Hello December....

Welcome to December! I cannot believe we have already reached the 12th month of 2013. I'm shocked, to be honest. To quote a Steve Miller Band tune, Time keeps on slippin' slippin' slippin' into the future. And slippin' it sure is....

....today, my heart was made happy twice over! First of all, my husband had a hankering for a good Greek salad, so we took a little trip to the Whitehall Family Diner. (They do have the best Greek salads around!) As we walked in and were seated in a booth, an elderly couple sitting in the last booth caught my attention. They looked very happy together, which made me smile. The woman kept looking at me and then she said something to her husband and he, too, started looking at me. When they got up to leave, the woman stopped by our booth, leaned over, and said...."I just love your hair! It reminds me of mine when I was your age." She stood talking to me for quite some time and was just the sweetest lady! I couldn't help but smile. She was so happy, it truly was catching!!!

Second, I was humbled at a posting on Facebook in which I was tagged. Day 31: I am thankful for the 30 day "post something you are thankful for challenge" that my friend Allyson DeHart initiated 31 days ago on her Think Thankfully page. See it is day 31 and I am going to keep it going. I have found that even on the toughest days it really makes me appreciate what is important and keeps me thinking positive which is what I believe this challenge was all about. Sometimes life offers you lemons...it is what you do with them that counts. Turn them into lemonade and see the brighter side you will be thankful for it!! In the end Thinking Thankfully really does warm the heart and soul. Thanks Allyson!!  I actually read the post while we were sitting at the diner, waiting for our food. My eyes welled with tears. I love to pay it forward with my gratitude. I love to acknowledge those people or events that make my heart truly thankful, but when it is reciprocated to me, I'm not sure what to make of it. While I may have been discouraged that we didn’t come close to reaching a thousand followers and I may have been a bit discouraged that commenting and liking seemed to slow WAY down on the Think Thankfully page, THIS post reminded me why I continue to press on. To hear my pastor, as I leave the sanctuary each Sunday morning, say to me, "Keep up those great posts! I love reading them, although I don't know how you do it!" reminds me that people do read what is written, people do appreciate what is said, and people will rise to a challenge when presented. 

I am so glad to see someone continuing to reflect on what is important to them in the form of a thankful posting on Facebook. I realize that some people may have taken to pen and paper journaling of their gratitude, which is wonderful as well. It just warms my heart to know that the idea of THINK THANKFULLY is, in fact, catching on! Baby steps! But the Journey to a Thousand Thankful Hearts starts with ONE and will grow from there, this much I am sure of!

Until tomorrow, my friends…….THINK THANKFULLY!!!