Thankful

As we leave Thanksgiving holidays and zoom right on in to Christmas, I felt it necessary to enjoy this time of thankfulness and share the things that I am most thankful for this year.

First and foremost I am thankful:
      that I am saved by the grace of God
      that I can continually wake up every morning (walk, talk, think, hear, touch and feel - that my heart beats)
      that I have friends that really and truly love me for me
      that I have family that love me for me
      that I am going to graduate this December from the University of Georgia
      that I have a job
      that I have a roof over my head and food on my table
      that I have a dog that loves me unconditionally
      that I have a man in my life that loves and supports me through thick and thin
      that people still surprise me
      that I am able to forgive
      that I am able to be me and live my life as I so see fit

If I have learned anything this year, it is that it's time for me to be thankful for the things I have, for the things I don't have and for the opportunities that I have been given in this life.  I may not always have the best, the most, the greatest or the one and only, but I do have a God that is merciful and people who love me and without those I am nothing, but with them I can be great.

Thank you for touching my life this year, there have been many that have come and gone and I am thankful for the chance to have so many mean so much to me.

I love you all....

Visit from above...

Love symbol meanings come in many forms. Many times certain things come into our lives with a message of love and these special things serve as a symbols or an icon and convey messages specific to compassion, ardor, passion and tenderness.  For the past week I have been visited by a number of ladybugs,( now please consider that it is the middle of November and that Ladybug's shouldn't be out this time of year) at 1st I didn't think much of it until I started noticing them everywhere I go and not just outside, I have found one in every room of my house.  So I decided to look up the sybolic meaning of the Ladybug and here is what I found....

Nearly ALL cultures believe that a Ladybug is lucky. 

Killing one is said to bring sadness and misfortune. 

In France, if a Ladybug landed on you, whatever ailment
    you had would fly away with the Ladybug.

In some Asian cultures, it is believed that the Ladybug understands
    human language, and has been blessed by God, Himself.

During the Pioneer days, if a family found a Ladybug in their log cabin

    during the winter, it was considered a "Good Omen"

 After reading all of these good things about Ladybugs, I began to think about how lucky I am and how lucky I was to know a very special Bug, Haleigh, and after everything that has happen this year, I can't help but think that this week, she was with me.  The whole week to show me how lucky I am to have such a great group of friends and family, how lucky I am to be Graduating from UGA next month, how lucky I am to be alive.  I want to thank her for showing me that this week and also thank her for being my Guardian angel in my time of need.  Its when you least expect it that God shows you the great things in your life and with Haleigh they were able to show me how lucky I am this week....

Thanks guys, here's to you....xoxo

Gratitude

Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.  ~G.B. Stern 

Gratitude: the quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful

      It seems as though these days that we are a generation of selfishness.  We live in a day and time when "thank you" is hardly murmured for opening a door, passing the salt, or any time when we should be thankful that others took the time to help us, no matter how minute the task may be.  We hardly take the time to even notice or be aware that others are even doing things to make sure we succeed in our lives.  

      What's worse is that it's not only children who are selfish these days, it's adults and parents.  Each and every one out for number 1; not caring who they hurt on their way to the top - or to their happiness. 
       What we need to be aware of is that what we do, how we act, how we treat others, affects the way others, who are constants in our lives, act on a daily basis.  What happens is that this trend continues to carry on with those people, constantly affecting another, and another and another; to the point that everyone might say, "why should I care?" Why should I help others when no one is helping me?"  This statement is NOT the way to look at our lives, we should be thankful, gracious, caring and FULL OF GRATITUDE, towards those who have helped us along the way.  
        If I have learned nothing in my life besides the fact that gratitude is needed, gratitude is earned, deserved and to be respected, then all is okay.  Because I have learned that those who love you most, help you the most often in ways you never even think really matter, in the smallest ways possible, really deserve the upmost gratitude from you and need to be told how gracious you are and that what they are doing has helped you become the person you are today.
        I hope that in the future I am able to help do for others as many have so graciously done for me in these past years of my life and that one day I can make a difference for someone who needs that little extra help, no matter what it may be.  
        So THANK YOU, you all know who you are and I hope you all know how much you mean to me. Gratitude is memory of the heart.

 

The only people with whom you should try to get even are those who have helped you.  

~John E. Southard