What blessings have you had this year?

What blessings have you had this year?

Journal about them.

List as many as you can all day and throughout the night from now until December 31st.

This is the end of year blessings counted challenge.

STORIES OF BLESSING FOR NOVEMBER 29, 2014

STORIES OF BLESSING FOR NOVEMBER 29, 2014

TOPICS IN THIS BLOG POST:

1 A new/old layout and an explanation of "topics in this blog post section" of every blog post

2 An End of Year Blessings Counted Challenge check-in

3 The 34 x 365 Blessings Challenge

4 Colossians 2:7 (NLT)

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A NEW/OLD LAYOUT FOR THIS BLOG AND EVERY BLOG POST

Written 2014-11-29 12:39:53, Saturday

I have a great deal to say about blessings, gratitude, and thanksgiving (giving thanks), I must admit. One blog post a day just is not enough. Therefore, I am going to start doing several blog posts, but will combine them all into one. 

This really is not anything new. I did this when I first started this blog and have decided to start to do it again. I do not want to shortchange you and everything you could get from this blog. 

I am sure that not every topic will catch your eye. However, I hope that with additional blog content, it will increase the likelihood you will find something to read. I will try to include a "TOPICS IN THIS BLOG POST" so it can help you decide if you want to skim the blog post or read it. I hope this helps and offers a little more structure than the free fall from earlier in this blog. 

PLEASE NOTE: Every time you see "-------------" it denotes a change in topic. This is to help make a separation visually so we can tell the switch between topics when we read each blog post.

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AN END OF YEAR BLESSINGS COUNTED CHALLENGE CHECK-IN

Written 2014-11-29 12:45:35, Sat. 

So, how is your End of Year Blessings Counted Challenge going for you so far?

Today, we are to count 40 blessings of 1,320 blessings between now and the end of the year. (or whatever you decided). 

I admit, I got excited and started my End of Year Blessings Counted List a day early. This challenge technically begins today. It is going easily for me right now. If I look back at 2014, there is much to count as a blessing, in spite of how challenging this year was at points (this is a blessing in and of itself). So, counting 40 yesterday and 35 today so far has been a pleasure actually.

This challenge is actually more than another challenge I've issued. It's what I want to do for the next year--and do between November 2014 and December 31, 2015. I'm calling it "The 34 x 365 Blessings Challenge." See the next section below.

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THE 34 X 365 BLESSINGS CHALLENGE 

THE 34 X 365 BLESSINGS CHALLENGE (AKA THE 2015 BLESSINGS COUNTED LIST CHALLENGE OR THE 1,000 BLESSINGS COUNTED PER MONTH CHALLENGE)

As of November 01, 2014, I decided to count at least 1,000 blessings per month for at least the next year. 

Actually, it's from November 01, 2014 to December 31, 2015, which means I would count at least 13,000 blessings in 13 months. 

How will this change me and my life? Will it? (How could it not?) 

What will it mean for me and my life?

What will it mean for my writing? 

What will it mean for my faith?

DO YOU WANT TO JOIN ME?

Do you want to join me in this endeavor--and count 1,000 blessings per month from now until the end of 2015? 

If so, attach a comment at the end of any blog post--and let's encourage one another, hold each other accountable, and share our stories of blessing through counting so many blessings.

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Colossians 2:7 New Living Translation (NLT)

7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

-- New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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(Image credit: Stacy Duplease and Remembering your Present, LLC 2014. All three images in this blog post.)

Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving: A Thanksgiving Blessings Counted Challenge

Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving: A Thanksgiving Blessings Counted Challenge

Twas the night before Thanksgiving, let us stop and take some time to count our blessings and remember what the Blessings Giver has given us.

List 50 blessings. Quick. 

Then, share some of them tomorrow. 

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

VETERAN'S DAY 2014 AND A NEW BLESSINGS COUNTED CHALLENGE

HAPPY VETERAN'S DAY

Happy Veteran's Day to all who serve and have served.

Thank you, and your family, for your service.

We would not have the quality of life we do here in the United States of America if not for you. Thank you for protecting the freedoms most of us take for granted.

God bless you and the United States of America.

(Image credit: Stacy Duplease and Remembering Your Present 2008-2014.)

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VETERAN'S DAY 2014 AND A NEW BLESSINGS COUNTED CHALLENGE

Written 2014-11-11 11:16:28, Tuesday

CHANGE AND A COURSE ADJUSTMENT

I find it quite interesting how even after forty years of living, and knowing the Blessings Giver, how much and how quickly things can change. This is what happened to me last night as I lied in bed and did a final cursory look at my email and I came upon a blog I absolutely adore and cherish, for it is because of the author, and the blog, I am a Blessings Counter. 

The change I experienced was because I read one sentence. Sometimes, that's all it takes. 

The change, actually, isn't as much of a change as a course adjustment. It's more like I'm headed in the correct direction, but my feet needed to adjust course by an inch or so. It's a course adjustment or fine-tuning, where I will see more and experience far more blessing because of it--and will be able to help you to do the same. 

The author of the blog and blog post is, as you might have guessed, Ann Voskamp, and the blog is A HOLY EXPERIENCE. 

Let me share the link with you now of the specific blog post:

http://www.aholyexperience.com/2014/11/why-thanksgiving-is-radically-subversive-and-everything-you-need-to-have-the-best-thanksgiving-yet/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aholyexperience.com%2F2014%2F11%2Fwhy-thanksgiving-is-radically-subversive-and-everything-you-need-to-have-the-best-thanksgiving-yet%2F&utm_content&utm_campaign=A+Holy+Experience+Blog+Post

Please read it and then continue to read this blog post or book chapter. (Thanks!)

Can you guess which sentence?

Hint: It's toward the bottom of the blog post and is highlighted in blue/turquoise.

Any guesses now? 

Yep. It's where Ann Voskamp shares how she is counting 1,000 Gifts/Blessings in one month. For her, it's during November. (How did I miss that? I read her blog every day.) The moment I read that, I realized I had to do it, too, starting today. The truth was, I already was, without even knowing it. 

And, yes. I HAD to do it. I felt immediately compelled. My spirit soared at the thought and I thought, "Count me in!" I wanted to immediately shout that out, but my husband was sleeping, so I held it inside. I pushed down the excitement, so I didn't wake him and so I could go to sleep. It worked. And, as I rolled over a couple of times in the night, I remember counting my blessings. I cannot remember what they were, but I know I did it. What a blessed way to wake. 

As Ann Voskamp pointed out, if you take 1000 divided by 30, that's a little over 33 blessings a day to count. 

A NEW BLESSINGS COUNTED CHALLENGE

1 THE DAILY CHALLENGE: As it is, I've challenged us to count on a normal day at least three blessings, each and every day of the year. 

2 END OF YEAR: Then, I said between now and the end of the year, let's count at least 10 (that's the End of the Year Blessings counted Challenge).

3 THANKSGIVING: I also added the Thanksgiving Blessings Counted Challenge, where we are counting 25 blessings between now and Thanksgiving. 

Now, I'm adding ANN VOSKAMP'S 1000 GIFTS IN A MONTH BLESSING COUNTED CHALLENGE.

You can pick which of those you want to do.

Note how they build on one another. If you choose #2, you naturally do #1 as well. And, the same goes down the line. If you pick 3, you're also doing 1 and 2--and if you choose 4, you do 1, 2, and 3. 

If you want to join me and do #4, we will start with whatever number is our next on our Blessing Counted List and will add 1,000 to that at least. This is our goal.

I am so excited! Care to join me for any of these Blessings Counted Challenges? If so, please, add a comment at the end of any blog post, or send me an email, and let me know. Let's be cheerleaders for one another. 

Have a blessed Veteran's Day!

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