Thankful Thursday

Linking up with Cami at thankful Thursday 

Gratitude can turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings. - William Arthur Ward

I woke up late....15 before 7 a.m......My youngest had to be at school for the music program. She told me it's okay...she could miss it...but I knew how much she loves going. Ten minutes later...the two of us...in in the dark and fog drove to the school. Before she left...she hugged me and thanked me over and over. Her happy sweet face will stay in my head all day.



Gratitude....it makes everything easy....and the feelings that come b/c of it....they're worth more than anything. This week I'm grateful for.... 

-S and D.....for all their support, encouragement and wisdom. They popped into my world at a time I needed them and they've become great friends.
-Things are slowly.....real slowly....super slowly.....beginning to turn around in my favor with this guy who took my manuscript.
-A young woman in prison....she's being held b/c she's in the country illegally. Her story is sad. By the time I left her, she pinky swore she'd hold onto hope....and I promised I'd see her every week until she's released. Sharing hope....seeing it come back in someone's eyes means more to me than anything. It humbles me.
-Autumn....best season of the whole year.
-Life.....hard to believe that once I wanted to give up on it. Now....I'm so grateful for all of it....but mostly that He's in my world flipping on the switch each day to new experiences....new friendships....new opportunities.  

Joy

Linking with Charlotte at  Spiritual Sunday  and Laura Beholding Glory

“Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of God.” Madeleine L'Engle

How is it possible that I feel happy when all this horrible stuff is going on that makes me want to cringe?  I'm not sure....but I do. I feel this amazing joy....a peace that everything is as it's supposed to be.  

Often when I write stories, I do the ending first. That way I know where I'm heading with the plot.  It's like a road map that helps me stay on track. 

And the present mucky situation I'm in....with that man who stole my manuscript.....God already knows the end and it's a happily ever after. 

I remember when I went to visit my sister in Israel....she took me to the Dead Sea. No one can drown in there. Everyone floats. It's so neat....all  you see are heads and toes. And being in Him...it's impossible to go under.

Joy.....it really does run deeper than despair.  

Rise above....past the here and now..where faith remains

I Can Only Imagine

Linking up with Charlotte at  Spiritual Sunday   and Laura at Beholding Glory

"Most of us can't even begin to imagine" Meg Whitman

Most days are ordinary.....regular kind of days.....but in the middle of them.....I sometimes feel this wild explosive feeling bubble up inside.  A joy....an amazing feeling that's hard to contain.  It comes from Him...I know it...from being in His presence. From taking time to talk to Him and mostly to hear Him talk to me. It's when I walk alone in nature...in the woods or along the lake near our home.....It's when I close myself off from the phone, from people....from activities...... and take time.....just to be with Him.

When I feel it.....I always think of  when you shake a soda bottle.....and the soda fizzles and pushes against the insides of the bottle. And if you open the lid.....it explodes and gushes all over the place. That's it exactly. That's how I feel.

Joy.....it comes from Him. 
Joy.....I never could have imagined it was possible to feel like this
Joy.....it's the best feeling ever. It makes me want to run...dance....shout
Joy.....it makes me feel alive and strong and determined to be the best I can to shine for Him. 

I can only imagine what it'll feel like when I walk by Your side......

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.

Charlotte and Ginger host these awesome Spiritual Sunday.To join in post and add your name.

Christmas is the gentlest, loveliest festival of the year - and  when it speaks, its voice has strong authority. - W.J. Cameron

Countedown to Christmas....two weeks left and already I can  feel something magical in the air. 

I was at Costco the other day...the cashier smiled and said...I'm not allowed to say this, but oh heck...I want to...Merry Christmas.  Her face shone. Her smile stretched across her face. She needed to say those words...to express the joy bubbling inside her. And I loved hearing them. But as I left...I thought of what she had said first...I'm not allowed to say..

I couldn't stop thinking about that.  Why was she told not to say Merry Christmas? Why couldn't she express her heart....her joy? Why wasn't she allowed to express the truth of the holiday? He is the reason we celebrate Christmas. He's what this holiday is all about. Without Him...there is no Christmas. God's gift...that gives hope...freedom...peace. Why was she told not to say the words? 

Maybe it's where I come from....of what happened to me....and how He alone made a difference....reaching so far down to pull me up....but as Christmas is getting closer..I feel like that cashier....I want to shout Merry Christmas to everyone. 
 
And so this is Christmas for weak and for strong...the rich and the poor ones....