2020. The good, the bad, and the ugly. Like, U-G-L-Y you ain’t got no alibi you UGLY! Yeah, yeah, you UGLY!! Ok, I admit that was a tad bit over done, but…. it’s been occasionally ugly. Am I right? So, with all this year has been, I decided a November post would have to be on gratitude. I knew I could fill pages with complaints, so I set out to collect only the good stuff from friends and family. I truly believe it is our ability to hope and focus on the positive that will propel us forward. I hope you’re encouraged to go look around and find the good stuff in your own life, and when the good stuff is hard to find, that you’ll get around some people that can help you find it. I pray you’re uplifted by these real multi-vitamin like doses of hope, and thankfulness! And if not…..puppies and kittens just might do the trick!

SOMETIMES IT’S THE BIG THINGS

“I am thankful for the women God has placed in my life, especially at this time. They are encouragers, truth-speakers, challengers that God sent to walk through this unique and chaotic time with me. They have helped to bring the beauty into a not so beautiful time.”

“Not only am I thankful for amazing friends, but for a church that never “closed down” and provided outlets to continue to serve and provide for the community.”

“I am incredibly thankful that when I got off track God disciplined and corrected me. He’s a good Father!”

“I am incredibly thankful for the people who prayed me through some of my darkest hours. A time of crisis when all I had was tears. I am thankful that God is truly bigger than my mind can comprehend, and the promises of his word found in Psalm 139:11 “it is impossible to disappear from you or to ask the darkness to hide me, for your presence is EVERYWHERE bringing light into my night.” I am thankful I can cling to the promise that what the enemy meant for evil God will turn it into good!”

“I am so grateful for all of the prayers from family, co-workers, and church during my daughters spinal fusion surgery and recovery. She had very bad scoliosis, a 55 degree curve in her spine. Her surgeon was able to get her spine completely straight when he wasn’t very hopeful he could. We went into this to stop her scoliosis from getting any worse, but it turned out better than anyone could have hoped! I truly believe it was because of all of the prayers!”

“I am so thankful for my friends. So grateful for life giving relationships in my life!”

“I am leaving a job after three decades with benefits!”

“I am having a baby!”

“I am grateful for my family more than ever before. They were always special but even more so since the social distancing experience. You never really know what you have until it’s taken away. I can’t wait to hug them again!”

“I am thankful this season has forced me to slow down a lot, and rediscover God’s creation (the outdoors) and spend more time with Him.”

“I am so thankful I was forced to face my worst fears during quarantine!! God brought me to my knees in desperate prayer and absolute awe. I am grateful I stumbled across a study on learning who God is, and who He reveals Himself to be by using His various names to show His character. Through that I got to know Him so much more intimately and it made relying on Him in those moments of fear so much easier!”

“I am grateful beyond words for sobriety! I am grateful for a sister in Christ who encouraged me to attend the 2019 Awaken Conference, where the Lord began a new work in me and that she then encouraged me to join a Freedom Group. I am grateful that on December 6, 2019, at the Freedom Conference, the Lord began to show me that I had placed alcohol above Him. Then on Saturday December 7th, He called me to a new level of my relationship with Him. He showed me that alcohol had become a crutch and I had made it my Higher Power. Over the last 10 months (11 in November) He has shown me how beautiful life is, how much He loves me in a whole new way, and how unbelievably beautiful change is when you let Him lead the way. He has shown me that the spiritual program of AA has a place for a preachy little woman on a mission for Him. I am grateful for my sisters in Christ, both in and out of the rooms. I am grateful for the women who have yet to make their way to the rooms, but whom He is working on and one day will join me in the mission to grow His kingdom. I am grateful that His grace is so HUGE that I can spend over 20 years calling myself a Christian and yet placed a substance above Him. That despite my addiction He called me by name and said you are loved, you are beautiful, you are my daughter, let me heal you! I am grateful that I am a sober, fearfully and wonderfully made daughter of Christ!”

“My husband came home from the hospital today. He’s had great care all along this journey. Hospital food not so much, but we’ll take better care over the food!”

“Celebrating 10 years after transplant!”

“Grateful for a family member who’s health is improving!”

“I am so grateful to have a home, and a family to support each other. Especially now! It is so important.”

“Today was lung scan day for me. Five years cancer free!!”

“My hard working husband!!! He likes to make me happy whether it be digging a flower bed or painting a room, and he works hard at all that he does! I am thankful for it!”

“Grateful for family and friends. In the end that’s all that matters.”

AND SOMETIMES IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS

“Community Coffee!”

“We are celebrating a baby girl in our office today!”

“I baked blueberry muffins this morning and promptly ate three!”

“I am sitting at my desk working with the front door open, letting in fresh air and sunshine, and a hot coffee in my hand.”

“I am eating a small personal pan pepperoni pizza. It’s so good!”

“I woke up feeling great and thankful for my health.”

“I came home to my daughter’s warm, yummy, chocolate chip muffins. And only 16 days until our Thanksgiving camping trip!”

“The kids are finishing school for this week, and we have off for a field trip tomorrow!”

“I am taking a tea break, putting away Halloween decorations and fluffing out Christmas tree branches.”

“Clearing out clutter, and making progress.”

“I am sitting in Wal-Mart parking lot eating a fish sandwhich!”

“I got to speak at chapel yesterday to elementary school children.”

“I get to watch my baby boy play REAL football today! With pads, uniforms, and everything!”

“I have an interview next week for a job that would move me into what I believe is the Lord’s purpose for me!”

“I am in North Carolina with my son for the Remnant Rising Conference!”

“I made soup for dinner today, and that always makes me smile.”

“I am having dinner with my family tonight!”

“I just got a dozen roses for no reason, from my sweet husband.”

“I got a refund from Amazon because the package never came.”

“Going to Cherry Crest Farms with my daughter and grandbabies on this beautiful day!”

“Getting my hair done.”

“I just finished a really good book, and took a nap.”

“We got our first puppy!”

“It’s date night!”

“Beautiful sun, and a quiet breeze all day long. Cooking yummy food. The Lord and I talking, and me resting in His presence today.”

“A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.” Proverbs 17:22 MSG