An Attitude of Gratitude.... Each Day.

I am taking today to count my blessings.

On the "balance sheet" of life, my blessings far far FAR outweigh the things that aren't right.

And I'm am so thankful to God for all the good things he has poured into my life.

Yes, we're still strapped for cash. No, I still don't have a full time job.

But I've decided focusing on THOSE negative things only magnifies them and makes me feel worse.

Focusing instead on all the stuff that is GOOD and RIGHT in my world makes me feel better.

So that's what I'm going to do.

One day at a time.

Starting now.

"All American Beauty"

That's what I've entitled this photo - "All American Beauty"....

Last night inspired it: 30 minutes of daylight left...... reading a good book on my front porch..... while drinking an icy cold Mountain Dew (Suz, you don't know what you're missing, girl).... and counting my blessings, instead of my wants.....

Realizing how fortunate I am to live in this great country, to have a nice roof over my head, good food in my belly, two healthy and happy children, a husband who loves me (and whom I love), enough money that all our needs our covered (and many of our wants as well), etc., etc., etc.

It's all in how you look at it.

Blessings Apparent to Me this 9th day of March

1. An icy cold Mountain Dew sitting in front of me as I type this. :-)
2. My husband, who after 16 years of marriage, is just as sexy and funny as when I met him all those years ago.... my love for him has deepened with time, and the "bumps" in the road have only served to strengthen our marriage.
3. My sweet, funny son who looks more like his Daddy every day.
4. My hilarious, smart-aleck daughter who is indeed a wild filly. I love her independent spirit.
5. The fact that I have a body and a brain that both function as they should (thank you, God).
6. Girl Scout Cookies! (are Thin Mints da bomb, or WHAT?!)
7. Two great parents - both still alive - who did an awesome job raising me and my siblings
8. Having great siblings - even though I don't get to see them as much as I would like. Thank goodness for email.
9. Wonderful friends who make me laugh and "get" me, quirks and all.
10. A fabulous church community (12Stone) that I love and cherish. A fabulous pastor (Kevin) who gives us meaningful, relevant messages to ponder and muse over every week. It is an awesome experience to worship the Father there.
11. The fact that I have worthwhile and meaningful work that I enjoy. I love being an entrepreneur and 'controlling my destiny'.
12. The fact that I was born an American and can do and say whatever I want, and not be worried about being carted off somewhere and disappearing, simply because I publicly disagreed with the government. (We take our freedoms so for granted, don't we?)

I see bumper stickers (and hats and t-shirts, etc) that say "Life Is Good" and I couldn't agree more. Yes, there are serious problems in our society, without a doubt, but as far as I'm concerned.... on the Balance Sheet of My Life.... I'm choosing to focus on the blessings.

I thank God, because I know that every good gift comes from Him. (James 1:17). Further, I know that when I delight myself in God and in His teachings, He will give me the desires of my heart. (Psalm 37:4)

These are God's promises; and God does not break his promises.

Winter Blessings

To every yin, there is a yang......
Interestingly, my melancholia has been tempered the past day or so by life's little blessings that seem to have stood up and "declared" themselves to me. There is nothing earth-shaking here; simple things, really, and things that would be quite easy to take for granted.

However, I'm trying hard to see the simple gifts that are tucked into every single day. So, here they are.... the Small Blessings I've noticed over the past couple of days:

• The feel of really soft, freshly laundered flannel sheets on my skin as I get into bed after a long cold day.


• Snuggling up next to my still-asleep husband early in the morning, while the house is still dark and quiet.


• Having complete peace in the evening after the children have gone to sleep, and having time to read my book and sip a cup of hot coffee laced with a bit of Grand Marnier. (Yum.)


• Seeing the wonder and excitement in small children's faces when they see Santa ("the man") at the mall.


• Having legs that work. (Each time I see someone confined to a wheelchair I am reminded to whisper a prayer of thanks that my body functions as it should.)


• My 11 year old son and 10 year old daughter, who are two of the funniest people I know.


• My sweet dog Ruby, who truly believes the sun, the moon and all the planets orbit around me.
• Having an evening bubblebath with a glass of wine and a really good book.


• The austere beauty of a tree's barren branches against a cold, hard-blue Winter sky.


• Watching my husband build a fire and being convinced, yet again, that he is just the best looking man on the planet.


• Singing my favorite hymn ("I Stand Amazed") in church this morning while standing next to two of my good friends and realizing all 3 of us are crying because we're all simultaneously overwhelmed by God's love. Now that is cool. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjCoX4tRoT8