
4. My amazing husband who believes in me and my dreams. He’s always supportive.
5. Nutella. Yum.
6. Freedom to write my feelings, fears, and frustrations.
7. Progress on my book. Although small steps, those steps get me closer to completion.
8. Jamming with fellow musicians and sharing original songs.
9. A washer and dryer. I’m always thankful that I don’t have to wash clothes by hand.
10. Laughter. I’m often too melodramatic and forget how healing laughter can be.

What are you thankful for this month?

Here’s what I’m thankful for this month.

1. A chance to sing again. I’ve so loved the chance to sing with a choir again.
2. Cold nights that leave you no choice but to cuddle up at home.
3. Fun coworkers.
4. My hubby creating a home studio for us to record some original songs.
5. Playing through some of my original songs when I felt down and feeling lifted up by them.
6. Four or five part harmony.
7. Pumpkin spice coffee (and tea) in the off season.
8. Chances to connect with hundreds of people online.
9. Friends that will give honest and helpful feedback about my writing.
10. Not getting sick in spite of colds and the flu running rampant around me. (I’m knocking on wood right now.)

What are you thankful for this month?

Here’s what I’m thankful for this month.

1. Thanksgiving. The idea of a day full of rest, thankfulness and food is just brilliant.
2. Pumpkin spice coffee.
3. The smell of a Christmas tree when I walk in my house.
4. My husband’s constant hysterical jokes. That man can always make me laugh.
5. Buy one get one deals at Publix. This last week included flowers. I’m cheap and I like pretty flowers, so it was a win-win.
6. Nice weather. Although I’d love to have it actually feel like winter when I’m picking out a Christmas tree, I can’t complain too much about temperatures in the 70s.
7. Long walks that help me clear my head.
8. My guitar. Though I haven’t picked it up much lately, I feel blessed that I can create music.
9. Meals that create leftovers and make meal planning much easier for the week.
pay for homework
10. Time with my nephew. While Mom ran errands, he and I hung out at the park near my house. We decided the swirly slide isn’t all that exciting. Click the link to see his barely contained enthusiasm. IMG_0283

On the first Monday of each month, I post a gratitude list. It helps keep me from that “Oh, woe is me” mentality.

1. Crunchy leaves. I love taking walks and hearing the sound of crunchy leaves underfoot. It’s a sure sign that fall is among us.

2. Long walks in a park. It offers me quiet and space for the introspection I desperately need.

3. Amazing friends who are cheering me on. After being blessed with the opportunity to guest post for Jon Acuff, one of my newest and most wonderful friends bought me a card. On the front it said, “You Did It!” She was just as excited as I was for the opportunity, and wanted to cheer me on in the pursuit of my dreams and passions. It meant a lot.

4. My front porch. It’s become one of my favorite spots in my house. I love watching the birds and squirrels in the yard.

5. Pumpkin bread. Yum.

6. Writers Unite. This has been a great group of support in the midst of my writing endeavors. In the month of October, I was able to get much writing done on my book. The feedback I received was very encouraging and it really makes me want to get this thing done. (If you’d like more information about Writers Unite, click here.)

7. The fact that I woke up this morning. This one always sounds cheesy, but the simple gift of life is an amazing thing. I’m grateful to still be breathing.

8. My husband’s great sense of humor. This man keep me laughing even on the worst of days.

9. Cheap, stay at home dates. This past weekend my husband and I decided to have a date. We had it at home. Sitting on the front porch listening to Prairie Home Companion on the radio, we sipped drinks and just enjoyed each other’s company. It was wonderful.

10. God’s grace. With how much I get stuck inside myself, He still hasn’t given up on me. Thank You, Jesus.

What are you thankful for this month?

Time for our monthly gratitude list. Once again, I really need this, as it’s been another tough month. Time to pull myself out of my pity party and remember all I have to be grateful for.

1. An online community of amazing people. I’ve connected with some great people online, largely through Jon Acuff‘s Quitter book and conferences. When I put a plea out for guest posts so I could take some time off to rest, several perfect strangers (I call them that only because we’ve never met face to face) came to my rescue. I am incredibly thankful for my online friends. Ya’ll are awesome.
2. Organization. I struggle with this, but when I take the time to do it, I feel so much better. My newly organized pantry actually gets me a little more excited about cooking.
3. FALL!!! It’s coming… The summer sun’s still scorching us here in Florida, but Fall is coming. I can’t wait! Pumpkin Spice Latte, I can taste you now…
4. Speaking of lattes, good foam on a latte never ceases to make my day.
5. Three day weekends. They always seem to come when you need them most. I hope everyone is having a wonderful, restful Labor Day.
6. Sweet memories from the past. While cleaning out our garage last weekend, I ran across a small box filled with little mementos from my time on tour with the African Children’s Choir. Some were simple pieces of jewelry that my kids had made and given to me. My eyes watered just looking through them.

   

7. Struggles. As much as I hate them, I know God uses them to make me a better person.
8. Energy. As I’ve been struggling with Eustachian Tube Dysfunction or whatever this ailment might be, my energy level has been puny. But I have some good days, or even some good moments in days, where I get a surge of energy. I take those days and run with them, trying to be as productive as I can be.
9. Hot showers. Sometimes it’s all I need to turn a bad funk into a better mood.
10. My husband. As I said before, this guy seems to make every list. I love how he sticks with me and doesn’t complain even when I am. His patience with me is awesome.

What are you thankful for this month?

It’s the first Monday of the month, which means it’s time for another gratitude list. It’s been a really rough month for me. I’ve spent the last week pretty much wallowing in self pity. The last thing I want to do is be thankful. Which means it’s a perfect time to be. Or at least try.

Here’s what I’m thankful for this month:

1. My comfy couch. I haven’t been feeling great this past week, and every time I’m sick, I’m reminded of how much I love my couch. It’s big, soft, cozy, and makes me feel better.

2. Medical treatments. I had a tube put in my ear last week in an effort to help the Eustachian tube dysfunction that’s been plaguing me for some time. Unfortunately, the tube hasn’t helped yet. In fact, it’s made me feel worse. I’ve been moping around all week and dwelling on how bad I feel. But really, I’m blessed that I have the opportunity to even have these medical treatments. There are so many people around the world that can’t afford basic medicine, and here I can have a doctor plug a tube in my ear in less than five minutes.

3. My husband. I think this man makes every one of my gratitude lists. This month I’m thankful for how he takes care of me. Even though my tube procedure was a simple one that I could have driven myself to, he drove me to and from the doctor’s office (mainly cause he knows I’m a major wuss) and has taken such good care of me since.

4. Coffee with friends. I love meeting friends for coffee and just catching up on life.

5. God taking care of me. Ever have those situations in life where you don’t really like the outcome, but you can see God’s hand in the midst of it all? Yup, been one of those months.

6. Books. I’m finally reading the Harry Potter series and I love reading a really good book and getting totally swept away in the story.

7. My co-workers. My job tends to stress me out, but I’m reminded daily of the awesome people I work with. They make the work place fun, and on those really bad days: bearable.

8. Air conditioning. As summer heat kicks into high gear, I am incredibly thankful for the luxury that we just can’t live without anymore.

9. The Olympics! If you’re going to pick a week to be sick, do it during the Olympics! As I’ve been crashed on my comfy couch I’ve caught up on fun stuff like gymnastics, water polo, beach volleyball, and synchronized swimming. All sorts of sports that I never knew I wanted to watch…

10. My crock pot. I love throwing stuff in and having dinner ready when I get home. It’s been especially great this week, with my energy level so low.

What are you thankful for this month?