Thankful Thursday 11/6/08

Sorry I was not able to post my thankfulness last Thursday due to Don's colonoscopy. He got a good report and we were thankful.

This morning on my way to work I was blessed by the sight of "burning bushes" (LOL) and I was thankful for having the sight to behold their beauty. Today I just enjoyed all the beautiful fall folliage and colors without the self pressure of photographing them while driving and being disappointed yet again when they did not turn out to meet my high expectations. I have learned that if I stop, I can take better pictures. I did stop at lunch today and got some note-worthy shots which made me feel better about my photographic skills.

I am thankful for another fun Halloween weekend we had. I am not sure who had more fun - Rhett or me. I am thankful for ALL the pictures I took. This holiday was almost like Christmas for me making it perhaps my favorite. Each photo was a gift to me. A moment in time captured on my camera. I am thankful for the American Legion we belong to for hosting their annual Halloween party we attend every year faithfully. I am thankful we ALL won the costume party. I am sure that must be a first for an entire family to win. I am thankful we do this as a family every year and it is a family oriented enviroment. I had previously posted about this so please go back and read about if you have not already. It is always nice to win extra unexpected money. Just hope an unexpected bill doesn't follow it.

I am thankful for my best friend Genie who is so understanding of my feelings and always knows exactly what to say to me to help me feel better. Thanks Genie.

I am thankful for my high school friend Darryl who made my day yesterday and got me out of my funk. Please see the previous post to read what he said that made me feel good... I am thankful I could inspire him.

My Uncle Frank was back in ICU on Tuesday. They had to remove fluid from his brain. I am thankful for email because I sent out a prayer request on his behalf immediately after my mom called me about Uncle Frank. I have wonderful friends who respond instantly to let me know that they are saying their prayers. I am so thankful for my friend Cheryl who has "been there done that." Her husband had brain cancer also, but you couldn't tell it by looking or talking to him. Cheryl reassured me by saying once they drain the fluid, he should start improving. What a relief it was to read and "hear" those words! I called my mom back to reassure her. When I picked up Rhett on Tuesday evening, Uncle Frank was just coming out of surgery. Mom went to see him after we went home. She went back to see him again before picking up Rhett up from drama class the next day. She said he was much better and knew everyone. It wasn't until last night that she admitted to me she didn't think he was going to make it Tuesday. So I am extremely thankful Uncle Frank is better. Please keep him in your prayers for continued recovery. Thank you.

I have another prayer request... My good friend Jimmy's baby brother Jay has lymphoma. It has spread to his bones and spine. He has tolerated one round of chemo well. His kidneys are not functioning so he is now on dialysis. They hope to give him therapy so he can walk again and be able to go home. Jay is probably in his late 30's or early 40's.

I have been taking my blood pressure daily. A blood pressure monitor was installed at work so I don't have to keep bothering the nurses now. Yesterday it was the lowest it has been since beginning my new generic blood pressure medication. I was excited about this as well as thankful. It is sort of a neat accomplishment when you can take your own blood pressure or at least it is to me. More of the little things that mean the most to me.


A Thankful Heart

When you feel the impulse to be judgmental, let that be a cue for you to first be thankful. When you discover that you're focusing on what's wrong, use that as a reminder of all the many things that are right.

Immediately upon waking each morning, think of ten things you are grateful for at the moment. As you fall asleep at the end of the day, fill your thoughts with thankfulness for the good and valuable blessings in your life.

Give the power of your thoughts to the positive influences in your world, and they will become more influential. Remind yourself often of what works well, and you'll naturally find ways to make many other things work well.

The way to enjoy success is not to study failure. The way to experience success is to extend and expand the success you already know.

Gratitude is so powerful because it makes you so powerful. Gratitude puts you in a positive frame of reference within which many more positive things can happen.
Begin each day, end each day, and live each day with a sincerely thankful heart. And as each day passes, you'll have more and more for which to be thankful.
-- Ralph Marston