A Year of Thanks

One thing I love about November is the trend on Facebook where each day people post one thing for which they are grateful. One thing I hate about November is that this trend stops on Thanksgiving Day. I'm not pointing fingers; I do it too. I just think I can do better, that's all!

I was on Pinterest (which is just TOO much fun!) and saw this. It's a Gratitude Journal. The idea is that you create a little journal and everyday for a whole year write down one thing for which you're thankful. I LOVE this idea! Can you imagine how much happier you would be if you would actively remember your blessings? How much easier the hardships would be if your blessings were always at the front of your mind; if you had a tangible reminder of how good God is to you? I know that my life is always better and more fulfilling when I focus on the good. My hope is that by chronicling my blessings, I draw closer to God and become a better (more Christ-like, happier, more understanding and empathetic to those around me) person.



So, that's one of my goals this year. I am going to create a Gratitude Journal. But, I'm not a crafty person. I never have been. Oh, I long to be, but it just isn't in me. I look at people who do scrapbooking or quilting or embroidery or...and I just marvel at the wonderful works of art they create and the memories they preserve. Me? I can't do it. Maybe it's because there's no set procedure, or maybe it's because I'm a perfectionist, and if I can't get it all done now, there's no sense in trying. Who knows. Bottom line? Crafts are not my thing. I could just buy a notebook and just plain-jane it, but I have a better idea. Notebooks get lost, after all. So, instead of creating a book-journal, I'm going to use my blog. I already have it going, after all, so the perfectionist in me can't procrastinate, right?  Each day I'm going to post one Gratitude Post (update: I'm posting them all in one big post. It offends my OCD to have so many teeny posts with similar titles lying around.) in which I list at least one way in which the Lord has blessed me (it may or may not be it's own post. We'll see how I feel at the time).

Here I go!

January 1, 2012 - Today I am thankful that E&B got to come up and bring in the New Year with us. I have missed them so much and it has been simply wonderful to spend time with them again.

And, just so they're written down and, therefore, somewhat fleshed out, here are my New Year's Resolutions.

1. Daily Bible Study with Paul. (Thanks to M for setting up that group on Facebook!)
2. Daily prayer for my family, friends and church - create a specific prayer list
3. Gratitude Posts - Daily!
4. Be a good Keeper at Home - find a cleaning schedule and create a sanctuary for our family
5. Tell Paul each day how much I love him and how thankful I am for him
6. Daily walks - weather permitting