This and That

I have decided to include a little of this and a little of that on this blog. Therefore, check it out each day. I will tackle everything from counting our blessings to preparing for Thanksgiving, preparing for Christmas, preparing to close this year, preparing for the New Year,  journaling verse by verse or passage by passage through the Bible, and thoughts on politics and the elections.

This is a biblically focused blog.

I will talk about my thoughts on the Bible.

I will also talk about prayer and share some of my prayers. 

This blog is also a conservative focused blog for when it comes to politics.

I might even talk about new stories from the day. 

I will tackle the thought stuff in love and in living the ancient words of the Bible today, centuries after the text was written. 

Mainly, however, this is my personal journaling blog and is my memoir. 

I will try to journal five days a week. Sometimes, it may be seven and sometimes it may be two. Stay tuned and see. 

Welcome to the journey of this thing called the Christian life, where we will try to be biblically focused and we will try to do what is right. The Christ and Word centered life is not easy, but it is abundant and fruitful. 

A New Day and a New Month: Living a Life of Thanksgiving and Gratitude

Nov/18/2015: I just realized I never published this on my blog. Sorry it is out of order.
///
I regret, as I sit here in my study, at 7:52 a.m. on the first day of October 2015, that I did not say first thing: "Lord, thank You for this day--an opportunity to remember Kara and count the blessings of her. Thank You for the opportunity to live a better day today because of her and I want to live well for her." As silly as it might sound, I want her to be proud of what my life becomes as I live life anew for her memory and to make sure not one day of her life with us over the last year not to be in vain.
It's interesting. I cannot believe that I am thinking along those lines now. Never mind writing it (journaling it) and sharing these thoughts out loud and with others.
However, the more I think about it... Why is it silly to live a life of blessing, where I can count a trillion because of her alone? Why is it odd to be extra attentive to count my blessings of her and because of her? Shouldn't we all have something or someone in our lives that blesses us so much that we cannot help but live a life of thanksgiving and gratitude... a life of blessing?
It does not matter who or what brings this life transformation. What matters is that it does. Living a life of gratitude and giving thanks... a life of blessing... Isn't this how we are supposed to live and why? And, what better life could we live?
And, all of this comes from a cat.
From our Kara Beara. Little Bit. Lady Kara. Baby Girl. Girlie.
All of this comes from "just a cat."
I roll my eyes. Whoever says that she was "just a cat" has no idea what they are talking about. Anyone who has owned a critter, and has invested everything possible in that companion, knows good and well Kara was not "just a cat." Only a fool would ever claim she, or any of them, are.
Kara was a companion. A loyal companion and friend at that.
Furthermore, Kara loved for the first time in her life--and she was loved.
Our cancer kitty was the biggest love bug and I could tell how much she appreciated everything we did for her. The lifelong feral cat became a loving and loved family member and she knew it. She knew how good she had it. She lived a life of thanks, where she basked in her love for us and our love for her. Her mannerisms showed this.
She was happy.
Content.
Grateful.
Kara remembered the life she had in the wild and realized how good her life was.
Isn't this the way we are supposed to live? Isn't this how we are to live a life of faith?
Kara lived a blessed life and she counted them. My husband and I will try to do the same because of her.
It's truly a blessed life we live.
This month... this year... this decade... this life... I will be purposeful about living a life of blessing because of her.
This morning I woke up and failed to give thanks for her and this new day where I can remember our Little Dove. I regret that. I will try to not do the same tomorrow. But, I realize I may mess up and fail to do so again. Therefore, once I remember, which I pray is in the morning that day, I will make sure to remember her and count as many blessings as possible. I will live that day with thanksgiving and gratitude.

The Blessings of a Feral Cancer Cat

19 DAYS AND COUNTING

I cannot believe it's been nineteen days since Kara went Home. Nineteen days since we made the decision to put her to sleep before she suffered. I cannot help but feel at times she was stolen from us. We just didn't have her long enough. 

Then, I try to look at things with reason and logic. We had her seven months longer than we were supposed to, according to the veterinarian. So, oh, how we are thankful for that. 

And, if you knew Kara, you would know one day with her was larger than life and full of love. We had her one year and six days. Could we be more blessed? 

She knew a life she never had prior... and she had it for over a year. She knew love for the first time. She learned how to be loved and how to love extravagantly. Again... what blessings!

I should count the blessings we had with her and since. I shouldn't want her back. I should be grateful for what we had with her and how we can live fuller lives because of her. 

But, oh, how I miss her. The problem is there is so much to miss. Kara girl looked like the size of a kitten, but her heart and spirit were larger than Alaska. 

Rather than be sad, I try to count my blessings. 

THE CLAW

Yesterday I ripped off the bandage and did something B and I were not ready to do, but knew we had to... it was hard, but a blessing was found. Kara hung out mainly in our bedroom and in our guest bedroom, and sometimes in my study. So, yesterday, I decided to clean the sheets on the guest bed. 

Sinan, our other cat, came to give me a hand... I mean a paw. I'm not sure if he came to stop me or to hang out with me. He sniffed for her in all her favorite spots as I put my hand there and tried not to sob. His head fell forward and his shoulders slumped as we both looked and remembered. Then, as I pulled back the sheet to strip it from the bed and I gasped. I didn't expect it. I felt pure joy and anguish rush through my system at once in response. There was a claw there. 

I took it as a hug from the Lord.

I reached for it and added it to the baggy we have of a whisker and some of her fur we have found. Silly, I know. Some would say it's ridiculous. But, they are physical reminders of a cat who was here... a blessing from the Lord... and I want to count those blessings as much as I can as often as I can and those physical reminders help me to do so. Silly? Probably. But, if it deepens my faith and helps me appreciate my blessings, I would rather be silly and do silly things. It's worth it. 

A hug indeed. 

THE DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF THESE BLOG POSTS

I write each blog post throughout the day, a day to a couple of weeks before they post. And when I write them, I write them in segments. I write a section and then go do something else for a while (like reading the holy book and prayer, never mind housekeeping) and then come back to it. I do not write it all in one setting. Consequently, if you sense a change in my feelings or thoughts as you read, it's because an hour or more might pass between each segment or section. 

THE PLANS FOR BOOKS 1 AND 2: A BOOK OF FAITH AND AN INTERACTIVE DEVOTIONAL MEMOIR AND PET JOURNAL

Book 1: I am writing the first book in the Moments with Kara series as a book of faith, and will even talk about the Lord and prayer, and may even quote some Old Testament verses from time to time. But, I want to keep this generic enough anyone can read it and get a lot out of it, regardless of what one believes. I want faith in general and life to be the focus and the blessings and lessons received from Kara the feral cancer cat. 

Book 2: This will be a Christian focused book. It will be more of a devotional memoir of sorts, where you will interact with the book. 

I hope this helps you know my heart and where I am/we are headed and to know my present focus. 

COUNTING MY BLESSINGS DURING THIS SEASON OF THANKS

As I mentioned yesterday, I have tried the last couple of years to live a life of thanks, not just a holiday or season of thanksgiving. However, in October through the end of the year, I try to step it up a notch or two and count even more blessings. After all, every moment, in every situation, and in days of sun or days of rain (my way of saying good times and challenging times), it is important that o be thankful and show gratitude. Every moment is blessed. 

Every moment has its blessing. All. Without fail.

The catch is are we going to just let our blessings pass us by, or will we choose to look for them and count them? 

Just the thought of missing a blessing makes me sad. I don't ever want to miss one blessing. 

A blessing is when the Lord shows us favor. 

It's when He throws us a bone, so to speak. Or, is a hug from Him to us. It's how He shows us love and teaches us about Himself. He loves us unconditionally and without limit. Hence, He blesses us. And every moment is blessed. He wants to show us constantly how much He loves us. 

Kara is/was a very large blessing. She was for us and we were for her. She showed how blessed she knew she was. She purred almost non-stop. Even when her lungs were filled with cancer... Even as she died in B's arms and as she rubbed her face and head all over my hands... She died purring. She died showing love and counting her blessings in her own cat way. 

This is why it is so important for me to count my blessings... always... and especially until the end of the year as I try to count far more each day than I usually do. 

Will you join me and count our blessings this day? 

Blessings and Lessons #1 and #2: Thanksgiving and Love

Blessing and Lesson #1 Live a life of thanksgiving, not just a season

That's the first blessing I count and is the first lesson I want to mention because of Kara, our feral cancer cat.
Kara found my husband ("B") and I and we brought her into our garage for a couple of weeks while we helped her acclimate to being indoors and to us, and as we waited for her appointment with our veterinarian. It also gave her time for her meds to work to their full capacity. Then, we brought her into my study and locked her in there for a few days so she could acclimate to there and our Beatle and our orange cat.
She never looked back. She never tried to door dart and she grasped she was safe and had plenty of food and love. She was a completely different cat... almost immediately and over the last year.
Kara was feral. She had an opinionated demeanor and insisted on things going her way. Sure, this is true for any cat. But, put a cat inside permanently, after being an outdoor cat, and they are even more opinionated. Most of her behavior and attitude was out of self-defense and she slowly learned she had no threat in us or in our home.
We could tell how thoroughly grateful she was to no longer have to sleep with her head in the air and she didn't have to find food. But, she was far more grateful to be able to love and to be loved. This was how she lived with us and was how she died with us. Thankful. Loved and loving.
Kara knew where she was and came from and she lived fully a life of thanks. She could have swelled on what was. She had a horrible life until us. But, she didn't focus on that. She didn't look back. She was grateful for what she had now.

BLESSING AND LESSON #2: LOVE AND BE LOVED
Kara learned how to give unconditional love and how to receive it.
She never knew love before us. We know she was abused, for the way she cowered at first if we made fast movements and the way she always held her down to show she was contrite and humble. She also was fixed and declared. So, this shows she had another human in her life. They probably dumped her because either they didn't know how to handle a deaf cat, or because they were moving in our community that had a lot of military, or they knew she had cancer. Therefore, she didn't know the fullness of love a human could give her. Not until B and me.
Once we convinced her we were no threat and would never hit her or dump her, she thrived. And she knew love and she loved. And it was thorough and unconditional.
I cannot imagine being about ten years old and never knowing love.
It breaks my heart to think. I'm getting weepy at the thought.
Do I know what's it means to fully love and be loved? At first blush, I would say no, if you were to ask me right now. Then, I picture girlie and I smile. My heart warms. You bet I know! It's because of Kara.
I am thankful for Kara teaching me to live a life of thanks and blessing... and for teaching me how to fully love and be loved.

The Blessings and Lessons Learned from Kara: Live a Life of Thanksgiving

THE BLESSINGS AND LESSONS FROM KARA: LIVE A LIFE OF THANKSGIVING

Written on October 14, 2015, Wednesday, 758 a.m.

A SEASON AND LIFE OF THANKSGIVING
Fall is my favorite season of the year and Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Therefore, this is my absolute favorite time of year.
Even though Kara went Home at his time of year, I will choose to not allow it to shadow on his time of year. She wouldn't want that. (Never mind how she doesn't deserve that either.) Rather, I am choosing to allow her passing to count even more blessings. After all, that's the reason why this is my favorite time of year.
I started daily counting my blessings two years ago in 2013 and it is a practice I still do today. Some days I may not count one on the page, but I sure look for the blessings in each moment and I do my best to count them and not allow them to pass by and miss them. Giving thanks is the one thing that helps far more than I can express or comprehend to bring peace and joy to every situation, no matter how much of a challenge a situation might be.
A day or two after Kara died, I woke with this thought and prayer:
"Thank You, Lord, for this day to remember Kara and count my blessings of her. I will live a better life because of her and for her."
She and her memory deserve no less. Hence, I am going to put this into practice in this memoir about our moments with Kara (then, now, and in the future). This is, and will be, an inspirational memoir of giving thanks (counting our blessings). I will live a life of gratitude because of her and this blog post to book memoir is about my story as I try to do so.
Given that it's almost the middle of October, I want to count as many blessings for and about Kara between now and Thanksgiving. It gives me 43 days to count as many blessings as possible.
This is exciting. I will turn my grief into gratitude and will do it in her name.
Care to join me in counting thanks for the blessings of every moment throughout our day (and night) for the next 43 days?
Care to join me in living a life of giving thanks, not just a season of giving thanks?
Let's do it because of a seven pound elderly cat who succumbed to breast and lung cancer... and for whatever reasons you can think of to live a life of gratitude rather than complaint.
Shall we?
Let's get started counting our blessings.

The Blessings of Keeping a Journal

I have kept a journal for over thirty-two years and for the last three years in particular, I've journaled a minimum of five hours a week, with some weeks being closer to forty-five hours. Hence, you might say that I am a packrat of my journaling. {Never mind how I make sure to do everything I can to get everything saved in my journaling.}
My email is a vast source of extra journal keeping material and so is my blogging. Needless to say, I have the record of Kara's life over the past year. I just need to find it and get down here in this private blog journal and from there turn it into a blog I will share publicly [and that will then be turned into a book].
Since today is the first day of NaJoWriMo {National Journal Writing Month}, I decided I needed to make sure to capture everything on the page and the best way to do that was to start at the very beginning. I glanced in my journaling and did not have nearly enough material for the first couple of weeks after Kara found us. Therefore, I turned to my blogging and my emailing at the time. I started to read through the emails this morning and started to remember things I had forgotten. Thank the Lord I use my email and blogging as a form of journaling as well; otherwise, I would have some significant gaps in Kara's story. I was also reminded how finicky the memory can be. What a reminder it is how critical it is to journal. If I hadn't done some form of journal keeping, I would have lost some incredible memories of Kara.
It rather surprised me how easy and enjoyable it was to find the material on Kara. I imagined it would be rough and I might end up sobbing because of it, but that simply was not the case. It made me grin to remember moments with Kara.
The most important thing to know about Kara is that she had personality. She was a spitfire and a lovebug, with all the shades in between. It was what made her so delightful to get to know and love. She was feral and over the last year she made the shift from wild to lover. What a delight.
The blessings of keeping a journal never cease and Kara's tale is only proof of this.

My Personal Prayer Journaling and Blessings Counted List

March 16, 2015, Monday

Good morning, Lord.

Pause. I try to focus on You alone.

My mind wanders instead, therefore, I will count my blessings instead and see if that helps:

New coffee mugs.
The first cup of coffee for the day.
Sinan Cat enjoying bird watching through the sliding glass doors he didn't have for roughly 3.5 years.
Cell phones so hubby can check the grocery list items as he shops. Also, that he would think to call.
The smell of a freshly brewed pot of coffee.
Wisdom learned from my uncle last night.
Remembering how things could always be so much worse.
Being grateful for what and who I have today. They are more than enough.
Once feral cats.
When one of my critters comes to me for love and attention.
Beautiful big blue sky days.
Fluffy cat tails.

~*~*~

Verses to prayer journal, ponder, apply, and memorize

1
Philippians 4:6 New Living Translation (NLT)

6 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
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.

2
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 New Living Translation (NLT)

16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
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.

~*~*~

Prayer journal and blessings counted list

March 16, 2015, Monday

Good morning, Lord.

Pause. I try to focus on You alone.

My mind wanders instead, therefore, I will count my blessings instead and see if that helps:

New coffee mugs.

The first cup of coffee for the day.

Sinan Cat enjoying bird watching through the sliding glass doors he didn't have for roughly 3.5 years.

Cell phones so hubby can check the grocery list items as he shops. Also, that he would think to call.

The smell of a freshly brewed pot of coffee.

Wisdom learned from my uncle last night.

Remembering how things could always be so much worse.

Being grateful for what and who I have today. They are more than enough.

Once feral cats.

When one of my critters comes to me for love and attention.

Beautiful big blue sky days.

Fluffy cat tails.

~*~*~

Verses to prayer journal, ponder, apply, and memorize

1

Philippians 4:6 New Living Translation (NLT)

6 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

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.

2

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 New Living Translation (NLT)

16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

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.

~*~*~

​The truth of the journey

​The truth of the journey is this...

The truth is nothing in my life has turned out the way I hoped or expected.

Nothing has happened when I wanted it or in the way I wanted it.

I dream big dreams and they don't come true... haven't come true.

My schedule has never worked, nor has my planning.
Am I complaining or bemoaning? No. Not at all. I am stating fact.

Now, let me add this: Thank God.

Thank God none of this has happened. It has all been for the best. It has been according to His purpose and timing. To Him be all glory, honor, and praise.

Rather than get frustrated, freak out, feel anxious or have anxious thoughts, I am learning how Father God really does know best. His timing and plans are perfect, eternal, and far surpass mine. So, I go with the flow, try to not swim upstream, and try to allow God to have His way with me and my life. After all, hitting my head against the wall, throwing a temper tantrum, or feeling sad when things do not work out has never helped me or the situation.

This lesson has not come easy.

It's taken forty years of wrestling with God to get to this point and learn this lesson (and apply it).

I have learned I have no control, and frankly, do not want it. If I take the wheel, I make a mess of things and go the wrong way. I also fail to look around and enjoy the scenery and the moment.

This blog journal is my story and how I have gotten to this point, how I give thanks today, and want to count my blessings tomorrow. I want to be a blessings counter. This is how I want to live my life and enjoy wherever, whenever God leads.

I have learned that I need to do something so I keep myself from trying to take the wheel. Giving thanks and counting my blessings is what I do instead, and it has sure made things easier and far more enjoyable. After all, my life is not mine or about me. It is about Him. He allows me to live today for a reason. Counting my blessings is the key. The more I count, the more I see and hear God, and the sweeter of a journey He takes me.

Letting go and allowing God does not make for an easy journey, but is sure a blessed one, provided I look for the blessings and remember to count them. I try to take nothing and no one for granted.

NOVEMBER 10, 2014 STORIES OF BLESSING

NOVEMBER 10, 2014 STORIES OF BLESSING

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WHAT IF? (AND BLESSINGS) 

Written 2014-11-07 15:16:53, Friday

I wonder...

I wonder what would happen if every time I had a concern pop into my mind, if I countered it with counting at least three blessings in its place. 

I wonder what would happen if every time I grew worried or anxious about Kara, if I counted at least three blessings.

I wonder if with every storm or challenge, what would happen if I counted three blessings. 

I wonder if with every frustration, what would happen if I counted three blessings. 

I wonder if every time I felt stressed, what would happen if I counted three blessings. 

I wonder what would happen if when my husband and I had a misunderstanding, and I stopped and counted three blessings, what would happen. 

I wonder what would happen if I counted three blessings with every joyful and happy moment.

I wonder what would happen if I counted three blessings because of no reason at all, other than to appreciate how fortunate and blessed I really am. 

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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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CHRISTIAN BLESSINGS NOVEMBER 10, 2014

Written 2014-11-07 13:25:09, Friday

This verse is the cornerstone of why I give thanks. 

Philippians 4:6 Expanded Bible (EXB)

6 Do not ·worry [be anxious] about anything, but pray and ·ask God for everything you need [or make your requests known to God], always giving thanks.

Expanded Bible (EXB)

The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.

ALWAYS give thanks. Period. End of story.

It's a command. 

I do not question it and am trying to live by it. I'm learning more how to each and every day. 

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BLESSINGS COUNTED LIST NOVEMBER 08, 2014, SATURDAY

158 The Fall leaves are at their crescendo at the moment. Stunning.

159 Having a good workout with weights. With hubby (160). At the gym.

161 Felt really yucky this morning. I've been dealing with sinus stuff and felt much better after working out. Thank God. 

162 Kara hasn't had an upset stomach since Thursday. (Another Thank You, Lord! )

163 I love this time of year. Autumn. November. Weather and leaves (164). 

165 Kara has been eating well today.

166 Getting more of an image for what the future will look like or could possibly look like. 

167 I counted my blessings today in the middle of a trying time--and it worked. The moment I did, things seemed to have changed. 

168 Airing out the house again. Nice weather to support doing so (169). 

170 Sinan cat is enjoying sitting in open window. 

171 Zack is snuggling with B on the sofa while they do their guy thing.

172 Kara and Shelly are hanging out with me while we do our girl thing in the study. 

173 NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month, which I am writing a nonfiction book instead, BLESSINGS COUNTED: A BOOK OF GRATITUDE AND THANKSGIVING) is going quite well.

{Side-Note: Today, 13,336 words minimum are due and I have 10,471 words written so far. So, I need to write 2,865 words.} 

174 Three years in a row, the most spectacular place for us to find Fall leaves and take pictures has been... WalMart parking lot. We went there today and I got some pretty pics. 

175 Sleeping cats

176 Lip balm

177 Lemonade

178 Soup on chilly days

179 Soup and sandwich

180 How Kara wanted hugs this morning when I woke her up.

181 How old vinyl tablecloths are wonderful to use as paint drop cloths.

182 Vinyl tablecloths--how cheery they are and bring color to a room. No, it's not for fancy dining, but for every day stuff, they are nice. Not an all-the-time thing, but off and on throughout the year.

183 It's getting closer to the time of year (because of weather/temp) to bring out the flannel sheets. LOVE them. 

184 How much Kara likes rotisserie chicken.

185 Sugar-free pumpkin spice lattes--homemade.

186 Pumpkin soup.

187 Pumpkin candles.

188 Owls. 

189 Possibilities.

190 The unknowns. 

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THANKSGIVING AND END OF YEAR BLESSINGS COUNTED CHALLENGE PROMPT

Answer each question and answer with a different answer for each. Be specific and include details in each response and say why you count is as a blessing:

What are you the most thankful for this year?

The last six months?

The last three months? 

The last month?

The last week?

Today? 

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THANKSGIVING AND END OF YEAR BLESSINGS COUNTED CHALLENGES

NOTE: This is in addition to the blessings you are counting already.

1. List 10 things you are grateful for in 2014. List whatever comes to mind, as it comes to mind, no matter how silly it may seem.

2. List 10 things you are grateful for in your life. List anything that comes to mind, when it comes to mind, no matter how silly or trivial it may seem. 

3. Wait 15 minutes or less, and repeat #1 then #2. It's okay if you repeat blessings in your blessings counted lists. Just make sure if it is a repeated blessing, to add one more to your total due and extend your list so you have at least ten new blessings listed. 

4. Do #3 as many times as you want between now and the end of the year. Preferably do this at least  couple times each day. 

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BLESSINGS COUNTED LIST FOR NOVEMBER 09, 2014

408 Zack snuggling with me on sofa.

409 Zack trying to fit his bigger body into Kara's little cat bed.

410 Kara hasn't hissed or growled Zack in a few days.

411 Kara hasn't hissed or growled at Sinan in a few days. 

412 Broncos 20 vs. Raiders 10 end of first half. (After Broncos were behind. Raiders haven't won any games this season.) 

413 When Zack uses my foot as a pillow as we snuggle on the couch.

414 Fiber One cereal. Yum!

415 Touchdown, Broncos.

416 I pulled out our flannel sheets from the closet and we will wash them and get them on the bed tomorrow. 

417 A new book I'm reading: "My One Word: Change Your Life With Just One Word" by Mike Ashcraft, Rachel Olsen. It's about picking one word for your year that you want to use to focus on and allow it to change and motivate you. I would also say to pick one for your life. 

418 My one word for 2014 is/was since January 01, has been: BLESSINGS. 

419  Psalm 89:15 Expanded Bible (EXB)

15 ·Happy [Blessed] are the people who know how to ·praise [shout to] you.
    Lord, let them ·live [L walk] in the light of your ·presence [L face].

Expanded Bible (EXB)

The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.

420 9th game of five touchdown passes = Manning's new record. 

421 41 Broncos vs. 10 Raiders

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WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR?: BLESSINGS COUNTED LIST PROMPT

Written 2014-11-10 08:18:18, Monday

List a minimum of ten things/items you are thankful for in your life. Then, answer that again with this past year. 

List a minimum of ten places you are grateful for for in your life. Then, answer that again with this past year. 

List at least ten situations you are thankful for in your life. Then, answer that again with this past year. 

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MY BLESSINGS COUNTED LIST NOVEMBER 10, 2014, MONDAY

422 A new day

423 A new week

424 A blank slate

425 This new day and new week offer opportunity

426 This new to offer thanks 

427 B and I had a decent night of sleep last night.

428 Kara hasn't gotten sick. (A double praise.) 

429 Kara's little coo trill that makes her sound like a dove. It just touches me so whenever she makes the noise. Precious. 

430 The craft idea I've been given. I will write about it. (Writing Idea for later--see blessing #433). 

431 Fiber One Chocolate Cookie--awesome. Good snack. Good taste. Filling with coffee and water. 

432 Talking with hubby on phone. Always a bright spot. 

433 So, since I have no kiddos (other than the four-legged variety), I am behind in the times of kid stuff. Whenever I walk through the kiddo section in any store, I ooo and ahh and say, "Where was this when I was growing up?" Then, I debate on if I want to buy it and play with it now. Usually, I am able to resist. But, there are some things I just simply cannot ignore. The temptation is too great, along with the 'this-is-so-cool!' factor. So, I found one of those in looking on Pinterest last night. I went to my main page and just started to thumb through what others I followed were pinning and found clay tags! 

I put the exclamation point because immediately, I pictured "thanks," "blessings," "give thanks," "count your blessings," "thank you," "blessed," "thankful," etc. 

Imagine having these in different shapes, sizes, and colors that you can put everywhere in your house. You can even change them up with the seasons. 

Needless to say, I started to do research about how to make them. I tried salt dough before--and it simply didn't work for me. 

Then I saw something that said, "Air dry clay."

Me: "Huh! What's that?"

I did what I usually do when I want to buy something and did an Amazon.com search--and lo and behold, I found it! Look!:

http://smile.amazon.com/Crayola-Air-Clay-Bucket-White/dp/B000J07LF8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1415627549&sr=8-2&keywords=air+dry+clay

Who knew?!? 

They have it in a 2.5 pound container and a five pounder. I wasn't sure which one to get. I decided for now less was more until I figure out if I am talented or smart enough to figure out how to use it and how much I would really need--through a little trial and error. 

I also discovered, they have a 2.5 pound in terra cotta color! I may have to get that as well. It, of course, is more expensive, but I love terra cotta. I can just picture those words, "thanks," "blessings," etc. stamped in the clay and then left to dry. 

I think I would make tags to have lying around, like painted rocks, and also make several ornaments, necklaces, bracelets, etc.--again, provided I can figure out how to use the stuff. 

What will this do for my blessings counting? I am sure having them around as a constant reminder will help me to count my blessings every time I see them. I am thrilled at the thought.

I ordered a set of wood stamps of the alphabet... Here is the link: 

http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B000S10OZM/ref=pe_385040_30332200_TE_item

I also found and bought another set of wood stamps that says, "Thankful" and has several pictures for harvest or Thanksgiving. A leaf, turkey, pilgrim, etc. Here's the link for it:

http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00FOXXXKC/ref=pe_385040_30332200_TE_item

I got some black and white baker's twine in order to be able to hang them or use them as a necklace, bracelet, ornament, wall hanging, etc. 

I picture some clay tags with just the words and some with the words and a picture. 

Of course, I will take pictures. 

I also think I will send some to my Mom, Granny, and Aunt.

(Note to Mom, if you're reading this, pretend like you didn't see it. It's supposed to be a surprise.) 

I can even imagine sending it to the males in my family if I leave them plain. 

I want to share the counting of blessings with everyone, what can I say? I know what it's like to live days of counting my blessings and how much it's changed me and enriched my life and want to share it with others--and let them know they are one of the blessings I count each day. (Hopefully it would let them know I think of them.)

434 My favorite light turquoise coffee mug.

435 My Dickey's Barbecue Pit yellow plastic glass I like to use. It reminds me of my hubby, dad, and Colorado. It also forces me to drink more water. (Blessing 436.)

437 How expressive cats are with their tails. It's their tell-tail--telltale. It tells all. Happy. Content. Annoyed. Playful. Angry. Bored. Sleepy. Want attention. Etc. 

438 Cell phones. 

439 The sound of a purr of a cat.

440 Sunshine

441 Seeing the constellation of Orion at 2:00 this morning (when old man beagle needed to go). Orion has always been one of my favorites. 

442 Thinking of making clay tablets for Christmas stuff as well.

443 Thinking of making clay tags for Scripture as well.

444 Thinking of making clay tags for my one-word for 2014, 2015 (Blessing 445), and my life one-word (Blessing 446). 

447 When I feel cat eyes on me--and I look and see Kara looking at me with an "I adore you look." It reminds me of how I am supposed to look at the Blessings Giver (Blessing 448). 

449 For 448 blessings counted.

450 B (my husband) picked up more anti-dementia medicine for Zack, our beagle. 

451 The sound of a helicopter whenever beagle shakes his head.

452 The sound of mini-helicopters when the cats shake their heads.

453 Stew meat and low calorie homemade Alfredo sauce.

454 Oatmeal

455 Hot tea

456 I am already excited for the holidays this year. I've got more holiday spirit than I've had in a long time. And, it's still a little early. (Yay!)

457 Waking up last night and counting my blessings.

458 Listening to Kara purr as she tried to catnap.

459 I am very grateful for my printer--Kara's cat perch.

460 My husband being home today for the most part.

461 Tomorrow for Veteran's Day. For the Veteran's past and present. 

462 The sound of Shelly kicking rocks around in her tank for fun as she swims. 

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