Day 1: I'm thankful for GRACE, MERCY, and FORGIVENESS.
Day 2: Today I am thankful to have a home that is warm in the evenings and cool during the days, and dry when it rains.
Day 3: Today I am thankful for my four children. I know that I may have been thinner and less grey without them, but I know that they probably saved me (and hubby) from so many foolish things we could have done rather than be responsible parents. Each one of them was designed by God's hands, specially formed to look, sound, act, and smell the way that they do. I also know that they are each here for a purpose, and I cannot wait to see what He has in store for them in this life.
Day 4: I am especially grateful that today my littlest wonder turned 9 months old. I know it seems like no big deal, but the horror I went through when she was only 4 days old and I was terrified that she was not going to be alright, hooked up to ivs and needles and wires is a mere shadow in the light of all of the "Joy" she has brought us in the last 9 months. I am grateful that God gave her to us, as I know that she binds our family together in completion, and grateful the she is 100% happy, healthy, and in our eyes, perfect.
Day 5: Today I am thankful for the man that God gave to me to spend my life with. My husband is handsome, smart, rich... wait... uh, well, anyway, he is a great provider, a loving and faithful husband, and a doting father to all four of our children. He is a strong man of God, follows his heart and his spirit, and always does what is best for us as a family. I love this man more than any other human being on this earth!
Day 6: Today, I am thankful for this earth. I am thankful that the sun is shining, and warming my skin. I am thankful that when I take a deep breath, the air smells fresh and clean. I am thankful for the shade and gentle whisper of the trees in my yard. I am thankful that somewhere WAAAAYYY across the country from me is the ocean that I love and miss so much, but I know it is there. Thank You, Lord for this world that You have given us to live in!
Day 7: Today I am thankful for laughter. I am grateful for baby snuggles, crinkled noses, a belly laughs. I am grateful for relaxing in the middle of a chaotic week with the people that I love most. I am grateful for tiny, precious moments.
Day 8: Today as I brought in arm-fulls of groceries, I found myself grateful for the bounty. No matter how many times the money was low, the pantry was bare, the stomachs growled, God ALWAYS provided. Now that our finances are a little bit more than they were in those days (a lot more, really), I can look at where we were, and how far we have come, and can only answer in one way- only God. He has provided us with every need we have ever had, and continues to bless us in our harvest. Praise Him.
Day 9: Today I am thankful for my mother. I am so glad that I can live so close to her, and spend time laughing with her. I'm blessed to have such a great relationship with her.
Day 10: Today I am thankful for the talents and skills that God has given me. I may not be crafty, artistic, or be able to add insane numbers in my head, but He has given me my own special skill set. I am grateful that my God created me with every future moment in his mind, so that when the time comes, I will have the perfect gifting at the perfect time.
Day 11: I am grateful for the community of facebook friends and family, as well as those in the flesh who hold me accountable. Everyone needs people to call them out when they say or do the wrong thing. It may hurt, and it may not always be pretty, and goodness knows I don't always take it with grace, but I am so glad that people care enough to stop me from making mistakes.
Day 12:Today I am grateful for music and the gift of hearing. So often a thing we take for granted, I am glad that I can hear the music around me, the lyrical tones of a child's voice, the birds singing, the uplifting tempo of a worship song.
Day 13: Today I am thankful for my kitty. It might seem insignificant to others, but he is a part of our family. I'm grateful for the warm toes he allows me to have at night as he sleeps at my feet. I'm so grateful that in a few weeks, he will be 5 years old :)
Day 14: Today I am thankful for days when I can spend time with all of my family instead of just me and the kids. We have had some great days while hubby was off, and we always make memories. What a fun, family filled day!
Day 15: Today I'm grateful for open eyes. I see the world, I see the church, and I see what we are doing to others. "They will know we are Christians by our LOVE". Lord, let me be LOVE. Lord, don't let me be blinded with judging glances, but open my eyes so that I may be your LOVE to the world.
Day 16: I'm thankful for my husband's job, which blesses our family with finances and many other things.
Day 17: I'm thankful that we are going to get a vacation, and that I get to spend close to two months planning it and being excited about it!
Day 18: Today I am grateful that one month from today I will celebrate my 28th year on this earth. What a blessing to wake, alive, healthy, and full of the wonders of this precious life. I am looking forward to many more years!
Day 19: Today I am thankful for my new phone. Even though I ha to drive almost two hours on winding mountain roads in the dark (in a place I am certain is home to Sasquatch) just to get it activated because we have no towers.... uh... yeah, I'm still thankful for it.
Day 20: I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to stay at home with my family. I am so blessed to see my kids every morning, and nurture them into (hopefully) strong and capable, God fearing people. I am blessed that I can teach them according to God's world, and not by the law of the world. I am thankful for the laughs and the joy that they bring me (when they aren't driving me up the wall). I am so glad that God placed us here so that I would have this chance.
Day 21: Today, as I have spent half of my day buying, chopping, cooking , and preparing it, I think I am going to be thankful for food. That is all.
Days 22: I am very thankful for having Skype-giving with my family. It is so nice to have technology that keeps you close, even when you are far away. What a blessing to be in a time and age where these things are possible. There is nothing lonelier than a holiday without people to share it with.
Day 23: Today I am thankful for leftovers! Not having to cook for a few days is awesome.
Day 24: I am feeling full of happiness today. So today I am thankful for a full heart.
Day 25: Today I am thankful for the clothes and shoes that we have. There are so many that do not have a closet full of clothes with no holes, or shoes to keep their feet warm.
Day 26: Today I am thankful that 8 years ago today, another mommy gave birth to my step-son.
Days 27: I am thankful for the physical ability to feed my child. I know it may be TMI for some people, but it is such a blessing to have been able to bf for the last ten months. I am hoping to continue for a few more months, at least, but sometimes the bonding is so special during those moments.
Day 28: I am thankful for having insurance that covers most of my medical and dental needs. I have gone so long without having insurance that it is nice to not have to worry about getting sick.
Day 29: I am thankful for my upcoming break from school. while scheduling out my school week last night, I realized that I only have this and next week left before Winter Break! I remember when I was a kid, looking forward to school breaks, then as a working mother, dreading school breaks because it meant expensive sitters and stressful days. But now, I get to look forward to school breaks again! What a silly, undiscovered blessing! Me and the kids can enjoy our breaks together, and have time for stress-free fun and relaxation!
Day 30: the last thirty days have been a constant reminder to be thankful. So today I am going to do a quick overview of the basic anchors in my life. I am thankful for my husband and my children, my parents, for making me who I am, and my extended family and honorary family (close friends) for giving me laughs or a shoulder, whichever I need at the time. I am blessed with financial and physical peace,a home, food and clean water, and a good bill of health. And above all else, without my Saviour, none of these things would matter or be possible.
The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. ~ Psalm 28:7