Thankful Thursday

"How much more there is now to living! There’s reason to life! We can be free! We can learn to fly!" Richard Bach (Jonathan LIvingston Seagull)

I'm learning to fly....to live my best life....to rise above what happened....and use it to give others hope. I think it's mostly because I'm learning to live with gratitude. Being grateful....so simple... yet so profound. Just saying thank-you for what I've been given reminds me of all the things that daily come into my life, from small things like my daughter jumping out of bed and running to kiss me to big ones like the university bookstore telling me they just sold more of my books and need me to bring in more.  This week I'm grateful for....

-the lessons about love and faith and friendship I learned from my friend Gaye who recently lost her battle to cancer. I'll miss her like crazy but the things we shared.....the stuff we laughed over....and the ways we both fought to believe for miracles.....will forever live in my heart and in some profound way....I know she's changed me for the better.
-Spent a day with my youngest...just two of us. We laughed....she shared her heart....and seeing her face...beaming and proud filled me with so much happiness.
-Spent a day with my oldest....just her and I....laughing, talking, goofing around. The bond we share is  tight - I know what we have empowers her.....and it also empowers me to live my best life.
-a close friend and her family came over last night. We laughed so hard and didn't want the evening to end. Close friendships who accept me just as I am are the absolute best.
-At one time I couldn't feel love...When people said they loved me....I had no idea what they meant. I'm so grateful for His love....it made a difference. I finally got it! I finally felt love and that love changed everything.

Thankful Thursday

Linking with Dayle at Simple Pleasures and Candra at Thankful Thursday  

"Without gratitude we have no wings. The highest freedom is to feel ever-increasing gratitude." Laura Teresa Marquez      

Saying thank-you does something for me. It frees me. It gives me wings....because it reminds me how much I've been given....how much He loves me...how far I've come....and even more....how much I want to give back for all that I've recieved. This week...a few things I'm grateful for:

1. Two friends came over with presents and lunch. I met them just a few months ago and they've already become good friends. I am really grateful for them.

2. My girls - this week...our family helped out at that inner city shelter again. Watching my kids...seeing their kindness and smiles made me so proud that they're my kids. 

3. A new friend. Someone gave her my book. She read it and emailed me. She lives in a city not too far away. She came and spent the afternoon with me. She's a pastor's wife...told me she'd like me to come and speak at their church and took some books to sell in their bookstore. 

4. Spent a few hours with a writing buddy...loved the time we spent together sharing our hearts and our writing.

5. My best friend - the One who never leaves me...even when I'm not at my best...even when I'm not what I should be. He's always in my corner...always running with me....He's makes my heart sing....even in the dark. I'm most grateful....for Him. 

Thankful Thursday "Friends"

It's time for Thankful Thursday. Thank you Sonya Lee for hosting this. Anyone wanting to participate, post five things you're thankful for and then add your name at http://truth4thejourney.blogspot.com/

I spent so many years alone....lost....living on the streets with no one who really cared what happened to me.  I 'm totally thankful for the people in my life today:

1. My closest and best  friend, Debbie who believes in me even when I don't believe in me and with whom I can share my heart...even the yucky stuff.
2. My kids who never let a day go by without hugging me and telling me I'm the best. I think they are the best. Because of them I want to live my best life.
3.My sister  - her and I were separated when  we were kids but when she moved back here from living overseas a couple of years ago, we've reunited and developed a bond between us that is incredibly tight.
4. Five co-workers who have become close buds and who have opened their hearts and lives to me and gently force me to open mine to them.
5. Awesome neighbours - we just moved here in June and people have been overwhelming wonderful to us -