Weekly Gratitude Journal

I love Christmas! I love the Reason for the season, Jesus Christ. I love Christmas music. I love Christmas decorating. I love Christmas baking. I love gift giving. I love Christmas get togethers with family and friends. I get as excited about Christmas as a kid. But this year, our youngest daughter and her family are moving clear across the country right after Christmas. (Just a few months ago our middle daughter and her family moved across the country as well.😢) Because of this there's a lingering sadness mixed with the joy of the season. The past few days some stress piled up on top of the sadness and I forgot to verbalize my praise and thanks to God and instead my mind was focused on being separated by distance from my daughters and grandkids as well as the long list of to-dos I was facing. Sitting down to type this post and re-reading this past week's list was a much needed reset of my mindset. And for that, I am thankful.

***************************

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)

#15,163-#15,186

12-6-2021-

-Ann Voskamp's Advent book, The Greatest Gift

-a refreshing walk

-my brother coming to see me

12-7-2021-

-God's grace and help to get things done

-spending a few hours with my daugher and grandkids

-my nephew-today's his birthday!

12-8-2021-

-listening to worship music as I walk

-a good phone chat with my brother

-a friend to talk to

-my Visionary Leadership Team to laugh with, plan with, pray with

12-9-2021-

-a cup of tea and chat with my friend

-God speaking to me through His Word

-family photos from my daughter

12-10-2021-

-catching up on sleep

-finding exactly what we needed for an upcoming event

-a yummy date day dinner out

12-11-2021-

-a beautiful homegoing service for a dear one in our church family

-our church's volunteers

-an encouraging word and prayer

-a fun FaceTime call from my youngest granddaughter

-a sweet gift in the mail from my middle daughter 

12-12-2021-

-a beautiful time of prayer and intercession together

-God growing our church

-a big answer to prayer

still following,

Weekly Gratitude Journal

I woke up this morning to the sound of the rain outside. It was tempting to stay inside where it was cozy, dry and warm, but eventually I donned my yellow rubber raincoat and headed outside for my walk in spite of the rain. It actually felt refreshing, not just to my body that had been a bit too sedentary over the weekend, but even my heart and mind felt more at peace by the time I finished my walk. While I didn't feel like walking due to the bad weather, I ended up benefiting from going on the walk in spite of my feelings. Similarly, sometimes we just don't feel like giving thanks. But when we take note of our blessings and give thanks to God in spite of "not feeling it,"  it benefits us. It refreshes our spirit and reminds us that, no matter what we are going through, no matter how we feel, there is always something to be thankful for.

***************************

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)

#15,138-#15,162

11-29-2021-

-a good night's sleep

-a friend from church praying for me

-a good walk

-our growth group

11-30-2021-

-flowers from my husband

-God's help and wisdom when we ask Him

-a week night date with my husband after not getting a date day for a couple of weeks

12-1-2021-

-It's December!

-an encouraging zoom meeting

-Christmas shopping

-a fiery sunset that had even the other shoppers stopping to take notice

2-2-2021-

-talking to my brother on his birthday

-God answering prayers

-Tim Smith's song, "I look to you"

2-3-2021-

-a really good night's sleep

-Friday date day

-a foggy morning

-a tiny green hummingbird sipping from a pink fushia

 that was growing in a flowerpot outside of the store

-a special time with our granddaughter to celebrate her tenth birthday

2-4-2021-

-my husband gifting my oldest daughter and I with tickets to Handel's Messiah

-good conversation with my girl during our evening together

-He shall reign forever and ever!

2-5-2021-

-our church family willingly volunteering to help for an upcoming event

-God's care, provision and answers to prayer

-Sunday afternoon rest

still following,