gratitude...

November is a month of gratitude with a national holiday to celebrate "giving thanks" or Thanksgiving. It is a time to be thankful for all we are blessed with throughout the year and to celebrate those blessings together with family, friends and a giant meal. I like to give thanks every day of the year - not only for the big things in my life but the little unexpected surprises in each day. My daughter, Jayme, and I challenged each other to spend the year 2009 writing down 3 things we are grateful for each day and even on the most boring and mundane days there were small little happenings which we were grateful for. She even made me this frame that hangs in my dining room as a reminder to always (3 times) remember to write them down in my daily planner.

I challenge you, all my readers, to do it for the month of November. Do it for yourselves - discover the little unexpected things to be grateful for in each and every day - once in a while throw in a "big" thing as I am about to do on today's number 1. On the days I am able to blog this month, I will list 3 things and if you would like, I would love it if you shared your 3 with me in the comments. Don't feel obligated and if they are personal I understand, if you only have one I understand - hearing other's share little "gratefuls" allows one to look beyond what they usually see to discover new ways to be grateful in our everyday lives. Even on our worst days look for the blessings to be grateful for - as we walked out of the hospital on the day we lost Ethan we read a quote on a church sign that was definitely a "grateful", too personal to share here but one that gave us hope.

Today, I am grateful for...
1. Benjamin and Alexis, who came last night with their parents trick or treating, who are so loved and cared for as their childhood has been interrupted by first their mom's serious illness 3 years ago and now their dad's. I am grateful for modern medicine and one of the best clinics in the nation being in our home state of MN, to direct Justin's medical care and our faith in God so that their daddy will always be there for them.

It's sort of frivolous to follow that "biggie" with 2 small but that is what the challenge is all about.
2. I am grateful for my husband's trail camera. It is so fun when he switches the memory cards and we see a 100 or so photos of local deer strolling about at all hours of the day.
The nighttime infrared shots are not as clear or in color but who knew they locked antlers at 2:29 am or nursed at 10:37 pm.
One 3 minute time span shows 3 bucks meeting, the biggest one trying to chase away the smaller two and more antler wrestling.

3. This one is really bad but today I am also grateful for some leftover trick or treat candy so that I could enjoy a good piece of chocolate with my coffee while composing this post.

It doesn't count as one of the 3 gratefuls because it is an every day given, but I am also very grateful for all who come and read my blog - it doesn't matter if you comment or not, just that it provides you with some enjoyment or a reason to keep coming back. When the counter stops increasing is when I stop blogging and where else would I show all those photos I take :) I am truly grateful.