November brings cold days and early evenings.  Our thoughts are turning toward the Holidays, especially Thanksgiving.  It is the one day a year we gather together to celebrate our blessings. 

 "Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow."
-Melody Beattie

I'm abundantly blessed.  I'm delighted to discover how content and hopeful I'm feeling, as I focus on abundance rather than lack.  This sense of fulfillment is gratitude at work.  The kind of thinking that transforms my dreams into reality!

Join me as we savor this season of gratitude.  Each time we find our families assembled all together, let's pause a moment to count our blessings and give thanks. 

My bible reading found me in 2 Kings 4. 

The widow came to Elisha.  "The creditors have come to take my sons as bondmen." she cried.  Elisha asked, "What shall I do for you?"  Her reply?  "I have nothing but a pot of oil." 

So, God used what she had.  She poured out of what she had.  Miracously, she poured out of what she had until there was not a vessel left. 

We all have "oil".  We just have to choose to pour it.  I choose to pour the oil . . .

When we choose to pour the oil, our lives are much more full.

I have a lot of laundry to do.  Every.Single.Day.  I have four kids, you know.

I've already had to stop and restart this post two times three times.  I have four kids, you know.

The chief is working two jobs.  Cause we got to pay for stuff.  I have four kids, you know.

My house is full of loud noises.  I have four kids, you know. 

I have help putting away the laundry.  I have four kids, you know.

I have an endless supply of hugs and kisses.  I have four kids, you know.

The chief can't wait to get home.  I have four kids, you know.

My house is full of laughter.  I have four kids, you know.

My life's not perfect.  It is really really blessed.

Pondering the precious Words of Jesus in Matthew 6:19,20... "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." 

My gratitude journal continues,

156. 

157.

158.

God made the world with its towering trees
Majestic mountains and restless seas
Then paused and said
"It needs one more thing
Someone to laugh and dance and sing
To walk in the woods and gather flowers
To commune with nature in quiet hours"
So God made little girls
With laughing eyes and bouncing curls
With joyful hearts and infectious smiles
Enchanting ways and feminine wiles,
And when He'd completed the task He'd begun
He was pleased and proud of the job He'd done.

This post is linked to Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers.   

"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!  Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:4-7

151. Spring Flowers

152.  Amish Cinnamon Bread

153.  Lookalike Sisters

154.  Son who wants to be just like dad.

155.  Free Tickets!

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful."  Colossians 3:15

For more Gratituesday visit Heavenly Homemakers.

"Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever."  Psalm 136:26

146.  Free Diet Dr. Pepper (get your coupon here.)

(Better than dessert.  Although, it may be the reason I'm posting so late.  Too much caffeine.)

147.  Wintergreen Lifesavers

148.  Oldest daughter's jokes

What is the difference between brocolli and boogers?  Kids don't eat brocolli. 

149.  Lil' guy saying, "Tank Doo".  Translation, "Thank you."

150.  Sweet friends who loan out their fondue pot on Valentine's Day.  (Thank you everily so much, Terry G.)

Instead of whiny.  

Okay, I lied.  I'm going to whine.  Then I'll be thankful.  My head hurts.  I'm outta Diet Dr. Pepper.  The kids....  Let's just say, "I'm so glad they're in bed.  I'm so glad they're in bed.  I'm so glad they're in bed..."  Bless their little hearts.  They're just precious.  Actually, they really are.

141.  Advil

142.  Diet Mountain Dew (not nearly as good as Diet Dr. Pepper)

143.  The end of a day...

144.  Tomorrow...

For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 2 Corinthians 4:17

145.  The Chief.  Oh, how thankful I am for the Chief.

Any chance the temperature here will be 50 degrees tomorrow and we can play outside for longer than thirty minutes and without putting on fourteen layers of clothes that become ten loads of wet dirty laundry?  I didn't think so. 

It bears repeating, I am choosing to be thankful, choosing to see His blessings in  my life.  I still have problems, I still have inconveniences and discomforts.  However, I am allowing them to be less important, less significant by choosing to acknowledge the wonderful things in my life.  I am practicing praise and attempting to do away with complaining. 

"I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying God, and holding fast; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that God swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham and Sarah, to Isaac and Rebekah, and to Jacob and Rachel." Deuteronomy 30:19-20

Will you join me in choosing to be blessed today?

131.  Being moved to tears by Stories of families who choose blessing. 

132.  Cancer Doctors and answered prayers.

133.  The warmth of our love filled home.

134.  Deep relaxing breaths.

135.  Financial Peace.

136.  Monday night Pizza Deal at our favorite - Pizza Town.

137.  Toddler bathtime.

138.  Having Pepto Bismal and Ginger Ale on hand during flu season.

139.  Hearing news reports of gloom and despair and in my heart knowing better.

140.  Sharing what's in my heart so that others know better.

With the daily demands of life, I often fail to see the small moments.  By recognizing the positives in my life, I feel joy.  "If you look for reasons to celebrate - no matter how small - you'll increase your overall happiness."  How many times have I thought, "I'll be happier if I lose 20 pounds."  "I'll be happier when we get a larger home."  "I'll be happier when the toddler is potty-trained (lol)."  Celebrating the everyday blessings is a deliberate action.  It is a purposeful mind set that transforms my inner being.  It gives me joy.  Recognizing the giver of those everyday "joy-makers" gives me joy that surpasses all understanding!

My 1000 thankfulness list continues...

126.  Being married to the love of my life.  He's my best friend!  Seriously.

127.  Growing Boys.

128.  Bow Hunting Dads (that's an 8 point deer, if that means anything to ya!)

129.  Friends who know about fixing car things and gladly share their knowledge!  (Thanks Dave!)

130.  Adopting Friends expecting their baby girl in December!  Congratulations, Elswicks! We're praying for you!

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