My note to GRATITUDE!

Gratitude is surely a precious virtue!

Dear Gratitude,

Thank You Gratitude for showing me how lucky I am to have a big down coat when I am complaining of ice cube hands.


Thank You Gratitude for showing me how spoiled I am to have a plate of full rich food as I get upset about poor service and a bland-flavored meal at the restaurant.


Thank You Gratitude for reminding me how warm all the layers of my bed are when I mutter about a bad night's sleep.

{my favorite Thanksgiving accent decor}

Thank You Gratitude for showing me that the loud aggravating sounds of three boys is better than the dark silence of loneliness.

Thank You Gratitude for reminding me what a luxury it is to have running water when I am mad because I run out of a hot water during a shower.

Thank You Gratitude for hushing my complaints and shame about my weight by showing me that I am capable of walking and running and have full mobility of my body.

{even my calendar reminds me}

Thank You Gratitude for quieting my grumblings over the alarm clock that threatens my sleep as you show me that I am here on this great earth, alive, and able to meet each morning, breathing life.

Thank You Gratitude for stopping the foolish words of mine that say "I have nothing to wear"
by bringing to mind the barefoot photos of children far away.

{compliments of my sweet boys!}





Thank You Gratitude for showing me how insignificant petty annoyances are as I realize what a treasure it is to be in love with my best friend and have a forever companion.

Thank You Gratitude for showing me that the painful times I had a few years ago pales when reflecting on the pain people felt in past times of war and unrest.

{a Happy Day message to my family}

Thank You Gratitude for trying to abide in my heart every day!
My life is full of passion and energy because God has given me the tool of practicing gratitude.

Thank You Gratitude for showing me how valuable you are so I can show my precious boys how to use Gratitude in their lives, giving them an always positive outlook as they deny negative thoughts that threaten to rob their happiness.

{some more sprinkles of the holiday}

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Quotes to think about this Thanksgiving...

The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving.
-H.U. Westermayer


The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings.
-Eric Hoffer


You say grace before meals. All right. But I say grace before the concert and the opera, and grace before the play and pantomime, and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketching, painting, swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing and grace before I dip the pen in the ink.
-G.K. Chesterton