November- Gratitude month

Intentionally looking to gratitude each day is a such a good pracitice for our mental health.  I know this.  At the end of each day, I write down what happened that day, but it's not necessarily filled with what I am grateful for. 

Now it's November- I'm going to tackle this, intentionally, each day.  So here is Day one November 1st gratitude: 

I'm grateful for the Sabbath day.  I really do love a day of the week that's different from all the rest.  It's a day of rest from our normal tasks, but it's not a day of rest as in vegging out on the couch and napping all day... it's a rest from our daily labors and, instead, leaning into service, worship, and family time. 

Today we spent time with our Branch-- worshipping together and having lunch together.  I have such compassion for these sweet members who are striving to be more Christ-like each day... and who come up short, just like me... and keep on trying. 

Wayne had to leave early because we had a flood happening in our rental and he received a call.  He raced home and had to tear up carpet and do the wet dry vac and after 45 towels-- he has fans blowing.  What a mess-- but it was a day of service for him. 

Today we finally celebrated our October birthday people- Tayla, Bre and Poppy. They all had great birth days and we got to hear the re-caps, and then we went around and had family members say what they love and appreciate about these three angels. It's always enlightening to hear what is shared, and I hope the birthday girls received it and felt the love. 

Tayla is such a good, responsible firstborn.  She bears this burden seriously and happily.  Tayla is excelling at CPT Academy-- she is great on stage, and she just started playing club volleyball. She has great height for an 11-year-old and is towering over her classmates- so this sport may be perfect for her. We are excited to take Tayla to NYC for her birthday trip in February.

Bre is a lovely person and DIL. Bre LOVES October-- and all that goes with it, so it's awesome her birthday is here as well.  We are so grateful she is part of our fam.  She is patient with her kids and Addison and is so creative and warm.  Bre loves theatre and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Poppy is 9! She is insightful and a deep thinker-- she is learning to express herself.  She is easily scattered and has to really concentrate on focusing in school and in relationships-- but she is doing better at this.  Poppy is very creative- loves to perform and craft.  

AHHH the sabbath.  It was so great having 17 of my 19 family members here today-- eating together, sharing, laughing, playing mahjong and hanging out.  Just what I want  the Sabbath to be. 

I realized I used to do this every year--