Gratefulness

I have been struggling with learning how to be grateful/thankful in ALL things. I lose perspective so easily and focus on the dark, the imperfections, the things I feel helpless to change, when I need to just shift my camera lens over and focus in on the object of my passion, on the one who waits to give me a life full of passion, fulfillment and purpose.  I'd like to share these two videos with you this morning.






















Now this video is about teaching gratefulness to children but I think we adults can take a lesson ourselves. I am using this blog as my own form of a gratitude journal, do whatever fits your life best but take the time to begin savoring the moments and make a change to see things as God would have you see them.



You have heard me talk about Ann Voskamp before, but I wanted to share this video with you becuase, the beautiful description of framing moments and shifting your focus on what really matters is exactly what I needed to hear. I do not need a house, or children, or tons of friends, or a best selling book, or know how to cook well (working on it though!), or be the best at everything. All I need to do is give thanks to God for the breath I have in my lungs right now, for the things that really matter are the things I need to begin to make important in my life, and to let all else rest outside my frame for that moment.


1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.


Thankful for
Godly perspective
good books that redirect my attention towards the Lord
my good, caring husband who listens to me
tears of frustration that give way to hope
vanilla bean ice cream while watching Phineas and Ferb
sweet pregnant friends about to burst forth a new life any time now!

Early mornings are for muffins

Working nights throws my poor sleeping patterns off terribly. Slept all day yesterday, woke up around 7 (normally I get up at 5... it was a LONG and HARD three nights at the hospital) tried to spend time with Doug, and then went to bed at midnight. So... I got up at 4:30 am, made some banana nut and strawberry muffins while the husband made the coffee.

Little baby muffins!

So I will not bore you with a recap of how awful work was, but let me say this, the last three nights made me reconsider why I ever wanted to be a nurse in the first place. Especially a med-surg nurse. It is hard to give adequate care to 8 patients, 8 very sick, very needy patients. I felt like I was running for 12+ hours! I don't mind busy, I do mind crazy.

That being said, I am grateful for:

co-workers who help you
patients who say thank you
a piece of dark chocolate, sea salt, almond fantasticness in the midst of chaos
knowing your shift will eventually be over (they can't make me stay forever!!)
the train on K-15 that gives you green lights, all.the.way.home.

biscuits and gravy, hashbrowns, and OJ with the hubby at Braums after work yesterday
coming home to our cute apartment that contains our comfy bed
a hot shower.
SLEEP!
having a loving God who tests me daily so that I may know him more

I should be sleeping...

I really should be napping right now before I go to work tonight, but here I am, blogging really quickly!

thankful for...
groupon deals to Old Navy
cute new clothes
helpful sales people
a wonderful husband that shops with me (and let me have his groupon!)
hearing others stories
knowing God changes lives
having a job helping others
yesterday's 8 hours spent with my sister, my best friend

My seester and me. taken by Jackie Cooper Photography

God is working in me, and I am learning to get out of the way. 

Back again!

Hmm. I am not really good at this whole blogging deal.

I have much to catch up on, but I will do that slowly over time. I want to start blogging again on a more regular basis for personal reasons, I need to be more active in seeing God's fingerprints everywhere. He gives us gifts, ALL THE TIME!! I want to be more aware of how he is doing it in my life and those around me. Reading Ann Voskamp's "One Thousand Gifts: A Dar to Live Fully Right Where You Are" has  also inspired me, yes again, to give thanks in everything. I like her style, just writing down the big, the little, the in between, daily moments where God shows up and graciously hands us a gift. So, I can not promise that I will be on here daily, working three nights in a row leaves me little time to blog, but on the other days I will be working on becoming more disciplined in giving thanks (via blog posts)!

woke up to my husband doing the dishes before his long day

christmas lights above our cabinets

God's grace

homemade bread, 

funny videos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v​=zKKAVYI7vdU&sns=fb

getting to see my sweet sister for lunch later

Married my best friend, my love on April 30th, 2011

I am not counting on people reading this, but if you do, please leave a comment now and again about what God has done for you lately.