On this cold night, I'm thankful for...

Free Firewood!  I checked the burn status today.  It's okay to have a fire in the fireplace tonight, so that's where we are. 

It's sometimes hard, when things don't go the way you think they should, to be thankful anyway.  I "blogged" about this a few years ago.  "Playing the glad game"... it's from Pollyanna.  So, today, I didn't get as much in my paycheck as I'd hoped.  The battery died on Michael's car.  Jim hasn't been getting as many hours of work as he would like and needs. 
The glad game... I am thankful for my job at the High School.  I am thankful that Michael has the use of a car.  I am thankful that Jim does have work when so many others do not.  We have so much for which to be thankful.  There is so much that's good.  It's a matter of perspective.  The glass is half full...

I'm thankful for our safe travel to and from the airport this morning in very dense fog.  Joseph left early this morning to fly back to Ohio.  He's almost back now.  He's had a long day and will be back to his dorm in about 1 1/2 hours.  I'm thankful he got to come home for Thanksgiving and that he comes home again in about 3 weeks!

#27
I'm thankful for:

Sunshine
Recliner
Tea
Red and Green M&M's
An afternoon with the family

#26 -

Thankful for the smell of bread baking in the oven and the sound of my kids and their cousin playing "Monopoly" in the other room.  
 Tonight - soup and bread for supper, oh, and viewing "Captain America".

Today I am thankful for the coming season.
But, what happened to the Thankfulness of yesterday?  The country went mad today spending money that they don't have on things they don't need.  What happened to the spirit of thankfulness?  What about being content with what we have?  I am increasingly so turned off by the materialism of the season.  Don't get me wrong, we buy gifts for our family, but we're trying to pare down on "stuff"and focus more on Advent. 
Advent - preparing for Christmas.  It's a time of anticipation and remembering why Christ came.  It also serves to prepare us for Christ's second coming.   We will begin this Sunday with our Advent readings.  This is one of the hymns we will sing on Sunday.

O COME, O COME EMMANUEL

O come, O come, Emmanuel,

And ransom captive Israel,

That mourns in lonely exile here

Until the Son of God appear.

Refrain:

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free

Thine own from Satan's tyranny;

From depths of hell Thy people save,

And give them victory over the grave.

O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer

Our spirits by Thine advent here;

And drive away the shades of night

And pierce the clouds and bring us light!

Thanksgiving!

I can easily find things for which to be thankful.  But this Thanksgiving it's so easy.  Our son came home from college!  We decided a little over a month ago that we wanted to bring him home this year for Thanksgiving (he's studying at Cedarville University in Ohio), so we got the tickets and made plans.  The cool thing was, we didn't tell anyone!!  His siblings were so excited when their dad pulled into the driveway with him last night!  And today... priceless reactions from his aunt, uncle and cousin!  Sure, we had great food, beautiful weather, all the good things, but by far, having Joseph home was the best!!  We are so thankful for our family and the joy of being together.

Thankful....

Sunshine
House to clean
Food to cook
Beautiful colors of the changing leaves
Anticipation of a great family day tomorrow!

Heaven

I'm thankful for Heaven.  I'm reminded again today that this world is not our home.  There is a place prepared for me...and for all who trust in Jesus as their Savior.
 I am glad to be here now and have my family around me.  I'm glad we're healthy, that the kids have school and my husband and I have jobs.  But I'm thinking about those who are not with us and are keenly missed when Holidays come around.  I'm thinking of my grandparents, my parents, my nephew (who's been gone 8 months), our first baby (miscarriage) and so many others... dear ones who we WILL see again.  I'm thankful for the assurance of Heaven and the promise of eternal life!

#21
Short work week.... I had school today and will tomorrow, then, OFF till next Monday.  I'm thankful for the much needed break for all of us.  The students have seemed "ready" for this since the last week of October.  The stretch from August 18 until now is a long one and we need the break!  

Day # 20
I'm thankful that God is in control, that He is both Sovereign and He is Good (and His faithful love endures forever)!  

Today I am thankful for where we live. 
We've been in this house for 9 years.  The previous owners were my parents.  Yep, I grew up in this house from the time I was 2.  This home is filled with memories... and I can honestly say, all good ones.  We have celebrated birthdays, Thanksgivings, Christmases, weddings, births, anniversaries, and more recently, the lives of my parents.  My mom passed away nearly 10 years ago and my dad 2 years ago.  I'm cleaning this weekend to prepare for Thanksgiving.  Once again the smell of  "Sticky buns" and Turkey will fill the house as we wait for my brother and his family to come spend the day with us.  I am so grateful to live in this home and to have my husband and children call it their home too! 

Thankful for

Friday!
And all that goes with it... pizza, movie, family and knowing that tomorrow I get to sleep a little longer.
Friday, for me, is a mini-Thanksgiving and Christmas every week!.

Day Seventeen

Thankful for my salvation.  I love this song.  It expresses my heart so well...

"The mystery of the cross I cannot comprehend
The agonies of Calvary
You the perfect Holy One crushed Your Son
Who drank the bitter cup reserved for me

Your blood has washed away my sin
Jesus thank You
The Father's wrath completely satisfied
Jesus thank You
Once Your enemy now seated at Your table
Jesus thank You
 
By Your perfect sacrifice I've been brought near
Your enemy You've made Your friend
Pouring out the riches of Your glorious grace
Your mercy and Your kindness know no end.

Your blood has washed away my sin
Jesus thank You
The Father's wrath completely satisfied
Jesus thank You
Once Your enemy now seated at Your table
Jesus thank You"
© 2003 Sovereign Grace Worship | Integrity's Hosanna! Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) | (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
Pat Sczebel

Day #16 - Thankful for a night off from rehearsal!
Most Wednesdays (and some Mondays and Thursdays) I have rehearsal at the high school where I work.  We're doing the musical "Footloose" in February and have already been rehearsing for one month.  On Wednesdays I get home from school and teach piano students till 5:30 then many times turn right around and go back to the school for rehearsal from 6-8 p.m.   Today I emailed the director and found out it's just dance rehearsal tonight!!  I'm so glad for an evening where I didn't have to go back out!  I'm already in my p.j.s....so nice to be home.
I'm also thankful that me dear husband is taxi-ing our daughter back and forth to the rehearsal tonight!

#15

More things for which I am truly thankful:
Hearing and Sight. 

I'm so grateful that I can see and hear.  I've often wondered (don't ask me why, I just don't know) what I would choose if I could only have one of these senses.  If I couldn't see I would never again be able to look at my children or my husband, or see a beautiful sunset, mountain landscape or ocean scene.  But, if I couldn't hear, well, then there would go music and the voices of my loved ones.  Thankfully I don't have to make that choice.

I am truly grateful for the ability to see and hear.  

Day # 14 Thankful for...

My kids!!  They are the joy of my life.  I have enjoyed every age with them.  I can hardly wait until we are all together again.

Today I am thankful for

Hot water.  
The feel of a hot shower is one of the best things about each morning.  I thank God every morning for this.
Hot tea.  This is another thing that gets my through the morning.
Washing dishes - I'm one of those people that actually likes to wash dishes by hand.  It feels so good to soak my hands in hot water, especially on cold days.

"A woman is like a tea bag. You never know how strong she is until she gets into hot water."

~Eleanor Roosevelt~

Today I am thankful to be warm and dry.  We sat in the cold and rain for my school's rival game last night.  It was a great game (and we won!!) but by the time we got home I was soaked and could not feel my toes.  The cold I was getting, I got.  But, today is sunny and I am in a nice warm, dry house with a cup of hot tea and my tissues. 

This morning I had the honor of participating in the Visalia Veteran's Day concert.  Our Chamber Ensemble was invited to sing at this event.  We sang the National Anthem, God Bless America and a Medley of Armed Forces Anthems.  In between songs were stories of local veterans who served in WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam.  The stories of these Veterans were so moving... made it hard to sing (or play piano) after hearing them.  These were ordinary young men who enlisted and served.  The stories we heard today were filled with courage and commitment to their "brothers" and their country.  Some of these men have been awarded Bronze Stars, Silver Stars and at least one Purple Heart.  As they stood to be recognize, we applauded.  It was an honor to be involved in honoring and thanking these men and women.
Today I am so thankful for the men and women who served and continue to serve in protecting and preserving our freedom.  

To Sam Garver, Alex Workman and many others, we are so proud of you and thank you with all our hearts.
Thank you to Daniel Unger, who gave his life to protect his fellow soldiers.
To my Dad who served in the Army and was proud to be a part of Post-War reconstruction in Germany, thank you.... I miss you.  You would have loved the event today.

I am thankful for the students and staff where I work.  I enjoy the relationships with both teachers and students.  We laugh, we joke, we work, we truly do "make beautiful music together." 

I'm thankful for my husband... Jim.  God blessed me with a kind, faithful, gentle, loving, hardworking, honest, man of God who loves me, loves God and loves our children.   This guy has put up with me for 21 years... I'm glad and oh so thankful!

I'm thankful for old TV shows.  I'm enjoying an episode of M*A*S*H right now. 
I'm also thankful today for my mother's bathrobe.  It's a big fuzzy, red flannel robe with kitty footprint designs on it.   It was brand new 10 years ago.   Mom got it and wore it a few times before getting sick and going to the hospital.  She died 4 weeks later.  The day after Mom died my Dad gave me her robe.  I treasure it.  I'm thankful for its warmth and "coziness".  I'm thankful that I wear something that gave my mom the same warmth. 
I'm extremely thankful that my best friend's surgery to look for more cancer did not find anything.  They caught it early and it is very treatable!

Thankful for the way God speaks.  This hit me right between the eyes this evening. 

Today I am thankful for....

Music. 

I'm talking about mostly instrumental music.  It soothes my soul and helps me express myself in ways I cannot with words.  It's apparent as I try to write (in words) on this blog.  
When I was 5 years old I had an accident that severed a tendon in my right hand, making it impossible for me to bend my thumb or reach with it.  I was sent to one of two hand specialists in the country.  This one was in San Fransisco.  My tendon was repaired but I still cannot fully extend my thumb as far as "normal".  I can, however, reach an octave on the piano.  The scars on my hand remind me of God's gift of healing and of music. 
In a little while I'll sit down at the piano and just play.  This relaxes me, helps me express feelings, spurs my praying, comforts my soul and sometimes just makes me happy!  
I am so thankful to be able to play and to enjoy music. 

 

Days 4 and 5

I missed yesterday's thankfulness post.  I'll post two today.
November 4th - I was just glad it was Friday.  I had a kind of hard week.  In spite of that.  I am thankful for the break built into the week.  I'm thankful for family time... for the change in seasons. 

November 5th - Thankful for the smells in my house this morning.  There's coffee cake in the oven, laundry in the washer and the smell of cooler air outside.  I'm thankful for the health of my family, for sleep that restores, for the chance to move at a slower pace today.  

11/3/11
I'm thankful for cooler weather.  I get to wear my new Mt Whitney Choir sweatshirt to school tomorrow!

Thankful - day 2

November 2nd -
Today I am thankful for friends.  I had a short but nice chat with one of my best friends (who happens to live in France).  She is one with whom I can talk about anything and know she understands and cares.  Her sister is my best friend... she lives in Germany and was recently diagnosed with cancer.  It's tough to be so far away when I would like to be there to help.  
So, I am thankful for my friends... whether they are thousands of miles away, or here in the same town (you know who you are!).  And I am so thankful for the Internet that enables me to communicate with friends far and near.

I'm Inspired by Others to...

Give thanks for at least one thing each day this month.

November 1 - The beginning of a new month and the feeling of a fresh start that each "1st" brings.  It's a new page in my journal and a new page on the calendar.  I'm thankful for that.   I'm also thankful for God's provision of work.  It's tiring but at least we have jobs when so many do not.