Thankful

When we sat down for our Thanksgiving dinner today, Girly asked if we could go around and say what we were thankful this year.

At first I was hesitant.  I know we all have a lot to be thankful for, but it didn't seem right to be voicing it.  Today had a bittersweet air to it.  

As we went around, it became clear that even in our sorrow we could still be thankful.

We're thankful for our family.  

We're thankful for our time together.  

We're thankful that papa isn't in pain anymore.  

We're thankful for the friends who have gathered around us during this time.  

We're thankful for the laughter we can share with our tears.

The Blessing Jar

I sat in my last MOPS meeting on Friday and our devotional time was spent making a blessings jar.  

It's a small Mason jar with a printed piece of paper taped to the lid that says, "I'm So Blessed Because..." and you wrote down blessings on scraps of paper and stuck it in the jar.  

A simple act. 

A moment to focus on your blessings. 

I struggled to think of a lot of things besides the usual; shelter, money, family, kids, husband, jobs, etc. 

It's not that I am not blessed.  Take a stroll through my house and it shows the abundance of blessings.  

Spend time with my family and you can see the non-tangible blessings.  

Yet, I was struggling.

I have so many friends this year that are being hit with loss right before Thanksgiving which rolls into Christmas.  Several of my friends have family that were just diagnosed with Cancer or other serious health problems.  

Placing those scraps of paper into that jar felt trite. 

I have wandered through the month of November trying to focus on my blessings but have felt guilty for having "too many" blessings and things to be Thankful for. 

Don't get me wrong, we have had our own roller coaster ride throughout November. 

We are waiting on a closing date so we can move to Austin, our car has been in the shop twice, my daughter is cutting teeth and so very fussy, we are having our first Thanksgiving without my husband's grandmother, my kids are struggling with saying goodbye to friends and family. 

Yet, in that list I see much to be thankful for, those blessings that I finally wrote on the scraps of paper. 

We have a house with a roof and heat, we have a good car and we bought the extended warranty, I have a daughter and she is healthy, we have family to spend Thanksgiving with, we have good friends, our friends are already planning visits to Austin, we have family.  

There is so much that we are all blessed with and those friends that are being hit hard this month...I am blessed that I am here and get to wrap my arms around them as they walk through these trials. 

I pray that each of you takes a moment today and focuses on your blessings in spite of your trials. 

Our Veterans

Today is the day that we take time to honor the veterans in our country.  But do you know why we celebrate on this day?

In 1938, November 11 was designated Armistice Day, which celebrated the end of World War I (November 11, 1918).  It was set aside to honor the end of the Great War and to honor those who had fought.  In 1954, after World War II and the Korean War, the  Act of 1938 was amended and changed "Armistice" to "Veteran" to honor those who had fought in the wars since World War I.  

I want to take the time today to honor veterans and the sacrifices that they have made.  It's not easy to leave your family behind, not knowing when you'll get to see them again.

And I want to thank those families who are left behind to wait and carry on while their loved ones are gone.  Their job isn't any easier.

Please excuse the scrapes and bruises on Sarge's face.  He had tested for his black belt the day before the dining out =)

Thank you Sarge, my father- in- love and countless friends who have served.  Your sacrifices are greatly appreciated.

Fall Foliage

This last week we had the chance to ride the train to see the fall foliage in the Boston Mountains here in AR.  

I admit, I was a bit skeptical that the colors would be as good as what I remember from WI.  But, I was surprised =)

I am so grateful for this chance to see the beauty that surrounds me. 

The train ride helped me to remember to focus on what is instead of what was.  Don't let the days slip by because you're focused on what used to be, or even what could be.  Take the time each day to focus on what is and be thankful for it.

The Little Things

I'm thankful for the little things in my life...

What little things are you thankful for?

Giving Thanks

It's November.  And you know what that means, right?

It means that all over Facebook and the blogosphere you'll be seeing post about being thankful.  You might even be tempted to join the "30 days of thankfulness" challenges.  And that's okay.

Turns out being grateful is actually good for your health.  Here's some of the top reasons to express thankfulness this month and the rest of the year.

1. It's good for your mental health.  People who regularly give thanks have a more positive outlook on life.

2. Being mindful of the things you have to be grateful for can boost your well being.

3. Grateful high schoolars have higher GPA's.

4. Thankfulness makes you a better friend to others.

5. Counting your blessings before you fall asleep can help you sleep better.

6. Being grateful for the little things that your significant other does can strengthen your relationship.

7. Gratefulness may be beneficial in the treatment of hypertension and in reducing the likelihood of sudden death in patients with congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease.

8. Gratefulness can boost your immune system.

9. Gratitude can help boost feelings of belonging and decrease feelings of stress.

10. Expressing gratitude can cause you to spend more time exercising.

So, there you have it.  Reasons to be thankful this month and during the rest of the year.

What are you thankful for this year?