30 Days of Thankfulness -- Days 17-27

Soooooo....I wasn't so good at keeping this updated.  But that's OK.  I still did it and that's all that counts.

Day 17 -- Reconciliation.  I didn't expect it to happen even though both parties were in the wrong.  But  out of the blue, he called.  It shocked me, but I'm always thankful when a friendship can be restored.

Day 18 -- Being able to stock up for the holidays.  The sales are already starting so that helps me get the massive amounts of food needed to make it through the holidays.  It's nice to be able to stay home and just cook instead of rushing out at the last moment.

Day 19 -- Coworkers who like to cook.  I've picked up a few recipes this year from my coworkers and they are great.  I just got an amazing cranberry sauce recipe that is probably going to become a staple.

Day 20 -- Finally getting caught up at work!  Sounds silly, but with the snowbirds back, getting caught up before the rush is really important.  If you don't get caught up now, you won't be caught up until about March.  If you're lucky.

Day 21 -- My son!  It's his birthday and he is the best part of my life and I'm thankful for every day that I get to spend with him.

Day 22 -- Doctors.  I spent a lot of time with doctors yesterday and am hurting today, but I'm really thankful for the doctors.  Maybe I'll get better?

Day 23 -- Quiet days at home.  I am so thankful when I have a day just to relax.  I love the peace and just being at home.

Day 24 -- A short work week.  I'm thankful for my job, but I sure do love a short work week.  It means extra time with my loved ones!

Day 25 -- Extended family.  I love keeping in touch with extended family.  With Facebook, etc it's so much easier to keep up with parts of the family that you otherwise may not be able to.

Day 26 -- The stores that will NOT be open tomorrow.  There are a lot of stores that are making the decision to open on Thanksgiving.  This is NOT ok and I do not support it.  Obviously for some stores (gas stations, pharmacies and the like) it's understandable that they are open and even necessary.  But Macy's, Sports Authority, Best Buy, etc?  Shame on them.  They won't get my money tomorrow and they sure won't get my money throughout the rest of the year either.

Day 27 -- THANKSGIVING!!!!!  This is just the best day of the year.  I get to cook for the ones I love and spend the day with them.  It's really great and it reminds me that when things look bad, at least I have my family.

December Spring

Today's weather was just beautiful!  Days like today make me glad I live in Florida.  Where else could I be working on my tan at the end of December?  I spent the vast majority of the day sitting out on my deck reading and playing with the dog.  If I didn't know better, I would think spring had come to Florida early.  But I've lived here long enough to know we still have some bitter cold weather ahead of us.

Sitting under the stunningly clear cerulean sky got me to thinking.  I kept saying to my son how much I loved the day and how beautiful the day was and I realized that for the first time in six months I was truly happy and at peace.  For the first time in a long time I felt truly thankful.  I was able to look at my life, my house, my health...everything with new eyes.

I was surprised to find that I was even looking forward to the new year.  Yes, there are several struggles that I know I will face, but they don't seem quite as insurmountable as they once did.  I don't know if it's because I did some "spring cleaning" and rid myself of some people who were dragging me down or if it was some other change that I've made.  I know only that things don't seem as bleak as they once did.

For the first time in a long time when I said today that I was thankful for something, I wasn't just saying the words.  For almost six months, I've said I was thankful for this or that because I knew I should be thankful for it, but I wasn't truly thankful.  Today was different.  There was feeling behind the words.  When I said I was thankful for the beautiful day, I truly felt thankful.  I felt content and happy and at ease.  It was nice. 

I know there will be days ahead when the feeling will be gone, but for some reason, I know those days will be temporary.  For the past six months, I wasn't so sure it was temporary.  It felt as though I had fallen into some dark place where light just couldn't reach.  And it felt as though there was no escape.  I am glad that is behind me now.

I hope tomorrow is as beautiful as today.  I hope I continue to move forward and put some distance between myself and that dark place I was in.  And I am thankful that I again have hope. 

Christmas Challenge 2012 -- Day 1

Yeah, so I'm a little behind! LOL  Story of my life.  Can I use the excuse that I've been sick?  Truly I have.  Yes, I am using that excuse.  Be that as it may, I will get caught up today and tomorrow.  Without further justification, here we go:

Day 1 -- Favorite christmas song and why?

This was an easy one! 

"It Could Happen Again" by Collin Raye

This song clearly illustrates what Christmas is really all about.  Frankly, it illustrates what life should be all about too.

Here are the lyrics:
(Video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCQpNPGq_mU )

(Narration by Johnny Cash: One frozen night in 1914, at the height of World War I, the unthinkable happened: all along the entire western front, the British and German soldiers lay down their weapons, an unofficial cease fire, to celebrate Christmas Eve together. They exchanged gifts, and saw each other as brothers, and that peace lasted for two more days, when they were ordered back to battle. In those few days, though, men remembered the reason for Christmas amongst the devastation, and it's a story that should never be forgotten.)

Through the smoke filled night silence rose from both sides
Across a bloody battlefield
It was a cold Christmas Eve in 1914
To those who were there, it seemed unreal
As time was still the spirit moved the soldiers
To lay down their arms and raise their voice in song
And pretend for a while the war was over

If it could happened then, it could happen again
A world torn apart could join hands and hearts
To celebrate his birth and peace on this Earth
If for one magic night we could find again a reason not to fight
Maybe there's a chance; This time it might last.

As opposing sides approached through broken words they spoke
It wasn't long before they felt at ease
They shared their cigarettes, what they had they used as gifts
They didn't feel like enemies
With candles lit they stood shoulder to shoulder
And on that field they found true common ground
And as they prayed they dreamed the war was over

If it could happened then, it could happen again
A world torn apart could join hands and hearts
To celebrate his birth and peace on this Earth
If for one magic night we could find again a reason not to fight
Maybe there's a chance; This time it might last.

If it could happened then, it could happen again.