Grateful Heart Friday

A few years back I did a little something on my blog called "Grateful Heart Friday."

I still hold to the truth that we're not born with grateful hearts, we need to cultivate them!

Which means we need to practice gratitude everyday until it becomes like breathing - it just happens naturally on it's own without trying!

 

Last year I did an amazing study with some friends on the beloved book

 "1000 Gifts" by Ann Voskamp. 

It was incredible to say the least. 

Haven't read it?  Do it!

 

A huge part of being content (*my word for 2015),

 is to recognize and receive the gifts that are all around us, everyday. 

If we are always looking for something other than what we've been give,

we miss out on the gift that is right now.

 

When I say, "thank you," I am receiving what is being offered in the moment and I am filled.

I am content.

 

With that, let's stop and say thanks for all the gifts we received this week as

 Grateful Heart Friday commences!

 

I'm grateful for a dear friend who took my 3 children for the evening so that I could bless another friend with a ride to the airport.  I'm grateful for a soft-start to our homeschool week.  I'm grateful that my children love to learn and are eager to work! (at least this week they were!!)  I'm grateful for Downton Abby starting!!!  I'm also super grateful for American Idol starting!!  It's those simple pleasures!!  I'm grateful for a new lamp.  I'm grateful for an awesome hike in our town with beautiful views and mountains.  I'm grateful for fabulous friends that live across the street.  I'm grateful for a husband that took off work to get our plumbing issues fixed so I didn't have to.  I'm grateful for the Cooking Club.  I'm grateful for fun kiddo activities starting up.  I'm grateful for the start of award season!  I'm grateful for cloudy days and sunny days at the beach.

I'm grateful for hot cocoa with my hubby and his willingness to step out.

I'm grateful for a God who never ceases to extend great gifts to His kids!

 

What are you grateful for?

Make it known!

 

"Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done."

Psalm 105:1

Grateful For The Bounce House

I had hoped to do a Rainbow Tea Party post today and share all the fun photos from my little ladies' 6th birthday party last Saturday, but one of those little ladies has been running a fever for the past 3 days, so a simple post of Gratitude will have to do!

The little ladies received a crazy birthday gift from their grandparents....

A bounce house with a water slide!

My folks were afraid that this gift would be a big burden for the parents.

Really?

The kids play in this for hours with tons of laughter!

Burden?  I think not!

I'm grateful for this dream come true bounce house in our backyard. 

I'm thankful for an incredible mom who helped so much with her granddaughter's party.  I'm grateful for an amazing dad who helped just as much.  I'm grateful for God's blessing to our family.  I'm grateful for friends who celebrate life's joys with us.  I'm grateful for television.  (Is that ok to say?  Especially Interior Therapy and American Idol)  I'm grateful for this beautiful Spring we've been having - it's not the typical  90+ degree Spring, but a lovely, overcast, cool, drizzly Spring!  I love it!

I'm grateful for full nights of sleep.  I'm grateful for sweet children who are innocent and full of wonder.  I'm thankful for a fun international date with my husband (more on that Monday).  I'm grateful for my amazing Bible study leader - Rita - who is a stunning woman of God.  Most of all I'm thankful for a risen Lord.  I just love that death couldn't keep Him down and that I have a relationship with a God who is alive!  Awesome!

Happy Weekend and I'll be back Monday with a fun Make Out Monday post!



Grateful Heart Friday

I’m bringin’ back an oldie but a goodie today – Grateful Heart Friday!  It’s been awhile, but I truly believe that a content heart is a grateful heart, so…

I’m grateful for my rock star neighbor that watched my son 2 mornings in a row (last minute!) so I could help out at the school.  I’m grateful for Chelsea Cameron and her challenging wisdom that she shared with me for the past 22 weeks in her class.  I am a better wife and mother because of her.  I’m thankful for sweet friends who made my daughter’s birthday so special with cards, phone calls and homemade gifts.  I’m thankful for uninterrupted nights of sleep!  Praisealujia!  I’m grateful for crazy rain and Midwest-like stormy weather.  I’m grateful that there is no rain in the forecast for my girls’ birthday party tomorrow!  I’m grateful for the 2 moms that skipped out of our Bible study lecture with me yesterday to just sit and share life together.  I’m grateful for all the prayer support for my husband and his interview on Wednesday – still praying he gets the new position at work to restore some kind of normalcy to our family!  I’m grateful for a God who loves me deeply, specifically and intimately.  I’m thankful that He crafted a detailed, specific plan to rescue me from my sin.  I’m grateful that I am not a slave to fear or the lies of this world.  Most of all I’m grateful for unconditional love and forgiveness.

Happy Weekend!

Monday I’ll post my final post for the New Life series

Grateful For Pickles & Bread

One of our Mother’s Day traditions is to picnic at a nearby park. My husband packs a “Euro” picnic of breads, cheeses, meats, fruits and French berry lemonade and we enjoy this beautiful spot that feels like we are so far from home! This year was fabulous and my husband packed a few extra pb&js for the kids and we headed out. At the park, the littles didn’t want their special lunch,

they wanted our prosciutto on a baguette and cornichon pickles!

 I’m grateful for adventurous children.

 I’m grateful for the little pleasures like a European train station style sandwich.

 I’m grateful that my husband has been getting home from work by 4pm. I’m grateful for a yoga class that still has me sore! I’m grateful for new books, Tangled, and SToribook Weddings. I’m grateful for 2 full nights of sleep without interruption this week. I’m grateful for a dear friend who shared Isaiah 48:17,18 with me. Most of all I’m grateful for a God who knows what is best for me and wants to teach me what that is. If I learn from Him and obey, my life will be filled with peace.

“I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea.” Isaiah 48:17,18

Grateful For My Fairy Godmother

I truly have the most wonderful Mother in the world! And after getting married, I welcomed two other wonderful Mother in Laws into my life – I am very blessed!

What can I say about my mom?

She truly is all that I aspire to be.

She is joyful and smiling almost always

she cares for and serves others in a tireless way

everything she touches she makes warm

she is selfless

funny

talented

beautiful

smart

generous

whimsical

Godly

lovely

and my Fairy God Mother!

She has come to my rescue time and time again.

With her magical ways, fervent prayer, and servant’s heart

she has taken great care of me and my family over and over again.

Thank you Mom

Happy Mother’s Day

I love you

It’s no secret that I’ve gained my love of entertaining from her, and that she gained hers from her mother. She is always here to help with all of my parties, and her granddaughters’ 5th birthday

The Fairy Garden Party

was no exception.

My mother was the Fairy Godmother extradinaire!

Monday, my post will be dedicated to all the magical fun

(I couldn't pull it off for today - there are too many fabulous photos!!)

Grateful For My Girls

It’s Grateful Heart Friday and this week my highlight has been my daughters. My little loves turn 5 tomorrow! I just can’t believe it. It seems like 5 is such a monumental age to turn. Maybe because they go to kindergarten when they turn 5. Or maybe it’s because they learn to read at 5 and ride a bike! It just seems like a permanent break from child to kid! I sure hope the innocence stays and the magical imagination!
      Emmie Girl, I’m grateful for your beautiful voice and the songs you make up all day long. You make me smile! I’m grateful for your artistic gift that makes our home beautiful. I’m grateful for your repentant heart that doesn’t sit well until you’ve said you’re sorry. I’m grateful for your spirit of leadership – I can’t wait to see what God does with that in your life! I’m grateful for your beautiful prayers at night. I’m grateful for extravagant imagination that takes you to amazing places with fantastic characters. I’m grateful for how much you love your teacher, school and learning. I’m grateful for your love of Jesus. Most of all Emmie, I’m grateful that you’re mine. I love you. Happy Birthday!
      Georgie Girl, I’m grateful for your long cuddles. I’m grateful for your nurturing heart that assures me that every doll and stuffed animal in our home is taken care of – I can’t wait to see how God uses your nurturing heart to love this world! I’m grateful for your goofy songs, stories and shows that make us all laugh! I’m grateful for your adventurous spirit. I’m grateful for your love of Jesus. I’m grateful for your energy that makes you run everywhere you go! I'm grateful for your new found passion for learning to read!  I’m grateful for your heart to welcome new people and include them in your world. Most of all Georgie Mouse, I’m grateful that I get to be your Mommy. I love you. Happy Birthday!
      Now it’s your turn – take a few moments to reflect on all the blessings from this past week and cultivate your grateful heart!

1. Include a photo of what you’re most grateful for from this past week.

2. Grab a Grateful Heart Button on the right and add it to your Grateful Heart post

3. Link up and be blessed as you share your gratitude with other and grow as you read about their week and let’s cultivate Grateful Hearts together on Friday!