Grateful: Day 13

What abilities are you grateful for?

   Well, today especially, I am thankful for my ability to play piano. Our church piano was just tuned this week and it sounded incredibly beautiful as I played in the evening service. No twangy keys or squeaky pedals, just lovely notes.
   I am also thankful for my ability to write. I know I let my writing on here slide a bit, but it is not because I want to... but when you write assignments, discussion posts, lessons, and notes all the time, your brain begins to fry. But I am thankful for my ability to write, even when I get frustrated with myself while doing it.

So what abilities are you thankful for today?
~ Abby

Grateful: Day 12

What texture are you grateful for?

   This one was weird and I had to think about it for a while but I thought of two. The first one is something that, at least in the northeast, you can only experience in the spring, summer, and early fall: grass on your feet. This one is a little weird, but I love the feeling on grass on my feet, especially if it has just rained and the grass is still a little damp. I know, it's strange, just go with me on this.

   The second one is probably a bit more normal: pages and covers of books, especially an old leather book with thin, delicate pages. It is like a piece of the past in the present. I also love the smell of old books too, but I'll save that for another day.

What texture are you thankful for? Think of a normal one and a not-so normal one!

~ Abby

Grateful: Day 11

What holiday are you most grateful for?

   Thanksgiving! It's almost here and I am so excited! Family, friends, laughter, stories, the parade, food! There is absolutely nothing wrong with this holiday; maybe that's why it is my favorite. I greatly appreciate the loved ones I get to spend time with and the joy and thankfulness we share. Plus, we have our Thanksgiving Eve service at my church the day before which is one of my most treasured services of the entire year.

So what holiday are you thankful for?

~ Abby

PS - Because today is Veteran's Day, I want to say a special thank you to the men and women who have served our nation. Thank you for incredible sacrifices for our country and may God bless you for it!

Grateful: Day 10

What taste are you most grateful for?

   This is an easy one... coffee!!! I will not launch into all the different kinds of coffee I like or how I like them or how much of it I drink, the answer to this one is definitely coffee!

   Enjoy these lovely pictures of coffee I found online...

Here's some lovely coffee quotes for you to enjoy as well... 

I would rather suffer with coffee than be senseless. - Napoleon Bonaparte

I have measured out my life with coffee spoons. - T.S. Eliot

I'd rather take coffee than compliments just now. - Louisa May Alcott

Black as the devil, hot as hell, pure as an angel, sweet as love. - Charles Maurice de Talleyrand

Behind every successful woman is a substantial amount of coffee. - Stephanie Piro

What taste are you thankful for today?

~ Abby

Grateful: Day 9

What place are you most grateful for?

   In today's economic situation especially, I am especially thankful for my job! The people are great, they treat me well, and can always make me laugh. In addition to this, a few of them have actually been willing to listen to me share a thought here and there about Jesus. For me, I am able to apply myself to the work I have and give Him the glory. Most of it is just the little things, but it is still important that I do my best and that God gets the all of the glory in it.

To live well is to work well, to show a good activity. - Thomas Aquinas

What place in your life are you grateful for today?

~ Abby

Grateful: Day 8

What book are you most grateful for today?

   Today being Election Day, I am more than ever thankful for my Bible. I have spent hours praying over chapters and specific verses for our nation. I am thankful for the peace, hope, and strength I receive. I stand on the promises within and I praise God for the truth found in His word!

   In addition to all of this, I am thankful for my collection of books… I will share a picture one day of my bookshelf (when it is clean and organized) so you can see some of my collection… the bookshelf only holds about 1/3 of them!!

What book are you thankful for?

~ Abby

Grateful: Day 7

What memory are you grateful for?

  Well, Thanksgiving is coming up and for some reason, I thought of a Thanksgiving at my great grandma’s house many years ago. I was only six or seven and my Dad’s family had crowded into her small ranch house. I was in her kitchen watching her cook or clean or whatever she was doing at that point and I remember just listening to her tell me stories (I don’t really remember them) and I asked if I could have a cookie out of her large glass cookie jar on the counter. She pulled a chair up to the counter for me so I could climb up and pull out one of those little round Italian cookies covered in chocolate sprinkles.

  So what memory are you thankful for?

~ Abby 

Grateful: Day 6

What in nature are you grateful for?

  Wind blowing through the trees, smell of a field of flowers, mountains that display incredible strength and dignity, a quietness that can only be found when you leave everything else behind.

  One of my favorite things to do when I need to get away is drive to a large park near my house and either sit in the large field and watch the clouds, or go for a walk in the woods. Not only does my stress level come down, but the time in the quiet allows me to just sit and commune with my Jesus. It’s needed in this time of confusion and unknown.

  So what are you thankful for in nature today?

~ Abby

Grateful: Day 5

What sound are you grateful for today?

   Today especially, I am thankful for the sounds of people's voices. Whether is someone talking to reconnect, listening to a speaker or minister give a talk, a group of people singing a hymn or God's voice whispering into my heart, I am thankful for the sounds of language.

How about you?

~Abby

Grateful: Day 4

What food are you most grateful for?

   Gluten-free waffles and brown rice & quinoa pasta. Since I cut gluten out of my diet to help with my migraines over a year ago, I have been able to find yummy substitutes, like the waffles and pasta.

   Thinking about it though, I'm thankful for any food. It is so easy for us to stop being thankful for the little things, like food, but so many in this world do not have steady meals so I am especially thankful for that today.

   What food are you grateful for?

Blessings,
~Abby

Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come.

Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

As we forgive our debtors.

And do not lead us into temptation,

But deliver us from the evil one.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.

Amen.

- Matthew 6:9-13

Grateful: Day 3

Good afternoon readers! Here is today's gratefulness challenge...

What color are you grateful for?

   I have only one answer for this because today I am thankful for yellow. I am thankful for yellow sunshine, yellow flowers, yellow birds and butterflies, even yellow foods. Whether it is bright like a canary, or subtle like a goldenrod, the color yellow has a way of cheering up your soul. Waking up to a bright blue sky with the yellow sunshine surrounding you reminds us of God's overwhelming love.

So what color are you grateful for today?

Blessings!
~Abby

Grateful: Day 2

What technology are you grateful for?

This one is hard for me because I have a love-hate relationship with technology... But... 

I am thankful for my cell phone because it keeps me connected with my family and friends, including those who are far away.

I love that my computer allows me to do my school from home and I can use it to update my blog :) 

I am thankful for the connection with other Christians over the internet. There are dozens of people who I can contact with prayer requests and I know they are praying. 

What technology are you grateful for today?

Blessings!

~Abby

Grateful: Day 1

Apologies for being absent for over a month! My crazy schedule has been getting the best of me. So it's November which means dozens of thankfulness challenges are everywhere! Here's day one...

"What smell are you grateful for today?"

There's so many but I thought I would pick just a few simple ones...

Warm days full of fresh cut grass & flowers...

A quiet, misty morning at camp...

Fall candles like apple cider or pumpkin pie...

Thanksgiving morning when my parents are making turkey & rice dressing...

Grandma's kitchen after she's been cooking all day...

Evergreen trees covered in snow...

Cup of coffee or tea or hot cocoa...

That enough for now... What are you thankful for?

Blessings!

~Abby