Thankful Thursday

Has anyone read or participated in Ann Voskamp’s 1000 Gifts Challenge? I recently did the 1,000 Gifts Bible study with my church and have absolutely fallen in love with the concept of Eucharisteo and being Thankful in all circumstances. It has changed my view on day to day life and has drastically improved my attitude. I have a large list running in a journal that I keep, I’m up to 200 and something right now, but I wanted to right now, spur of the moment, make a short list of Thirty things I’m thankful for:

1. A place to take Alden for ballet
2. Understanding ballet teachers even when we’re having a meltdown
3. a coconut water juice that I actually like
4. losing 4 pounds this week (already!)
5. fitting into some of my mom’s hand-me-down clothes
6. fresh venison from the neighbors
7. e-mail
8. an amazing Pampered Chef upline to inspire me and keep me going
9. a party falling in my lap for tonight
10. old friends
11. my husband (&his co-workers) safety in an accident last night
12. an emergency fund
13. family living nearby and ready to pitch in when they’re needed
14. two vehicles so that one can be out of comission
15. when both children nap at the same time
16. quick dry fingernail polish
17. how my daughter takes off the ornaments and then puts them all back on the same branch
18. 30 pound weight loss since surgery
19. a husband who is willing to go to work
20. family pictures
21. my Erin Condren calendar that I need to re-order
22. video games
23. a comfy couch to sit on during nap
24. milk
25. being able to buy groceries when we need them
26. music
27. the Indie Holidays channel on Pandora
28. Alden using complete sentences and yes ma’am and yes sir.
29. my baby boy’s smile when we make eye contact
30. showers

See how easy that was. Granted, today has been an easy day. Yesterday, not so much. I know it’s hard to find things to be thankful for when it doesn’t seem to be a great time in your life. When Rial told me he was in a wreck last night, I drove to get him, and the whole time (because of this Bible study) I was thinking and praying, “Thank you God he’s alive. Thank you God no one was hurt. Thank you for our car, thank you that he didn’t drive alone. Thank you for his phone. Thank you I was home. Thank you mom didn’t have choir practice so she could run up quickly to watch the kids. Thank you for a van to borrow.” All of these thank you’s came instead of the condemnation I might have otherwise had.

Take a few minutes and consider all the blessings you have to be thankful for.