The Thankful Catch Up Post

I loved Micheal's Thankful Post a day idea. And I fully intended to join her. Really I did but I got busy and focused on other things. Isn't that ironic? That is how it usually works. You focus on grateful you are and then you get busy and you forget to take the time to stop and give thanks.

So now I am stopping to give thanks and hoping I can better remember to take daily time to do so.

Wednesday - I am thankful for the feeling of home. In a busy crazy world it is comforting to have places that when you cross the treshold you know peace and healing are coming. Home is where your heart is restored, where you are feed emotionally, physically and spiritually. I thankful to have many places that feel like , "home" to me. And for the people who create this feeling.

Thursday- I am thankful for dreams. I am thankful for the feeling of hoping for something. For thinking big thoughts and thinking you can make them happen. I am thankful for dreams that are reachable, that come true, and the unreachable ones. I am thankful even for the ones that don't come true. Because they keep you hoping. They keep you trying.

Friday- I am thankful for memories. My grandmother suffered many years with Alzheimer's that stole her memories. It was horrible. For everyone. I am thankful for memories. Especially good ones. Like dance parties in Toomer Hall, Adam proposing, singing in my car loaded with friends with our windows all rolled down, the moment I first time I held Noah, the words my dad spoke to me right before I walked down the aisle on his arm, laying under an apple tree at my Granny's house reading a book, beating a number two Florida and rolling Toomer's in the pouring rain, a lazy Spring Break in Seaside, the look on Adam's face when he saw me in my wedding dress, going to the symphony with my dad, excited Christmas mornings, cooking with my mom, pulling all nighters with my freshman roomate... These and and many many many more remind of what a full blessed life I have and remind me to be thankful for the good things. Memories of breakups, funerals, illnesses, failures, mistakes, sadness and struggles all give me contrast for the good things and remind me of good God is and how he pulled me through these things to bring me to things even better than I could imagine.

Saturday- I am thankful for celebration! I love to have reasons for celebration and taking part in celebration. I love holidays, birthdays and victories and the feeling they create.

Sunday- I am thankful for the simple pleasures in life. Like... the scent of fabric softener, green lights, sunsets, chocolate, a good book, a pretty paint color, the feeling you get when you put on a cute outfit, an unexpected compliment, a smile from a stranger, giving joy to others, flowers, candlelight, laughter, a new song, soft sweaters, a good meal, a good conversation, surprises. I feel like these are God's little way of saying He loves us by providing not only our needs but providing for us joy in the little things.

Monday- I am thankful for DVRs. I am thankful for pause, fast forward, and saving things for later. I am not ashamed to say I like TV. I wish I didn't but I do. My DVR helps me get my priorities straight because it lets me watch TV on my time. Not Noah's or Adam's but when I have time.

Tuesday- Forgiveness. I am grateful for forgiveness. I am grateful that God forgives me for the secret ugliness in my heart and He loves me regardless of how many times I have to ask Him to forgive me. I am thankful for Adam's forgiveness when I am short with him or when I am lazy. I am thankful I am able to forgive Noah for his disobedience and sometimes his violence (why do toddlers hit so much???). I am thankful for the forgiveness of so many others for the mistakes I have made and I am thankful for the lesson of forgiveness Christ continues to teach me as I strive to be more like him!