this {monday} was a difficult day to muster up gratitude. {is anybody else noticing the strong correlation between going to work and struggling to be thankful?} half a day later, i'm still having a hard time with this. i realize that this kind of day is the real challenge, to be thankful when there aren't many things in front of me that are easily seen as good.
as i've mentioned recently, there's a lot around me that is broken. i took my car in this morning for repairs; my washing machine is now taking 6 hours to wash a single load of clothes; clearly, everything about my job feels broken, including the lives of the clients i meet with.
today, i struggle to give thanks for ... the ultimate reality that life is about much more that we can see with our eyes. that we can have confidence in God's promise to restore that which has been broken. that Christ is already in the process of "making all things new" {revelation 21.5}.
i have 3 colorful butterfly prints hanging on my office wall. a 17 year old young woman remarked today that they are her favorite insects. when i asked her why, she told me about a time while in a wilderness program when she got to watch several caterpillars grow and transform into beautiful butterflies. for a brief moment, we marveled together at the imagery of new beginnings, of new life, that we see in butterflies. i am thankful for that shared moment, and for the wonder of new life.
katie anne
12.13.2011
12.12.2011
{30 days} of thankful : day 5
yesterday was a day of full of babies: baby dedication sunday at church. meeting + holding our friends' 2 week old sweet baby boy for the first time. and dinner with more good friends and their 4 month old girl. she is at the wonderful age of starting to smile and interact, which is just plain fun.
last sunday, we got a bit overwhelmed by the number of people around us who are pregnant and who have recently had a baby. it took us a few minutes to be able to even think of other young couples we know who AREN'T new or soon-to-be parents. don't get me wrong, i am thrilled for all of our friends, beginning the journey of parenthood and treasuring tiny toes + noses. there surely can't be many things as or more joyful + precious as new life. and at the same time, it can feel difficult at times to feel left out of this new stage of life, to be "behind schedule" compared to those around me.
and yet, today i am thankful for ... the great gift of new life + beauty + God's creativity evident in the babies and pregnancies all around. and for the feeling of little baby hands wrapped around my finger.
... and i am thankful for the grace to move beyond comparisons with others' lives, and to find joy + peace in where our lives are right now, to enjoy uninterrupted nights of sleep, easy trips out of town, and date nights out. to keep on waiting {for a while!} until that next step of life is right + good for us.
katie anne
last sunday, we got a bit overwhelmed by the number of people around us who are pregnant and who have recently had a baby. it took us a few minutes to be able to even think of other young couples we know who AREN'T new or soon-to-be parents. don't get me wrong, i am thrilled for all of our friends, beginning the journey of parenthood and treasuring tiny toes + noses. there surely can't be many things as or more joyful + precious as new life. and at the same time, it can feel difficult at times to feel left out of this new stage of life, to be "behind schedule" compared to those around me.
and yet, today i am thankful for ... the great gift of new life + beauty + God's creativity evident in the babies and pregnancies all around. and for the feeling of little baby hands wrapped around my finger.
... and i am thankful for the grace to move beyond comparisons with others' lives, and to find joy + peace in where our lives are right now, to enjoy uninterrupted nights of sleep, easy trips out of town, and date nights out. to keep on waiting {for a while!} until that next step of life is right + good for us.
katie anne
12.10.2011
{30 days} of thankful : day 4
today i am thankful for ... sleeping in until 9:15 {and staying in my pj's until about 1pm}
... taking a walk beside Mechums River {or, more correctly, trespassing by Mechums River}
... tim's reminder that i don't have to get too angry about rick perry's 'strong' video, because God's justice will judge those who misuse the name of Jesus for political gain and oppression. whew. because i was getting angry.
gratefully,
katie anne
... taking a walk beside Mechums River {or, more correctly, trespassing by Mechums River}
... tim's reminder that i don't have to get too angry about rick perry's 'strong' video, because God's justice will judge those who misuse the name of Jesus for political gain and oppression. whew. because i was getting angry.
gratefully,
katie anne
{30 days} of thankful : day 3
yesterday was a great day. a day of rest and being filled back up, to overflowing. a respite from the previous week, for sure. a day of fellowship with friends. i took a sick / mental health day off from work, and was able to rest, have a good workout at a new gym, take care of some much-needed tasks around the house, enjoy being creative, and get a good great haircut.
katie anne
i am most thankful for ... the Christmas party for those of us in positions of leadership and service at our church. we were served a lovely + tasty dinner, connecting with friends, and laughter. we also shared a time of intentional encouragement and thanksgiving for one another, which was amazing and life-giving, both to receive words from others and to hear words spoken over others. it was a rich time of recognizing the part each of us play in the big picture of God's kingdom.
... also, we got a picture of ourselves {which doesn't happen too often}!
katie anne
12.08.2011
{30 days} of thankful : day 2
today i give thanks for :
His mercies are new every morning.
breakfast! with tim! on a clear, crisp december morning!
sipping hot apple cider + knitting while tim watches thursday night football to close out the day.
katie anne
12.06.2011
{30 days} of thankful : day 1
my hunch was spot on.
i had a feeling a few days ago, when i decided to embark on this challenge to turn my heart toward gratitude, that this might be difficult. the phrase "a sacrifice of praise" came to mind. what i didn't expect, though, was how quickly i might be challenged. last night and today were discouraging in some ways, which i won't get into now, and my heart isn't all bubbly or happy, or really even wanting to focus on gratitude. but, it was definitely good for me to think about the things i can be thankful for as i moved throughout my day.
today i am thankful for ... my friend Sue, who works at our CSA pickup site. she responded to my grumbling about the windy, cold rain by gently reminding me that at least it wasn't colder, like a night last year when the rain turned to ice on the produce waiting to be taken home. (she also gave me a good deal on apples!)
... and for the rabbit hopping alongside my driveway when i got home, no doubt seeking shelter from the storm.
... and for phone calls with BOTH of my sisters today !!!
peace,
katie anne
12.05.2011
{30 days} of thankful
a thankful heart prepares the way for you, my God.
this line from an old Waterdeep song keeps finding its way into my mind these days. that's not the natural direction of my mind + heart these days, as i more easily find myself tired + overwhelmed, in disbelief at how time is quickly flying by, apathetic about work, and trying to find the spare time for a trip to the grocery store. {oh yeah, did i mention worrying about car insurance after hitting a deer and continually bandaging my leg from a recent dog bite?}
and then on sunday, God's abundant grace took me off guard when i least expected it, and definitely did not deserve it. yesterday was a rare, busy day for our church, that came at the end of a busy week + overnight trip to NC. after getting to church early for a meeting, i was whole-heartedly resistant + negative about the idea of going to the evening baptism + dinner service. but i went. more out of obligation than anything else. and there, in the midst of a dunking pool + very random potluck dinner, my heart was nourished with songs of hope and refreshing conversation with good friends, who know my stories, struggles, and joys.
i can only conclude that there is much to be thankful for, even on the days i cannot seem to muster up much gratitude.
i was thinking about all of this on my drive to work this morning. and i remembered a time during a really difficult season of life when i had this tiny notebook in which i wrote 3 things everyday. they were 3 things to be thankful for, 3 good things. some days, those things were tiny, seemingly insignificant things. and yet, that practice, a tiny notebook that recorded when i heard a great song on the radio and had someone say hello on a sidewalk, it was part of what carried me through.
so now, december 2011, in the midst of a jam-packed + busy season and in anticipation of Christmas, i want to renew that practice of thankfulness, to open my eyes to the goodness around me, and to share that with you. i know this whole "30 days of ..." is no original idea of mine: i've seen many people blogging or facebooking about such things {and it is difficult for me to copy others' ideas}.
the challenge: to record something for which i give thanks each day for 30 days.
i am hopeful for how my heart will change during this season of thankfulness. i desire new eyes to see goodness + beauty around me. i expect to need grace for the process.
katie anne
this line from an old Waterdeep song keeps finding its way into my mind these days. that's not the natural direction of my mind + heart these days, as i more easily find myself tired + overwhelmed, in disbelief at how time is quickly flying by, apathetic about work, and trying to find the spare time for a trip to the grocery store. {oh yeah, did i mention worrying about car insurance after hitting a deer and continually bandaging my leg from a recent dog bite?}
and then on sunday, God's abundant grace took me off guard when i least expected it, and definitely did not deserve it. yesterday was a rare, busy day for our church, that came at the end of a busy week + overnight trip to NC. after getting to church early for a meeting, i was whole-heartedly resistant + negative about the idea of going to the evening baptism + dinner service. but i went. more out of obligation than anything else. and there, in the midst of a dunking pool + very random potluck dinner, my heart was nourished with songs of hope and refreshing conversation with good friends, who know my stories, struggles, and joys.
i can only conclude that there is much to be thankful for, even on the days i cannot seem to muster up much gratitude.
i was thinking about all of this on my drive to work this morning. and i remembered a time during a really difficult season of life when i had this tiny notebook in which i wrote 3 things everyday. they were 3 things to be thankful for, 3 good things. some days, those things were tiny, seemingly insignificant things. and yet, that practice, a tiny notebook that recorded when i heard a great song on the radio and had someone say hello on a sidewalk, it was part of what carried me through.
so now, december 2011, in the midst of a jam-packed + busy season and in anticipation of Christmas, i want to renew that practice of thankfulness, to open my eyes to the goodness around me, and to share that with you. i know this whole "30 days of ..." is no original idea of mine: i've seen many people blogging or facebooking about such things {and it is difficult for me to copy others' ideas}.
the challenge: to record something for which i give thanks each day for 30 days.
i am hopeful for how my heart will change during this season of thankfulness. i desire new eyes to see goodness + beauty around me. i expect to need grace for the process.
katie anne
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