Gratitude.

Being able to ride my bike practically everywhere.

My challenge from today on is to be thankful in everything.  In every situation.  Whatever I am faced with. But even more.  In simplicity.  In nature.  In my smelly dog.  In everything.

Craft night with the girls.  Messy but fun.

As I'm writing this, the lyrics from an old hymn popped into my head.  Funny.....I haven't heard this hymn in years.

'Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly, Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.'

My sweet 'junk man' who brings me cabinet doors to paint on.

The moon is so round and bright, it literally hurts my eyes to look for too long.  It's break taking and I don't want the moment to end.  I used to spend countless hours sitting outside when I was a tween/teen just looking up at the full moon.  Sometimes my Mom would join for a few minutes.  I don't think she saw what I did.  It was a lovely escape for me.  A time to dream.  A time to be perfectly free and get lost in true beauty.  I got a little of that back tonight.  I haven't looked up in so long.  So lost in my self.

No caption needed!

And how can I not be thankful for lightening bugs in May?  I saw the first round in April!  That never happens!  It's usually the end of May, beginning of June before they make an appearance.  What a magical treat.  I almost feel like God brought them out early.....just for me.  He knows how much I love them.  They are such a part of my childhood.  I forgot about them for a long while.  Now, I've gained that love and appreciation for them again.  How they make me feel.  I unknowingly smile everytime I notice them.  Every time.  I just have to look.

One hot pink flower growing in a sea of light pink.  

It's so easy to get bogged down in hurry and rushing here and there and forget to look up or down or around at the glory all around us.  At night I'm so tired all I want to do is veg in front of a tv or just go to sleep.  And I miss it.  I would have missed all this beauty tonight.  The moon, the lightening bugs.  The crickets.  Birds singing in the darkness.  The sweet growl of my husband snoring.  Yes, even that.

Clear crackle paint.  One of heavens little treasures!!

It's all too easy to retract into myself and be blind to people around me.  'What about me?', I hear my thoughts scream at me.  'What about my needs?'

25 old windows my cousin brought to me to paint on.  Oh, the possibilities!!!

But if I'm so lost in my own needs.....well, I'll never get them met.  I think it might be a genius tactic of God to keep our needs unmet when we care more about them than we do meeting the needs of our husbands, children, loved ones.......

A dog and cat who REALLY like each other.  Maybe a little too much.

So my sweet challenge to myself is to be thankful.  For everything.  I'm reading a great book called '1000 gifts' that's fueling the fire and aiding me along.  If anyone else has read this, I'd love to hear your thoughts.  I'm 3 chapters in.

Little notes written by Molly.  This one makes me laugh.

Through thorny ways......a joyful end.  All these sweet gifts God gives to me.  For many reasons but one awesome reason is to help me through the hard stuff.  To remind me He is still there.  That we are getting through it all together.  To that joyful end.

For friends who love me through my madnesses.  And for Snoop.

Be still my soul.