One Word 2012 ~ Thankful!

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At the beginning of 2011, I chose trust as my one word, one goal, for the year. It is an area in which I continue to struggle. But I have had a revelation of sorts recently …

In order to fully trust God, I have to believe that He is good and has a good plan for me. Sounds simplistic and obvious, doesn’t it? Hang with me here. My brain knows those things about God but my heart continues to struggle, to expect Him to turn suddenly stern and angry, to tease me cruelly, to find humor in my pain, etc. I don’t consciously attribute such things to Him but my heart … my heart just isn’t sure! And in order to convince my heart of the truth of who God is, and how much He loves me, I need to constantly and consciously acknowledge and praise His goodness! I need to name the good gifts He has already given me … and in so doing … perhaps the trust will come naturally. I hope …

So, my one word for 2012 is thankful and my prayer is that, when I reach 2013, thankfulness will have changed my character and helped me to come closer to the full joy of my salvation!

One step closer to becoming a masterpiece!

December 31, 2011

Goodbye ’11 ~ Hello ’12

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Why ANOTHER blog? The answer is … in some ways simple … in others complex. Kind of like this blogger! I’m not giving up on my other blogs. I just felt a need for something new … and different!

The few people who have been around since my *Blogger* days will remember my fondness for the little blue donkey of the Hundred Acre Wood. I went for over a year with his image as my Gravatar. And I joked about wishing that I had named my blog “Looking for Tigger” because it seemed to fit me better. I was stuck in my emo personality wishing that I could experience, just a little, tigger-ific joy! As we creep closer to 2012, it seemed to me that it was time to quit wishing and start actively looking! For Tigger. But mostly for the abundant joy that God has promised is already mine!

I have throughout the years almost grasped the idea that thankfulness, a grateful spirit, is part of the answer to my struggle with discontent and depression. I would post Thankful Thursdays. I even tried a gratitude journal for a while. I was never able to really grab hold and fly with it! I’m hoping that with this blog … I will learn to soar!

I’m also playing with a new blog theme that allows a lot more flexibility in design but it comes with a major learning curve! I decided it was better to apply it to a new blog and learn as I go rather than try to reformat one of my more established blogs.

I will work on my About Me page as I have time to give my readers more info on who I am and how I arrived where I am today. In the meantime I would just tell you that I am an Eeyore … trying really hard to grab hold of, and set free, my inner Tigger! I hope you’ll join me!

December 31, 2011

Why I’m Thankful for Blogging

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help Why Im Thankful for Blogging

I imagine that those of you who make a habit of joining me here on this fledgling meme are probably busy with family, friends, and an abundance of feasting, and therefore too busy for a Top Ten List but I wanted to publish mine anyway. You are welcome to join me but I will understand if you are too busy today. If you do have time … share ten things that you are especially thankful for today and link up here. Thanks!

Why I’m Thankful for Blogging

1. Blogging has widened my world far beyond Tulsa, Oklahoma, even the USA. It has connected me with people world wide.

2. Bloggers have offered me friendship and unconditional acceptance. You have grown, in my heart, past friendship and have become my family!

3. Blogging, and reading your blogs, has taught me to be slower to judge, more tolerant of decisions, choices, and beliefs that differ from mine. And it has shown me that even when we are different … we are still very much the same!

4. Bloggers inspire me with their faith, their character, their strength … and with their honesty and openess! Some times life is hard. It hurts. And we want to give up, crawl in a corner, and cry. And when we admit those things …. other bloggers crawl into those dark places with us and surround us with prayers and loving support!

5. Blogging has given me a creative outlet for words that have long lived in my heart but never found the courage to verbalize. Somehow it is easier, and more healing, to write it down.

6. Reading your blogs entertains me. You make me laugh. Some times cry. Often nod in understanding and fellowship as I see evidence that your life is not so different than mine.

7. …. I’ll be back …. I’m needed in the kitchen … Okay …. 7. Your stories inspire me! I thought about listing names here but there are so many of you who fit this category and I don’t want to leave anyone out. You face challenge, hurt, loss, etc. with courage and determination and you enourage me to believe that I can do likewise!

8. You lift ,me up when I am down. You come beside me. You pray for me. You hold onto me and refuse to allow me to fall too far into the pit of depression. You do not let me go unnoticed. You help me carry my pain and you rejoice with me over my victories!

9. You remind me of the truth. God is good and He is working in my life. You remind me that a thankful heart is a happy heart!

10. You have given me the gift of friendship! And I am eternally grateful!

November 24, 2011