In the Midst

The readings in church today celebrated Christ the King.  The message was to let Christ be our center.  The example was the Sistine Chapel's Last Judgement where right there in the middle- between heaven and earth, between angels and demons, between up and down is Christ.  The final judgement is the ultimate up or down, but we do experience ups and downs daily, and sometimes moment to moment, via outside circumstance as well as internal struggles.  The key is to see Christ in our midst, to view Christ, to focus on the Blessing through focusing on the Blessed King Himself... regardless of circumstance, regardless of feeling, mood or mindset.  There will be struggles and suffering.  There will be hardship and trial.  We were never promised easy.  But what matters in the end is this... Romans 5:3-8

A more abundant blessing can't be found.

Out and About and a Saturday Share

 Running around today with the kids was a much needed break from housework and a good jump into the holiday spirit.  I always avoid going out on Black Friday, and hesitated to leave the house today thinking it may be a crowded disaster.  Deciding to take it all in stride and get some things done at the same time, we packed into the car and headed out.  We went to several small, local stores for Christmas gifts.  Everyone was in good spirits and well-behaved, mom and kids alike.  The shopkeepers were happy and helpful.  Two of us even got hair cuts.  Spilling two full drinks, one right after the other, at Subway didn't even begin to dampen the mood... my coat, yes, but not the mood (pun intended :)
Our next to last stop was Fresh Market to pick up chocolate Advent calendars- a much loved tradition, but anything that involves chocolate is a much loved tradition in this house.  I have aspirations to plan our Advent season with some old and new activities and be prepared for the start of it next Sunday.  I'm excited to christen our Cradle to Cross wreath  this year and to pull out our Jesse Tree, with the homemade ornaments as well as our conventional Advent wreath.  Note to self: add candles to the shopping list.

In the meantime, check out this link to a great post on abundance; Discover the Abundance at Awesomely Awake. 

The Day After

Thanksgiving has come and gone, Black Friday is here and both give me reason for thanks.  Family and food for Thanksgiving and a cozy day at home on Black Friday.

Some are thankful for the deals of the day, I plan to be thankful for what the day deals.

In All Things

... Give Thanks!

In full bellies, and empty.  In clean and messy kitchens.  In large and small homes.  With much and with little.  In health and in pain. With family, and without.  With love and with loneliness. 
...Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks...

Happy Thanksgiving!

On the Eve of Thanksgiving

 Today is a good day to begin a blog dedicated to abundant blessing. Who needs to wait for the official go-ahead.  I need to be thankful today.   

   eve noun-

1: evening

2: the evening or the day before a special day

3: the period immediately preceding 

  thanks·giv·ing noun-

1: the act of giving thanks

2: a prayer expressing gratitude

3 a : a public acknowledgment or celebration of divine goodness

   b capitalized : thanksgiving day

             as defined by Merriam-Webster.com

 

 The period immediately preceding a prayer of gratitude.  It's so easy to think that I'll be thankful later, just let me get through today.  It's so easy to live in that time immediately preceding gratitude.  It's easy to complain today and plan to be thankful tomorrow.  Let's get into the habit of moving into thanksgiving now, into the celebration of Divine Goodness, instead of always being just on the verge... waiting for something good enough to be thankful for, waiting for the appropriate time, waiting for a time that never seems to arrive, lost in the ins and outs of every ordinary day.  Let's open our eyes to the abundant blessings that surround us today.  No matter the circumstance, blessings abound. Blessed by family.  Blessed with home.  Blessed with health.  Blessed with friends.  Blessed with enough.  Blessed by the things in my day that largely go unnoticed.  Blessed even by things that don't seem like blessings. 
I'm starting this blog to remind myself that being thankful is a privilege, my key to an abundant life.  Inspired by Ann and her fantastic book,  I begin. 

 I am thankful, because I decide to be.