Ten Things of Thankful - Week 37, 2017

The above image has a plain dark chocolate brown/nearly black background. At the bottom of the image there is a double row of small, overlapping, glowing, golden orbs of light. A quote by Master Cheng Yen is printed on the dark background in five rows of golden yellow text and says "Be grateful always, for everything and everyone, at every moment." The image is credited to GratitudeHabitat.com.*

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I loved the above quote, and the peaceful image presented, because to me this is the ideal to strive for... to maintain a grateful heart in all situations, and to appreciate the value of each moment as it occurs.  I am thankful for the understanding I have acquired in the weekly process of writing out my thankfuls to share. I have learned that a life of contentment doesn't mean we will always be experiencing joy, but that we can be at peace no matter what we are experiencing. This perspective has helped me so much to deal with issues that cause worry and anxiety. I truly believe that things will be okay. This might be naïve approach to life, but then again maybe not; at any rate, it keeps me going. :-)

This past week was one of several stressful situations involving various family members, and I was thankful that I could tell them with conviction that things are going to work out okay. Not always with the answers that we hope for, but in a manner that will be alright in the end.  Sometimes it feels like the people we care about are being assailed on all sides, and sometimes it feels that way in our personal lives too. But we need to realize that everyone goes through hard times and trying times, and often we aren't aware of what lies behind their quiet or their smile.  I am thankful that I know I am  not being singled out for a challenging week, it happens to all of us! :-)

I am thankful that I've learned over the years how far to delve into the problems of others, and when it's time to offer words of caring and then step back and turn it over to God to take care of. It is easy to become drained by too many things on your plate at once, or in the lives of those around you. We can't fix everything, perhaps there are lessons for them to learn in the process.  I am thankful that I have learn to Let Go, even though it is still difficult at times. It is my nature to want to "fix" things. :-)

I am thankful that my daughter is now down to her final week of preparations for the closing of her house in Nashville and packing for the move to Dallas which will take place next weekend. It has been a long, drawn out process, and an emotional one. I am praying that this next chapter of her life will bring more joy and contentment than she has known in the past, and that new work opportunities will be available.

I was thankful for finding the perfect greeting card to mail to my daughter as her final mail from home to her Nashville address.  It contained the quote from Winnie the Pooh about being strong and brave, and it was the first one I picked up off the card rack! I know it will make her  smile, and I will find another to send to her new address to greet her there, because unpacking isn't much fun either!

I am thankful for the sweet gift of purple nesting measuring spoons that my daughter gave me when I visited her.  She is familiar with my love of all things purple and every time I take them out to use I think of her.  Little gifts with thought behind them are the most precious kind!

I am thankful that someone I care about a great deal was able to spend time at the ocean this past weekend, many of us feel that nothing is more restorative than the smell of saltwater and the sound of waves!  As an added bonus, her dog had an awesome time at the beach too. :-)

I am thankful that Papa Bear will have this week off of work to stay home with me. He can sleep in a little later, we can work together on house and yard projects, and relax together too, enjoying the companionship that we cherish. At the moment he is reading in the chair beside me, having spent the morning mowing our big yard. I am so thankful for him to have an opportunity to rest from the daily grind of his job and long hours on his feet there.

While on the topic of his job, I am thankful beyond words that Papa Bear received a small pay increase last week. Two years ago all staff experienced a large pay reduction due to the economic recession in our area; this increase goes at least part way in returning the pay that had been taken away, and was definitely good for his morale... and our tight budget! :-)

I am thankful for the sharing of recipes among family members and friends, and on Facebook, which gives me new simple menus for supper, and I'm thankful that Papa Bear is always eager to try them!

I am thankful that we are fast approaching the Autumnal Equinox, and that although the daylight hours are slowly shrinking, we will soon begin to experience weather that is cooler than the 104 high of last week! Autumn is my favorite time of year.

Spanning everything, I am so thankful for the life I have now, and for the life I've led that has brought me here.  I deeply cherish love, peace, and freedom, having known what it's like to live without them.

Blessings to you in the days and weeks ahead... Look for reasons to be thankful in your life, and remember to be a blessing to someone else!
 

The above photo is a click-button to the TToT link-up. It is photo of one of our beautiful Texas sunsets with blue still peeking through the clouds; yellow, orange and pink bands around the remaining sliver of bright sun, and a wide band of black earth below it on which I've written Ten Things of Thankful.*

* Descriptions of the included photos are being provided for those who may be unable to view the illustrations.