I look outside at the calm water that fills the lake and makes up what is to be considered my front yard. The bright sun shines gracefully across the land, reflecting on the good He has blessed us with and I am so extremely grateful to be given such a beautiful day; not just any day; but a magnificently gorgeous day here only 2 days prior to Thanksgiving.
My windows are open, my house is scrubbed clean and shining like a diamond; ready for guests, ready for the finest of foods and freshly baked goods which I will start preparing tonight. The next 5 days will be complete with family, friends, food, football, and finding the Christmas decorations to adorn our surroundings with.
I write this now for fear I won't get the chance when guests start arriving, ovens begin preheating, and the hostess apron goes on. But I want to be certain to encourage all those others; Thanksgiving is a day when we give Thanks for all we have. Let it not be condensed to only one special day out of the year, let it overflow into the other 364 days of the year. However, with that being said; I want to be sure to count my blessings and list them one by one.
The truth is: in a world full of pain and suffering, hardship and turmoil, disappointment and regret; I am at such a good place in my life and have so many wonderful things to be thankful for that my cup has runneth over with sheer inner peace and gratefulness that I can't possibly be expected to keep it in all in nor shy away that I accept the challenges and responsibility in this world and yet I also get down on my knees and respond and respect to the many many lotteries I've happened to hit and show my utmost appreciation and gratitude. (Phew! "Run-on Ashley" I can hear in the voice of my high school English teacher. But I've never been known as short winded.)
I encourage each and everyone to take some time to make a list (big or small) of things to be thankful for. Even if it doesn't come natural to you, take a deep breath (be thankful you can) and look around at your environment. I can imagine someone having some sort of "writers block" for the thankfully challenged and then like a dam being opened up; thoughts of thanks come pouring out.
1) I am thankful for my children. Without them: I am nothing and with them: I am everything! They make me want to continually be a better mother, better woman, better daughter, better sister, better friend, better...better...better. They complete me and I am truly blessed to have these two wonderful beings in my life that show me everyday that there is a reason to be happy; and I see those reasons for happiness through their eyes. They have taught me that unconditional love does exist; without restraint and I am entirely grateful that I get to call them mine and there is no greater reward than to be called their mother!
5) I am thankful for my new town. I love my home, I love the proximity to my family. I love being only minutes from the hustling and bustling of the downtown happening(ness) if I choose to join the "IN" crowd and yet live in such a small community where I can feel ok leaving my doors unlocked and my child ride his bike without having to worry too much. It's clean, it's safe, it's comfortable, it's home :)
6) I am thankful for movies. I have always enjoyed watching a good flick but as of late; I REALLY enjoy watching a good flick. I love watching kid movies with the kids and grown up movies with my love; either all cuddled on the couch or in our bed. It's always a good time and I give movies 5 stars for making many (movie) memories for me and my family.
7) I am thankful for music. How many times have we heard a song that we loved but later heard that same song when we were in a different place in our lives and really LOVED that song?! I like new, old, country, rock, and anything in between. I enjoy dancing around with my kids and singing along or finding peace on pandora when I'm taking a hot bath surrounding only by my own thoughts.
8) I am thankful for books. I love to read. I love anticipating new arrivals. I equally love to write and feel energized upon reading to turn around and one day write a masterpiece. I love being able to read and then watch a movie and compare the two. I am thankful I can read good, as opposed to those who can't read good! Ha!
9) I am thankful for good food. I like to indulge and see no reason not to. We live in a world that has so many wonderful and amazing things to consume completely and I love to dive fully into any dish and experience it for what it is and savor the moments around a table with those I love, eating what we like and discussing what's alive in our hearts.
10) I am thankful for my future! I have such a wonderful idea of the direction we (my family) is headed and a road map laid out before me that branches out like the oak swaying in the wind outside the window as I write. I am thankful for the future of my kids and we welcome it with open arms and look forward to whatever the future may bring our way. All good things :)
AND
11) Lastly, and most importantly, I am thankful for Grace - for love that cannot be explained (only surrendered to), for a Creator that inspires creativity, purpose and a hope that there is more to the story than we see.
“We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.” ~Cynthia Ozick
My windows are open, my house is scrubbed clean and shining like a diamond; ready for guests, ready for the finest of foods and freshly baked goods which I will start preparing tonight. The next 5 days will be complete with family, friends, food, football, and finding the Christmas decorations to adorn our surroundings with.
I write this now for fear I won't get the chance when guests start arriving, ovens begin preheating, and the hostess apron goes on. But I want to be certain to encourage all those others; Thanksgiving is a day when we give Thanks for all we have. Let it not be condensed to only one special day out of the year, let it overflow into the other 364 days of the year. However, with that being said; I want to be sure to count my blessings and list them one by one.
The truth is: in a world full of pain and suffering, hardship and turmoil, disappointment and regret; I am at such a good place in my life and have so many wonderful things to be thankful for that my cup has runneth over with sheer inner peace and gratefulness that I can't possibly be expected to keep it in all in nor shy away that I accept the challenges and responsibility in this world and yet I also get down on my knees and respond and respect to the many many lotteries I've happened to hit and show my utmost appreciation and gratitude. (Phew! "Run-on Ashley" I can hear in the voice of my high school English teacher. But I've never been known as short winded.)
I encourage each and everyone to take some time to make a list (big or small) of things to be thankful for. Even if it doesn't come natural to you, take a deep breath (be thankful you can) and look around at your environment. I can imagine someone having some sort of "writers block" for the thankfully challenged and then like a dam being opened up; thoughts of thanks come pouring out.
1) I am thankful for my children. Without them: I am nothing and with them: I am everything! They make me want to continually be a better mother, better woman, better daughter, better sister, better friend, better...better...better. They complete me and I am truly blessed to have these two wonderful beings in my life that show me everyday that there is a reason to be happy; and I see those reasons for happiness through their eyes. They have taught me that unconditional love does exist; without restraint and I am entirely grateful that I get to call them mine and there is no greater reward than to be called their mother!
2) I am thankful for my boyfriend. For a very long time I wanted to make something out of nothing. For so very long I painfully masked an unhappy situation and even thought I was undeserving of such; and told as much daily. We simply stumbled into one another's lives; and without reservation, conflict, or too many words; magically created a bond and a love stronger than most marriages I know. I am so thankful he accepts me and my children as his own and has the softest sweetest good heart to back it up. He's an amazing man and we (my children and I) are so incredibly thankful he chose us and we welcome him with open arms to our now even happier family; the puzzle piece that fits and completes the effort.
3) I am thankful for my family. They are crazy and erratic, they have issues all on their own, there is ever seemingly moments of chaos and complete madness that is exhausting and tiresome. Yet: they are always a phone call away and it needn't be a small feat. They; together; could move mountains and they would all do so for me and for those they love. They have gone the lengths to prove this time and time again and I am thankful for them (and all their craziness)!
(Neither my wonderful father or my loving mother are in this picture; but their presence and love and generosity exceeds my expectations every single minute of every single day and I love them both to the ends of the earth and back)
4) I am thankful for my friends. Throughout the years, I have lost and gained friends. I have friends that I've known for a dozen years, friends that I've known for a few years, and friends that I'd walk over fiery hot coals for. Those friends have made me a better friend and those friends will be friends til the end of time. They are truly good people to the depths of their core and I appreciate them today, tomorrow, and always.
(Molly O'Brien :) on my 28th birthday) Friends since 2006
(Alison Borja in SF, CA in 2011) Friends since 2002
5) I am thankful for my new town. I love my home, I love the proximity to my family. I love being only minutes from the hustling and bustling of the downtown happening(ness) if I choose to join the "IN" crowd and yet live in such a small community where I can feel ok leaving my doors unlocked and my child ride his bike without having to worry too much. It's clean, it's safe, it's comfortable, it's home :)
6) I am thankful for movies. I have always enjoyed watching a good flick but as of late; I REALLY enjoy watching a good flick. I love watching kid movies with the kids and grown up movies with my love; either all cuddled on the couch or in our bed. It's always a good time and I give movies 5 stars for making many (movie) memories for me and my family.
7) I am thankful for music. How many times have we heard a song that we loved but later heard that same song when we were in a different place in our lives and really LOVED that song?! I like new, old, country, rock, and anything in between. I enjoy dancing around with my kids and singing along or finding peace on pandora when I'm taking a hot bath surrounding only by my own thoughts.
8) I am thankful for books. I love to read. I love anticipating new arrivals. I equally love to write and feel energized upon reading to turn around and one day write a masterpiece. I love being able to read and then watch a movie and compare the two. I am thankful I can read good, as opposed to those who can't read good! Ha!
9) I am thankful for good food. I like to indulge and see no reason not to. We live in a world that has so many wonderful and amazing things to consume completely and I love to dive fully into any dish and experience it for what it is and savor the moments around a table with those I love, eating what we like and discussing what's alive in our hearts.
10) I am thankful for my future! I have such a wonderful idea of the direction we (my family) is headed and a road map laid out before me that branches out like the oak swaying in the wind outside the window as I write. I am thankful for the future of my kids and we welcome it with open arms and look forward to whatever the future may bring our way. All good things :)
AND
11) Lastly, and most importantly, I am thankful for Grace - for love that cannot be explained (only surrendered to), for a Creator that inspires creativity, purpose and a hope that there is more to the story than we see.
“We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.” ~Cynthia Ozick
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