My First 100 Thanks

It’s almost been one year since I first started keeping a gratitude journal…..well, I actually started out not with a journal, but with a challenge to write down 100 things that I was grateful for by Christmas. It wasn’t easy for me. I wasn’t used to thinking about the things that I was blessed with…but soon things started coming to me. Things that I enjoyed, things I loved, people in my life, experiences, etc. Once I got to 100, I knew I needed to start making an effort every day to write down more that I was thankful for. So, began my gratitude journal. Some days, it’s an effort still. Others, the list just grows like crazy. I’m so glad I’ve kept at it, though!! What a joy to not only look back at all God has blessed me with, but my attitude each day is more positive and joyful!! I am sharing my first 100 thanks, since those were really what got me started. Now, being thankful is just a part of my life….

  

1.             Jesus and His love – and that he died on the cross for me.

2.             Heaven – I look so forward to living there

3.             My husband

4.             My son

5.             A warm, comfortable house

6.             My faith – as fragile and imperfect as it is

7.             My family –even though we don’t see each other as often as I’d like to.

8.             My friends – new and old(but especially the rare ‘kindred spirits’ in my life)

9.             Being married – though some days I am more thankful than others : /

10.           The Bible

11.           Church

12.          Christian music

13.          God’s faithfulness – even when I let Him down all the time.

14.          God’s forgiveness – even though I don’t deserve it.

15.           Listening to my son play guitar and sing

16.           That my husband has a good job.

17.           A cozy, warm bed to sleep in

18.           Beautiful Gardens and flowers

19.           Lilies – the most perfectly beautiful flower of all time – especially oriental lilies.

20.           Fresh Vegetables from the garden

21.           The many fragrances and colors of flowers.

22.           Bike rides

23.           Vanilla Chai and Biscotti

24.           Jacuzzis

25.           Goodwill shopping

26.           Beaches in warm locations – South Carolina, Florida, etc.

27.           The sound of ocean waves washing up on a beach

28.           Finding unique, unbroken seashells

29.           Days when I really feel good physically – the older I get, the more I appreciate 

                this!

30.           Sunny days

31.           Stretch Jeans

32.           Romantic Comedies

33.           High Speed Internet (for the most part)

34.           Coffee Houses – great atmosphere

35.           Plumbing

36.           Hot showers

37.           A comfortable chair

38.           Hoodies(sweatshirts)

39.           Clothes that fit well

40.          Clothes that make me look skinny

41.           Eating at Olive Garden or Panda Express

42.           My faithful dog, Jet.

43.           Puppies-especially my puppy, Sophie

44.          Peanut butter

45.           Fishing on a warm summer day(not too hot or cold)

46.          Catching lots of fish on a fishing trip

47.          Watching my husband get excited when ANYONE catches a fish

48.          Electric fish scalers – what a godsend invention!

49.          Being able to talk with friends on Facebook

50.          Having a vehicle to get around

51.          Antique malls/flea markets

52.          Romantic weekends with my husband(rare, so I’m really thankful when they 

               happen)

53.          Mall shopping with my son…yeah, we like to shop at the same stores!

54.          God’s protection-who knows where I’d be without it.

55.          Listening to my husband laugh at something funny on TV.(He has a great laugh)

56.          Boots – a must for my winter wardrobe –both fashion and winter boots

57.          Flip flops – in the summer, of course.

58.          Camping – I haven’t been in a while, but appreciate the times I did.

59.          That my son still hugs me and says he loves me…..I’m so blessed!

60.          That my husband still thinks I’m sexy….after almost 24 years of marriage.

61.          Christmas movies – my favorite being “It’s a Wonderful Life”- makes me cry every                         time.

62.          Christmas lights – love to drive by houses with big light displays.

63.          The smell of Christmas cookies baking in the oven.

64.          A clear starry night sky.

65.          A healthy family

66.          Beautiful stained glass windows

67.          My laptop – goes almost anywhere with me.

68.          My cell phone – how did I ever survive without it?

69.          Being able to sit on my back deck swing and reading a good book…when weather

               permits

70.          Flowers that bloom in the spring.

71.          Short winters (when they actually occur)

72.          Winter hats, scarves, and gloves

73.          Warm fur-lined coats

74.          Cozy blankets – especially when I’m curled up on the couch.

75.          Pictures to help me remember the people and events in my life.

76.          Fireworks

77.          God’s provision for all my needs, and more.

78.          Inspirational Quotes and Bible verses.

79.          Back rubs and foot rubs

80.          Faux fur and suede (so soft!)

81.          Laughing so hard my face hurts.

82.          Hearing my favorite song on the radio.

83.          Waking up and realizing I still have a few hours left to sleep.

84.          The colorful turning of autumn leaves

85.          A great shopping/lunch girl’s day out

86.          The feel of fresh dirt in my hands in the spring

87.          The smell of fresh dirt being dug up to plant things in my garden.

88.          Butterflies

89.          Hummingbirds – so intriguing to watch

90.          Days when I feel really close to and at peace with God

91.          Really big snowflakes, lightly falling…as long as I can watch them through a 

               window in a warm building.

92.          A clean house (rare, but I am thankful for times when it occurs)

93.          When someone gives me a compliment

94.          The opportunity to show kindness or help others.

95.          Being able to be a stay at home mom and wife

96.          The innocence of a little child

97.          The opportunity to travel and learn about people and landmarks in different parts 

                of the U.S.

98.          The breath of new life that comes with the birth of a newborn baby

99.          That God hears my prayers and knows what is best in every situation I go through

100.          Lazy winter mornings…with no rushing off or feeling stressed. 

 

In His Love, 

Ann

My Heart Will Sing.....(Part 3)

This is the 3^rd post of a 3-part series I am writing that covers an annual Ladies Holiday Tea at my church. To read Parts 1 and 2, go to the following links.

 Part 1 

 Part 2

The LORD is my strength and my shield;
   my heart trusts in him, and He helps me.

My heart leaps for joy, 

And with my song I praise Him

Psalm 28:7

I hope you are enjoying your Thanksgiving weekend! Mine has actually been quiet and relaxing, which is good, since the past few weeks have been pretty hectic for me. I decided to finish up this series on the Ladies Holiday Tea. I hadn’t realized how many pictures I had taken that day. It seemed like there was something exciting and new everywhere I turned.

 (left click to enlarge pictures)

 

Not only were the tables creatively decorated, but the program was also pretty amazing. Our speaker was a gal who is on our music worship team, but she didn’t sing that day. She talked about having joy and gratitude, and she mentioned a book that is on my list of top ten favorite books, “One Thousand Gifts” by Ann Voskamp. I often post quotes from the book and even have a quote of hers on my Blog Header. 

We also got to hear about our service project this year….a local smaller church has been assisting people who are struggling financially with household items that we often take for granted and automatically go buy when we run out….ie. soap, shampoo, toothpaste, laundry soap, paper towels, and even diapers for some families. The church has been a godsend to many families and the need is growing to the point that they have trouble keeping their shelves stocked. For this year’s tea, guests were asked to bring in a donation to help out with this program. I was thrilled to see that we had an outpouring of women who willingly donated to this church! God is SO good!!!

There were a few songs played in the program by other members of our worship team. One of the songs they sang went with the theme of our program, “My Heart Will Sing”. I love the song and am sharing it with you here....enjoy!

 All in all, this was in my opinion the best year for this event, ever! God has done and continues to do great things to show His love through others! I pray we will always keep working in His service to share the love and mercy of our Savior! May you move this weekend from a posture of thanksgiving and gratitude into one of adoration, joy, and peace. Oh, what more could we be thankful for, than the birth of our Savior and King!

 

In His Love, 

Ann

I Hear Ya, Loud and Clear!

Ever feel like what you are doing with your life and for God isn’t enough? I have struggled with that feeling for many years. Not that what I do (have been doing): raising my son, being a loving wife, helping and encouraging others when the need arises and I am able, isn’t important. But I see every day, especially with internet and satellite TV, that there is so much more that I could be doing. Sometimes it frustrates me, to not have the funds, or it seems like road blocks (people, events, bad timing) keep me from doing more. I have prayed that doors would open and yet they don’t. Then I read in a Bible Study guide I’m studying that sometimes God is just saying it’s not His plan for me right now. I don’t like that answer, so I get even more frustrated. I continued to read and it hit me hard what was written next…..God wants more than our service…..He wants a close, everyday relationship with us. That is number one to Him, that we walk and talk with Him, even more than we do with our spouse or children. Wow! I think I had been blocking that important piece of information out so long that I didn’t hear Him calling me to come back to Him, first. It was like a loud speaker had been put to my ears and blasted….”come, walk and talk with Me, child.” Kind of hard to not hear Him speaking to me. Maybe I’ll have opportunities down the road of life to go on a mission trip, or help in some great way. Maybe not. But God has shown me that all He really wants from me is to walk with Him every day! He’ll decide the rest.

Here are some verses and pictures that have been to me a “loud and clear” message from God:

Praying that every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before.
"Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway" (Proverbs 8:34).

The voice of the Lord vows to be your delight and bold advocate. So, listen intently to the one voice that is guaranteed to give you life and hope.
“Love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life” (Deuteronomy 30:20a).

Everyday with Jesus is sweet and satisfying.
“Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens” (Psalm 68:19).

God knows everything about us.

 “O Lord, you have searched me and you know me”. Psalm 139:1

Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

 

In His Love, 

Ann

 Linking up today over at

 Winsome Wednesday