Gratitude Journal, Day 30

Gratefully overwhelmed by Grace

Tis the end of 30 days of giving thanks. To be honest, as I drove around today, the air felt fresher, the leaves looked brighter, the mountains appeared more majestic. Is it possible that after 30 days of giving thanks, my vision has improved? Perhaps it is less about beholding the beauty in the world and more about recognizing the giver of all this beauty. To be truly grateful, of every little thing in my life, is to understand that (as Ann Voskamp explains) "All is Grace." To see grace in the sparkle and grime of life, this is what my November journal has taught me.

Gratitude Journal, Day 29

"Since love grows within you, so beauty grows. For love is the beauty of the soul."

St Augustine

Completely grateful for LOVE

For the man I love told me, " I crave the pursuit of God, not just for myself but so i can share God with others."

He is truly an amazing person and I am blessed!

Gratitude Journal, Day 28

My job has been a big blessing this year, but what I am most grateful for is returning home from work to:

1) find remnants in the front lawn of a great baseball game,

2) hear dance music from Christian hip-hop artist, Lacrae pumping loud through the windows of our home, and

3) find my two boys having a blast with their incredible dad on the trampoline.

Here's to counting your blessings

Gratitude Journal, Day 27

Grateful for all that is to come this Christmas season!

Here's to counting your blessings

Gratitude Journal, Day 26

Grateful for the perfect, distraction-free (Facebook-free) day!

Here's to counting your blessings

Gratitude Journal, Days 24 & 25

Happy Thanksgiving

Gratitude Journal, Day 23

Today I am thankful for:

Bible study (BSF)

and

Baking (with my son)

and for my husband, who came to my aid when the smoke billowed out of the oven and Caeden said, "Mom, i think we need a chimney." No permanent damage done, thank God.

Here's to counting your blessings

Gratitude Journal, Day 22

Extremely thankful for mi familia

Here's to counting your blessings

Gratitude Journal, Day 21

Grateful for Books.

Specifically, my new book which came in the mail today.

Here's to counting your blessings

Gratitude Journal, Day 20

Grateful for some genuine gal pals.

(even though we all look like zombies from my iphone photo)

Here's to counting your blessings

Gratitude Journal, Day 19

Thankful for Tri Tip Dinner

Here's to counting your blessings

Gratitude Journal, Day 18

Thankful for the boy's school!!

Here's to counting your blessings

Gratitude Journal, Day 17

swim

bike

run

I am thankful for Exercise

Here's to counting your blessings

Gratitude Journal, Day 16

Thankful for colorful, crunchy, fallen leaves, and friends who love playing in them.

Here's to counting your blessings

Gratitude Journal, Day 15

Today I am thankful for laughter

Here's to counting your blessings

Gratitude Journal, Day 14

Movie Night with my Hubby

Here's to counting your blessings

Gratitude Journal, Day 13

Thankful for the boys and one of my favorite childhood pastimes............

building a Fort in the living room.

Here's to counting your blessings

Gratitude Journal, Day 12

Laughter came from every brick

A poem from Theresa of Avila

"Just these two words he spoke

changed my life,

"Enjoy me."

What a burden I thought I was to carry-

a crucifix, as did He.

Love once said to me, "I know a song,

would you like to hear it?"

And laughter came from every brick in the street

and from every pore

in the sky,

After a night of prayer, He

changed my life when

He sang,

"Enjoy me."

Taken from the book One Thousand Gifts, By Ann Voskamp

Today, I am thankful for WORDS

Here's to counting your blessings

Gratitude Journal, Day 11

A night out with my love

Gratitude Journal, Day 10

Barnes and Noble class field trips

Here's to counting your blessings

Gratitude Journal, Day 9

A focused School boy

Here's to counting your blessings

Gratitude Journal Day 8

my favorite shoes

Here's to counting your blessings

Gratitude Journal, Day 7

A gorgeous Sunset

Gratitude Journal, Day 6

Avacado Tortilla Soup made completely in the Vitamix.

Here's to counting your blessings

Gratitude Journal,Day 5

Boys day with daddy

Here's to counting your blessings

Gratitude Journal, Day 4

New Do

Here's to counting your blessings!

Gratitude Journal, Day 3

The beauty of Fall

Here's to counting your blessings

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Gratitude Journal, Days 1&2

One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp is a wonderful book.

So wonderful in fact, that it got me blogging again.

For the month of November, I am keeping a daily Gratitude Journal. When I remember something to be thankful for, I write it down on the pages of the journal left open on my kitchen counter. Ann says in her book "Giving thanks (Eucharisteo) always precedes the miracle." Who doesn't need a miracle, right? I have been challenged to give thanks, as opposed to rolling my eyes in annoyance, escaping to avoid frustration, worrying about trifle issues, complaining when life gets rough, etc. and etc.

God deserves our thanks and our praise. In fact, God inhabits the praise of His people (Psalm 22:3). I long for God to dwell near. Amazing to comprehend that He would even stoop so low to dwell near a sinner such as I.

Rather than post a million and one things I am thankful for each day, I am going to try to post a picture a day of something that makes me thankful. Below are pictures to sum up the last two days.

Here's to counting your blessings!