INgratitude

"I don't really understand it, " she said.

"I never forget a birthday or an important event. I know they aren't expensive, elaborate gifts, but with my husband out of work the past few months, it's all we can afford. Yet, they rarely say thanks. It's not the way they were raised," she said. "I always had them write thank you notes. If they would just acknowlege it, even if it's just to say, 'thanks for remembering, mom.' Let's face it...it must be me."

The sadness she felt was evident as I looked at her face and listened to her words.

How often have I been that same way?

I will be better; I will be more grateful - to people, to my Heavenly Father.

I'm Thankful I Can......

Make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and eat it.

Put on shoes.

Vacuum living room.

Scoop up a grandchild and hold him/her close.

Drive to town.

Get up and/or go to bed whenever I please.

Get down on knees to pull weeds.

Fold laundry.

Hold and read a book.

Stand up to salute when flag goes by.

Take a long, luxurious bubble bath.

These are just a few of the things I can do - and think nothing about them - and Sylvia is unable to do any of them.

Yet, she doesn't complain. Just smiles, and says "Thank you...."

Hands and Arms

Arms.....what can you do with a pair of arms?

Hands...what can you do with a hand or a pair of hands?

So many things; it's just hard to imagine life without those marvelous, useful appendages.

And, yet, today, in a restaurant when I saw a beautiful young lady, with no hands or arms, I gave thanks indeed for something that I don't really think of much....my two working hands and arms.

What a blessing to have hands and arms!

Gratitude Attitude from Grandkids

Hey, Bridger, Oscar, and Sayre are visiting from San Diego, California with their awesome dad, Jeremy!

We have a tradition that the boys tell me a few things they are grateful for.

So, here's their list for June, 2009:

OSCAR (age 7): I'm thankful for family and friends, the world, people, God, Jesus, water, food, my life, games, house, clothes, cars, stores, books, my body, my cousins, my heart

SAYRE (age 3): toys, cars

BRIDGER (age 10): I'm thankful for books, video games, my family and friends, food, America, water, sports, cars, animals, plants, air

Well, I'm grateful for them!

Gratitude Attitudes

Time to be grateful: I love Wordles; thanks for showing them to me Jenni. So, here's the same list just presented in a couple of different ways.

If you would like to create your own Wordle, just go to this sight and have FUN!
http://www.wordle.net/