Day 8 of the Think Thankfully 30 Day Gratitude Challenge

My friends give me a huge reason to be grateful, not because I have so many friends, but because I have a handful for true friends I can count on. A few of those friends I speak of are old friends (like my oldest, dearest, bestest friend who is actually younger than me but yet has been a friend of mine since we were like 4 years old). Hx2 is frequently on my mind even though I haven't seen her since 2006 maybe. Little things spark a memory or a simple thought of her and I instantly send a text. There are a handful of friends who I may not see or talk to nearly as often as I would like but when I do, my heart grows several sizes, much like that pesky Grinch in Whoville! It has taken me a long time, but I truly know who I can count on and who I can write off. I think I have a good handle on who will have my back and who will take the opportunity to stab me in it the first chance they get. But all in all, it is those select few people whom I call my friends....the ones who share the laughs, the hugs, the deep conversations....it is these friends I am most thankful for in my day to day living. 

Today, there needs no big elaborate blog posting to get my point across. Today, I am thankful for my friends....my true, honest, down to earth, but crazy as all get out FRIENDS. And I know you know who you are!!!

Think Thankfully!!

Day 7 of the Think Thankfully 30 Day Gratitude Challenge

I really think my mom thought I was joking when I said I was using the image above for my 30 Day Gratitude Challenge blog posting today! Well, mom, sorry!!!  I'm using it!!

Folks, let me tell ya a little bit about my dad. First of all, he is THE BEST father any girl could be fortunate enough to have. My dad is an absolutely amazing man who really is the best example of what a loving, God fearing man should be like. He has the patience of a saint, a heart of gold, and an insane amount of love for my mom, my siblings and I, and his 6 granddaughters as well. He truly is THE BEST!!!

By profession, my dad was a school teacher. He spent every single school year of his 35 year career teaching 4th grade. The longstanding joke among us all is that we got farther than him in our education since he never got out of the 4th grade! A humbling moment in my life came when I was attending Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, myself being educated in Elementary Education. I had to participate in what was called a Professional Semester, where we spent 8 weeks at the college in classes and then 8 weeks in a school setting learning some tricks of the trade. My Pro-Sem Professor (Dr. Elizabeth Liddicoat - I will NEVER forget her) began talking about a teacher she LOVED working with in the Whitehall Coplay School District. My ears kinda perked up (not that I wasn't listening all along, but that particular school district meant something to me). She proceeds to talk about this gentle giant of a male teacher, who on appearance might be intimidating to young children due to his size, but yet was probably among the best teachers she ever met. I sat, enthralled a bit, as she talked this teacher up a pedestal. She spoke of how he greeted his students with a smile and always had a joke for them and then.....AND THEN.....she proceeds to say that if anyone ever had the opportunity to see Mr. (Insert my father's name here) in action, they would be better teachers for it. I almost died. How that woman never put my last name to his was beyond me, but she was truly taken back by the fact that Mr. (Insert my father's name here) was in fact MY DAD! I've always looked up to my father professionally and have always said that if I could be just HALF the amazing teacher that my dad was during his career, I'd consider myself a good teacher!

Well, a few years back, my dad officially retired from the field of education. He turned in his too-numerous-to-count tie collection and briefcase for a new hobby! At first it started as homemade brandy making....and then it turned into homemade wine making.....and finally, we are at the homemade moonshine making! I made the mistake (well, really it WAS NOT A MISTAKE AT ALL!!!) of stopping in after work today because he had some testers for me. One glass and this girl was pretty numb! Giggly, giddy, chuckling at everything, and silly....yup that was me! When my grandma came to my parents' house (which she does almost every Thursday for dinner), I politely told her I was not slurring words, I was speaking in cursive!!!  And then, the inspiration for tonight's blog posting hit me!!!

I am so THANKFUL for my dad's ability to make and bottle the most amazing tasting liquid refreshments! It has been a long time since the state stores have seen my money for bottles of wine! I'd much rather drink my dad's stuff!!!  Hey......no one ever said that what we are thankful for in a day's time HAS to be serious! At this moment, THIS is truly what my heart is happy for!!!

Thanks Daddy!!!!  Think Thankfully!!!

Day 6 of the Think Thankfully 30 Day Gratitude Challenge

Tonight, I have no little quotes to use. No images to grace the top of this blog posting. No quirky little saying to enhance what I am writing about.

Tonight, I am super thankful that so may people have grasped the idea of posting what they are most thankful for. I had a crappy day Monday and Tuesday. That much you already knew. But what you don't know is that when I visited the Think Thankfully Facebook page and saw how many people comment on the daily Think Thankfully 30 Day Gratitude Challenge, my mood had been instantly lifted. I was humbled to see the outpouring of gratitude comments. Many made me stop in my tracks and think. I love the variety of the posts, the variety of things people are grateful for. I believe it is so easy to always say we are thankful for family or friends (and believe me, I truly am grateful for the love I have in both the family and friendship areas) but it is when we truly dig deep that the honest gratitude shines through.

Tonight, after two previously crappy days, and 12 hours of a training I did not want to have to do over four nights of three hour sittings, I can say I am honestly thankful for Think Thankfully, because all of YOU keep me in a truly thankful state of mind and heart! Thank you!!! 

Tonight, this post is for YOU!!!

Think Thankfully!!!

Day 5 of the Think Thankfully 30 Day Gratitude Challenge

“Into each life some rain must fall,

Some days must be dark and dreary.”

~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Day 5 of the Think Thankfully 30 Day Gratitude Challenge was just that today. A challenge. Although I always try to be positive, driving to my after school training tonight, I called my mom and simply said, “I’m not sure I have anything to be thankful for today. It’s been one of THOSE days.” Her response? “Just think, you only have one more night of training after this one!” Hmmmmmmm, that propelled me into a thankful state of mind almost immediately!!!

As I drove HOME from the training, I couldn’t help but think of the quote I used at the start of this blog posting. Between that quote and one of my favorite children’s literature books about a wee one named Alexander, I realized that yes, bad days are bound to happen. No one is immune to a bad day. I found it ironic that relatively recently, I posted an image saying something to the effect of rather than having a bad day, be thankful you HAVE the day.  So there it was, folks, my own advice used somewhat against me, even if in my own mind!

Honestly, I have had two very challenging days at school. Adding new students to the mix is almost always a recipe for immediate struggles. Between trying to establish new routines with a student one marking period into the school year, keeping the consistency with the other students in the classroom, mixing a new personality to the classlist, and those trying to establish their pecking order, it has been a crazy two days. And honestly, I wasn’t sure I could accept the darkness and rain into my days. I like when things go swimmingly. Heck, who doesn’t! Having my mom kinda kick me in the pants, made me realize that some days a little rain MUST fall and some days MUST be dark and dreary in order for us to refocus and realize just how amazing our lives really are. It is almost a wake-up call for us to get back to our thankful attitude regarding where we are and what we have!

I know with a little patience, we will have our new addition right in there with the rest of them, enjoying the perks of being in Room 101. Until then, I will take the rain, use it to help make my garden of wee ones grow, and also to help me grow into an even better person!!!

Think Thankfully!!!

Day 4 of the Think Thankfully 30 Day Gratitude Challenge!

What if you woke up this morning with only the things that you thanked God for yesterday? What would your life look like today? What would you have?

Would you have anything?  Would you have your life? Family? Job? Friends? Freedom? What would you have?  Look around you right now.  Have you been thankful for any of what is around you?  Have you voiced that thanks to He who gave it to you?

I’ve seen this image/question floating around the internet since I started my own Thankful Journey. It always stops me in my tracks and makes me stop and think, “What was I thankful for yesterday?” Each evening, I post my Tonight I am thankful for: on my personal Facebook page. I post things I felt needed to be exposed. Things that mean a lot to me, but it is not an exclusive list. Anyone who knows me, or even THINKS they know me, knows that above anything else in my day, I am thankful for my family and friends. I often do not feel as though that thought needs to be vocalized each night, because in my days, I profess it enough. But is it ever really enough?

There are moments in my day, my mind sets off in a direction of mini panic. Why? I do not know! But truly, it does. I worry that IF something were to happen to me, would those who mean the most to me know just how much I cared. And then I wonder, IF something were to happen to one of my closest loved ones (family and friends), what was the last thing I said to them? Did they know just how much I appreciated them and loved them? I take a step back and I go as far as answering myself. Yes. I do believe that my friends and family know just how appreciative I am of all their love and support. I believe they know how much I love them. I believe they know just how real and honest my feelings are because I take the time to express my gratitude. I do not need a 30 day challenge, I've been on a more than 700 day challenge with my Thankful Journey! I do not take a moment for granted when I can let someone know just how much I appreciate them and are thankful for them!

Those of you who truly know me, know I am a song junkie! I love lyrics! As I sit here typing, I can’t help but be singing the wonderful Garth Brooks song to myself….. “If tomorrow never comes, will you know how much I loved you? Did I try in every way, to show you every day,  that you’re my only one? And if my time on earth were through, and you must face the world without me, is the love I gave you in the past, gonna be enough to last, if tomorrow never comes. So tell that someone that you love, just what you're thinking of …..if tomorrow never comes.”

Take some time today to say thanks, to think about what you do have, not what you don't have.  Be grateful.  

Reflections from a church pew

"Do to others as you would have them do to you." 

~ Luke 6:31

Today, I was caught off guard while sitting in church waiting for the service to begin. A friend came up, sat in the pew with me and handed me a little thank you card and goodies. It seriously caught me off guard. At first, I thought it might be a little card for my daughter's birthday. Then I saw the big writing on the card, Thank You. I must have looked perplexed because she said it is a belated thank you for taking my confirmation class when I was away. And so it was......cute little owl paper magnet clips and a fridge magnet that says You Rock. 

It really got me to thinking about people who do things for others without thinking twice or expecting anything in return. In no way was I expecting ANYTHING for helping a friend out. She asked, I said sure! I am so not the type of person who expects anything when I help a friend in need. I felt awkward accepting the token of gratitude, to be honest. And then......

......I began to think about this from the other side of things. What do I do when someone helps me out in a jam? I show my appreciation through little tokens of gratitude. The smile on my friend's face when she handed me the card and gifts was HUGE! She is a smiler by nature, but this was different. Her smile truly screamed, "Thanks! I appreciate what you did!" Most of us do not expect gifts or recognition when we do things for others, but we are quick to give when we are on the receiving end of someone's goodness.

I walked home from church today, with so many thoughts jumbling around in this head of mine. From the gospel reading, to the remembrance of the Saints who have gone on to their heavenly homes since last year, to the pastor's sermon, to the idea of Think Thankfully and how it plays out in our lives. We humbly do for others as we would want them to do for us. (Luke 6:31). It is encouraging to see so many people expressing gratitude, doing for others, and expecting nothing in return. I believe the Journey to a Thousand Thankful Hearts is well underway.....I have finally started seeing more positive and happy things on 'the book of Faces' than I see negative! Yay!

Think Thankfully!!!

Day 3 of the Think Thankfully 30 Day Gratitude Challenge!

"A daughter is the happy memories of the past, the joyful moments of the present, and the hope and promise of the future."

~Author Unknown

Well, here we are. on Day 3 of the Think Thankfully 30 Day Gratitude Challenge! Today is one of my favorite days to post about what I am thankful for!!!

If you follow Think Thankfully on Facebook, you may have seen the posting this morning about my babygirl! 16 years ago today, my second greatest gift, blessing, and joy was born at 8:20pm weighing in at a whopping 8 pound 13 1/2 ounces. If there is nothing else I completely enjoy more in this world, it is being a mom, especially to my two amazing daughters!

I am so thankful for the privilege of being entrusted with the care of my daughters. Being a mother is much more than giving birth to a child.  Mothers aren’t just Moms. Mothers provide love, encouragement, hope, counsel, discipline, and understanding. As mothers, we don’t give up when our child goes astray, or turn our back when our child rebels. We endure heartache and disappointment; we celebrate victories and accomplishments. We offer unending selflessness, knowing there are no guarantees of the end result. As a Mother, I pride myself in the two daughters I have raised. My babygirl is a fine almost nearly identical copy of her older by 7 years sister. The example placed before her, not just by me, but by my oldest daughter as well has been wonderfully received and replicated. I am blessed beyond measure.

Today, I am thankful for Erika Nichole! My sweet 16 year old babygirl!