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." 

God used 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 . . .

116.  Family - extended, broken but mended, large.  Like a circle unbroken but winding.  So many "steps", I give up explaining to the papooses and just extend cousin, aunt, uncle, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, grandfather, grandmother to all.  Most importantly, they are cousin, aunt, uncle, sister, brother, grandfather, grandmother.

117.  Cute shoes. 

118.  Necklaces -  even better than shoes.

119.  Etsy - handmade, unique, love everything!

120.  The golden sunlight that shines in our living room making everything glow.

121.  Stories written by my favorite author, Katie.

122.  Stories told by my favorite story teller, Gracie.

123.  Dances performed by my favorite dancer, Emrie.

124.   Playing the "wake up" game with Judah.  (He snores and I dramatically with lots of tickles say, "WAKE UP!  WAKE UP!")

125.  Evening quiet.

Is the cup half empty or half full? 

Read this:  IAMNOWHERE 

Now read this:  I AM NOWHERE 

But wait, read this:  I AM NOW HERE.  

The cup has the same amount in it whether I see it as empty or full. 

The letters are the same in each statement.  I choose the perspective.  

When my head hurts, the toddler needs a diaper, the preschooler wants something to eat (again), the 1st grader needs help reading her lesson, the 5th grader wants me to check her assignment, and I'm trying not to burn supper - I lose sight of gratitude.  Reading  Ann's Gratitude Journal reminds me of who I want to be.  So, to bring my life into focus, I concentrate on the full and not the empty.  I choose to be thankful. 

106.  Dishwashers that work

107. Figuring Data Clusters with 5th graders

108.  Figuring Number Charts with 1st graders

109.  Figuring how many with preschoolers

110.  Eating pretend food with toddlers

111.  Text messages from the handsome chief

112.  The smell of falling leaves

113.  The beauty of falling leaves

114.  Trick or Treat reunions with family and friends

115.  Spiced Apple Cider

November, a season of Thanksgiving.  Consider starting a gratitude journal.  You'll reap unmeasurable benefits.

101.  The crunch of walnuts under our tires as we drive down the country road where I grew up.

102.  Saxon Math, a homeschool mom's dream come true.

103.  Homemade Quilts, so cozy on cool days.

104.  Caramel Candy Corn, loved it and now we can't find it.

105.  Cozy Socks, go so great with that homemade quilt and cool temps.

"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 the abundance rather than on the lack in my life.  This sense of fulfillment is gratitude at work, transforming my dreams into reality.  My gratitude journal continues ...

91.  Thoughtful husbands. 

92.  Corn Maze traditions.

93.  Newborn babies smelling of Burt's Bees Baby lotion.

94.  Rite Aid Single Check Rebates

95.  Beautiful mountain hikes.

96.  Swinging baby boys.

97.  Making pumpkins sparkle.

98.  Little girls with eyes that sparkle.

99. My Pumpkin Fairy

100.  Old doors passed down to great-granddaughters.

  71.  Going on vacation where we can pause as a family long enough to hear from God and where they do all the cooking!

72.  Getting lost in those brown eyes!

73.  Fresh Produce from the Garden.

74.  Sweet and juicy peaches from the Fruit Market sitting in my 0.25 thrift store purchase. 

(The peaches have already been devoured.)

75.  Fels Naptha Soap from a friend.  Thank you, friend.

(I can make homemade laundry detergent for my High Efficiency washer for a very long time!)

76.  Watching the sunset.

77.  Before bed conversations and heart-to-hearts.

(She is becoming quite the young lady.)

78.  Growing older with my guy.

(He still makes my heart race.)

79.  Watching baby boy become big boy.

80.  Watching sisters become best friends.

Want to know more about gratitude journals?

Did y'all think I forgot to be thankful?  I've been trying to get my pictures uploaded from my camera. 

61.    Praying with daughters at bedtime.

62.    Praying over son at bedtime.

63.    Improving our cozy little old inexpensive home (a lot of adjectives, isn’t it?) and hearing dear daughter say, “We don’t have to win a dream home.  We are making a dream home.” 

The pass through is the project that caused all the dust.  It was a solid wall. 

This is the view from the living room. 

This is the view from the kitchen.

64.    Snowballing Debt – wow!  What an awesome feeling!

65.    Watching the garden grow (our first garden).

66.    Discovering a bird’s nest in a gourd that was made and painted by someone very special.

67.    Pizza Town on Sunday afternoons.

68.    The hum of my dishwasher (it sounds so much better than my hands scrubbing and clanging).

69.    Enjoying home pedicures and long giggling conversations with dear daughters.

70.    Finding cute red shoes for $3.

More gifts from above,

56.  Online friends who encourage me to take notice of the small blessings. 

http://aholyexperience.com/search/label/Gift%20List

57.  Who suggest ways to be cheerfully frugal.

 http://likemerchantships.blogspot.com/index.html

58.  Who offer their wonderful decorating advice. 

http://nestingplacenc.blogspot.com/ 

59.  Who teach us to do things we might never learn otherwise. 

 http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/

60.  And who have a passion for helping families find deals and save tons of money.

http://www.moneysavingmom.com/   

Blogs are just one of the modern day tools that God is using.  These ladies inspire me.  Most of my mentors are in real life.  However, I cannot ignore the impact of these online friends.  I am learning to have an open mind and broaden my vision.  I’m learning that God desires it of me.  Thank you, Giver of all Good Blessings.    

My 1000 never-ending list continues.  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.

51.  Mother's Day Ferns (my gift each year from my little ones), they are beautiful!

52.  My mom who graciously received her Mother's Day Fern, so small a token for honoring someone who has given so much throughout my entire life.  Someone whose significance cannot be matched.

53.  My mother-in-law who graciously received her Mother's Day Fern, so small a token for honoring someone who thoughtfully helps with saving coupons and growing gardens.  Not to mention, the more important task of raising, as a single mom, my knight in shining armor.

54.  My step-mom who graciously received her Mother's Day Fern, so small a token for honoring someone who has been a joyful addition to my adult life.  She lovingly dotes on my children and is always willing to lend-a-hand and help in ways others might not think of. 

55.  My knight in shining armor who never fails to honor me. He is so charming.

Still thankful.  His gifts keep coming.

41.  Extraordinary women who invite me to Extraordinary Conferences (thank you Terry, Martha and Rebecca)

42.  Bagels at Panera

43.  Lovely women who aren't bitter about life

44.  Beautiful Christian American Idols who pour their heart and soul into their songs and encourage women of all shapes and sizes to love who they are

45.  Beautiful Great Grandmothers who share their life story and encourage us to never let obstacles (like  rejection, abuse, skin color) get in the way of God's calling on our lives.

46.  Beautiful Mothers without sight who encourage us to trust God even when we don't know "why".

47.  My dear husband who isn't afraid to care for four children all of  Friday evening and all of Saturday

48.  My dear husband who pampers me every chance he gets (ticket, hotel room)

49.  Baby boy that lights up and squeals when Mommy gets home

50.  Little girls who squeeze me on all sides because they missed me