November Challenge: Day 30

The November Intentional Gratitude Challenge is wrapping up and I have to say that I am grateful for this challenge. During this month there were more than a few days when I was struggling to feel grateful, but I knew that I needed to find some aspect of my life to write about. I knew that I couldn't just write I was grateful for the Chai tea I had for breakfast, it might have been true, but there just isn't a lot I can say about a beverage. Anyways this challenge was wonderful for combating those days when I just couldn't think of something. 

The reality is that for most of us there are a handful of things that we can be grateful for nearly every day. These are health, the breath in our lungs, clothing, shelter, transportation, employment, food, and drink. There is also family and friendship. Nearly every day most of us can be thankful for more than a few of these items. I say nearly every day because there are days when our health is failing or we don't have employment, but even on those days we have something else to be grateful for. Even on the worst of days, if we are still breathing, we have something to be thankful for and for Christians we have even more to be grateful for because our salvation is settled in Jesus Christ. 

I know that being grateful isn't easy. It is honestly so much easier to find the negative and be ungrateful or frustrated, but that isn't how God wants us to live. For me I know that I need to be intentionally grateful or I will just stay in this place of discontentment. If this is the case for you too, then I suggest that you make yourself a list of everything you can be grateful for on a consistent basis, like shelter, so that you have that visual reminder on those days when you are struggling. I write down 3 things I am grateful for in that day, but there are days that are just so frustrating that I do struggle to find the blessing in that day and sometimes the only thing I write is "I survived" and I think that is reason enough to be grateful for. A visual reminder of all the things you already have to be grateful for is great for these days.

As I said at the beginning of this challenge, we shouldn't just be intentionally grateful in the month of November, but rather we should be grateful all year long. Gratitude is a virtue that should be regularly practiced. What are you thankful for today?

November Challenge: Day 29

November is almost over and I am reminded that Christmas is fastly approaching. This year Advent starts in November with a reminder that there are only 3 Sundays until Christmas. I actually have a challenge with Advent in mind, but I have it starting December first. I will be sharing more information about this tomorrow. Since Christmas is right around the corner, I am grateful today for coupons/sales, life returning to normal, and a surge in DIY ideas to create a personalized season of giving. 

Today I finished some more Christmas shopping and I was thrilled with the coupons I was able to use in combination with the store's sales. I was able to get one order for half-off with both coupons and existing sales, which meant that I ended up purchasing more items for less money. I didn't need the extra items per say, but I was able to get these items I wanted virtually for free. There was also free, two day shipping on another order I placed, which left me excited for Tuesday when it arrives. This order was for a faux suede jacket for my puppy and I can't wait to see how cute she looks in the jacket. I know there are people who would think this was wasteful, but before I get too much criticism, my puppy is a breed of dog that is sensitive to the cold. She is so sensitive in fact that some days she is even shivering in my house and I have to put her in sweaters before wrapping her in blankets. The sweaters I have made her warm her sufficiently, but are not enough for when she has to leave the house. I am thankful that I will be able to get her jacket soon and that I also was able to purchase it for a good price.

The last few days have shown an increase in my mom's energy and a transfer in responsibilities. Life is slowly returning to normal. I no longer am solely responsible for another's household. This was the first weekend I didn't have to rush to the grocery store to make sure there was food. This is partly because there was so much leftover from last week. I did go to grocery shopping today, but with my mom. She wrote her own grocery list and did the grocery shopping, but I was there for support. I was also able to help her by carrying in and putting away the groceries because there are still some tasks that are challenging. Even with this need for support, life is returning to normal and I am able to concentrate on my own life again. This shift in focus has meant a surge in DIY ideas and more creative projects being completed. DIY is an important aspect of who I am and being able to create items is truly wonderful.

What are you thankful for today?

November Challenge: Day 28

Today I am grateful for flexibility in ideas. The last few months I have been researching and looking at making a change in my personal life. I haven't decided anything yet so I am going to keep the details of this particular decision to myself, at least until I have made a decision. Anyways, I had found what I had been looking for, at least the best that I could find, and I had committed the decision to prayer. I didn't take much action during this time and just allowed the events to unfold. I'm not sure  if this was a poor decision or God using my lapse in actions as an opportunity to present me with something different. Time will have the final say in that decision. 

Let me explain. I had found what I was looking for, committed it to prayer, and did nothing else. During this time circumstances had changed and it turns out waiting had cost me what I was looking for, time had made it disappear. I now had to search again and this also meant that I had to expand my lens of focus to include more options because I just wasn't finding what I needed. My decision had been compromised, but I managed to find something better. Again, the final decision hasn't been made, but this time it is largely because I am unable to finish this decision at this time. Granted there are compromises that have to be made. This isn't what I had wanted, but in its place I am gaining more than I would have hoped for before. 

These compromises that I would have to make mean that I have to be flexible. At first I was really struggling with being flexible because I knew what I wanted, but then I allowed the possibility of compromise to infiltrate my mind and the result was a plethora of ideas based on the compromises. This second option isn't what I originally wanted, but flexibility in my thinking has allowed me to see this option as something that I can manage. I am not unable to put these ideas into place, but the very fact that I have envisioned them means that they are a possibility. This is why I think that maybe God has used my lapse in action to present me with a better opportunity. 

It is important to be flexible in our thinking because often God alters our plans that we would want to see fulfilled in favor of His plans that are much better for our lives. It is easy to see the loss and be upset, after all we consider ourselves experts in our lives or at least as far as what we need, but God sees the whole picture, the long term affects this decision will have on our lives. Sometimes what seems like a perfect decision today is the catalyst to unfortunate circumstances tomorrow. We are unable to know the circumstances of tomorrow and so we can never be certain that our decisions will fit our needs in those circumstances. My original decision fit my needs perfectly today, but I can see incidences in the future when that decision could be problematic. I have to consider these changes in my decision as an indication of another opportunity God has for me and that is better suited to my needs. 

Flexibility is a wonderful ability and trait. I am thankful for the ability to be flexible and to imagine something different when circumstances change. What are you thankful for today?

November Challenge: Day 27

Today has become known as Black Friday or the day after Thanksgiving when millions flock to the stores in search of a good deal. Over the years Black Friday has merged into Thursday evening and threatens to take the place of a Thanksgiving gathering. In years past I have even spent Thursday night  at the stores searching for the best deals, but it was always after family time had ended. There is quite a bit that could be said about Black Friday shopping, both good and bad, but that isn't what this is about. This year, both because I was sick and because I was drained from the last few weeks, I opted out of shopping Thursday evening and I don't really feel I missed anything. I was able to sit in my pjs  and scroll through online deals at various stores. This year most of the in-store deals were also available online, which is a wonderful improvement to Black Friday. I am thankful for these deals.

Black Friday has gotten a bad reputation and I completely understand why, but it isn't all bad. For some, these deals are the only way they can afford to purchase the items. Items they either needed or wanted to purchase for Christmas. Christmas is much more than presents, but giving has become the outlet we have for expressing our love for one another. There have been years when I had a very small budget in which to get everyone gifts and the ingredients I needed for holiday baking. If it weren't for the deals I found on Black Friday I wouldn't have been able to finish my Christmas list. Then there are other years when some item I needed had broke, but I couldn't afford to replace it and then I would see it in an affordable price range at a store on Black Friday. This isn't every year, but it has happened and when it has Black Friday deals have been a wonderful blessing. 

Shopping isn't necessarily a bad thing, just like with anything else, and depends entirely on your intentions. The Bible says that we are to store our treasures up in heaven and not on earth where they can rot away. Material possessions are not going to last and ultimately these items stay on earth when our bodies have departed. That is just one of those facts of life. These items we purchase and store up on earth can also overwhelm us, causing unfortunate consequences. Our living spaces can become cluttered, resulting in added stress, but our minds can also become obsessed with these items until we become convinced that we need them. If we are not careful then our lives can begin to be controlled by material possessions. This is when shopping becomes bad. If we care more about material possessions then other people we have fallen short. If we are willing to sacrifice what shouldn't be sacrificed in order to get the latest product then we have fallen short. 

Deals are not evil and shopping isn't bad, but we can make it that way. Personally, I love to search around for the best deal and knowing I saved money makes me happy. Yet, I'm not going to stampede people to achieve that goal or pepper spray someone in the process. I am also not going to yell or demand my way when store employees are just trying to do their jobs. Getting the best deal has allowed me to do more for others and even allowed me the extra funds to shop for children that won't receive much, such as the children that are part of Angel Tree. These moments are moments that I treasure because I know they wouldn't have been possible without budgeting and finding deals. Shopping with other people in mind is a great way to keep your perspective in the flurry of good deals and pressure to buy more and more. 

What are you thankful for today?

November Challenge: Day 26

Happy Thanksgiving!

"In everything give thanks.." There is so much for Christians to be thankful for and in everything we should show gratitude to God for it is His will for our lives. Even on the very worst of days, those imagined and those we have experienced, we can show gratitude because even on those days our eternity has been sealed with Jesus. When we are hurt, when we face loss, and when we are grieving we can rest in the hope that is Jesus Christ for this life is not the end. For Christians there is hope in an eternal life spent with God where sorrow is not known. I am not claiming that Christians shouldn't experience grief or that they don't have a right to feel their hurt, but that even in loss we can show gratitude to God. In everything give thanks. 

Today, I am thankful for the success of the Thanksgiving dinner I cooked. Cooking the turkey had some challenges, but I was able to overcome these challenges and cook a 20 lb turkey for dinner. The challenges were actually pretty funny. The first challenge came when I pulled the roasting pan out of the oven to add some tinfoil and the left tucked wing of the turkey decided to break free, wedging the turkey wing against the top of the oven. With some help I was able to get the wing unstuck and the turkey back in the pan to finish cooking. The second challenge came when it was time to flip the turkey. The 20 lb turkey was nearly too big for my oven, which meant that flipping the turkey was near impossible. Again, the turkey threatened to become stuck in the oven. Fortunately, the challenges were overcome and the turkey was cooked. Going into this dinner I had done a substantial amount of research about cooking turkeys and because of this I am slightly disappointed because my turkey was not as juicy as I would have liked. 

Regardless, I am still thankful that the turkey was cooked and ready in time for dinner. The sides I cooked (mashed potatoes, scalloped potatoes, french cut green beans, whole green beans with almonds, and stuffing) all turned out well and very little of the sides was left over. I am also thankful for the sweet Hawaiian rolls and the pies, we had both pumpkin and apple. Thanksgiving dinner was a success and everyone seemed to be happy with their meals, which honestly is another reason to be grateful. 

As I sit in the comfort of my home, having enjoyed a wonderful meal, I can't help but remember that not everyone goes home for Thanksgiving. The men and women of the US military have sacrificed their happy moments with their own families that I would be able to experience my own with my family. There are many families that tonight are missing their loved ones, praying that they are safe, and not knowing when they will see their ones again. I am thankful for the sacrifice these families are making too. I wish there wasn't a need for war and that all of the members of the military could be home with their family, but since they can't, it is important to appreciate their sacrifice. 

There is so much to be thankful for and I hope that this challenge has inspired you to think of all the areas of your life where you can show gratitude. Every area, even the complicated ones, is a chance to give thanks to God. There are four more days left in November, which means there are four more days to give thanks. November isn't the only month that we can express thankfulness. Gratitude is an activity that we should practice daily. Every night I record on my phone three aspects of my day that I am grateful for and every week I record the week's blessings in a document on my computer. I started this practice last year. Keeping a record of your blessings makes it easy to access on days when you are struggling to be grateful. 

What are you thankful for today?

November Challenge: Day 25

Today I am grateful to have the next 4 days off from work. Last night I went to bed with a sore throat, but I figured I had just stressed my vocal cords singing to a client at work. Then this morning I woke up and my throat was now swollen too. I really wasn't feeling well, but I managed to get up and go to work. I was suppose to work 2 hours, but ended up working 4. I believe working these additional hours catapulted the effects of not feeling well. I came home to find out I not only had a swollen throat, but a high fever as well. This afternoon I was able to get some sleep and my fever has started to come down, but I am very aware of the fact that I wouldn't be able to go to work tomorrow. Yet, I would have to find a way to work or face the ramifications.  That is why I am so very grateful that I have 4 days off in a row. I am still in charge of Thanksgiving tomorrow, but at least I know that I can take a break if I need to rest. 

I haven't been able to eat very much today because my throat is very swollen, which makes swallowing hard. To give an idea: my tonsils are so swollen that the two sides are nearly touching. The only other time my throat was this swollen was when I was 17 and ended up in the hospital because my throat had swollen shut. This was just some random illness and not the result of an allergic reaction. The memory of this experience is brought to mind every time I feel my throat is swollen since I don't know what caused it the first time. Since I haven't been able to eat, I am thankful today for soup and hot cider. Both the warm soup and hot cider are soothing on my throat and don't require painful swallowing. 

The last two and a half weeks I have been running myself ragged to take care of everything that has to be done and I have definitely felt this taking its toll on me. It is said that if you don't rest then your body will become ill or hurt to force you to rest. I don't know if it is true, but I have needed to rest and I know that I haven't taken it because I knew I also had to get everything done. Needless to say I am grateful to have this afternoon and evening to rest. I encourage everyone to get the rest they need as much as they possibly can because there isn't always a holiday to bail you out. 

What are you thankful for today?

November Challenge: Day 24

Thanksgiving is just a day away and this will be the first year that I am cooking the meal entirely by myself. I have cooked the bulk of the meal in years past, but my mother and grandmother were always nearby assisting in one way or another. Plus we always used pre-prepared meals purchased from grocery stores, but this is the first year I will be cooking the meal by myself from raw ingredients. Since this is my first time preparing a Thanksgiving meal entirely by myself I am very grateful for Pinterest. Pinterest has been a wonderful source of recipes and useful information about how to prepare the best Thanksgiving meal. I have the ability to cook and I know how to read a recipe so I am not worried, but it is still nice to know that Pinterest is there to support me.

I do not have to cook for a large group of people, but I still need to prepare a meal for four people and I need the meal to taste well enough that they will be content eating the leftovers the next day. Ordinarily I would say this is not a problem, but two of the four people I am cooking for are very picky and vocal about their dissatisfaction. Although this experience is a bit overwhelming, I trust in my ability to successfully make this meal. The last few weeks I have spent a lot of time researching recipes and reading every helpful tip that I came across. This evening I spent time writing down my timeline for Thanksgiving day, everything that needs to get done, and recording all of the necessary steps that need to be done to prepare and cook my turkey. Thanks to the information on Pinterest I feel prepared and I am confident that I can pull off a successful Thanksgiving dinner.

Part of that confidence comes from the fact that the refrigerator is stock full of leftovers from this week and these leftovers provide a safety net should a disaster strike on Thanksgiving. I have to laugh at this because anyone else would panic at the thought of disaster striking, but I know that I have the ability to make things work, even if dinner doesn't turn out the way it is suppose to, and there is peace in that knowledge. Taking over another person's household hasn't been easy, but I believe I have been successful in achieving everything that needs to get done and I think that Thanksgiving will be the crowning achievement of that success. I owe my success to wonderful meal ideas that I found on Pinterest, as well as helpful tips for organizing menus for the week. 

Yes, I am grateful for Pinterest, but I know that my success with Pinterest is due to the fact that God has allowed me to find the pins I need in a sea of pins that I don't. It is God that has made organizing and preparing these last few weeks manageable. And it will be God who will make my Thanksgiving meal a success. I am not worried because God Himself is on my side. If God is for me, who could possibly be against me? As I finish out my second week of running my mom's household, I know that I have been blessed in my success by God and I am very grateful. What are you thankful for today?