3 days of awesome studying!  That's what I am grateful for today.  And...so far this week I have been able to stick to my plan of exercising three times, and yoga twice.  I ran for a good 40 minutes tuesday, did yoga today, and tomorrow plan to run for at least another 40 minutes.  If I can stick to yoga on friday and run one more time saturday, then I can meet my goal.  If I believe it, I can achieve it.  :)

So, there's to believing...grateful for a positive attitude to carry me through finals.


....hope it sticks.

p.s.  This is my new encouragement these days....I feel like it's my theme song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZBe7_lE9lE

Oh man, looks like I have a week to catch up on!   I've been so busy with Thanksgiving....that I haven't given thanks online :)

Six things....

1}  I am grateful for my family, who for the first time are all celebrating in different places this year.
2}  I am grateful for old friends, who I hope to be able to visit soon, and
3}  new friends, who I have had the blessing to meet.
4}  I am also grateful for those friends who I haven't been able to talk to in a while, but I pray are healthy and fulfilled in their lives.
5}  I am grateful for a special person in my life, with whom I have been able to celebrate a wonderful Thanksgiving this year.
6}  Finally, I am thankful for this time to bake delicious oatmeal and chocolate chip cookies, clean the entire house from top to bottom, listen to lyrical jazz, play cribbage, spend time with friends, and of course...prepare for finals coming up soon.  ("maniacal laugh....")

Hope you all had a tremendous Thanksgiving!

Day 8

I am grateful...for the muppets :)  (who said all posts had to be serious?)  hahaa   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiMZa8flyYY

I was away for the weekend, so for posts 6 and 7...I am grateful for forgiveness, as I need it so often during the day; and I am grateful for the relationships that God has placed in my life.  Oh yes, and the beautiful opportunity to celebrate one important relationship this past weekend.  :)

Today, I am grateful for exercise, because it reminds me to be grateful for my health.  And to celebrate that, I am setting a goal for myself:  run three times a week, yoga twice/week.  I was running consistently for a while, but then the semester got really busy with assignments, and I slacked off.  SO, I am resolving to start back up again.  So far I have exercised twice (walked once, ran once) and did yoga once this week.   I'll keep you posted on how it goes.  :)

11:59pm almost too late!  i am grateful for life, even when it is full from sunrise to midnight with papers and deadlines.

Day 3...yay for me!

I am grateful for grace, and forgiveness, and the beauty of wonderful conversations.  Especially when they are with those I love.

Day 2--so far, so good!

I am grateful for nine solid hours of sleep, which helped me to focus on my studies today.
And for the inexplicable delicious odor of freshly baked blueberry muffins that wafted into my bedroom when I woke up, that someone must have cooked next door.  :)

I also have to add this note, from a newsletter that I subscribe to, that just seemed so fitting to this "gratefulness" game challenge:

http://www.localharvest.org/newsletter/20111115/

A Day in the Life--Gratitude in the little things

So I thought that I should start this blog to keep track of all the things I am grateful for.  It's one way to make sure that I still thank God for all the blessings I have---even the tough times, which turn out to be blessings in disguise.  I used to play this game when I was younger, called the "gratitude game," that my sister and I came up with to help us deal with all of the trials and tribulations that come in life---those days that really are not going your way.  So, we would play this game, and had to come up with at least 5 things for which we were grateful (or if we had more time, it was who could come up with the most things to be grateful for).  We would take turns and each identify something.    I didn't realize how important that game has become, as I get older.  When life is not going the way I imagine, this keeps me centered, and reminds me to change my perspective.  I hope by sharing I inspire others too.

I am challenging myself to identify at least one thing a day that I can be grateful for.

So, here's the start.


Day 1:
I am grateful for my family, who have always been there for me every day, and are my home, no matter how far I may travel.