Thankful Thursday

Linking up with Dayle at Simple Pleasure

"I went to sleep with gum in my mouth and now there's gum in my hair and when I got out of bed this morning I tripped on the skateboard and by mistake I dropped my sweater in the sink while the water was running and I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day." Judith Viorst

Tuesday was one of those days...when everything that could go wrong....did. It started out when I banged into a cement step and broke my toe. From there everything went downhill. I felt like I was on roller blades sliding down a steep incline. And there was no way to stop it. 

Just when I got over one horrible thing....and started to breathe...BOOM! Something else awful happened. 

The one thing I was grateful for by 7 p.m....it was soon time to go to bed. ☺
I'm also grateful for......
-not breaking a leg or arm or anything major. 
-the comfort and support of an incredible family
-knowing this can't happen two days in a row. Really thankful that Wed. was way better. 
-His support....Wed. morning I prayed...asked Him to take over. Since then...everything started coming together again. 
-Prayer...it's a hotline to the One who is never busy....and who is always ready to step up and help. He can figure out ways that are so much better than I could ever think of....and when He's on board.....I know.....nothing is going to happen that He and I together can't handle. 

Thankful Thursday

I'm linking up with Greg at  http://gregsgeneralstore.blogspot.comand Dayle from Simple Pleasures at http://alittleofthisandthat2.blogspot.com/

“When eating bamboo sprouts, remember the man who planted them.” Chinese Proverb

Sometimes when I'm lying in bed or running in the woods or just being quiet....I think about those people...the strangers who helped me....some who've now become good friends.  I'm really thankful to:

-the banker...who every month reached into his pocket and gave me money when I asked him for a loan...never asking any questions. Because of him....I've learned to give to others who have nothing. 
-the social worker who let me call her house when her manager told her not to give out her phone number. I had nobody in my corner. She was it. She believed in me. Because of her....today I'll do that for anybody who needs me to be in their corner.
-the lady who graciously lets me park my car in her parking lot so that I don't have to pay the $96 a month just to go to work. Because of her....I've learned to be be compassionate with others and give what I have to make their lives easier.
-all the people who read my story....and sent me encouraging cards...emails...letters and gifts just to tell me my story gave them hope. Because of them....I want to live my best life.
-All of you who encourage and support me and who share your stories that show me there are so many fighting and overcoming life battles. Because of you....I want to do the same for others.

And mostly because of Him.....Raised Jewish.....He was a stranger....And the One who really made a difference....He taught me love, grace and forgiveness really does heal....Because of Him....I want to shine....

Thankful Thursday

Gratitude is a vaccine, an antitoxin, and an antiseptic”  John Henry Jowett

We've been away all week...on holidays...having a great time.  It's hard for me to leave home. For two weeks before we left.. .I worried about leaving and being away....I constantly fight against the feeling of wanting to go home even when the holidays are great. And this one has been. No matter how much fun we're having something inside me always wants to go home.....But I fight against listening that voice...mostly for my kids. Saying thank-you heals something inside me......It takes away some of the fears and replaces them with a contentment. Today I'm so thankful for

- having the two most amazing kids who make me want to live my best life
-the bond and love my kids and I share -
-the means to travel to nice places - pretty darn far from living on the streets
-family and friends, including you guys - who are in my corner..always believing the best for me and who stay making me want to live my best life too.
-overwhelming love from Him....He's made all the difference  - He let me live...He nevers goes away....never gets fed up with me....never withdraws His love. He accepts all of me and because of that I really do want to live my best life.....

Thankful Thursday

"Every child born into the world is a new thought of God, an ever fresh and radiant possiblity." Kate Douglas Wiggin

I'm thankful for my kids because they:
-give me so many opportunities to play and dance
-remind me what's really important
-help me live my life with greater freedom and purpose
-give me beautiful heartsongs to sing
-affirm over and over that I am loved even when I don't think I deserve it.

My fourteen year old writes poetry. She inspires me....with her words...and the gentleness of her spirit and the beauty that flows from her heart. 

No One But Him by Shelley

No one can mend a broken heart
No one can fix what is fallen apart

No one can settle a raging wave
No one can foretell the acts of the brave

No one can perfect the Shepherd's sheep
No one can create oceans as deep

No one can cause us to rise from the dead
No one can give food to who need to be fed

No one can make the blind see
No one can give you eternity

No one can turn water to blood
No one can dry out a massive flood

No one can cleanse the heart of sin
No one can know what's truly within

No one can know what tomorrow will bring
No one can do these.....But Him
 http://beingshelley1.blogspot.com/

Thankful Thursday

"When you're grateful fear disappears and abundance appears." Anthony Robbins

I never want to forget to say thank-you. I've been given so much and have overcome so many things...I feel totally grateful for:

-freedom from the darkness
-courage to face those things I tried so hard to hide
-faith that gives me strength and reminds me I'll never fight alone again
-an awesome family that are always in my corner
-a great group of bloggy friends - you guys have to be some of the best people on the planet.... ☺

Thankful Thursday

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. Melonie Beattie
I'm so so so thankful this week. I keep thinking....me and God....we did it! We told the truth....And I wrote it down....and now...it's been validated. I'm so so so thankful for:
-Winning an award for  my book, In the Eye of Deception (www.gentlerecovery.webs.com)
-Getting an honorable mention for their highest award.
-Being heard
-Being validated for all those years struggling just to survive
-My writing - my book inspiring and helping others. How cool is that!!!!

Thankful Thursday

"There is a calmness to a life lived in Gratitude, a quiet joy."  Ralph H. Blum

Saying thank-you helps me remember...helps me stay strong....helps me move forward. I never want to forget how far down He went to pull me out....I never want to forget just how much He's done for me. I'm grateful for:

Being given so much more than I could have ever imagined.  
Kindness from strangers who reached out to me when I had nothing to give back.
Hope to hold on no matter how dark things got.
The gift to write and express what I feel
Mostly though....for His love and the gift of life.

Thankful Thursday

“Gratitude is the heart's memory “   Jean Baptiste Massieu

Closing my eyes....remembering where I was....how my life has changed...all the things He's done for me....the things He's given.....the people....the peace I feel inside. I have so much to be thankful for.....

-My eyes to see the beauty in nature
-My legs that are strong to run in the hills and woods
-My arms...to hold those I love really close
-My lungs that breathe life especially after everything I did to myself
-My heart that forgives those who hurt me and has let me love again.

Thankful Thursday

“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow” Melody Beattie
 
I'm really thankful.....thankful for all the things I've been given especially for

-His love that broke through my anger and hatred
-His grace that reached so far down to pull me out of horrible darkness.
-His gentle touch that freed me from the pain that drove me crazy.
-His forgiveness that took away the guilt and shame I carried.
-His kindness that helps me stop fighting and just be

Thankful Thursday

No one is as capable of gratitude than one who has emerged from the kingdom of night. Eli Wiesel

I still wonder how it was possible to go from nothing to so much.....from broken to restored....from alone to belonging...from living in darkness to being in the Light....How did that happen? Those years believing death was better than life....watching friends around me take their own lives or die accidently...and yet...He touched me...He broke through. He made the difference.
I am so thankful...totally thankful for

-the Freedom I've been given
-the Peace I feel inside
-the joy that fills me now
-the love I'm surrounded with
-the purpose I feel 

Thankful Thursday

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity.... It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow." Meodie Beattie

I need to do this..I need to say thank you...because I remember where I was....the years of fighting to survive...and living in fear and anger....always on guard....never feeling safe. I am really grateful for everything I have....for everything I've been given.....
1. a safe place to live..... in a great neighbourhood
2. enough of everything including food and material things - there's more than enough. 
3. family and friends that are in my corner.....I'm not fighting alone anymore
4. a job that gives me the opportunity to reach out and help others
5. Mostly though.....I'm really grateful ....for the power of His gentle touch that made the difference.....

Thankful Thursday

"Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more.  It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."  Melody Beattie

It's been raining most of the week....a sign of spring. Things are getting greener....flowers are beginning to sprout. It amazes me....how after the harsh cold....and the dark of winter....summertime eventually rolls around. Sort of like our lives....the darkness....the harshness doesn't last. If we can hold on....it'll pass and the sun will always comes out.

Saying thank-you helps me.....It's helps remind me where I came from....and how much I've been given.....Today....I'm grateful for;

-having more than enough money (I still remember when ten dollars felt like a million)
-having two of the best kids ever....(how did that happen)
-being physically healthy (in spite of all the damage I did to my body)
-kind, supportive friends in my corner
-His gentleness....His grace  - that makes me strong and know I'm not running alone anymore....

In Remembrance

"In remembrance is the secret of redemption." Jewish Saying

When I think of where I was....how I lived....the terrible things that happened....the fight to survive....His gentle touch.....freedom- I'm so grateful....

                    Grateful for:

-His perseverance to never give up on me
-His patience to wait until I could accept His love
-His Light that that shone in the darkness
-His gentleness that gave me courage to change
-His peace that replaced my restlessness

Thankful Thursday

Today....I trust ...I know... He's there...in my corner...like He's been in everything...I know...He won't ever let me down...so I whisper thank you:

1. For His presence that's always with me. 
2. For holding me when I'm scared and never letting go.
3. For never forcing me to go beyond where I'm able but waiting until I'm ready.
4. For His gentleness that always gives me assurance that things will work out ok.
5. For creating a safe place for me to fall....in Him.