Thankful, Counting my Blessings, Multitude Monday, Giving Thanks

As I reflect back over the past week there are so many reasons to be thankful. Moving into the new year, I want to continue to use Mondays as the day I list those reasons. It has been a wonderful exercise in my life because I'm not naturally always thankful. Practicing looking around me and being grateful for all God has done for me is a way that I overcome the tendency to dwell on the negative.

I remember being a seminary student and walking with an older student who gave me that wonderful advice. This was before the days of social media and blogs and much of what we know of the internet. She suggested that I start looking at ways God was blessing me and as I started to do that, it made a huge difference in my outlook!

I've been doing this on my blog for the past 15 years and it's been a wonderful way to recognize God's hand on my life. This week I am thankful for the following:

~ A quiet New Year's Eve and Day after a flurry of activity over the holidays. Steve came home and the weekend was basically relaxing, eating good food and watching football (guys) and sewing (me).

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~ I was able to get all of my Christmas items packed away yesterday afternoon after church. I'm thankful for more space now that they are away.

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~ A new nursery at church. It took a lot longer than anticipated but we have officially moved our nursery in the church downstairs into our children's area.

~ God continues to work on areas of my life that can be crippling at times, including feelings of insecurity and insignificance. I find that He mostly works by not removing those situations that cause it, but by walking with me through them and stretching me.

~ My sewing items are at my friend's shop as well as on Etsy. I'm thankful for excellent sales the past couple of months. I went and took my Christmas items out of her shop on Friday and I only had to bring home about 4 items because everything else had sold. I'm so thankful that God is allowing me to bring in a bit of money doing something I love. This month, it's all about making things for Valentine's Day.

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~ A new website! I'm also thankful that I got another freelance job, building a website for a district church. Another thing I love to do!

~ I'm thankful that my daughter ended her first semester of graduate school with very high grades.

~ I am thankful for my husband's love. He shows me in many different ways - mostly through acts of service - how much he loves me. Every now and then he surprises me with some tangible gift. These were flowers that I found on my office desk at the church.

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And finally...

~ I'm thankful for another new year to be thankful!

#grateful #thanksgiving #blessings #countingmyblessings #givethanks