Thankful Thursday.

Today I need to make the choice to rejoice. I'm kinda grumpy. So I will be choose to be thankful. 

I am thankful that when I got to work there was a brand new, large canister of coffee waiting for me. I am so tired. (Why is it okay to snow blow at 3 am, directly outside of this girl's bedroom window?!) 

I am thankful for new days, full of second chances to love. “Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?” - L.M. Montgomery 

I am thankful that snow boogers are not frozen solid to my car. I can kick them off without any trouble. Also. I love kicking them off my car. Is that weird? 

I am thankful for a best friend that always keeps me laughing. I love my Bill...er...Boo. 

I am thankful that despite my crankiness, God is still so faithful, with mercies new every morning, and love that never ceases. 

What are you thankful for this morning? 

Have a great day! 

M 

Thankful Thursday.

Today I need to make the choice to rejoice. I'm kinda grumpy. So I will be choose to be thankful. 

I am thankful that when I got to work there was a brand new, large canister of coffee waiting for me. I am so tired. (Why is it okay to snow blow at 3 am, directly outside of this girl's bedroom window?!) 

I am thankful for new days, full of second chances to love. “Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?” - L.M. Montgomery 

I am thankful that snow boogers are not frozen solid to my car. I can kick them off without any trouble. Also. I love kicking them off my car. Is that weird? 

I am thankful for a best friend that always keeps me laughing. I love my Bill...er...Boo. 

I am thankful that despite my crankiness, God is still so faithful, with mercies new every morning, and love that never ceases. 

What are you thankful for this morning? 

Have a great day! 

M 

Feeling Cranky vs. Choosing Joy

Yesterday, I woke up late, or so I thought. I was rushed, trying to get ready, when at 5:30 am, I realized it was my sleep in day. I didn't have to go into work until an hour later than normal. There was no reason for me to be up that early.

I could've been in bed, dreaming sweet dreams. Instead, I was awake, cranky, cold, and still sick. The shower ran out of hot water, again. I only had time to shave one leg. I still couldn't breathe due to a stupid sinus cold. Last month had days boasting of 50 degrees and sunshine, and it was a brisk 22 degrees that morning. I stubbed my toe walking in the dark.

I was plain cranky.

I knew the crank would continue all day long, if I didn't do anything to stop it. So I decided to get over myself and choose joy. I made myself be thankful. I told myself to make a list of 20 things I was thankful for before 8 am, and it transformed my day.

I am thankful for:
1. The extra hour to get ready.
2. Drinking coffee at home, and enjoying it, unrushed.
3. A clean kitchen, because I washed the dishes last night.
4. My warm and cozy bed.
5. A cute dress to wear.
6. Time to try a new way to curl my hair.
7. Extra prayer time.
8. Getting gas last night, so I didn't have to this morning.
9. My drive to work is 8 minutes.
10. There is no construction on my drive to work.
11. I saw the sunrise.
12. Mason jars.
13. Perfect sing a long songs on the radio.
14. Texting with my best friend in Tokyo.
15. I love my job.
16. The baby was in a good mood.
17. My friends who encourage me.
18. Big, exciting things happening in friends' lives.
19. Patience, when I feel like I don't have any left.
20. Being told I'm beautiful by a 4 year old.

When I focused on what I was thankful for, my entire day changed.

Choose joy.

Choose to be thankful.

What are 5 things you are thankful for this morning?

Have a good day!

M :)

I am thankful for my parents.

This week as our country celebrates Thanksgiving, my family celebrates a couple other big things.
Friday is my parent's 28th wedding anniversary. Friday is also my 25th birthday.
I am so blessed to have parents who are so committed to each other, to their marriage, and to their God. It is a joy to have parents that still love each other, and enjoy being together. As I am growing up, I realize how rare that is. They are incredible examples of how to have a good, godly marriage.
I had a couple people tell me on different occasions in the past week that God knew what He was doing when He gave them to me. It's true. People have said they wouldn't know what to do with me as their daughter. I have too much adventure in my blood. They wouldn't be able to handle me doing what I do. But my parents can. I know they don't always love my heart for Detroit, Flint, Pontiac, or South America, but they trust in a real God to take care of me. I know every day growing up I have been prayed for. I can only imagine the prayers were more fervent and frequent when I went to South America, alone. I can share my struggles and victories with them. They are my biggest cheerleaders. They encourage me to dream big, and trust God. They are so incredible.
Twenty eight years ago, my dad told my mom that he wanted to wait three years after getting married to have kids. So, God blessed them with a tiny baby girl on their third anniversary. Isn't He good?
So, as family starts to trickle in from out of town, and the stress for many builds, I rejoice in my blessings of family. Knowing that they are exactly who I needed, and only our God could've known that.
Happy day before Thanksgiving. Remember to be thankful. Rejoice in your family, whoever they are, even if they drive you bonkers, they are who God chose for you. :)
Love, M.

Thankful...

Thanksgiving is almost here. How well have we been doing at being thankful, intentionally?
I won't lie, I started struggling mid month. It is sometimes hard to stop, focus on being thankful, and do something about it. I have felt too busy, too tired, too cranky, too caught up in me, to be thankful.
Being thankful forces a change of mindset. No longer is the focus on self, but it is on others, and the many blessings we have.
I have heard so many tragic stories in the last couple months. The circumstances and people were different, but the final sentence in their stories is, they died.
I have talked with one of my closest friends about what would happen if something happened to us. We are women, so our nature is to worry.
If we would focus on the many things we have been blessed with, and really enjoy them, worry would begin to dissolve.
I have really tried to be intentional with enjoying moments. Soaking them in. Spending time with people, and putting the phone down. Telling people how much I appreciate them. Relaxing more. Doing things I really enjoy. Reminding myself, the dishes will still be there later tonight. Going out of my way to genuinely compliment someone. Not being stressed by the little things. Trying to be fearless. Loving the unlovable. Taking chances. Having adventures. And being thankful to the One who allows it to be.
Live everyday to the fullest. Be grateful. Be an enjoyable person to be around. It leads to a satisfying life, however short or long it may be.
Happy Tuesday. 
Be kind. Be thankful. Be intentional.
Love, M.

Day Two

Today is day two of the "November Be Thankful Challenge". Who joined me yesterday in actively being grateful?
When I got home last night, I was exhausted. I could tell I was cranky, so I went straight to my room. I put pajamas on, and looked for a notebook to start my 'thankful for' list. As I sat down to write, my crankiness began to dissolve. That was a benefit I had no anticipated. It's really hard to be cranky and thankful in the same moment. So, in that moment, I chose to be thankful.
I thought on my day, and realized what a very blessed girl I am. I had planned on writing five things a day, but yesterday I wrote six.
I don't plan on sharing my list every day, but I will today.
Day One.
1. Great dinner prepared by sister.
2. 7th Heaven reruns on demand.
3. Quiet and easy day at work.
4. Dinner invitation to family dinner.
5. Friend's surgery went well.
6. Great friend to vent to.
There ya have it, see how easy it is?
This morning I am so grateful for being in bed by 8:30 last night, and a good night's rest. :)
I would love to hear what you were thankful for yesterday.
Be active in being grateful today. Focus on how you're blessed, and don't forget to let others know how thankful you are of them!
I will be doing a contest coming up. So, check back for that! :)
Happy Friday!
Love, M

November Challenge

Happy November 1st!
It is my birthday month and of course it is Thanksgiving!
So, to help us all focus on being thankful this month, I have a challenge. For the next thirty days, show gratitude.
Here are some ideas:
-Keep a thankful journal. Every night before bed write down 5 things you are thankful for. Think about the basics (clean water, warm place to sleep, socks, etc.) and the bigger things (someone special to love, a great job, a stranger's smile, etc.)
-Buy thirty thank you cards, and every day, send one to a person. (fire department, pastors, parents, girl at the coffee shop, mail carrier, etc.)
-Think of a few people who have been huge blessings to you, and make thank you baskets. (Include snacks, gift cards, sweet notes, and little thoughtful knick knacks, etc.)
-Whenever you go out anywhere, (coffee, gas station, grocery store, restaurant, etc.) say a sincere thank you with a smile, while making eye contact.
-Include kiddos! Have them draw pictures or bake cookies for local firefighters, or police stations and drop them off together.
-Do random acts of kindness, without expecting a thank you. (Consider the homeless, the broken, the elderly, etc.)
-Look up verses in the Bible about being thankful. (There's quite a few!)
So excited to start this with ya'll! Who's in? Can't wait to hear stories of what you're doing too!
Thank you for reading and supporting me!
Love, M