Happy Thanksgiving to all!

I hope this fnds you with thansgiving in your heart today and happy!  The sun is out today and such a blessing after several days of gray misty weather. In reflection I have to share that my inspiration as I look toward the mountains from my window, is that I'm reminded how and why I was brought here.

It was always a childhood vision to live in the mountains for the most precious of memories were spendng every Thanksgiving with the youth group at our church who always took a trip to Gatlinburg, Tennessee during our Thanksgiving break from school. Year after year it was one of the highlights in my life and where I found the true meaning of Thanksgiving.

I treasure that foundation and feel so blessed to now live in the mountains surrounding me by reminders that every day is a Thanksgiving Day for me and helps me climb the highest mountain of impossibilities.

This morning I heard that Thanksgiving is really Thanksliving, that every day we thank God for each new day as if it was our last.

Psalm 100 (NLT version)

Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!

Worship the Lord with gladness.

Come before him, singing with joy.

Acknowledge that the Lord is God!

He made us, and we are his.

We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates the Thanksgiving;

go into his courts with praise.

Give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the Lord is good

His unfailing love continues forever,

and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

Happy Thanksgiving, friend,

Jennifer

Tuesday Chatter for things that Matter

Thanksgiving. A time of year to give thanks to all the blessings that we enjoy. In reflection I have many this year:

• stitching up my own Christmas ornie for the tree
• thanking God every day for peace, love and joy
• sipping hot chocolate in late evening
• plain ole piping hot sweet potatoes fresh from the oven
• friends I hold so dear
• family who gave me my special life into this world
• learning many life lessons and moving forward happily
• a hot crackling fire in the fireplace on cold nights
• my ever loving animals that bless me with unconditional love
• the ability to do what I love and love what I do
• spare rooms for extra special guests during the holidays
• encouraging phrases each day that help the day look brighter
• and for Jesus in my life and only doing His will
• for a place called home that is filled with peace.
• cross stitch and all the joy it brings to me and the desire in my heart to continue.
• the Dutch sampler that has been returned to it's nesting place

I wish for you as you enter the Thanksgiving holiday to celebrate it with those who enjoy journeying with you and if you can't that you stay connected to embrace this bigger journey we call life.

this special little profile that is always giving unconditional love.

This year we could all focus on the negative things, including world events, the economy, the individual challenges that life brings, but I choose today to focus on the many blessings I've been given and could probably fill an  entire page.

I am reminded today of a poem that someone shared with me in an important time in my life. The gentleness, sweet lady walked up to me in church and handed me this poem. Over the 20 years I have memorized it and because it's uplifting and oh, so true, I hope we think on these things.

I heard a key message this week that says You are today what your choices were yesterday and it stuck in my mind and made much sense. That and 1 Corinthians 13 that describes what love is and what it is not are constant reminders to me to be thankful.

As the years roll onward, and leave the past behind

Much I had counted for sorrow, but knew my Lord was kind

That many a longed for flower had a hidden thorn of pain

And many a rugged bypath led to fields of golden grain.

~~anonymous

I still have this paper, although worn from years and it applies to many situations to many people. I thought I would share with you this Thanksgiving week and hope that you and your families, and friend have a blessed one.

Jennifer