Joyful Gratitude: Happy Thanksgiving

I Am Thankful For:

Having my sisters together for support
Surgery went well
The Man of the House bringing dinner to the hospital
Laughing in the waiting room
Singing of wind chimes
Chocolate brownies
A beautiful morning
27 years of marriage
Warm autumn days
A dog sticking his head out the sunroof
Dad going home sooner than expected
Tuna steaks
Being able to help out
Sugar free cocoa
A morning with my Dad
Close games
Facial masks

Joyful Gratitude: November 21

I Am Thankful For:
A beautiful warm day before the chill
Gingerbread popcorn
A day with the grandkid
Wintery morning
My family all arriving safely where they need to be
Going with the flow and making it work
A bright full moon
Listening to podcasts in the car
A visit to the Football Hall of Fame
Layers and layers
A warm blanket
A win for the home team
Football insanity
Coming home
God's protection

Joyful Gratitude: November 14

I Am Thankful For:

Finding cute sheets on clearance
Sugar free peppermint mocha creamer
Getting back on track
Spaghetti squash
Filling the bird feeders
Cat playing with his new toy
Stars
Kisses in the airport drop-off zone
Deep conditioned hair
Sunshiny cold mornings
Happy curls
The Man of the House finally getting on a flight home
Soup for dinner on a chilly night
Giggles
That first sip of morning coffee
Nail-biter endings to a football game
Homemade salsa

31 Days of Joy

Y'all know that I select one word as my focus each year, rather than making resolutions. My word for this year is Joy.

I try to do Bible studies and read books that help me to learn more about and grow in the word that I have chosen for the year.  As I read my Bible each day, I make note of verses that include my one word (or some version of it or a related word).

For a while, I have thought that I would like to take those verses I collected and create a Bible study or reading plan.  After putting it off for far too long - it is now a reality!  My first ever original Bible Reading Plan.

These are all verses focusing on Joy.  Ones which spoke to my heart throughout this year.  My prayer is that they help you find joy also.

Want a printable version?  Find it HERE:  31 Days Of Joy

I recommend reading each verse a couple of times.  Then take a few minutes to journal your thoughts and feelings.  Make notes about what stands out to you from the verse and how it applies to your life and/or circumstances.

Please let me know if you try the reading plan.  I would love your thoughts and feedback!

Joyful Gratitude: November 7

I Am Thankful For:

A bonus day with the Grand Kid
Unexpected afternoon nap on the couch
Birthday planning
Catching up on things
Low WW point tacos
Making lists
Looking forward
Rainy Autumn days
Birthday rewards
Goals met
Halloween
Costume pictures from my favorite spooky people
Birthday flowers
Having the best friends in the world
Early morning happy birthday wishes
Free birthday drink from Starbucks
The Male Offspring cooking dinner
Birthday sundae
A new FitBit
Eggs benedict
Feeling cute
A new bee shirt
A perfect Autumn day
Grand kid hugs
More birthday gifts
Nachos

Sunday Inspiration: Joy and Suffering

Joyful Gratitude: September 26

I Am Thankful For:

Getting to pick up the Grand Kid from school

Pretty mums for the front porch

New kitchen curtains

White pumpkins

Clean workspace

Trying a new recipe

All my Autumn decorations

Hearing the Male Offspring move about in the morning before work

Sunset

Reaching another weight loss goal

Chilly morning

Bridal shower flowers

The Man of the House picking up dinner

Plenty of help

Bridal shower

Silly games

Mimosas

Relaxing after the party

The Panthers win!

Joyful Gratitude: September 19

I Am Thankful For:

Finding the energy to run errands

An exciting end to the first Monday Night Football game of the season

Cute little pumpkin decorations

Vegetarian tacos

Getting a lot accomplished

Finally watching season 3 of "Victoria"

Conversations with the Male Offspring

Last minute text for a lunch "date"

An unexpected day with the Grand Kid

Supplies for bridal shower

The Man of the House helping with shower prep

Big wholesale orders

Running into the Female Offspring and the Grandkid at the store

Gumbo

Finalizing plans

Having the family together for Sunday football and dinner

Joyful Gratitude: September 12

I Am Thankful For:

Bird watching

A new rug for the kitchen

A good start to the day

Getting back on track

Invitations mailed

When the Man of the House walks through the door at the end of the day

Sunshine days

When the Male Offspring feels chatty

Pumpkin spice coffee

The perfect sunglasses for game day (on sale for $1!)

The cat sticking out his tongue

A weekend away

Game day

Cheering on the Panthers

That feeling when you walk into the stadium

Enjoying the game - even when your team lost

Joyful Gratitude: August 1

I Am Thankful For:
Reading to the Grand Kid
Afternoon thundershowers
Little boy silliness
Cooler temperatures
My burn wasn't as bad as it potentially could have been
Big bandages
Allergy medicine
Reaching my first weight loss goal
Waking up early
Baking a cake with the Grand Kid
Quiet evenings
Wedding dress fitting appointment
New mascara
Bee socks

Joyful Gratitude: July 25

I Am Thankful For:

A hummingbird hovering right in front of the window as if looking in at me
A new heating pad
Amazon Prime Day deals
Popcorn
Watching movies with the grand kid
Rainy afternoon naps
Fiber One brownies
Birthdays
Ice cream
Lazy Saturdays
My business picking back up
Reading bedtime stories to the grand kid
Loud little birds
Baskets of clean laundry
Homemade General Tso's chicken

Joyful Gratitude: July 18

I Am Thankful For:

My beautiful, kind, smart daughter
Pounds gone
Summer cherry season
Goldfinches
Weight Watchers spicy taco recipe
The Grand Kid's excitement over seeing a hummingbird
The tiniest little chickadee I've ever seen
Comforting a sick little boy
Resisting junk food
Small changes
Wisdom
Being loved
Morning song
The Grand Kid singing to himself
Healthy weekend brunch
PJ's all day

Joyful Gratitude: July 11

I Am Thankful For:

Being back home
Getting back into my routines
Meditating with the Man of the House
Having points left at the end of the day
A big cup of water first thing in the morning
Hugs from the grand kid
Yummy new WW recipes
A new phone
Spending the day with the Female Offspring
Sleeping in
Pulled pork smoked by the Man of the House
My guys going fishing together
Hanging out with the Man of the House at Bold Rock
A new season of Stranger Things
Picking up supplies at Lowe's
Leftover pulled pork
Tiny birds

Joyful Gratitude: July 4

I Am Thankful For:

Living in America

Safe travels

Yummy cheeseburgers

The Male Offspring laughing so hard he can't talk

Sipping coffee while watching the waves

Relaxing in the sun

Fresh seafood

Sunrise over the ocean

Walks along the beach

Watching a flock of pelicans fly by

Cinnamon roll and tea

Old cemeteries

Pretty squares

Strolling the waterfront

Surf fishing

Sunsets

Lighthouses

Bug repellent

Joyful Gratitude: June 27

I Am Thankful For:

Sushi dinner with the Man of the House
Overnight thunderstorms
Baking "toaster tarts" with the grand kid
Finding a card tucked under my pillow
The grand kid asking "What game should we play tomorrow, Oma?"
Finally getting sleepy
Beautiful yarn
Freshly painted toenails
When the headache goes away
Muffaletta sandwich

Joyful Gratitude: June 20

I Am Thankful For:

Coffee on sleepy mornings
Scripture passages that tap at my heart
Waking up to sunshine after days of rain
Listening to the mockingbird sing
The fallen tree didn't hurt anyone or anything
Sunrise
Grand kid playing in the yard
Laughing until you cry
Finally figuring out how to tag my Etsy products on Instagram
Perfect weather
Hearing "Oma, it's me!" at the door
The simple joys of playing with a water gun
Making plans for cooking "lessons" with the grand kid
The Man of the House agreeing to try meditating with me
Planning things to do on vacation
A moment of silence
The cardinals calling to each other at the feeders
Spending some time with my dad
Father's day dinner

Joyful Gratitude: June 13

I Am Thankful For:

Fresh perspecitve
Pancakes for dinner
Evenings at the ball field
Ice cream in a little plastic baseball helmet
Finches arguing over the feeder
Cooler days
Afternoon rain
Morning prayer
Peaches and nectarines
80's pop songs on the radio
The tapping of rain on the window
First sip of morning coffee
Getting a haircut
The Man of the House fixing eggs for me

Joyful Gratitude: June 6

I Am Thankful For:
Waking up early
Setting simple weekly goals
Ordering birthday gifts
Morning routines
Asian sesame salad
A good dentist appointment
The Male Offspring's birthday
Ice cream cake
Seeing progress in my office
Planning my summer
Very loud birds singing a wake up song
Watching Xmen movies with the Man of the House
Eating the last chocolate cupcake
Quiet Sunday

Sunday Inspiration: A habit of joy

Joyful Gratitude: May 30

I Am Thankful For:
The Man of the House waking me up to say "good bye" before leaving to go out of town
Running into an old friend of my parents
Good morning phone calls
Orders mailed
Taco salad
The Man of the House back home where he belongs 
Morning sunlight filtering through the trees
The cat finally sleeps on the bed we bought for him
Feeling pretty
Tacos on Thursday
The grandkid has lost his 2 front teeth
Ear buds
The grandkid playing in the yard
My kids laughing over a shared joke
Easy peasy dinners