28 days of Thankfulness

Today, I am thankful for warmth.  It's been cool, dreary and rainy outside for almost a week now.  We did have a 1 1/2 day break with sun and warmth, but then we headed back to the cold and wet.  I am fortunate enough to be sitting inside our house and it is nice and warm inside here :)  I am a creature requiring warmth.  I love the sun, I enjoy sitting in the sun and just soaking up the warmth.  Sometimes when I am gardening there may be a chill in the air and I will just sit in the sun and let it beam down on my face, kissing it softly with it's delicate warmth.  One of my Danes is quite like me in that matter, you can look out and see Calypso sunning herself to warm up.  She also sleeps with a blanket over her most every night, yes, it is not uncommon for me to "tuck" her in at night making sure her blankie covers all of her body.  We live in the northern end of  "the South".  Zone 7 for you garden buffs.  Most of the time it is more than warm enough for me (there is a saying around here for me -- if it's not 80, mamma's not happy).  In the winter the cold sometimes bothers my arthritis that has set in from my past injuries.  When that happens, my dear hubby likes to "crank" up the heat to warm us back up.  We have wood heat, so we keep it nice and toasty in the house during the winter.  I don't care for cold, I can never have on enough clothes when it gets cold.  You have to put on so many layers for the cold that it is hard to move.  I just picture that little child with it's arms sticking straight out and it's legs stiffly  non-movable because of all of the layers on.  I remember being a child and my mom "bundling" us up to go outside.  You can hardly walk!  And you had better go potty BEFORE you start dressing!  No thanks, I prefer warmth.  A layer of clothes and perhaps a sweater is fine, a jacket is okay.  Things grow during the warm parts of the seasons, these things warm and brighten my soul.  They make me smile.  When it is cold out, everything looks dead.  Browns, grays, blacks, dusky blues are the colors you see.  The cold has it's purpose, it makes me over joyed to see the warmth return!  I love to see the first blooms of my Hellebore (aka Lenten Rose) in February, or the daffodils in March.  The sweet peaking of the crocus from beneath their shelter of the decaying leaves of the winter.  Yeppers, there is no question in my mind, I appreciate the winter cold and rain and snow (I guess), but only so that when spring and warmth returns, I Thankful for it even more.  In the meantime, I will try to emulate nature and warmth in my cards and other media.  Have a nice warm day inside!  I know I will :)

Blessings,

27 days of Thankfulness

Today I give thanks for Hope!  I have hope, lots of hope.  I have been given a promise by my Father in Heaven that He will always be with me, never leaving me what ever may happen.  There are many who have no hope, you read about them all the time.  Some commit suicide, some hurt others feeling there is no other way out.  I will never be in any of these situations because my beliefs constantly provide me with LOTS of hope.  I know I am loved by my earthly family, but they can't always be here for me.  My parents live 10 hours north of us, my brothers live 6 to 10 hours north of us (Yes, we live in the south where it is nice, warm and sunny most of the time).  My husband's family lives 6 hours north of us as well.  Although my hubby is near me almost everyday, he can't always understand my feelings.  Being a man, he frequently doesn't have a clue on how to nurture.  But I believe in God.  A heavenly creator who created me for his delight and pleasure.  He made me to praise Him and as I do so, He also promises that He'll be with me at all times, in fact He asks many times in the Book he wrote through God inspired men, that He wants us to pray in all things.  Not just when we need something, but also when we celebrate everything, or question anything.  He gives me Hope.  He gives me reason to live, reason to love and most of all, reason to hope in and for all things!

Blessings,

26 days of Thankfulness

On this wonderfully blessed day, I want to give thanks for my voice :)  I love to sing.  I try to sing in everything I do.  Actually, I don't try to sing, I do sing.  My hubby mentioned a while back that he can tell when I am not doing as well as I don't sing when I am hurting or ill.  I still enjoy hearing the music, but I just don't have it in me to let it express itself.  But, that doesn't happen often, because I love to sing and dance.  I used to sing in our church choir, on our praise team and I also did solo specials.  My dogs get to hear my solos quite often and they love it.  Their tales wag, and they come over to where I am at and just rub against me showing their return of affection.  Singing in the mornings is my most favorite time to sing, then I can join in with the birds and whatever.  A natures chorus at sunrise if you will.  So if you stop by our house to visit, you probably won't have to knock on the door to find me.  Just stand still and listen.  I'll be in one of my gardens, working a way and singing my heart out :)

Blessings!

25 days of Thankfulness

Good Evening everyone! 
   Well, I know I am writing this a little late, but I have been so busy around here it's been silly.  My girlfriend is having surgery today and I offered to puppysit one of her dogs for her for several days.  Although I frequently sit dogs for other people, this one is what you might call a handful, as he is 1 1/2 years old, and my friend has neglected to train this pooch at all :)  So we are in major training sessions now  lol.  That on top of my cleaning, organizing and rearranging and we are enjoy life.  Go ahead and laugh.  That is what I am thankful for today.  Laughter, the ability to laugh, to live and laugh at life and just to smile.  There are so many I know that just grump their way through life, not enjoying a minute of the time they have been given here on earth.  On of my friends is that way, over all she seems to be happy, but when I reflect on our conversations, there are very few things she talks about that doesn't involve complaining.  On the other hand, I love to laugh, I love to smile.  Give me a happy romantic comedy movie any day.  I will laugh out loud, sometimes I think it embarrasses my hubby that I laugh, but other times I know it makes him smile.  Have you ever tried driving to work and smiling a BIG smile at everyone you see.  You will watch literally tens of faces transform into a smile.  Smiles are contagious, laughter is too.  Sometimes people don't know what to do when they see you smile, but they do smile back, but you can see their minds just a whirring trying to figure out what you are smiling at.  But it's my secret, and it makes me smile even more!  My secret?  I have someone who loves me unconditionally.  I know I will never be alone, and He would never want me to be sad.  He provides everything I absolutely need, and never lets me down.  Everything He does he does for my good.  That includes letting me make a few mistakes throughout my life -- OK, maybe more than a few lol.  But I know that he stayed by my side, even when I thought he was no where alone.  Just over 23 years ago years ago I rededicated my life to Him after a long detour of my own.  When I did that, he welcomed me back home with open arms.  Just like that story - The Prodigal daughter Son.  A while after that He arranged my meeting my now hubby, who is also a Christian, and the rest of the story is History.  I don't tend to keep my secret very closely guarded.  In fact I am willing to tell anyone who will listen.  Anyone can be happy all the time, or at least most of it.  Give your life to the most caring being you'll ever know.  He has many names, Father, God, King, and many many more.  He wrote a really awesome book too, if you enjoy reading and the stories in this book are phenomenal!  He has one true son as well, and many adopted.  I/we are some of His adopted.  I love God, my Father.  I want to please Him in every thing I do.  I want to make Him happy, and the only way I know to do that most continuously is to be happy and spread the happiness.  That is my secret.  Love God, Love yourself, Love your neighbor and you will smile most of your moments here on earth.  I hope and pray that your days are filled with laughter, that your sad days can look through and find His comfort and the happiness that can be shared as long as you share with Him.  Smile and enjoy the Laughter!

Blessings!

Thanksgiving Day a special day of Thankfulness

Today is Thanksgiving and I just want to wish you, my followers/readers a very blessed Thanksgiving.  I am very thankful for you and the time you take out of your day to read my blog, and check out my cards or other art work.  I know of late I have been lax on getting cards out, it is for a good reason, I have been rearranging and finishing my organizing of my scrapping area.  I do have several images I have been coloring, so hopefully soon you will get to see what you usually come here for.  But until then, Thank you so very much for your blogship.  Every one of your comments makes my day and puts a special smile on my face.  Thank you so very much for your kindness.  Happy Thanksgiving to each and every one of you and your families.  May God bless you all with His greatest gift for each and every member of your household -- salvation and a promise of eternity for those who love and believe on him.

Blessings!