Every year for the last 10 years, I have started my Thanksgiving morning journeling a list of 100 things that I am thankful and grateful for. This year is no different except, I wish to share them with you! I’m thankful and grateful:
- For the gift of Salvation
- That I get to spend this day with my Mom
- For an active start to my day. Zumba was amazing this morning! We had a full class and we brought it!
- For food on the table today and everyday!
- For the BEAUTIFUL weather today!
- For the elastic waist pants I decided to wear today
- For another year in which the Lord has given me to be able to give thanks
- For this day, and everyday the Lord gives me to try to get it right (or at least do better than I did the day before).
- For my health, because as I get older I realize how fragile it can be
- For emotional healing
- That my Mom is home and healthy and self-sufficient (three years ago she was in intensive care fighting for her life)
- For the power of prayer
- For those who pray and who have prayed for me especially during those times when I don’t have the strength or wisdom to pray for myself
- For God’s Grace – He does not give me what I deserve
- For new mercies EVERY DAY!!!!
- Mom – who still spoils me even at age 44
- Stephanie – my oldest sister who gives me wise counsel
- Candie – my youngest sister who listens to my ramblings without judging me and who makes me laugh
- Brian – my oldest nephew who has a big heart and a passion for what he does (takes that after his Aunt Stace you know)
- Eric – my baby nephew who is compassionate and an awesome father
- Kitana – my great niece who is the PRETTIEST, smartest and funniest baby on the face of the earth!
- Kysia – my great niece who is the CUTEST, smartest and most articulate young lady on the face of the earth (and she has mad moves)
- Mia – my niece who is the kindest, most GORGEOUS young woman on the face of the earth AND a fantastic mother.
- For my brothers-in-law: Lester and Gianni
- For my loving Pastor (Pastor Richardson) who is also my boss and like a father to me
- For the ability and privilege to be able to make a living doing what I love to do
- For my friends who love me unconditionally
- For having a safe and reliable car to get me to and fro
- For being an active member of a Bible believing, Bible teaching church at which the Word of God goes forth and members are held accountable
- For spiritual growth
- For courage
- For strength
- For wisdom
- For the ability to hear what I can and to hear even better with my hearing aids
- For the people God puts in my life to love me, listen to me, teach me, and hold me accountable
- For the fact that I’ve been able to work hard and lose 46lbs.
- For a good sense of humor (I’m so glad that I don’t take myself too seriously)
- For the ability to pay my bills
- That I was able to pay off 5 credit cards this year
- For those the Lord has allowed me to encourage and inspire through my teaching of The Power of Positive Thinking, The Winning Attitude and Living Whole Without A Better Half
- Clarity – I know who I am and where I’m going
- For all the wonderful couples who I have had the opportunity to work with…and who trusted me to make their wedding and events Affairs to Remember
- For a roof over my head (one that’s warm in the winter and cool in the summer)
- For being able to start and operate my own business
- For God’s patience with me
- For long lasting friendships (you know who you are)
- For new friendships (you know who you are)
- For my running group Black Girls Run
- For the ability to be able to run 2 miles without stopping…Yay Me!!!
- For Zumba and all of the wonderful Instructors who make it fun
- For the fact that I need new clothes because mine are TOO BIG!
- That God does not leave the keeping of my life up to me
- For crossing over to the phase of my life where I’m not all that concerned about what others think of me
- For books…the touch…the smell…I love books
- For the ability to be able to set goals and accomplish them
- For the fact that God teaches me something everyday (although sometimes I have to retake the exam on some things, because I can be a slow learner :-/
- For energy and my new found exuberance for working out
- That I’m closing this year out with a clean bill of health
- For contentment
- For hot water to shower in
- For strength in my body
- For air in my lungs
- For health insurance
- For forgiveness
- For the ability to forgive
- For the gifts, talents, and abilities the Lord has given me
- For a comfortable bed to sleep in every night
- For my laptop, which is operating nicely (this time last year, the operating system had to be replaced)
- For a savings account, which actually has a few dollars in it
- For my new found passion for running (if someone had told me I would be running this year, I would have looked at them like they were crazy)
- For all of the new things I was given the opportunity to experience this year
- For the gift of pain (not for the pain itself, but for the purpose it produces in my life)
- For all of the encouragement and support I have received on my weight loss journey
- For everyone who follows this blog and inspires me to keep blogging
- For this time in my life where I am able to get still and determine what I’d like to do next
- For those who have been there for me during the most trying times in my life
- For reconciliation
- For music (I love all kinds of music)
- For being able to reconnect with old friends and to make new friends through Facebook
- For the ability to be able to overcome trials, and tribulations
- For the ability to have hope (confident expectation)
- For shoes (cute shoes)
- That I can still go to Barnes and Noble since Borders has closed
- That I can still see Oprah on the OWN network since the Oprah Show has ended
- For all of the advice I am getting to help me get better in my running
- That I only have to travel 10 minutes to get to work
- For the decrease in my stress levels
- For the ability to make wise decisions
- For being in a good place in my life (not looking back with regret and looking forward with excitement for the future)
- For the blessings and abundance in the lives of my family and friends
- For my dreams and aspirations (some people have stopped dreaming and that’s sad to me)
- For being sane and in my right mind (although those close to me question that LOL)
- For focus and determination to finish what I’m starting on my weight loss journey
- For perseverance
- For bounce back ability (the ability to overcome challenges)
- That I’ve gotten better at cooking
- For sweet potato pie today!
- For chocolate
- For fried chicken
- To be able to eat the sweet potato pie, chocolate and fried chicken with moderation!
I have a wonderful life and SOOOOOOOOOO much to be thankful for, but I’m not the only one! So as we all celebrate with our families and friends, I pray that you have a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving and take time out to count your blessings and name them one by one.