Counting my blessings

In an effort to focus on all that is good in my life, I took some time yesterday to look at pictures from this past year. My life was certainly blessed this past year and I really do have much to be thankful for. I learned the art of letting go once again, as my youngest son graduated from high school and then moved across the country from me and my youngest daughter and her son moving out and flying from the nest to another state, as well. I gained another grandson. I went to battle for my little people and was able to assure their safety in my home. We went on our first vacation across the country, in a van, with a 2 & 3 year olds, to gain a most wonderful new son-in-law. It’s been a year of growth and blessings.

As much as I miss my children and grandchildren, who are too far away to come home for the holiday’s, they are always at home in my heart. So, I decided to do a slideshow of our past year for them and my heart overflowed with gratefulness for my husband, children and grandchildren. The process of working on this, greatly improved my mood and reminded me of all that I have to be thankful for.

I was almost done with my slideshow and stepped away for a few moments and came back to the computer to find that my post had been published. Little lady was very quick at announcing “Look at what little man made on your computer mommy!” I was going to edit the pictures and write a few more things and low and behold, my little man had apparently made a couple of clicks on the computer. After discussing once again, that we don’t touch mommy’s computer, little man, then informed me that when he get’s big, he is going to work on the computer and write about his children, just like I do! (Many time’s when I am typing on the computer, he will inquire to what I am writing about and most of the time I say that I am writing about him or being a mommy.)

Another thing I did yesterday, was read quotes about being thankful. This too, helped me put my mind in a better place. I want to share a couple of them with you.

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates vision for tomorrow. Melody Beattie

Be thankful for hard time in your life. Try not to look at them as bad things, but as opportunities to grow and learn. Author unknown

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. John Fitzgerald Kennedy

And this is the one that made me think of all of you.

In everyone‘s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit. Albert Schweitzer

Each one of you have touched my life in the last couple of months. I am grateful for each one of you and the wonderful support and encouragement that you give me. You have each, in your own special ways, helped light the fire inside of me. You inspire me with the things you write and you make me laugh. Thank you.

Today, my heart is full of thankfulness…for my husband, children, grandchildren, family, friends and people that God has brought into my life…for all that I have been given…for this very day…for all that my past has taught me…for all that I was given this year…and for all that is to come.