We've had a lot go wrong lately. It makes one weary and a little on edge. Waiting, so to speak for the next ax to fall. So when the good comes, sometimes it's hard to enjoy. Really. It can be work. Teaching yourself how to accept good. I know there are good things all around. We just need to look. Train ourselves to see the good. Each day reaching for gratitude. Ann Voskamp began this journey of Gratitude. Before I knew the intense grief of the loss of my mom, son, cancer, 2 dear friends and now my dad. I delved into this practice. Ann Voskamp challenged me to the core. “I want ... View Post
Did You Have the Best Day Ever? Day #16 of Thankfulness
It makes a difference. Choosing to have the best day ever. Things weren't perfect. But I worked to make them better. I prayed. I kept my mind focused on things eternal. Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. A deep sense of peace filled my being. Because God honors our desire. He longs to walk the journey with us. The sun shone gloriously. On a mid November morning I hung laundry to dry (not freeze dry). Guests in the Guest House sent a message that they would like to make us dinner. Late in the afternoon the ... View Post
The Best Day Ever Day #15 of Thankfulness
What if we woke and said,"This is going to be the best day ever!" What if we chose to not let one thing ruffle us today? How would our day be if we gave and gave throughout the day? If we looked beyond our own needs. How would the day look, if we looked to the interest of others before ourselves? Every decision was made to benefit another. The best day ever. It's the best day not because it all went well. It's not the best day because we were successful and received much. It was the best day because we stepped aside and let God do His work. Everything may have gone wrong. But it ... View Post
Can We Have Differences But Not Take Sides? Day #10 of Thankfulness
I thought it would stop. All the negativity. It hasn't. The name calling; by the very people who wish to not be called names. I don't, and can't understand the mentality. We are more than this. My parents taught me, "If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say it at all." That practice seems to be only pertinent when your candidate wins office. I long for unity. I long for no name calling; on either side. I long for there not to be sides. Differences. Yes. They challenge us; teach us. But no sides. We can learn from each other. No matter how different. There is ... View Post
America: God Shed His Grace on Thee
O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed his grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea! A friend posted this on her face book wall. It evoked memories of Elementary music classes. It also brought back a memory of a dance recital. The finale included this song and all dancers coming onto the stage carrying flags. I remember the crowd standing to their feet. It was the 70's and I was young. I remember the lump in my throat. A sense of pride ... View Post
Thankful Even When it Hurts Day # 6 of Thankfulness
I walk room to room. Picking up. Putting away. The way of a mom. The things that never seem to make it to its home. Though, I confess, not everything has a home. Why do I not look at the task with joy? I pick up a jacket. I look. It is my first born sons. I hold it. I breathe in deep; searching for him. This is so unfair. I can't make sense of this loss. Today another mom buries her son. The victim of an angry fight. My heart aches for this mom I have never met. I hug the jacket close. The girls come in from the barn and I am drawn into the here and now. Their laughter ... View Post
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