Taking The Challenge

Discontinuing copying and pasting my gratitude journal from Facebook. I'm instead going to use this space differently. Favorite recipes, musings, beautiful quotes, photography - rather than another "I really need to" obligation in my life, this is going to be a "I really want to" place.

365 Gratitude Journal posts

Gratitude posts have continued on facebook and will continue there but discontinuing the posts here. 

Taking the Challenge: 365 Days Gratitude Journal - Days 63 & 64

65 - thankful for friday lunch dates with my honey ♥ :)

 

66 - Thankful for all the zucchini and tomato recipes I just organized on my Pinterest boards.

Zuchini and Tomatoes

While I'm more of a fall/winter girl overall, I do love the tastes and flavors of summer. Hoping to do some container gardening here this year :)

Taking the Challenge: 365 Days Gratitude Journal - Days 63 & 64

63 - I'm thankful that the end of the book has already been written and good (GOD) wins! No, I don't understand all that He allows (and that includes His extreme goodness to the undeserving - which is all of us) - but I do know and take comfort in the fact that His Word is true and good wins!! So whatever news we hear this year at home, in our community, our country, our world - whether or not it is heartbreaking, heart stopping, heart shredding - we can hold onto and take comfort in the fact that we know the end.... and in the end - good wins!

 

64 - Thankful for my blender and this recipe: http://pinterest.com/pin/77264949829041860/
I tweaked it a bit by deleting the oregano and adding two chipotle peppers - and it was so YUM!! I did something I've never done before - had it ( w/chips, of course) for breakfast! It. is. that. good! :) :) :)

Taking the Challenge: 365 Days Gratitude Journal - Day 62

62 - Thankful to greet another New Year. I love New Year's Eve and Day - they always make me think of Anne of Green Gables saying about each day "...it's fresh without any mistakes in it" - to which her teacher wisely adds, "yet!". That is exactly how I think of each new year. It's always a time filled with hope for doing things I've not yet done, accomplishing goals I haven't yet met, and working on changes I need to make. It's a time of being reminded that God will be with me to face any and all of the unknowns the year may hold. It's 365 blank canvases that are fresh without any smudges on them - just waiting for the splashes of the vibrant colors, textures, and hues of life. More importantly, it's knowing that those 365 canvases - even the ones that get filled with smudges - will be made into one perfected Masterpiece if placed into the Master Painter's hands. And that's why I love each New Year. Happy NEW Year 2013 everyone!

Taking the Challenge: 365 Days Gratitude Journal - Days 60 and 61

Day 60 - Thankful for another great discovery in our back yard - we have a Kiefer lime tree! I'd never heard of them before or seen them - but they smell divine. I love lime and can't wait to use these. :)

61 - Thankful for my sis number two - who celebrates her birthday today. From inspiring me to encouraging me to challenging me to do the right thing even when I didn't feel like it, my sister has so often pointed me (either through her words or her actions) in the right direction. She is organized to the max and is an amazing cook and baker. AND she selflessly gives of herself by often opening her home for big family get-togethers and church socials. Her ability to make people feel at home away from home is incredible. She is a caregiver that offers the gifts of respect, love, and security in her care-giving. Her laughter and good humor brings sparkle to our family times. I'm thankful to call her my sister. Happy Birthday, Sis - I hope this year is your best yet!

Taking the Challenge: 365 Days Gratitude Journal - Days 58 and 59

58 -Thankful for the Anne of Green Gable/Avonlea movies my honey bought me for Christmas (and is watching with me too!)

59 - Thankful for the trip down memory lane as I took the ornaments off our tree: the little stocking given to me by sister number one when I lived with them in Yonkers; our first year together ornaments; each of the children's birth year ornaments, the little hands cookie ornaments our dil made when they announced our little grandbaby was on the way; the beautiful crocheted snowflakes, wreaths, and santa pants that our dear friend's grandmother lovingly made - each brought joyful memories back and extra gratitude that even with all our moves we've managed to keep these treasures safe! (Am I getting old or what?! HA)

Taking the Challenge: 365 Days Gratitude Journal - Days 56 and 57

Day 56 - Thankful for this baking buddy!! Counter space is limited in the kitchen, so this cooling rack really was a huge help for my cookie baking. And the cookies... - had to laugh as I just saw my honey starting to walk right past them, when the cookies reached out and literally made him stop in his tracks. He had to have "just one" ;0

 

Day 57 - Thankful for advil and warm clothes and blankets.

Taking the Challenge: 365 Days Gratitude Journal - Days 54 and 55

Day 54 - I'm thankful for the shiny, wrapped packages; for the fluffy, bumpy, stuffed stockings; for the village scene and the snowbuddies table; for the fresh, piney evergreen tree; for the nativities lovingly placed here and there; for the special treats and delicious foods; for time spent with family and friends - but MOST of all - I'm thankful for the humble entrance of Emanuel - God with us. God. with. us. The King of Kings birthed in a smelly stable; wrapped in torn strips of cloth; placed in a hay-prickly, rough-hewn manger. Perfection placed in the arms of imperfection. The Creator joins His creation. The One who should be served, came to serve - came to seek - came to save. The angels rejoiced; the shepherds watched and listened and feared; and most of mankind slept. And yet, that humble birth resulted in a life that changed the world, a death and resurrection that gave hope to the hopeless and eternal life to the walking dead. Angels still rejoice, shepherds still watch, and most of mankind still sleeps on - but that lowly birth, God with us, is the sole reason we get to enjoy this amazing season. - Jesus - HE is the Reason for the season!

Day 55 - Thankful for the tradition of my honey reading Jesus' birth story every year to our children and grandchildren before we open presents. It's one of my very favorite parts of the season!

Taking the Challenge: 365 Days Gratitude Journal - Day 53

53 - It was a year that money was tight, the kids were little, and life had plenty of challenges - but she made for someone on her gift list (someone who loved Rice Krispy Treats) - a house made out of Rice Krispy Treats with peppermint pillars. She probably had no clue when she made it that it would become one of my all-time favorite gifts remembered still 30+ years later - because so much obvious love and thought.... and time (a precious commodity to a young mommy)... and effort went into that precious gift. I don't know that it's a trip down memory lane she'd want to make public, so I won't put her name - but to this day the memory of that gift deeply touches my heart and I'm grateful for the love shown on that Christmas. You never know what that "little" gift you give in love might mean to someone or how it will impact their life. You really can't go wrong when you gift in love.