Almost Christmas!

So I haven't posted anything for a really long time, even though I meant to. Oh well, those first few posts really helped me put things into perspective. There's so much to be thankful for even when we don't think so. God throws a lot of unexpected things in our way, but He never gives us anything that we can't handle, and that is a lesson that I am still learning. I am still trying to truly trust that. Life isn't always easy, but I know that in the end it will all be worth it, when we are with God for eternity.
A lot of times I let my past haunt me, and that sounds like something really bad happened, but it didn't, quite the opposite really. I have such amazing memories, and oh too often I let my memories keep me hanging on too tightly to my past. We don't want to forget what has happened to us, but we don't want to let it keep us from living our lives now. Things are going to change, and we don't need to like it, but it needs to happen to allow time to go on. It might hurt at first, but once we realize that this is life now, we'll see how amazing it really is. How wonderful everything is, even what seems like the worst.
It's just over a week until Christmas, and I am happy to say that I feel as though I am really in the true spirit of Christmas this year. The Christmas season didn't come a moment too soon, and not a moment too late. It's been wonderful!

On the first day of Christmas I am thankful for...

I knew this would happen. I knew that as soon as I got into the swing of things I would stop writing in this, but I'm still going to try. It's the first day of December, and really time to get into the spirit of giving, and a spirit if happiness and thankfulness.

I am so thankful right now for God's grace. No matter what I do, He still loves me, and will never let me go. Even though I am a sinner, God still wants me, and He still works through me. I have a friend who was going through a tough time, and God has allowed me to hopefully help him. I don't know if he's really alright, but I'm still praying that he is.

I haven't had the best times recently, but I'm learning that maybe I am, and I'm just not seeing it. I'm also learning that God has put people all around me who can help me out in anyway they can. I sometimes have a tough time opening up to people, but I am slowly getting to know that there are people all over my life who I can open up to, who love me and will always be there for me.

I have seen God at work so often in the past month or so, and it amazes me at how much He can show me when I'm not necessarily trying to see anything. He has taught me that I don't even have to try to open people's heart to Him, because I can't, only God can do that, but if I have a Christian attitude all the time, I can do my part without even trying. God has shown me that He loves, and He cares, no matter what happens. My eyes have also been opened by God to the love all around me, and the caring where I thought it would be the least likely to find. I love the Lord, my God, with all my heart, all my soul, and all my mind, and I know that He loves me even more.

Gratitude Journal-Day 4

Gratitude Journal-Day 4

So today I've been thinking about traditions, and different seasons. I'm extremely thankful for the things that make certain times of the year oh so special. There are certain things that have happened year after year for me during certain holidays or times of the year, and it makes me so happy when they happen again, and so excited for them to happen. The Christmas music that I listen to every year makes my heart swell, and though I so desperately want to listen to it earlier and earlier this year, I have to stop myself, because if I don't, then it's not as special anymore, and it loses the meaning for me. There are certain things that I will not allow to be changed. For instance, as we were getting the house ready for Thanksgiving tomorrow, my dad suggested that we make the cranberry chutney tonight, instead of tomorrow, and I instantly said no. Every year for almost as long as I can remember, I wake up on Thanksgiving morning, get dressed, and go downstairs and help my daddy make the cranberry chutney. I am so thankful for the traditions and memories of different holidays and times of the year that make life so special!