NOVEMBER 08, 2014 STORIES OF BLESSING

NOVEMBER 08, 2014 STORIES OF BLESSING

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THE KEY OF GIVING THANKS

Written 2014-11-07 11:01:20, Friday

I wanted to share some keys of giving thanks.

1 Always give thanks. Do not ever stop. 

2 Give thanks in everything.

3 Give thanks for everything.

4 Practice is the key. The more you do it, the easier and more meaningful it becomes. 

5 Write it down on the page so you can read your blessings repeatedly--and count them all over again.

6 Make it a way of life and a way to be--not something to do. 

7 Enjoy giving thanks. Allow it to make your spirit and heart soar. 

8 Steal as many blessings as you can--meaning count other peoples' blessings you can see are blessings. For instance, if someone beats cancer. If a married couple decides not to divorce. Etc. 

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LEARNING TO BE CONTENT IN ALL AND FOR ALL

Written 2014-11-07 11:16:17, Friday

My happiness, joy, contentment, faith, hope, etc. should never depend on circumstances, emotions, or people. Circumstances constantly change and so do our relationships with people. Emotions are never the same are are fleeting. Moreover, circumstances, people, and emotions will fail you far too often. 

Contentment is a choice. 

Contentment is the realization that what and who you have in the present matter most. For, they are more than enough. We just need to choose them to be more than enough. 

If you cannot be content with what and who you have now, what makes you think you could ever be content with anything or anyone else? You have already invested in the what and who you have in your life now. To move onto something or someone because you think the grass is greener on the other side with them is a lie. The grass isn't greener. It's just grass and its just green as well. 

What you have and who you have now is more than enough.

That being said, there may be some things and some people you could really weed through and see less often, invest in less, or cut off all together. But, you do not have to fill your life with more of someone or something else in their place. Rather, allow what and who you have in your life to be more than enough.

This is the secret of abundance and contentment.

If you cannot be trusted with what you have, and who you have, why should you be trusted with more or different? 

Is learning this type of contentment easy?

Hardly. 

It takes constant choice and intentionality in order to get rid of the I need something more or new mindset. 

That being said, part of our problem with learning this type of contentment lies in a misunderstanding. 

Do you know what a "need" is? 

People say, "I need coffee." "I need a doughnut." "I need my husband." "I need more money." "I need a better car or house."

A NEED is something you cannot live without. There are only three of them: Food, water, and shelter. 

That's it. Those are the only three needs we have.

The rest are wants.

Want to learn how to be content? Realize that if you have anything fancier than bread, water, and a tent, you don't deserve it and you are very fortunate. 

What does this have to do with counting your blessings? 

If you count every single blessing you have in your life today, and have in the past, will you really ever want anything or anyone more? Or, will what you have had, and what you have, be enough?

Counting our blessings reminds us how very fortunate we are--and how some are not. Counting our blessings brings perspective and contentment in and for all things. 

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COUNT THE SMALL STUFF

Written 2014-11-07 13:04:07, Friday

I've learned over the last year in particular, how it's the small stuff that is most often the biggest blessing. The small stuff may seem like small stuff at the time, but one a little time goes by, I've been able to see how huge it really was--when at the time I didn't realize.

This, by the way, is another reason to write all of your blessings on the page. If I hadn't, I am not sure if I would have remembered the seemingly small stuff at the time. However, since I wrote it down and have re-read and recounted previous blessings, I was able to look back with hindsight and see how the chess pieces of life arranged themselves and the small stuff ended up being some of the most important. If I didn't have that record, I would never have remembered those 'small' things. 

Also, the small stuff is usually the most meaningful, the most powerful, and the most life-transforming. 

Never mind how if we cannot appreciate the small stuff at the time, how can we appreciate the bigger stuff?

Make sure to count all of your blessings, no matter how silly or small it may seem. Trust me. Later, these blessings will play an important part in your life and your journey. 

Do not take anything or anyone for granted. 

And, please, get it all down on the page. 

Catch the small, medium sized, and large blessings. Count them. They will make the difference in your life. 

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THANKSGIVING AND END OF YEAR BLESSINGS COUNTED CHALLENGES

Are you taking part in either one of these challenges--where we are essentially trying to count 20 to 25 blessings each day between now and Thanksgiving and 10 per day between now and the end of the year? 

If so, let me know. Attach a comment at the end of any blog post. Let's hold each other accountable to this and talk about it--and share our stories of blessing. 

Now, I want to do a writing prompt for these challenges today:

BLESSINGS COUNTED PROMPT

Count at least five additional blessings today.

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BLESSINGS COUNTED CHALLENGE

THANKSGIVING AND END OF YEAR BLESSINGS COUNTED CHALLENGES

Are you taking part in either one of these challenges--where we are essentially trying to count 20 to 25 blessings each day between now and Thanksgiving and 10 per day between now and the end of the year? 

If so, let me know. Attach a comment at the end of any blog post. Let's hold each other accountable to this and talk about it--and share our stories of blessing. 

Now, I want to do a writing prompt for these challenges today:

BLESSINGS COUNTED PROMPT

Count at least five additional blessings today.

NOVEMBER 07, 2014 STORIES OF BLESSING

BLESSINGS ANNIVERSARY AND WHENEVER I STOP COUNTING MY BLESSINGS

Written 2014-11-06 13:27:55, Thursday

MY BLESSINGS COUNTING ANNIVERSARY (Nov. 06, 2013):
MY BLESSINGS COUNTING STORY 

Precisely one year ago, I devoted myself to counting my blessings and be a blessings counter. 

It hasn't been an every day thing for me, which I regret now looking back over the last year. 

It's rather ironic because I hadn't realized it was my blessing counting anniversary until a couple of minutes ago when I looked it up in my journaling and previous Blessings Counted Lists. Wow. I knew it was around this time a year ago, but I had no idea it was then.

So, happy blessings counting anniversary to me. It's been a year.

What made me start to do this practice? 

Desperation is the simplest answer. 

I was grieving and wanted to find something constructive to do rather than feel sorry for myself. 

Whenever I'm dealing with a storm in my life (a challenge), I try to journal through it. Journaling is my refuge and is what helps give me clarity. It's the most rewarding thing I go, particularly since I do prayer journaling and I journal in order to put my life on the page and leave a legacy. 

However, a year ago, journaling just hurt too much. (I wish I had now, though.)

Needless to say, I tried to find a way to journal that would be beneficial for me and would be something I could do and not stir up too much pain. That was when I started to read a book, "One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live fully Right Where You Are" by Ann Voskamp. It was from her, and her book, I got the idea to count my blessings. A friend challenged her to count 1,000 blessings and write them down and she described in her book how it changed her and her life. 

This had great appeal to me since I didn't want to focus on the yuck in my life and wanted to deal with my grief in a more healthy way. It wasn't my typical journaling or prayer journaling. Rather, it was reflecting on my life, moment by moment, day by day, for all of my life--before and now. It was searching for blessing.

Searching for blessing.

Counting my blessings. 

Keeping a Blessings Counted List became my lifeline. 

For a while. (I will explain that in a few.)

I remember how thrilled I was to do the list. It helped me indeed--and in immeasurable ways. I am so grateful I found it more than an exercise, more than another journaling technique, instead it's a way of life. 

THEN THINGS CHANGED: MISTAKES MADE AND LESSONS LEARNED IN COUNTING MY BLESSINGS

After a while, though, it stopped meaning the same. And, it hurt to count my blessings. I had a constant reminder of everything not on the list that I wanted to be: having a baby, raising a child, the joys of parenting, etc. That hurt. This added pain to the pain I had already. So, counting my blessings got pushed to the side. 

I regret this now. 

Lesson learned. 

I also didn't dig into the grief at the time and try to find the deeper blessings. This is another regret. The blessings I did count were rather shallow and I just surface-skimmed. I could have, should have gone deeper.

Lesson learned. 

When I say regret, I mean it passing. I refuse to ever dwell on what could have should have been. It's the past and can't be changed. But, I can see something and wish I would have done it differently, and for a second I feel that regret. That is how long I choose to hold onto regret. Long enough to get it written down on the page, figure out what I can do differently next time, learn the lesson, and move on. 

Lesson learned.

Two mistakes I will not repeat.

I realize now if I would have looked head on at the time, and tried to find every blessing I could through the grief, it would have been the biggest blessing I could have had and would have helped me heal.  

Counting my blessings of the storms in my life can hurt. Yes. I will not deny the fact. However, there are times in life we have to work through the pain, and the pain might even get worse as we do, because on the road to healing we have to go through that pain in order to completely, thoroughly heal.

The physical therapy we do after an injury is a prime example. More pain leads to healing. But, the pain is a different pain altogether. This pain isn't pointless. You know the pain will lead to healing. It's the same way with counting our blessings. 

Oh, how I wish I would have know then what I know now. 

The story does not stop here. I only dug myself into a deeper pit in April.

In April, there was another blog my husband and I sustained. In some ways, like being infertile, this one has been in our minds every single day. The April event changed all, and I mean all, of our future plans. It halted them in their tracks. And, we had to rethink our future and replan it. 

It was a terrible blog, on top of the infertility blow. Either one on their own were tough enough. Stack them together, months apart, and it compounded our grief. And, I didn't count my blessings like I should and when I did, I didn't go deep. 

Then, after my husband and I decided about a month ago not to have a child, and to volunteer at a hospital, nursing home, and hospice (and be there to support the patients and listen to their stories of blessing) instead, I started to count my blessings again. 

I have come to realize being a blessings counter is an identity and it is a way of life. 

I would sure rather count my blessings than count all of the horrible things that have happened in my life. I count the blessings through the latter, though, and this has made all of the difference. 

LESSONS LEARNED: I HOPE YOU CAN LEARN FROM ME WHAT NOT TO DO AND WHAT TO DO

Count your blessings each and every day, without failing, even if it is just one. 

Make sure to write it down.

And, then think on it over the next twenty-four hours or so. Thinking on it can help you to find more blessings to count. 

Do not ever stop counting your blessings. Ever. Go back over past blessings if you want or need. 

If you cannot think of a blessing, look around where you are. I guarantee you can find at least ten things to be grateful for and can count them--and I bet as you do that you will think of other blessings to count. 

Counting blessings spawns other blessings. They're like rabbits and multiply at a very fast pace--when you are intentionally and actively searching for them to count. 

Figure out a system to make it easy to retrieve your blessings lists--past and present. (I will discuss this in later blog posts.)

Counting your blessings during a time of pain helps you heal quicker and puts things into proper perspective. 

If you ever wonder if you should count something as a blessing, do. Don't dismiss it. There is a reason why it came to mind. 

Count the blessings in other people's lives as well as your own. I call this stealing blessings. Steal frequently and thoroughly. 

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TIMING

Written 2014-11-07 08:17:24, Friday

RECOLLECTIONS

The old cliche is true. Timing really is everything. Now, let me add how there is no such thing as coincidence. Everything happens for a reason and a purpose. Everything. Without fail.

Yesterday, I shared the story of my journey of deciding to be a blessings counter and how this was a new part of my identity. 

when I am now asked, "What do you do for a living?" I try to say, "I'm a blessings counter and I help others to count their blessings as well. You might call me a blessings coach."

And...

"Who are you?"

"I'm a blessings counter. You?"

I pause and take this in as I write this and share it with you. 

I cannot think of anything more meaningful. This is my purpose: Blessings Counter and Blessings Coach, then wife, writer, and mom to five four-legged critter kiddos. 

I also shared yesterday how I started my blessings counted list a year ago yesterday. 

Again, I pause and take this in for a moment and absorb its significance. It's really big and enormously important. (Yes, I am being intentionally and purposefully redundant again to make a point. Have I made it? I ask with an impish grin.) 

I also shared how I have not been the best with sticking to it, the counting of my blessings and the lessons learned the hard way of what not to do. After all, when I have gone through some very painful times, I thought counting my blessings hurt too much. Hindsight has since taught me how sometimes things have to hurt worse as they heal, and I wished I would have kept counting my blessings in spite of the storms and challenges.

And that, my friend, is when we come around full circle to timing being perfect and being everything.

THE PERFECTION OF TIME

The things that happen in our lives are for a purpose and so is the order in which they come. I was reminded of this firsthand yesterday and I was tested to see if I really learned by blessings counting lessons.

Three days ago, our newest cat who was a feral and is now indoor old lady kitty, Kara, started getting sick. Rushed her to the veterinarian. (Yes. It was that bad.) The vet, bless her, ran new blood work and did a full body exam. Found a lump on Kara's nipple. Took a sample to send to lab. (Gulp.) Then, did a urine analysis to see if Kara has/had an UTI or kidney problems.

Found out yesterday it's indeed an Urinary Tract Infection. Kidneys are fine. Took her in for an antibiotic injection. We were told the vet would call back with biopsy lab results.

Last night, the vet called.

Kara has breast cancer.

We are now in a wait and see mode. Long story, but will need to do another round of blood work in a couple of weeks and then do an X-ray to see if it's spread. If it hasn't, she will have the lump removed and dental surgery at the same time... But this is a ways out...

Breast cancer...

I've walked with two women with breast cancer. Yes. It's different with a cat. Vastly different. But, it stirs up these memories.

And, Kara just adopted us September 21, 2014 and has thoroughly stolen our hearts. We love her like she's always been part of the fam.

Breast cancer...

Sad. Scary. But, when I spoke with the vet, I had a peace that transcends all understanding wash over me. It still does this morning.

I trust the Blessing Giver will take care of her--and us.

She has led such a tough life. Feral, declawed, deaf, and majority malnourished when she found us... Now, this...

And, this is I get really upset with Adam and Eve. Innocent animals of creation have to suffer because they are the fruit and refused to confess. 

Kara is scrappy. She is a love bug extraordinaire. We will help her fight. 

Last night, I was a little weepy and sure tried to count my blessings, before I went to bed and after. I found it a challenge to find anything original, so I counted the tried and true. It helped. Finding a blessing, any blessing, was sorely needed and it truly made the difference. 

Repeated blessings really help in situations like breast cancer, unknown future, infertility, fill in the blank. They help because they are a reminder that some blessings will always linger and be part of you. They are the ones you won't take for granted. A good marriage, faith, a new day, the stars in the sky, twilight, Fall leaves, coffee, klutzy cats guaranteed to make you have a good laugh at least once a day, snuggling puppy dogs, a hot shower, the smell of rain, the feeling of winter in the air, air conditioning, heat, cars, a good restaurant, date night, best friends, a good book, crawling into bed with fresh sheets, taking clothes out of the dryer and putting on a shirt or pants straightaway, the smell of clean laundry, clean dishes, etc. 

And, because I kept counting those blessings last night, I feel a lot better this morning. Kara, we've got your back. We will support you through it all. You will not be alone.

Now, I can count the repeated blessings and some fresh ones this morning and today.

But, I still get a lump in my throat.

Breast cancer.

The smell of puppy paws.

The smell of puppies and babies.

A new pillow.

A dishwasher.

Socks.

Throw blankets.

Music.

Medicine.

Veterinarians.

When my hubby says it will be otay...

Etc.

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A BLESSINGS KITE
By Ellen of Denver

Imagine this. Writing our blessings on a kite and allowing it to soar.

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MY BLESSINGS COUNTED LIST (NOVEMBER 07, 2014)

Written 2014-11-07 08:14:02, Friday

110 Thank God it's Friday.

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The truth of the matter is I have several blessings to thank God, the Blessings Giver, at once. So much has happened since I last wrote this list yesterday morning.

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111 A long, take your time hot shower.

112 Pain relief when Ibuprofen kicks in on a bad headache day.

113 Relief from dry sinuses when in shower.

114 Open windows which allow in the sounds of military planes flying overhead. (Which I call dragons. They are fire-breathing and fly fast, you know.)

115 Open windows which let in cooler, fresh air.

116 Open windows to air out stinky, stuffy house.

117 Candles to help with freshening the air in the house. (I bet you can't tell what I'm doing today.)

118 A blessing Mom just shared with me: "Imagine this. Writing our blessings on a kite and allowing it to soar."  

119 Yoga pants.

120 The sound Kara Cat makes that is a coo like a little dove.

121 When Zack Beagle doesn't have dementia. 

122 The smell of coffee as it brews.

123 When hubby does the dishes (which is often, let me add.)

124 How hubby washes all/most of the laundry

125 The sound of the turtles' water filters. A water feature. So relaxing. 

126 The first sip of coffee.

127 Knowing God is faithful and will never let me down. 

128 Knowing God has got Kara. 

129 Sinan cat sleeping on a dog bed.

130 How Zack follows me around like my shadow. 

131 Pumpkin. The taste thereof.

132 The looks of a pumpkin. I love the color, shape, etc. It makes me happy. (Not a jack-o-lantern, let me add.) Pumpkin = Harvest. Pumpkin = Orange. Pumpkin = Thanksgiving.

133 My favorite shampoo and conditioner.

134 My favorite body spray.

135 Paper and a pen.

136 "ONE THOUSAND GIFT" by Ann Voskamp. 

137 Re-reading "ONE THOUSAND GIFTS" again.

138 How reading "ONE THOUSAND GIFTS" last night before bed, in the middle of the night, and this morning has helped me so much. 

139 Realizing a blessing is a gift of favor given to me that I don't deserve. And, my response should be praise and gratitude, which leads to joy given by the Blessings Giver.

140 Starting over my counted list of blessings, starting November 01, 2014, and seeing the new blessings and the faithful/repeated blessings. 

141 When hubby says, "It will be otay."

142 Four day weekends. 

143 How I'm wearing purple and grey today. Happy colors. And, I'm drinking from a purple coffee mug. 

144 Thinking about making pumpkin soup for lunch--or a homemade sugar-free pumpkin latte.

145 Losing two more pounds.

146 Being able to copy, cut, and paste the highlights and notes  I make in my Amazon Kindle e-books into a document and save them to re-read later. 

147 Owls. 

148 Turtles.

149 Osprey.

150 Raccoons--tree huggers. 

151 151 Blessings so far is a blessing. 

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NOVEMBER 06, 2014 STORIES OF BLESSING

NOVEMBER 06, 2014 STORIES OF BLESSING

BLESSINGS COUNTED BOOK

WELCOME

Written 2014-11-06 07:48:59, Thursday

Welcome to a new blog post series, which I will turn into a book later. It's called:

BLESSINGS COUNTED:
A BOOK OF GRATITUDE AND THANKSGIVING

The purpose of this blog post series, and then blog book, is to help us realize the life we have is a blessing. 

We can dream of having a different life, and even plan on it, but if we do not appreciate what we have, where we are, the future will never be enough for us and we will always be greedy and want more. we will constantly feel like something is missing in our lives and we will try to fill that gap in our hearts and lives. Often, we will try to fill it with things that do not really matter, hoping that they will. This, of course, is futile.

However, if we can learn how to count this present moment a blessing, and search for all of the blessings in this moment, then we will live by far better lives. Period.

We will then live lives of meaning--not lives where we constantly seek more or something different. 

Do you want to know, and live, a life of joy? This is the key. 

Joy is not found anywhere else or in anyone else. It is found in your present moment.

This present moment is the only thing we can control. So, why not get as much out of this moment as possible? How do we do that exactly? It's through counting our blessings in this moment and reflecting on the past and counting those blessings as well. It changes how we view our past and makes us appreciate the journey we've taken. 

Counting our blessings is the most important thing we could ever do with our lives. 

This blog post series will help us learn how to count our blessings and to do that in every moment, all day long, for the rest of our lives. 

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MY BLESSINGS COUNTED LIST FOR NOVEMBER 06, 2014

NOTE

My goal is to count a minimum of 25 blessings each day from now until Thanksgiving. 

ANOTHER NOTE

I will share my blessings with you as a blessing counting prompt for you. I hope you can get ideas or be reminded of something and then are able to count a blessing or two from some, if not all of my blessings. 

Also, I think if we surround ourselves with counting blessings, even when it's not ours, we are more apt to see, remember, and count our own. 

MY BLESSINGS COUNTED LIST

Whenever Zack, my beagle, sits on my foot. 

How Kara, the stray/feral cat who adopted my husband (whom I will call B) on September 21 of this year, loves to sleep on top of the printer for my computer. Hence, she's a green putty tat. She brings me pause whenever I think I want to print out something. I don't want to wake the old lady or disturb her, so I save it online/over the cloud instead. I think she likes its warmth, how it is up high and gives her a good view of my study and the hallway, and how it forms a wall of safety around her on three sides. (That's my avatar.)

Warm coffee on a cool day, in my favorite mug of the day.

Deciding to dedicate myself, and my writing, to focus on counting my blessings and no other writing, even though I might have the best idea ever. 

Counting my blessings is a massive blessing. 

The Thanksgiving month of November. 

How the one word I've focused on this year is "Blessing" and how it's shaped my year. 

How my life's word, which I want to dedicate my life to is: "Blessing."

How I now identify myself first as a blessing counter, not as a writer. 

Learning something strange and new. I suffer from chronic dry nose (on the inside). I can drink all the water I want or use all of the saline spray I want, but I still have dry nose. It makes sleeping a challenge for me and my husband and I just don't feel the best because of it. Never mind how it sure doesn't help while working out either. My doctor told me to use lip balm/protectant inside my nose. After all, the tissues in my naval cavity is the same as the tissues on my lips. So, I use a cotton swab in the morning and just before bed and feel so much better! I can also use it more than that if needed. Sorry to be gross, but I wanted to share this if anyone else suffers from the same problem. {Just make sure to check with your doctor first, and get a check-up,  because dry nose can be a symptom to other serious conditions.} This is an enormous blessing!

Good health.

Today is a 5k day for B and I. Can't wait to run.  

What a blessing that I can run.

What a blessing it is that I can walk. 

Thank God for doctors. 

Ideas.

Cream for my coffee. It feels like a blanket on my tongue and throat as it goes down.

Today. A new day. A blank slate and opportunity.

How Kara's (my precious feral old lady cat) trill sounds like the coo of a dove, so I call her my little dove. 

Being able to keep my Blessings Counted List (aka my Gratitude List, Blessings List, Thanksgiving List) list in my on online journal. It's cloud based, so this is a permanent list I can look at for the rest of my life and can pass it on to someone else later. 

For being able to keep my journal online so I can review and remember my blessings later. 

For being able to type my Blessings Counted List for I can type a great deal quicker than I can write, and it's easier to read (and I have nice handwriting when I want to). 

Being a stay-home blessings counter, writer, and wife.

Being a stay-home blessings counter, for I can stay in my pajamas as long as I want to each day. 

For my husband who allows the stay-home thing. 

For the finances we have so I can be a stay-home blessings counter. 

Everything I/we have overcome this year. It's been a tough one month before Thanksgiving 2013. I cannot underscore that enough.

For what I/we have overcome since April.

For God fine-tuning our vision and helping us see things differently.

For God showing us how to appreciate what we have, not what we could have or want. 

I have learned a great deal this year.

I have learned how strong of a faith I have this year (for it's God who has given me my faith).

{NOTE: Yes. As I count my blessings, I look around with my eyes, and in my mind, for blessings to count. It servesw as a prompt or stimulant to help me think of other blessings.}

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MEMORIES ARE BLESSINGS AND ARE FULL OF BLESSINGS

Written 2014-11-06 10:21:28, Thursday

Every memory you have is a blessing. (Please keep reading. Let me explain.)

Every memory we have, and remember is for a purpose. There is a reason we remember it. Our brains sort through things and puts some memories in a 'save for later' file and we do not remember it when we try to do so or we may not remember it at all. But, it's still there in our brains, ready to be retrieved at the appropriate time. And, our brains figure out when that is, not us. 

Our brains also have a file that's 'Readily retrieved,' where all we need to do is think for a bit and certain things will pop into our conscious mind and we will remember. 

Every memory we think of is one our brain thinks we can handle and probably should. So, how do we handle our memories? We intentionally, actively look for blessings in each memory--even in the tough memories. That's how.

Let me be honest here. I have memories I would rather forget, thank you very much. But, that right there let's me know I should think of them. If there is ever a memory I want to avoid, it's because I have not thoroughly dealt with it and am allowing it to deal with me instead. 

The memories I don't want to deal with, but need to, end up being some of my best blessings. Oh, at the time, as I start to dig them up, it hurts and is miserable. But, I keep digging so I can fully expose it for what it is. When I do, I see that what I thought was the buried ugly truth ends up being something beautiful because of all of the blessings that I gain through the memory. I realize through hindsight how while it was a challenge at the time, it served to make me who I am today and I can see how it has shaped my life. And, as I keep digging, I find enormous blessings through the once ugly truth. Also, I usually find far more blessings than in/from other memories. 

This is part of the reason why I said every memory you have is a blessing. So, dig it up, harvest it, and look for the blessings in that memory. 

END OF YEAR AND THANKSGIVING BLESSINGS COUNTED CHALLENGES

Make sure to go through each month of this past year and remember from memory your memories. Find three blessings at least from each memory.

Then, go through your blessings counted list from this past year if you have one and find more blessings from those memories and count your blessings. 

Then, go through your journaling from this year, if you have any, and find more blessings to count. 

Then, go through your photos from this year, and find more blessings to count. 

Then, go through your calendar or schedule from this last year and find blessings to count. 

And, go through past years' blessings counted list, journaling, your calendar/schedule and photos. Count your blessings. 

You could have thousands of blessings counted between now and the end of the year if you did this--and did so thoroughly. Can you imagine if you did? How different would your life be if you did? And, how will this set you up for next year? What will you do with the next year then? 

Count your blessings. Dig through your memories and harvest them. It is that time of year, after all. 

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(Image credit: Stacy Duplease and Remembering Your Present, LLC 2014.)

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MY REFLECTION OF THANKSGIVING 2013: A BLESSING COUNTED AND A STORY OF BLESSING

Written 2014-11-06 10:58:54, Thursday

Last Thanksgiving is mostly a blur. It was a painful one. 

Exactly one month prior, my husband and I learned we were both infertile after years of trying, testing, surgeries, two failed rounds of IVF, etc.

We wanted to try the natural pregnancy first. (We are not against adoption at all and went on to try that as well.) Both of us are only children and the last of our family line, so we wanted to make sure to use every tool in our toolbox before we moved to another toolbox, so to speak.

Oh, I cannot even begin to tell you how painful this was. 

The fact it happened exactly one month before Thanksgiving only added to the ouch. It's my favorite holiday. It's a time for family and friends. It was a reminder of what we would never have--in the conventional way. 

So, B and I both felt quite beat up over the next month. 

The one thing we didn't doubt for an instant was how God had a plan. There was a reason and a purpose for our experience. This gave us hope and was what we held onto as we grieved and tried to heal. 

It's amazing, by the way, how much it hurts as I type this. But, it's a different kind. It's the pain you feel when you've moved on, but remember the pain. It's pain  not from the event, but from the experience of going through the event, if that makes sense. 

A week later, my husband went back to work (he took a week off so we could grieve, be together, and figure out, 'what now') and I decided I needed to get out of the house and went to my favorite coffee shop. I loved to go there and write and journal. (Note the past tense. LOVED. No longer.) 

I had to go there. The journaling I would get done would be a huge help and would help me heal and sort things out in my heart and mind. The coffee I had was simply divine. Life was good. I felt like I returned home and felt like me again after a couple of weeks of pain. 

As I sat there, looking at Fall outside of the massive picture window, and the fountain along the way, I heard a conversation that scarred me. 

"It looks like we're pregnant again."

"You are?"

"Yep. Keep popping them out. Not sure why." 

And...

"Not sure I really like being a mom, but it is what I am and I will make the best of the situation."

There was more to the conversation than that, but I will spare you the details. 

I would give, at the time, everything I had and am, to have a baby--and that pregnant woman spoke of it so flippantly. 

I ended up packing my stuff, trying not to burst into sobs, and I stopped at their table and said, "Please be careful about what you say and how you say it in public. I just found out I am infertile and to hear the way you just spoke was terrible. Please be careful and by God, appreciate the supreme gift the Lord is trusting you with." And I left. 

I have not been back. It was simply too painful.

As I write this, I am shaking as I remember the pain. Oh, it hurt.

But, I have the benefit of hindsight now and can see all of the blessings in this situation now. In the infertility and in the coffee shop experiences. I also know how worse things got up until about a month ago.

We kept trying to adopt. Everything that could happen to prevent it did. (There are blessings to be found there.) 

We had more storms. (More blessings to be found here.) 

Then, there was Mother's Day and Father's Day. Talk about painful times. Reminders of what could not be, but of what I have always wanted. (More blessings still to be found.)

Then, about a month ago, we decided to stop trying to adopt and have it just be the two of us and our five four-legged critters (Zack the Beagle, Sinan the Orange Main Coon cat, Shelly and Harry aquatic turtles, and Kara the black and white once feral old lady cat. We decided we would rather give ourselves to ministry of visiting hospitals, nursing homes, and hospices and be there for them--and listen to their stories of blessing. If we had a kiddo, we would not be able to do this. This is what we want to do when we move, which will be sometime in the next year or so. This is how we want to spend our retirement and the rest of our lives. We want to be there with them. 

I think I can return to that coffee shop--and I will.

But, I just might still hibernate on Mother's and Father's Day. 

I think we will be thrown into the deep pool of blessing though this special ministry, and walking with them on their End of Life journey. We will be able to be there for them when loved ones cannot be or when they are alone. 

I cannot even begin to imagine how blessed we will be by hearing their stories of blessing. And, with their permission, I cannot wait to share their blessings with you.

A time of deep, severe, agonizing pain has led to a pool of blessing we can so freely bathe in and bask in the glory of the Blessing Giver. 

Our infertility was painful, but is overflowing with blessing--immeasurable blessing. 

How about you? Do you have some painful times in your life, which now drip with overflowing blessing? If you cannot think of any, keep digging and harvesting those memories. Repeat it over and over--and you will find the overflowing blessing. It just may take some time and work. Look at my experience. It's been over a year. So, fear not. 

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COUNTING YOUR BLESSINGS CAN BE PAINFUL

Written 2014-11-06 11:44:00, Thursday

Let's face it. Counting our blessings can be painful at first because it can stir up some painful parts of our past or painful fears we have of the future. 

We need to be aware of this.

I will not paint a rosy or unrealistic image for you. I want you to know what you might expect from time to time. 

However...

This is a massively enormous (using that redundant wording for a reason--to make a point) however. So...

However, if it is painful at times to count our blessings, we need to make sure to not run from it. We need to face it head on and deal with it, so it does not deal with us. 

As we face the pain straight on, without swerving off course to avoid it, we need to search and dig for blessings to count from the situation. And, we harvest them and count them.

In other words, when we feel pain as we count our blessings, we need to keep digging and searching--and trying to find more blessings to count. 

When we do, we will indeed find more blessings and they usually are more meaningful. So, keep facing the pain, keep digging,a nd keep counting. Do not stop of it gets tough. 

Do not EVER stop counting your blessings. Even if it hurts at first, the pain will lead you to something far more meaningful and many more blessings. 

Trust me. 

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COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS ON THE PAGE

Written 2014-11-06 12:11:23, Thursday

WRITE DOWN YOUR BLESSINGS AS YOU COUNT THEM

The whole premise, and idea behind counting our blessings, is to... count our blessings--and remember them.

How do we remember them? We write them down on the page. 

Why write our blessings?

Yes, as I have said already, it's so we can remember them. But, why should we want to do that?

Why not? That's my first reason. 

Can you think of doing anything better? Seriously. Apart from praying and reading the Bible, I cannot think of anything more important. (But, counting your blessings and putting them on the page can include both of those activities--and should.)

Why else should you put them on the page? To leave your legacy. 

Why else should you count your blessings on the page? So, you can look back every year at your previous lists and see how far you've come and how blessed you are, in spite of life's challenges and storms. 

Why write down your blessings? To share them as stories with others.

Why count your blessings on the page? When you're dying, and we all will one day, it will be a wonderful thing to have to look back on and recount how fortunate your life has been.

Why write them down? It makes us think more on the blessing we count and write. If we just think it, it's a couple of seconds to count. Whereas, If we think it, count it, write it, we dwell on the blessing longer and appreciate it all the more and do not take things for granted or overlook things. 

Why remember our blessings and count them repeatedly?

Think about a really painful time period in your life. If you were to sit down and try to count your blessings, I bet you would not be able to think much beyond: "The sky is blue. An orange is orange. The sun rose." 

While those three blessings are indeed blessings we should count, they are not blessings we find when we dig and search deeply to find the immeasurable blessing. 

When going through a hard time, it helps to have a list of blessings already so you can count those blessings if you cannot think of any new ones. It's okay to steal former blessings to count again.

And, can you imagine during those times, if you had a list of two thousand or more (for example), how much that would change how you felt then. It would remind you how fortunate you are--in spite of this situation. It would give you hope. 

This is one reason why we should count our blessings and remember them by putting them down on the page. The only catch is if they were not written down, then we would not have a list of blessings to remind us how fortunate we are. 

Count your blessings and put all of them down on the page. write them down. It's a treasure.

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BOOK COVER

(Image credit: Stacy Duplease and Remembering Your Present, LLC 2014.)

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