Weekly Gratitude Journal

My weekend was full of Christmas festivities-a candlelight tea for the ladies of our church on Friday and a dinner at our house for our church leadership on Sunday evening. On Monday I spent some time with the grandkids that live in the Portland area and by the time I got home in the evening I forgot all about writing my gratitude post and instead went straight to bed!

This morning I got to thinking about how we can be especially prone to unrealistic expectations and hopes at Christmastime. We want all family difficulties to be resolved and everyone to get along happily and peacefully. We want to be able to afford all the things without financial strain.We want life's difficulties to take the month off. The reality is that life's difficulties can come no matter the season, but facing trials during this already full to bursting season can magnify the relationship struggles, the financial problems and all manner of difficulties we face in our circumstances. One key that keeps us from being pulled underwater by the undertow of disappointment is to choose to look at life through the lens of gratitude to God-to choose to see the blessings God has given us smack dab in the middle of our sin-sick world and imperfect life. And so I continue to count my blessings through it all.

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Since 2009 I've been counting my blessings thanks to the prompting of Ann Voskamp.

 I continue to count my thanks, 

piling up gratitude day by day in my journal.

(and capturing some of my blessings via my camera or iPhone)

#12,768-#12,789

12-9-19-

-a safe and beautiful drive to Leavenworth

-Christmas lights everywhere

-watching a cheesy Christmas movie and munching popcorn together

12-10-19

-a rare afternoon nap while it snows outside

-a room with a fireplace

-laughing together

12-11-12-

-a safe drive home 

-our granddaughter doing well while undergoing some not so fun medical tests

-our home-loving to get away together but also loving to come home

12-12-19-

-a good report on our granddaughter's medical tests

-figuring out a back up plan for Sunday's dinner for our church leaders since my oven can't be repaired until next week

-a video of our 2 1/2 year old grandson attempting to sing "Last Christmas"

12-13-19-

-an Instagram message from my oldest granddaughter, "I love you, Nana. You're the best Nana!"

-facetime with the two youngest grands

-laughter and good food at our Ladies's Christmas Tea

-videos of our middle grandson's Christmas program that I had to miss due to the Ladies Tea

12-14-19-

-a sweet conversation with our two middle granddaughters via FaceTime

-the silver lining of having to do my baking at my friend's house due to my broken oven-good conversation and laughter

-all of the prep for tomorrow's leadership dinner done

12-15-19-

-God at work in us and our church

-a really wonderful leadership dinner that probably went more smoothly than previous ones we've had in spite of the oven situation!

-texts with my siblings about our childhood Christmas memories

still following,