Give Thanks

This is the time of year that we all reflect upon what we are thankful for!

I don't have to think too long before realizing how truly blessed I am. I am so very grateful for my family, my home, my business, and all the wonderful people I am privileged to work with day in and day out. I am also thankful for so many friends who I learn from every day, and who I pray learn from me as well. I am also grateful for the grace and mercy of a great God, who daily makes His presence known to me.

Here are a couple of Thanksgiving Poems I came across, and thought I would share with you today. I pray you too, have much to be thankful for!

Happy Thanksgiving!



BE THANKFUL

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary,
because it means you've made a difference.

It's easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who
are also thankful for the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.

~~Author Unknown.~~



HOW TO OBSERVE THANKSGIVING

Count your blessings instead of your crosses;
Count your gains instead of your losses.
Count your joys instead of your woes;
Count your friends instead of your foes.
Count your smiles instead of your tears;
Count your courage instead of your fears.
Count your full years instead of your lean;
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.
Count your health instead of your wealth;
Count on God instead of yourself.

~~Author Unknown.~~

What's Your Favorite Time of Year?

Mine is definitely fall. I love the crisp cool air, the leaves turning gold, and the anticipation of holidays! Some of my favorite activities this time of year are:

Taking a drive up to the mountains to see the Aspen trees.
Taking a trip to Happy Apple Orchard to pick blackberries, raspberries, pumpkins, and apples!
Going to Estes Park to hear the elk bugle.
Having our annual Great Pumpkin Dinner (a tradition we started years ago)
Going Hiking
Thanksgiving Dinner with Friends and Family

Take a few moments to plan some fun things in your fall that you can do with your friends and family. Life can get so busy, that we miss all of the beauty around us that God created and intended for us to enjoy.

I'd love to hear what your favorite fall activities are and what you are planning to do to make it special!

In My Father's House Are Many Mansions...I Hope Mine's Next to Yours!

Oh how great is Your goodness which you have laid up for those who fear You. Which You have prepared for those who trust in You! Psalm 31:19
Dave and I have had the privilege of taking a much needed vacation this week, and it has been so refreshing! Yesterday we took a hike up to Lily Pond, and I wanted to share some of the gorgeous beauty that we saw with you.

The wild flowers were absolutely amazing!
It was wonderful to have time just to reflect upon God's goodness and beauty!
We talked a lot about what heaven is going to be like. With all of the beauty and creativity that God has surrounded us with here, it still is nothing compared to what it will be like when we are in heaven with Him one day.
I can't wait!
"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions, if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." John 14: 1-3

In my Father's house are many mansions....I hope mine's next to yours!

Janna

Will It Ever Get Done?

I know it's been a while since my last Blog post, but we have been in the middle of painting this month, and it seems like it will never end. Have you ever taken on a project that seemed like such a great idea, and once you got into it, you realized it was going to be much more involved and take much longer than you originally expected? Well that's exactly what's happened with this...but the end result has been well worth the effort.

Sometimes life is that way. We go along, and do the same things day in and day out, striving to reach some sort of accomplishment...whether it is raising our children, or working hard at our jobs or businesses, nurturing our marriages or even our relationship with God. Somehow we are always anxious to reach the end result, so that is what we focus on, instead of focusing on the journey it takes to reach those results. In doing so, we may miss many important lessons along the way.

I am learning to make the most of each day. Instead of being so intent on the end result, I am pausing to see what I can learn and grow in today. We miss too many opportunities if we are always focused on the end result, and sometimes we don't even pause to hear what God is saying to us right now, because we are too busy planning the next big event or activity.

Life is certainly a journey...but don't miss out on the journey by being too focused on the destination. God's more interested in what you are learning on the journey to your destination and the character that you are developing along the way.