It’s Fall -- My Favorite Season of the Year

It rained incessantly all day here in Frisco on Saturday. That beautiful drenching outside made for a glorious indoor day of wearing comfy clothes, thoroughly giving my home a good top-to-bottom cleaning, and then rewarding myself at the end of the day with a sweet Hallmark movie, popcorn, and a chocolate shake. Aw -- the blessing of a rainy day. And what a way to welcome my favorite season of the year – FALL! I sensed I was being powered by a heart of gratitude. I turned a “routine” house cleaning into a charged-up expression of joy. I became very aware of so many reasons to be thankful.

I was thankful for my home and the fact that I had a home to clean. I was so thankful for the rain that watered my thirsty yard and plants. My grandson in Austin was playing two baseball games and through technology, I was able to watch his game on “Game Changer”. More technology gratitude was sensed as I read so many “praise and thanksgiving” posts from others on social media AND I was able to make my own gratitude post.
I walked out on my patio and saw my plant pots overflowing from the rain. I saw. I could see. I heard the symphony of rain hitting all the various objects: my BBQ pit, the trees, the brick porch, the roof. I heard. I could hear. I breathed in the smell of that heaven-sent rain. I breathed. I COULD breathe without devices to help me breathe. I was moving – bending, reaching, pushing and pulling as I cleaned my home. Psalm 107:1 says "Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever."

Fall really is my favorite time of the year. Just around the corner, the leaves will begin turning into their gorgeous colors and soon we'll be able to turn up the thermostat in our homes. We'll start thinking about our families gathering together, and all the other stunning symbols of this multi-colored season. Oh, the genius of our God. And like the spectacular array of beauty in this season with all its variety of colors and uniqueness, so are we. Yes, we are alike in so many ways, but His purpose in making each one of unique is just the way He rolls in all of creation.

The most beautiful part of the Fall season is the attitude of gratitude that comes along with it. I was lavishing in it on Saturday. And that gratitude includes being thankful for the season I am in right now. For each of us, every day is a gift and whether that day includes joy, happiness, peace, and comfort or whether it's stress-filled and challenging -- we know it's a part of this season that God has us in -- and in this season God is working ALL of the seasons for our good. Regardless of what season we are in, let's savor everything that it holds -- because THE ONE who controls the seasons, is THE ONE who will carry us through each one. So, let’s turn up the volume on gratitude. Let's awaken our hearts of gratitude and let’s amp up our bodies, souls, and spirits to the goodness of God, the blessings He’s given us, and our todays and tomorrows that are in His hands. Happy Fall, Y'all!!!

So Very Thankful On This Thanksgiving Day!

So Very Thankful On This Thanksgiving Day!
Happy Thanksgiving, dear FB Friends and Family! I am so thankful for far more than I deserve today. Of God's many blessings to me, He gave me yet another "surprise" blessing at this time in my life. He gave me YOU -- my Facebook friends and family. I can't begin to express how much your lives have blessed me as I read about your joys and blessings.as you post your life stories. I am so thankful for the many times you "like" or “love” mine, and provide your encouragement to me.

It's Thanksgiving Day when we amp up our hearts of gratitude for the many blessings in our lives. This morning I woke up and......oh, let's begin there. I woke up. I got out of bed. Oh, I'm so thankful for my bed and a good night's sleep. I got out of bed. Oh, I got out of bed all on my own. I went to the restroom. Oh, I could go to the restroom all on my own, and my "plumbing" worked. Soon, my family will be arriving at my home where the air will be filled with that best EVER aroma – turkey cooking in the oven.

I think you can see what I mean. Hearts of gratitude START with being thankful for each detail of our lives. Of course "the usual" -- thankful for God, family, friends, home, car, pet, clothes….but, then, seriously, think beyond those. At our Thanksgiving table, we’ll be giving each one, one full minute to share what they are thankful for – beyond God and family. I’ll have my stop watch set at one minute. Then we’ll name as many things as we can that we’re thankful for. Go ahead. You do it. You have one minute to name as many things as you can that YOU are thankful for. On your mark, get set, GO!

I did the exercise, gave myself one minute, and as I started the stop watch, I heard the garbage truck outside picking up my trash. I said, "I can hear." I heard the dishwasher running. I said, "dishwasher". My eyes went to my computer as I typed this post and I said “computer, the internet & technology”. I was seeing. I said, "my eyes". I have a TV set on my desk. I said “My TV”. I was sitting in my comfy desk chair -- "furniture". I'm cozy and warm on this chilly morning outside. I said “good insulation in my home – I don’t need the heat on”. I was sipping my coffee. I said, “coffee and food”.

In reality, literally everything from the breath we breathe to the bills we pay is a celebration of thankgiving. The bills we pay? Seriously? Oh yes, because those bills represent something to be thankful for -- a car payment (we have a car); a house payment (we have a home); an electrical bill (we have a warm home). Everywhere we look, we see things to be grateful for. And, when we live in an attitude of gratitude, rather than being bugged that the computer is too slow, we say, "I'm so thankful for my computer". Instead of complaining about our "old" car, we say, "I'm so thankful for a car." Instead of saying "I have nothing to wear, we say, "I'm so thankful for my clothes." Instead of complaining about our boss or a co-worker, we say "I'm so grateful for my job." A grateful heart sees each day as a gift. Thankful people focus less on what they lack and more on the privileges and blessings they have.

The grateful heart is like a magnet that collects reasons for gratitude -- for the paper clip to hold those pages together; for the milk in our cereal; for the song that soothes us; for the clock we hear ticking; for the light that turns on; for the safe drive home; for the clean water from our tap, for the time we had with our loved ones. Thank you, Lord!

May we choose gratitude as a habit that we choose daily as a way of life. May we adjust our lens and see our lives and our world through the eyes of a grateful heart. May we be overwhelmed with the beauty and abundance of it all. When we live with that kind of gratitude, we will experience Thanksgiving Day.....everyday! Happy Thanksgiving!

Fall is Almost Here!

Fall is Just Around the Corner
Yesterday, the cooler temperatures made for a brisk, refreshing morning walk. I had my peppy, jubilant face on and I’d exclaim to other walkers “Good morning! Isn’t this a gorgeous morning?” I sensed I was being powered by a heart of gratitude. I turned a “routine” walk into a charged-up expression of joy. I became very aware of so many reasons to be thankful.

I noticed a beautiful, stately cat sitting in a position of “king on the mountain”, observing everything like a watchman over his domain. Immediately that made me think about My Heavenly Father Who keeps a watch over me….and you. Psalm 34:15 “The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are attentive to their cry.” I breathed in that morning, crisp air. The fact is….I COULD breathe without devices to help me breathe. I was walking – that was a huge blessing, because since I broke two toes, it hurt too much to wear closed shoes. The day before yesterday, I was having an irritated, scratchy throat. Yesterday morning, the sore throat was gone. I heard dogs barking (they like to be ferocious watch dogs inside those protected fences, but I’m sure they’re all bark and no bite). The fact was, I COULD hear them barking. I saw gorgeous scenes – sunflowers galore, and a single yellow rose growing on a rose bush. I always like to think that’s my sweetheart reminding me of our forever love (yellow roses were our favorite). Most importantly, I COULD see. Psalm 107:1 says "Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever."

Fall/Autumn really is my favorite time of the year. I sense, just around the corner, the leaves will begin turning into their gorgeous colors and soon we'll be able to turn up the thermostat in our homes. We'll start thinking about our families gathering together, and all the other beautiful symbols of this upcoming season.

The most beautiful part of this upcoming Fall season is that attitude of gratitude that comes along with it. I was lavishing in it yesterday. And that gratitude should include thanking God for the season He has us in – right now.

Every day is a gift, and whether that day includes joy, happiness, peace and comfort or whether it's stress-filled and challenging -- we know it's a part of this season that God has us in -- and in this season God is working ALL of the season for our good. Regardless of what season we are in, let's savor everything that it holds -- because THE ONE who controls the seasons, is THE ONE who will carry us through each one. So, let’s turn up the volume on gratitude. Wake up that heart of gratitude and let’s amp up our bodies, souls and spirits to the goodness of God, the blessings He’s given us and our todays and tomorrows that are in His hands. Happy Fall, Ya’ll!!!