365 Days of Thankful ~ Day #21 & Day #22

Day #21
Today I am thankful for being able to act "as if" ... 
I remember learning that if we "act as if" we already have something we want, "act as if" something is already occurring in our lives (even if it's not), or "act as if" we know how to do something (even if we don't) -- we create the conditions for it to manifest in our life with greater easy and probability. 

"Acting as if" is about believing in things that don't currently exist and that there may not be much evidence for. This is about living a "faith-based" life, not an "evidence-based life." The term "faith-based" often gets used in a political, social, or moral context when talking about initiatives or organizations that are connected with the church or some specific organized religion. However, being a faith-based person, while it can and often does encompass our religious beliefs and our spiritual practices, is even broader than this.

When we choose to live with a strong faith in things not seen, not proven, and not guaranteed - we tap into the power of the possible and we supersede the literal and predicable.  

Wayne Dyer wrote a great book a number of years ago called You'll See it When You Believe it. So many of us, myself included, live important aspect of our lives with the silent mantra of "I'll believe it when I see it" and in doing so we hold ourselves back, limit what's possible, and negate the power of our mind, imagination, and intention to allow and create things, situations, experiences, and outcomes that are new, unpredictable, and even miraculous.

We often get exactly what we expect - which is a pretty powerful concept if we take time to let it in and live with that awareness. Instead of waiting to see how things turn out, hoping that they will get better, or simply allowing the circumstances and situations in our lives determine how we feel - what if we acted as if we had everything within us and around us that we need to be successful, happy, and fulfilled already - which we do, by the way!

Day #22
Today I am thankful for timing ... 
God has a perfect timing for everything. Learn to wait on Him. This brings Him honor, and it brings you peace. (see Psalm 27:14)

365 Days of Thankful ~ Day #18, Day #19 & Day #20

Day #18
Today I am thankful for family ... 
We have our ups and downs, but they really are my foundation. 


Day #19
Today I am thankful for the birth of Jesus Christ !! Happy Birthday, Jesus !!


Day #20
Today I am thankful for my sweet, thankful children ...

The kids told me multiple times yesterday  what a wonderful Christmas they had & how thankful they were for their gifts & how much they loved them.  Maddi even went as far to say that this was "the best Christmas ever," even though we weren't able to get her the bike she wanted ...  We weren't able to do a whole lot this year, but I think we did pretty good considering.  It warmed my heart that my babies were happy with what they got & didn't whine or complain or act ugly b/c it may not have been exactly what they wanted ... I am truly, truly blessed !! <3

365 Days of Thankful ~ Day #10, Day #11, Day #12, Day #13, Day #14, Day #15, Day #16 & Day #17

I got SO super behind on my 365 Days of Thankful posts this past week with trying to get ready for the holidays, so I'm going to catch up now so I don't get even further behind ....

Day #10
Today I am thankful for the ability to forgive ...

Day #11
Today I am thankful for optimism ...

You can create a better life if you want.  Make a choice, be silent and aware and listen for 

instructions from your deep inner knowing and receive it with gratitude.  It's there waiting for

you.  You are your own best guide.

Day #12
Today I am thankful for lazy Sundays watching football & doing nothing in particular ...


Day #13
Today I am thankful that the kids got out of school on Friday for the holidays & I could sleep in a little today ...


Day #14
Today I am thankful for music ...

Day #15
Today I am thankful that I missed my appointment on my birthday ... Everything happens for a reason ...

Day #16
Today I am thankful for wonderful times with family ...

Day #17
Today I am thankful that I believe ...

We're called believers because our job is to believe. It's not always easy, but it's what God 

called us to do.

365 Days of Thankful ~ Day #9

Today I am thankful for sweet little voices & giggles & memories ...
Maddi brought home gifts today after her caroling, as they let us pick the kids up early, and it made me so thankful for sweet little hands, voices, giggles & the memories ...

 This is her four fingers from one of her hands made into snowmen !! How cute is this ?!

I have items like this from all of the kids & this is one of the few things out of the hundreds of papers that they bring home that I keep.  I am so thankful for these sweet little memories, because they grow SO fast.  Enjoy each & every day with your children because the time flies & one day they will be big & you will wish for that time again.

365 Days of Thankful ~ Day #8

Today I am thankful for the Lord putting His arm around my shoulders & His hand over my mouth ...

365 Days of Thankful ~ Day #7

Today I am thankful for Tomato soup & grilled cheese sandwiches ...

365 Days of Thankful ~ Day #6

Today I am grateful for another year & another day of life . . .

I am 38 years old today. It's been a roller coaster of good & bad over the years (mostly good) & I thank God for blessing me with another year !! Every morning when I wake up, I say a silent prayer in my head, "Thank you, Lord, for another day of life." Every day isn't going to be the best day we've ever had.  I had a HORRIBLE morning. But the outpouring of love I received throughout the day for my birthday quickly washed away any fragments of the bad & warmed my heart that people actually took a small part of their day to think about "ME" !! How AWESOME is that ?!  So, thank you all, from the bottom of my heart for caring about me enough to think about me today !! And thank you, Lord, for another year & another day of life !!

365 Days of Thankful ~ Day #3, #4 & #5

Yeah ... So, on the weekends, sometimes I procrastinate a bit.  I got 3 days behind in my project, so I will combine the weekends when I do that.

Day #3

Today I am grateful for Santa Claus at the mall . . .

Day #4

Today I am grateful for church on Saturday & a FABULOUS Christmas program . . .

Day #5

Today I am grateful for pleasant surprises . . .

I was surprised with birthday gifts & a card from the kids this evening !! Early birthday gifts !! What a nice surprise !! They were so proud of themselves.  It was too cute !! I love my babies !! I got the Better Homes & Garden Wax Warmer I wanted from Walmart (see picture below), a bar of Baked Apple Strudel & Apple Cinnamon Fragrance Sticks.

365 Days of Thankful ~ Day #2

Today I am grateful that teenagers eventually grow up . . .

365 Days of Thankful (December 7, 2011 ~ December 7, 2012)

During the month of November, as I mentioned in my last blog post, I posted every day with one thing that I was thankful for.  I really obsessed over this project, as I do with most things, but I took it to heart as well.  I wanted to make sure that what I was posting was truly something genuine that I felt within myself & was truly, at that moment, grateful for.  I enjoyed the daily postings so much, and the warmth & positivity it brought to my day, and to others I hope, that I have continued this daily task into December.

Now, however, I have decided to make this my new project.  I will be posting on my blog daily what I am thankful for for 365 consecutive days.  Some days, I may simply post what I am thankful for.  Other days, I may post more.

So, here we go :

Day #1 of 365 Days of Thankful

Today I will be thankful when bedtime gets here. I had a long night last night & an even longer day today ...


Last night, I was watching the news, which I have taken up again this week (I do not typically watch the news ~ too sad & depressing). There was a story about a 3-year old little boy in the county I live in who was hit by a car at a Christmas parade & died. He would have been 4 next week.


http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/10466692/

I began bawling as they interviewed the parents & the mother talked about her final moments with her son. I just couldn't even begin to imagine the heartbreak of losing a precious child at all, much less a week from a birthday & so close to Christmas ... I thought of my own 3-year old, my other children & how they are my life.  I began to pray for the family as I cried.  I went & hugged my children, really hard, and then I tried to pull myself together, make dinner and go on with the evening, cleaning & such, until bedtime.

When bedtime came, I just couldn't stop thinking about that family.  I prayed for them again. I felt as if the weight of the world was on my shoulders.  I could almost feel their pain as if it were my own.  I tossed & turned until some time after 5 AM, and woke at 7:30 AM to get my 5-year old ready & off to school.

When I got back home from walking M to school, I had more cleaning to do as our housing office was coming to do an inspection of our home (which I didn't know military housing did, since we've only lived one other place) and I wasn't sure exactly what they were going to be looking for or at. My 3-year old was so good while I cleaned & I was reminded once again how very blessed I am.  And I prayed again, for the family & in thanks for all that I have.

SIDE NOTE : Because my house was so clean (per housing), all they did was check out fire extinguisher & made sure our smoke detectors worked.  They were in & out in less than 5 minutes.  All that work for less than 5 minutes ... LOL Story of my life ...

Now, however, at 8:43 PM, I feel so very drained, emotionally & physically.  I've had a migraine off & on since December 1st, and my crying jag yesterday & our crazy weather the past few weeks has done little to help.  So, I'm turning in early tonight.  I think this will be the first night in many, many months that I have gotten in bed before midnight, much less actually gone to sleep.

Please pray for this family as they find a way to deal with & get through such a horrible thing in their lives.

Good night, my friends & God Bless !!