In everything give thanks

Slapping a sloppy brush of thanksgiving over everything... leaves me deeply thankful for very few things.  

I am often guilty of slapping a sloppy brush of thanksgiving over everything,
"Thank you God for this day.  Thank you God for your blessings.  Thank you for my family and friends. Amen"
Don't get me wrong.  Those are all good things to be thankful for, but do I take the time to notice (and name) the myriad of "little" things I have to be thankful for each day?

The sound of waves

Laughing with my family

Rain

Eating outside

Having enough food for an unexpected dinner guest

Do you struggle with discontentment?  Do you spend more time thinking about the what you want instead of being thankful for what you have?

Gerbera daisies

Chocolate chip cookie dough

Boys playing wiffle ball in the back yard 

Seeing a friend at the store

Being invited

The habit of discontentment can only be driven out by the habit of thanksgiving.

Make thanksgiving a habit.  This year, instead of having your kids make a list of gifts they want for Christmas, have them make a list of gifts they already have.

A full house

Time alone

Moms sharing prayer requests around the table

Someone to sit next to

A late night talk with Jacob

We don't have to change what we see, only the way we see it.

(Quotes from A. Voskamp, "One Thousand Gifts")

Celebrating 3 years in Virginia!

Three years ago this week we left our home, our family, and our dearest friends to move across the country.  It was exciting (I love change), but it wasn't easy.  There were many tears and many fears as we exchanged the familiar for the unknown.  This week we took the time to name some of the things we like about living in Virginia...

Trees
People
Beach
Friends
Weather
Music
Schools
History
Curvy roads
Our house
Carytown
The Byrd Theater
The Goochland Drive-In
The James River
The Daily Grind (Favorite coffee shop)

What do we miss about Oklahoma?

The people
Our trampoline

We loved our 10 years in Oklahoma.  It was the best of times and it was the worst of times--literally.  But the only things that can't be replaced in our new State are our friends and family (and apparently our trampoline).  But fortunately our relationships are also the only things we can carry with us as we move. We are thankful for our old friends, new friends, and the friends we haven't met yet.  We know that someday if we move again, it's the people we will miss... and maybe the drive-in theater.