Happy Thanksgiving 2010

I personally want to thank all of my faithful readers who stop by here everyday just to see what I have to say and leave the most wonderful and encouraging comments. I started my blog to encourage and motivate others in our dark and cold world at times and in return, I have found much love, friendship, warmth, hope, prayers of faith during turbulent times, and such joy that can not be contained but instead overflows to those we come into contact with everyday.

I, thank you, my wonderful blogging family and thank you so much for all your encouragement through this year. Who would have thought you could become so close with people all over the world that share the same values and faith as I do.

God truly does deserve our ultimate thanks for bringing us all together through this wonderful internet world, despite all the evil that can be found there as well.

May we not forgot those this year that are fighting wars to protect and provide peace in other countries while their families at home pray for their safe return; may we pray for the people that have lost everything this year and now find a warm meal at a shelter and try to remember still why they should offer up thanks despite where they find themselves currently; may we remember those that have lost a loved one this year, and find this holiday a difficult one to get through and still remember the love that they shared with them; may we remember those who remain in that dark and cold world, still not finding the true light and freedom that will release them to find eternal happiness and a home forever with Jesus Christ.

Thank you for all that you have brought me this Thanksgiving and for all the days in between where I feel your love and faith each day lifting me to new heights. May you all find love and happiness sharing laughter and memories with your family and friends today. Happy Blessed Thanksgiving!!

Attitude of Gratitude - Tim Knofler

I've been reading an incredible book lately that really has changed my perspective of the people who have impacted my life and made an incredible difference in my life. I'll call them "life changers." The name of this book is This Is The Moment by Walter Green and you can read the review and enter the giveaway here.

They are the people throughout your entire life that have impacted you so profoundly that if you were to give a eulogy at that persons life, these are the words you would say. Yet why are we waiting to tell these people what they meant to you at the time that they changed your life? How much more would it change your life and theirs if you meet with them personally or even sent along a letter detailing your thoughts while they are still alive?

How would you feel if you received such a letter from someone you have met in your life time?

How would that change your life?

How would these new attitude affect the very people you meet everyday?

Instead of participating in "Thankful Thursday's" I am going to dedicate my Thursday posting to sharing those thoughts live on my personal blog to those individuals, and I hope that you in turn would do the same. It's so much better to share those with them while they are still with us, so that they know how thankful we truly are. Otherwise it's simply a one side phone conversation where they have hung up, and there is nothing on the other end.

Here is my first recipient in my victory lap!!

I first met a man name Tim Knofler, (pronounced K-nof-ler) when I was a corporate trainer for a large communications corporation. He had been at the company quite few years before I had hired on and had been using his verbal skills to help customer service representatives learn how to effectively communicate more efficiently with their customers to produce a positive relationship with them.

I sat in one of his training classes called "Soft Skills." It has forever changed my ability to effectively communicate in any situation I have to handle. He taught us that each of us has a "hot" button that we have to learn to define for ourselves what causes us to "go off," lose control and let anger rule us. Once we learn what that is, we simply come up with a plan of what we will do when that button is pushed. We learn what we will say ahead of time so that when we are in the heat of that moment, we can win instead of being defeated.

I learn that you can't negotiate with an unreasonable person. I learned that you need to be taking notes when people are talking to you, especially if they are angry, so not only are you hearing it, your paying attention. The last thing that person wants to do it repeat themselves to you. Not only that it shows them that you are listening.

Tim is one of the biggest mentors in my personal life as well. We both are currently not with that company any longer, but those days of working hand in hand with him in training were some of the most amazing and fun days at work. Watching people come back to you with how effective this training was not only in their work life, but in dealing with people in their personal lives was beyond rewarding.

Tim, you have made me a more effective and efficient communicator and listener. You were competent, loyal, hardworking and committed. I cherish that you always brought your heart and great people skills to every situation we had to deal with. To this day, I am still remembering your profound words. Simply said, you contributed in a profound way to the effectiveness and gratification of both my profession and personal life. I'll be forever grateful to you. Thank you for being a part of my life that has forever changed my life. I will always remember how to "hit the dog!"

Thankful Thursday, September 23rd

Today is the day that according to my devotional stated that I needed to find 5 things to be grateful or thankful for and here they are:

1. I am thankful that my gallstone attacks lately are being controlled by pain meds til I can find a doctor I can trust.

2. I am thankful that my raging migraine headache is going away thanks to our Great Heavenly Physician.

3. I am thankful for the last two days of unusually cooler weather that really made the first day of fall feel like fall here in the High Desert.

4. I am thankful that my daughter's high school isn't going to drop her from her web design class due to our diligence and prayers to fight for what we believe is right.

5. I am thankful for the ability to take my family to the county fair for free tomorrow and spend time exploring and discovering all of God's goodness.

If you want to join in on Thankful Thursdays with us, join up at Greg's General Store and list your 5 for the day.

Thankful Thursday - Historical Thanks

Today I am joining my blogging friend, Greg at Greg's General Store for Thankful Thursday. Each week Greg invites us to share some things we are thankful for and to put our focus on giving thanks to our God above who so graciously provides all our needs every day.

Today I thought I would share some historical thanks back to our founding fathers.

1. I am thankful for the 56 men in 1776 who pledged their lives in signing the Declaration of Independence to escape the tyranny to freedom. How many people are willing to do that today?

2. I am thankful for all the Christian registered voters that actually voted in the last election. 65 million people consider themselves to be born again Christians, yet only 50% of them are registered voters and of those that registered to vote, only 50% of them actually voted. Thank you for all of you that voted.

3. I am thankful for men like retired Lt. General William Boykin who stated despite being told to keep his personal beliefs to himself said, "Some would say the church has been 'asleep at the switch'. It's up to us as believers to rise up and become a force to be reckoned with."

4. I am thankful for all the Christians everywhere that are still being persecuted for the faith and continuing to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ into all the world, despite what the local news programs are willing to share.

5. I continue to give thanks for Israel for being so strong against those who would seek to destroy her and continue to support and pray that American stands firm as an ally to Israel.

Robin Williams As The American Flag

For Thankful Thursday, I thought I would use this post as a tribute to all the men and women who have served in the Armed Forces, whose sacrifices we take for granted and the freedoms that they fight to sustain here in the United States. Let us remember not just on Labor Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July or Veteran's Day their service but every single day, take but a few minutes and ask God to protect and comfort those families and service persons who are fighting for freedom every day. If you have trouble viewing it, double click on it to watch it directly from YouTube.



If you wish to join in on Thankful Thursdays visit Greg at Greg's General Store. It's time to be thankful for the things we so often forget every day.

Thankful Thursday

There are so many things to be thankful for each day, however many times, I fail to take notice to the ways God is speaking to me through the things I see, hear, touch, taste and feel every day. He truly is in everything if we simply take the time to look.

1. I am thankful for the cooler temperatures we have had the last couple of days peaking in the mid 90's after some mid 100 degree weather a few weeks ago. It's giving our air conditioner a break.

2. I am thankful for the many days my hubby is able to work from home. Even though he's busy working, just his presence at home is a nice change from him being gone so much.

3. I am thankful for ice cream. Nothing truly tastes better on a really hot summer day. Beside a glass of frosty lemonade or ice tea.

4. I am thankful for the birds that continue to visit our yard in the early morning and evenings now. It's our hello and goodbyes every day.

5. I am thankful for the summer rain when it comes even though we really haven't had a lot, nothing beats the smell of it when it does and cools everything off.

For more things to be thankful for, visit Greg's General Store and sign up to participate each Thursday!

Thankful Thursday

I love the ability to offer up gratitude to our heavenly Father for everything this day has yet to bring. Today is yesterday's tomorrow. We don't get any do overs, second chances, instant replays, or mulligans. Nope today is all we have and even each minute and second are precious.

I am joining in with Greg at Greg's General Store today for Thankful Thursday and here are the list of things I am giving thanks for today.

1. Steve has a job that for now keeps him at home instead of commuting 2 hours to the local office.

2. That Kailee brought home a stray dog and we had the opportunity to share the love before returning him to the animal shelter because he is obviously one serious lost dog who is missing his home. If no one claims him, we are taking him.

3. I am thankful that I have a wonderful teenage daughter whose main challenge in life is talking and texting too much on the phone, but not into drugs, trouble, running with the wrong crowd and even fighting with her parents. We'd rather have issues with the phone.

4. I am thankful for all the books I've been blessing to review and then pass along to some wonderful readers and followers of both my blogs. It has shown me to literally not judge a book by it's cover because I would have passed up some opportunities to read some amazing books, and get to know authors on a very personal level. Check out today's review by clicking here. There are still giveaways to be entered in, just click on the titles on the right hand side of my blog once you get there. Enter them all if you'd like. I love giving away FREE stuff!

5. The ability to share great and heartwarming stories on my blog ARK for God or Acts of Random Kindness for God. I believe in the power of one and today's story will literally move you to tears, click here to be a part of the power.

Thank you to Greg for being blessed by God to offer our thanks to God today through this wonderful post. I am blessed by everyone who stops by and leaves me a comment. It's like a friend stopping by to say Hi!

Blessed Thankful Thursday ~ December 10, 2009

Oh how this week has flown by and last week I was completely lost in a deep fog. However in keeping up with my Thankful Thursday posts, I am joining with Sonya at Truth 4 The Journey and listing 5 of them here.

1. I am thankful I am on the road to recovery. After being sick for so long and in pain for longer than I care to remember, I am moving in the right direction. I am thankful for my prayer warriors who sensed something was wrong and immediately began praying, emailing me and calling me. You have given me encouragement when I was down!

2. I am thankful I did not have to return to the hospital to get my diagnosis or to get better. Due to my doctor's diligence in getting the test results back and taking some aggressive action prior to knowing what was wrong, I am able to recover at home and had a 4 day head start on the treatment. Praise God. I was also able to get a doctor's appointment through a cancellation a day earlier to give me peace of mind and treatment right away.

3. I am thankful of all the hours in the day, that only a few of them remain with pain in them. It could be worse, I could be in pain for all of them, for now, only about 1/5 of the day I am dealing with the affects of the infection. I am thankful that I had pain meds available to me that I have been able to take during these long weeks. I will be so thankful when I am painfree!

4. I am thankful for a husband that made a difficult decision on Monday to risk losing his job to take care of me and see that I was able to be treated and took me to the doctors a day early to get my diagnosis. He was able to return to work the next day.

5. I am thankful for a Lord and Savior that is never too busy to heal me, in His timing and in His way to provide all the glory due to Him. I only need to offer up the prayer, believe with all my heart, and keep my eyes and heart focused on Him. Jesus took care of the details. I can now give Him all the praise He is due all day and night long. Praising God and Thanking Him for this Thursday and all the blessings in it!

Thankful Thursday ~ November 19, 2009

Oh what a ride I've been on this week, but in the journey, I have discovered some hidden gems to share with you this week on our Thankful Thursday hosted by Sonya at Truth 4 The Journey. Won't you join us?

1. I am thankful for being painfree. If you haven't read my blog posts from Monday, start there and you'll understand my dilemma as well as my blessing that came over this last weekend. God is definitely number 1 in my book.

2. I am thankful I can get out of bed and act as a functioning member of the human race. I've spent over a week, laying in bed on pain meds and being shuttled back and forth to the doctors visits trying to figure out a cause.

3. I am thankful for prayers from my blogging family and friends. Never could I appreciate them more than when you are in the pit of pain and wake up to a pain free sunshine day! Hallelujah!
Praise the Lord!

4. I am thankful that God answers prayers in His timing. Of course, I would have liked them answered the moment that I first prayed about them, but I again realized it would be a test of my character and faith to see just how would I weather this storm. Would I fail or would I keep my eyes on Him?

5. I am thankful for my wonderful friends Loren, who called me knee deep in my pain and suffering and prayed with me over the phone. I can't remember crying more happier tears in my life to feel the love of the Lord pouring out over her words to me. They were healing tears straight from God above. I am also thankful for my hubby who worked major miracles to delay an out of town job just to help me manage picking up my kids from school. May God bless them 100 fold.

Thankful Thursday ~ November 12, 2009

Even though this has been a bit of a trying week for me, it's important for me to look and find the positive things. It has kept me from falling apart and giving in to my sadness and frustration this week. If you want to join in on Thankful Thursday, hop on over to Truth 4 The Journey and meet Sonya who has been hosting it for quite some time and meet some new friends in the process.

Thankful Thursday ~ November 5, 2009

It's Thankful Thursday once again and if you have never participated, you're definitely missing out. Won't you consider joining and hop on over to Sonya's blog at Truth 4 The Journey and link up! You'll meet some great new friends, and you will be able to share in the gratitude and blessings we all share each week.

1. I am thankful that I have pain. Yes, you read that right. If I didn't feel pain, I wouldn't be able to do the right things for my body this week. It seems the older we get the more pain we feel or perhaps the more we are aware of it.

2. I am thankful for Steve's flexibility on his job that will enable him to work from home to help me out when he can. Some days are an impossibility for me as you can probably tell by my absence this week. He's been helping out and allowing me to rest. Today is a better day!

3. I am thankful for my beautiful Japanese Maple Tree in our front yard, the reds and browns that greet us each day when we enter or exit our garage is such a nice reminder of God's presence in our lives each day. I have tried to capture the moment on film below. Truly it isn't quite like the real thing however.



4. I am thankful for my ability to quilt. Since I have been resting in bed or on the couch this week, I have been able to finally start sewing my top of my quilt to the bottom. I have vowed to make at least three before years end, so we will see just how close I come to that goal. Here is the top of it, pictured below.



5. I am thankful for cooler temperatures today, as this past week has pushed us into the upper 80's all week long. Kind of hard to imagine it's fall when it's that warm. Now if they will only stay in the 60's or lower, I would be so happy!

NOTE: DON'T FORGET TO HOP ON OVER TO MY OTHER BLOG, ACTS OF RANDOM KINDNESS FOR GOD OR ARK 4 GOD FOR SHORT. There are some great heartwarming letters and articles guaranteed to make your heart sing!

Thankful Thursday ~ October 29, 2009

Another week of some many blessings to take a moment and reflect back on. If you want to participate in Thankful Thursday with Sonya at Truth 4 the Journey, click on her blog name and come join in the blessings and gratitude.

1. I am thankful for all the encouraging comments I received from all of you during the last three days of answering your questions. I hope I have not offended anyone with any of my answers. It's my life in a proverbial nutshell of the last three days. You can always ask me anything as I tend to live my life like an open book lately. I have nothing to hide.

2. I am thankful for a husband who works so hard for his family and then comes home and helps out even more, whether it is assisting with dinner, picking kids up from school activities in the evenings or just reading with our youngest, he always has the time.

3. I am thankful that my husband never complains about crumbs in the bed. So many relationships fall apart over little things but since we both snack at night sometimes, we are both OK with that. My ex would throw fits over the smallest crumb. No eating in bed for him.

4. I am thankful that our cooler weather made for mornings of hot chocolate, coffee or tea. Last night we attended our daughters high school Harvest festival to support their fundraising efforts and boy was it cold. The booth that probably made the most money was the hot chocolate stand and the funnel cake. The local police were also there to make sure to educate parents on safe Halloween practices. He was really nice too!

5. I am thankful my oldest daughter attended her homecoming this week before the temperatures began falling into the 30's. She had a great time and I have included two pictures of her with her date Andrew.

Caitlyn's Homecoming 2009

Caitlyn and Andrew Homecoming 2009

Stop by and visit the ARK for a great love story you won't want to miss!

Thankful Thursday ~ October 22, 2009

The best part of today is making a difference in the life of someone. Sonya does that every Thursday with her Thankful Thursday posts on Truth 4 The Journey. Please join us and celebrate the good things in our lives.

1. I am thankful for God's faithfulness this week to work on helping me be a better wife, mom and friend. He is really moving things for me and helping me to see things in a whole new light, curb my tongue and seeing people from His point of view. This week marks a whole new me! One that I am proud of and one I hope He is proud of.

2. I am thankful that God returned my hubby, Steve, as promised with very little delay. His work went smoothly and he received a huge compliment from the client he went out and worked with. He was even able to do a Act of Random Kindness for one of the employee he hired.

3. I am thankful for being a friend to those I have never met. I have cried with you, prayed with you and talked to you via blog postings, emails and over the phone. I thank God for each of you everyday.

4. I am thankful for dedicating this blog to God for His purpose and His will. It's design is to encourage, motivate, and inspire you all! I feel His power each and every day. May God bless you everyday you stop by here and feel His word reaching out to you! I hope it changes your day.

5. I am thankful for finding some teachers in our children's school that will work with us to help our children succeed. Teachers who really care beyond their paychecks. These are people that should be paid well beyond their salary. They are making a difference in the lives of our kids.

If you want to join in, click on the link at the top and be a part of something bigger and better. By the way, if you haven't heard, my newest blog is called Acts of Random Kindness for God. It's about us making small differences in the lives of people around you each and everyday through simple changes. I hope you decide to come over and participate. You can even be a guest blogger for the day. Just let me know. We'd love to have your input!

Thankful Thursday ~ October 15, 2009

Have you heard the great news? It's Thankful Thursday again at Truth 4 The Journey with Sonya! It's the best thing about today and if you want to jump in and participate, please join us by clicking on her link above. We are growing by leaps and bounds each Thursday! All you have to do is list 5 things that you are thankful for and list them and link up!

1. I am thankful for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who paid the ultimate price for me and took my sins upon himself that only by believing in Him, we shall not die when we breathe our last but have life everlasting eternally in Heaven. Salvation....Don't leave this life without it!

2. I am thankful for my husband, Steven, who works so hard to provide for our family in the midst of this terrible economy even if it means being away from his family, he will do it. He's not happy about it but will make that sacrifice. We love him for all he does to lead our family!

3. I am thankful for Loren at The Magoos News who has the most wonderfully uplifting spirit when you talk to her over the phone. She has been a saving grace for me in the midst of having my hubby gone. She is walking with me on my own spiritual path to be a great mom and wife to my family. I love you Loren! Can't wait to spend an eternity with you and your family!

4. I am thankful for all your prayers on Monday. What would have been a gloomy, sad, and blue Monday, was filled with peace that passes all understanding as prayers for me and my family was storming heavens throne. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your well wishes. I am eternally grateful and joyous beyond measure.

5. I am thankful for blogging. If it wasn't for keeping up with all of your great posts, I would have a lot of free time on my hands. Just trying to post, comment on each new blog I am reading, and responding to emails and phone calls has made this time pass quickly. Praise God. 1 more day and my beloved comes home! You have all made it possible.

With so many things to be thankful for, share some of them with us and join Sonya at Thankful Thursdays. Your life will never be the same.

Thankful Thursday ~ October 8, 2009

I want to invite everyone who stop here today, to join me on a wonderful journey to Sonya's blog at Truth 4 The Journey. Each Thursday, she hosts Thankful Thursday where you list 5 things you are thankful for. Easy enough and you will make lot's of new friends along the way.

Here is my list:

1. I am truly thankful for each and everyone of you that stops by my blog each day. Some leave me the most wonderful and encouraging comments and I wanted to take some time out to thank you for doing that. You lift me up every single time I read them and in return visit your blog, where I am always blessed by something you have written. You, my blogging family, are the best thing that has happened to me next to my salvation and my wonderful family. You are the reason for me making it through some difficult days where I just want to not log in and even look at blogs because my mood is so down. Yet when I do, you never fail me. God has truly blessed each and everyone of you by bringing you into my life.

2. I am thankful for a blog. What started out as a online journal for me to look back at some of life's more difficult days and see how I got through them and how God has blessed me by weathering that storm. It has truly become so much more as I can encourage, inspire and share that love of God with all of you.

3. I am thankful for the internet that allows me to log into a computer and talk to you via the computer, whether it's email or via my blog or comments. The internet is a great source to keep believers united. What other way can you instantly talk to someone a continent away and encourage one another as if you were sitting side by side? The internet is a great blessing from God.

4. I am thankful for the electricity that runs my computer. I was thinking about this early this morning as I had to get up before the sun. How sad it would be to take a shower in complete and utter darkness. I am blessed because a man named Thomas Edison achieved success through so many failures and never gave up. Because of that, I have power for lights, heat, cooling and to run my computer and so many other appliances.

5. I am thankful for the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it today! Today, God let us be used to bless and inspire your people! Use me to Your will and let me see the needs of others today through Your eyes! Each day brings with it a promise for something more. Let today inspire you with unspeakable joy and love!

Thankful Thursday ~ October 1st

Yeah it's Thankful Thursday and it's time to be grateful once again for all the things God has blessed us with this week. If you haven't taken the time to join, please hop on over to Sonya's blog at Truth 4 The Journey and add yourself to the fun!

1. I am thankful for the fall season. It seems like summer here in Southern California as always dragged on way to long. We have had our share of extreme temperatures, little moisture, and high winds but it appears as though fall is pushing that old high pressure system, or bubble as we call it, someplace else. So the crispness and cold is beginning to chill our desert mornings and it truly makes this time of the year living here breathtaking.

2. I am thankful for brilliant blue skies. No smoke, no smog, just the bluest, clear skies that allow you to see forever depending on just how high you can go to look out over the city. I am always thankful for these each morning especially after visiting the valleys below the pass and seeing the layers of smoke and smog. Yuck! Clear air up here.

3. I am thankful for my ability to think and write. SO often we take for granted our ability to process our thoughts and write them down in the form of a comment on a blog, a post, a greeting card to a friend in need or even journaling our days. There are some that sit alone with inside themselves with no way of letting people know what is going on inside.

4. I am thankful for random acts of kindness. These just bring out the best in people and make you feel special not only by receiving a special kindness but by doing them as well. As we get nearer to the holidays, I am planning on a new blog that will highlight our acts of kindness and hopefully get others inspired to do the same and pay it forward.

5. I am thankful for one more day. Each morning I wake up alive, I have the opportunity to make a difference and do the work of God. I pray that He will use me for His purpose and cast aside all my indifference's to see people the way God sees them and extend a hand in love and compassion.