In our family...

In our family....we do second chances...we do grace...we do real...we do mistakes...we do I'm sorry (and I forgive you)...we do loud really well...we do hugs...we do family...we do love.















Thursday, November 27, 2008

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.

12 comments:

I Am Woody said...

What a beautiful post. I hope you have a wonderful day. Peace to you.

Anonymous said...

Lovely post, we are thankful for you too, as are so many people! Your family are lucky to have you. I hope you had a great thanksgiving

Busy Bee Suz said...

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life." I love this quote, and I am so happy to hear/read that you are feeling a bit better. I hope you have enjoyed your day with your family.
take care...SUZ

gram said...

smiles for you my friend, i am so glad to be a part of your blog life. you seem to understand people, and have such a soothing way with words. your family is so blessed to have you in their life, you are a deep and caring individual with so much love to give. keep giving, you have touched all of us with your words, and i think it has been so rewarding for you to start your blog. i am so glad you did. Happy Thanksgiving my friend, thank you for sharing your life with all of us. and thank you for being a part of mine.............

Anonymous said...

Such beautiful sentiments. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. I have four daughters too, and six grandkiddos. I hate that two of my daughters are so far away right now. You always feel that the most during holidays, right?

Best to you and your family,
KJ
www.nanadiaries.com

Anonymous said...

That's a lovely post, and how cute that your little guy 'helped' you with your slideshow LOL...at least it wasn't an e-mail you would have preferred to not see the light of day...yet one more thing to be thankful for!

SciFi Dad said...

Great post. I'm impressed your Little Man could figure out how to publish.

Unknown said...

It is so good to be thankful! I love your quotes. I love your happy heart!

Anonymous said...

I'm sure the people around you are thankful for you, too.

Brittany said...

even if i'm hundreds of miles away, Just know I carry you with me ever where I go. Everywhere, we go! Me and aidyn are so blessed to have you in our lives, and today at church my heart ached for you. I miss being able to come home and cuddle on the couch. I miss the way Aidyns face lit up when he seen you, even though he seen you every day and we were just coming up from the basement! (lol) I miss the way the house smells like home. I miss all the yummy treats I was rewarded with after working all afternoon! I miss hugging little man and little lady and giving them tons of kisses! I miss having beers with you and Gerry! I miss you guys so much & I love you! I guess as much as this sounds like saddness.. I am simply thankful for those memories, and the fact that I have a mom that is so awesome that I DO miss her :)

I love you mom & cant wait to see you in a few weeks!

Smart Mouth Broad said...

Well said. Thanks for reminding me to count my blessings daily. Sometimes I forget. And I love the slide show.

Unknown said...

I love the quote by JFK. I try to express this to my husband all the time, but can never seem to get it across the way I mean it. I will have to use that one.

I love your little people! What a great example you are teaching them. I mean, what 3 year old do you know says when they get older they want to write about their children? You are one great lady.