Give thanks

It’s been quite a year, hasn’t it? For a year where we weren’t really supposed to do much of anything (or anything fun), it’s somehow flown by and it’s already the end of November…which in the U.S. means it’s time to give thanks, albeit in smaller groups this year.

Even though it’s easy to think about what we don’t have and can’t do, here are some things that came to mind that call for giving thanks.

Give thanks if you…

…are reading this, because you have a computer/laptop/tablet a/o phone or access to one.

…are healthy.

…have family and friends who are healthy.

….have family and friends whom you can visit in person/via some sort of other technology.

…have a job (if you want/need one) or are retired.

…have a home.

…have food.

…have access to health care if you need it.

…have books/e-books/cable/some sort of entertainment.

…have transportation of some sort.

There are many more reasons to give thanks, some that are particular to you. Even though the Thanksgiving we celebrate today is only official in the U.S., I encourage each you to take a moment to think of the reasons you have to be thankful. Happy Thanksgiving or happy thanks-giving and let’s remember those who are truly suffering due to this pandemic and see what we can to do help them.

Merry Chr…JUST STOP!!!

I know many of us love Christmas.  It’s my favorite holiday, for both religious and family reasons.  But. Just. STOP!!!  You’re missing the holiday chance of a lifetime, a chance to both enjoy family a/o friends, food, and an opportunity to count your blessings.

Before you dive into the appetizers, the drinks, the turkey, the mashed potatoes, or whatever food you prefer (my family tends to like my homemade ravioli for every holiday), take a minute to think about what you’re thankful for.  You might go around the table and do this, make your own lists, take a moment of silence to think about it, but PLEASE, make that list! And put aside thoughts of Christmas just for the day.  By rushing Christmas, you miss the chance to take a just to be thankful.  I think that’s something that in this day and age of negativity, we dearly need!

We have so much for which to be thankful.  Having an “attitude of gratitude” every day and not just on Thanksgiving (which, if you live in the US, is today) makes all the difference.  If you blog, you have a computer and internet access, a blessing in itself. But if you start listing your blessings, you’ll find you won’t have time to dwell as much on the less positive things in your life.

Our family won’t be together until Christmas.  Today it’s just my husband and me,  recovering either from a cold (me) or sinus infection (him.)  But to be able to simply take a day to relax and recover, sleep, read, watch TV, take a walk, or whatever else, together, is blessing enough.  And of course, I’m thankful for each and every one of you who reads and comments on my blog, a daily source of joy.  Thanks to each of you and may God richly bless you, today and every day!

Time out Tuesday

Stop!  Time out!  No political talk. It’s too late.  Voting has begun and will continue relentlessly until it’s all over, finally!

Let’s jettison the negativity and instead, let’s assume an attitude of gratitude.  Some of my friends and acquaintances are listing one thing each day for which they’re thankful.  Let’s try that.  I’m going to start and I’d like everyone who reads this post to list in a comment at least one thing for which they’re thankful.  It will do all our spirits good and is a great way to start or end a day.

I’m thankful for:

my family
a great church family
a great work family
a great blogging community
books
good food
travel
photography
thrift stores
being outdoors
having a place in Wyoming
horses.

OK, it’s your turn. I want to hear from you and I want all the positive noise to crowd out everything else for just a bit.

A Thanksgiving photo haiku

Thankful Thursday

The words “thankful” and “gratitude”  have popped up in my life quite often over the last weeks.  Not long ago, I mentioned that in one of my online groups, every Thursday is Thankful Thursday, a day when we lists things or people for which we are thankful.  On her blog, another friend is encouraging her readers to list one thing each day for which they’re grateful.  Finally, a few days ago, an online friend posted this saying:

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.

Are you seeing a trend here?

Give thanks with a grateful heart

Friday Fictioneers–Power source

It’s Wednesday, so it must be time for weekly writing fun with the Friday Fictioneers.  Happy birthday to November-born Fictioneers Lora, Charles, Madison (founder and still participant) and Russell.  Many happy returns and copious blessings in the upcoming year.  Rochelle, you’re the current hostess-with-the-mostess and Sean thanks for this week’s picture.  Read more by clicking on the link at the bottom of the page and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!  (Yes,  I know it’s not until next week, but it’s never too early for good wishes.  And continued prayers for all those still without power and otherwise impacted by Hurricane Sandy.  We’re so grateful for all those helping during this whole time!)

Copyright Sean Fallon

Power Source

When the redolence of pumpkin pie filled the house and brightly-hued leaves beautified the yard, Mom brought out the jar.  As the spareness of winter approached, she said it reminded her where her power came from.

She somehow remembered what every battery represented: a friend who’d helped when Dad  lost his job, the blessings of a thriving garden, each of us.  Some were more whimsical—one for the flowers Dad gave her each birthday, one for each memorable trip they’d taken, one for libraries.

There was a bigger jar each year.  Mom said the jar reminded her of God.

(If you got this via email, I made a few small changes, changes that came to me while cleaning this morning.  I think they make the story better, but I hope you enjoyed it either way.)

The burden of blessings

Are you blessed?  Do you ever feel the weight of those blessings?  I’m very blessed but sometimes it feels like a problem.  Or like the weight bar in the picture below, crushing me underneath.