Gratitude in Action : The Gratitude List

I'm back today with my final installment of the Gratitude in Action series.

 A way I've been expressing my gratitude for almost 7 years now,
is through gratitude lists.

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My only rule is I can't list anything I've listed before.
That keeps me searching my life for things to be grateful for.
So even bad days, when I'm on a pity pot,
I have to search for new things to be grateful for.
And that makes my bad days...not so bad

Today is a good day,
so a gratitude list was easy...

1. I'm grateful my first ever chocolate pie turned out!
2. The Christmas decorations are out and the house is full of Holiday cheer.(stay tuned for pictures)
3.  I had an evening of complete TV control last night while my husband was out of the house.
4. Ivy hasn't had an accident in the house since I posted about it here.
5. The ability to express myself here on this blog

That's it!
I hope you all have enjoyed this gratitude in action series.
I know it hasn't been the funniest, or coolest, or most interesting of all blog series.
But it did me good to write about it, if nothing else.

 xoxo - Bethany

Gratitude in Action: Happy Thanksgiving!

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Today, I'm continuing the Gratitude in Action Series 

 by bringing you 5 ways I am putting my gratitude into action today.

Here they are:

1. We're driving to Arkansas today. Six hours one way, for one meal. We left at 6AM, and are turning around and driving back tomorrow. That's love (gratitude) in action people.
2. I'm not going to complain the entire trip. This is a personal goal of sorts. When I am in the car for hours at a time, I tend to get cranky. But I am grateful for my husband and family! And I'm determined to show it.
3. I'm taking a hostess gift. Jason's cousin, Amy and her husband Tommy, host Thanksgiving dinner EVERY year. With my Christmas Dinner looming, I'm more grateful than ever all I have to do is show up and eat!
4. I'm picking up the phone and giving out the hugs. I plan of making some phone calls to people I am very grateful for, but don't have the pleasure of seeing today. And giving the ones I do, great big hugs! Sounds simple. But its the small things! (My mother in law is going to get an extra big hug, because she offered to let me raid her closets and borrow some of  her entertaining/ serving pieces for the Holidays.)
5. Prayer. I'm going to use some of that 6 hours in the car to reflect of all I have to be grateful for and thank Him who has supplied it all!

I hope wherever you are and whoever you are with,

you're having a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

xoxo - Bethany

P.S. - I've very grateful for you, dear readers of this blog. Thank you for reading.

Gratitude in Action: There's No Place Like Home

Today, I'm continuing my Gratitude in Action series

by keeping it simple.

One of the things I'm most grateful for in my life today,

is the ability to work part time, 

and not stay in job where I'm trapped in a cubicle and miserable.

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I would much rather be at home a few days a week and

I'm only able to do that because of Jason.

He works twice as hard, so I don't have to.

And I appreciate it immensely.

 How do I put my gratitude into action?

Laundry.

Cooking.

Vacuuming

Dusting.

Mopping.

Cleaning Toilets.

You Get the idea... the housework.

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 But most days, when I'm off work and home alone

and no one's watching, I would much rather

sit on the couch, read, drink coffee and be lazy.

Don't get me wrong. I do this...

but after a while, I get up

 and I try to be of service in some way to my husband.

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Because I know he is off working hard,

and I know I should be too.

xoxo - Bethany  

 

Gratitude in Action: Operation Christmas Child

Today, I'm continuing my Gratitude in Action series by blogging about a charity Jason and I have supported the past couple of years, Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child.

Operation Christmas Child gives children in impoverished countries an opportunity to learn about Christ while receiving a box of gifts they desperately need.

We went to the dollar store and bought toiletries, school supplies and small toys

and packed them in a plastic shoe box.

Next week we will drop it off at a local church,

and it will be delivered to a child next month.

You can even track your shoe box online to see where

it is delivered.

At this time of the year, its really easy for me to get caught up in what I want....

The children on the receiving end of these shoe boxes don't have a fraction
 of what your or I have.

When asked what they want, most of them say stuff like socks, soap and writing utensils.

It really puts things in perspective for me.

And reminds me of how much I have to be grateful for. 

That's why I'm giving back.

 

Click here to find more information if you would like to pack a shoe box for a child.

The national collection week is November 12-19th so you still have time!

xoxo - Bethany

Gratitude in Action

Because November is the Thanksgiving month,

I am doing a series on gratitude every Thursday in November.

Gratitude has changed for me over the years.

It used to be, I was grateful for all the"stuff" in my life,

and then as I matured, I became grateful for the people in my life.

Now, I have reached a point where I am grateful for all of the above, life in general,

and most importantly the undeserved  grace that has been given to me.

The way I show this gratitude has changed for me, as well.

It used to be, I simply said, "Thank you."

But now, I believe that gratitude should be shown,

instead of just spoken.

In other words, there should be action behind that gratitude.

A giving back, if you will.

This week, I voted.

Don't worry, I'm not about to get all preachy...

I'm not even going to tell you who I voted for.

That's not the point.

The point is that I took the action.

Because, I am grateful.

Grateful to live a country where I can vote.

Where I can say what I want to say.

And do what I want to do.

Where I am free.

God bless America.

Stay tuned for more gratitude in action posts,

every Thursday in November.

Thanks for reading!

xoxo - Bethany