Sunday, July 29, 2012

Habitrails...



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We have a busy four lane street near us that runs north and south through our city.

Our car has helped create the grooves in the pavement these past 15 years, as this is one of the main routes we drive to and from the store, the bank and all manner of our regular errands.

It's our habitrail, the avenue we could practically drive in our sleep because it's so familiar to us.

One afternoon this week while running errands, I had to make a left turn onto this perpetually busy street, crossing two lanes of traffic.

Amazingly, no cars were coming from either direction.

Sweet!

I drove to my next stop and did my next errand, then again had to make a left turn onto this busy street.

Again, absolutely no traffic in either direction.

Unheard of!

"Thank You, Jesus!", I said as I turned onto the street and headed towards home.

Suddenly, I realized I've got another habitrail, grooves I'm creating in the thought patterns of my mind.

Almost three years now, I've been gathering gratitude, counting my blessings.

Thanking God is becoming a habit.

Even for something as simple a break in the traffic...

-or flowers in bloom in our backyard

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-or youngest granddaughter's first time on the swing

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-or taking Miss Blue Eyes out for frozen yogurt on a sunny, summer evening

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…oh, so many reasons to give thanks.

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I’ve taken the Joy Dare.



I’m counting one thousand thanks in one year.



I hunt for thanksgiving using the prompts Ann gives us each month.



If you are interested in joining in, click the link above or at the bottom of this post.



I continue to count my thanks



piling up gratitude day by day



in my little black journal…


#2142-#2162


a gift high-


-the view through the branches of the cedar tree from my second story home office window

a gift low-


-happy orange blossoms


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a gift far away-


-being awakened by a phone call from Ghana and the voice of oldest granddaughter on the line


a gift of sand-


-the Hubs vacuuming out my car, cleaning up the sand from last week's day at the beach


-a hanging jar filled with sand and shells we've gathered here and there


-three year old granddaughter digging in the dirt, (not actually sand), by her back door and asking Papa and I to help her dig for treasure


3 gifts of endings-


-paying off a bill


-saying goodbye to the early fifties and reaching the double fives this coming week


-our second born and her family coming home from Ghana and youngest daughter coming home from Missouri in August


3 gifts fresh-


-fresh basil in a pasta salad


-fresh cilantro in cilantro-lime rice


-fresh strawberries and blueberries for my morning smoothie

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a gift on vacation-


-no vacation yet this summer, but looking forward to rest and relaxation when we do!


a gift at home-


-hot coffee and morning devotions in my home office


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a gift in relaxation-


-getting my hair cut and colored, (which I find relaxing)


3 gifts of beginnings-


-new mercies with each new day


-fresh journal pages


-forgiving and being forgiven


3 gifts together-


-a fun evening out this week together with the ladies from our church


-worshipping together at church


-taking communion together





Gratefully yours,


Elizabeth


11 comments:

  1. I enjoy reading your list of thanks. You are so right about forming a habit of thanks by doing it intentionally each day. I start this day off at number 956 so I believe that today I will be able to reach the 1,000 gifts in my journal. I do not plan to stop because it has helped me to see how much God does for me,loves me, gives to me.

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  2. Your granddaughter is adorable. So enjoyed reading your list.

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  3. I'm working so hard, oh so hard, at the gratitudes at the bottom of my page becoming a habitrail for me. So far, I still have to work at it, but only because of me, not because there aren't enough blessings in my life. I will keep at it. Great captures of your blessed granddaughters. :)

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  4. Love this! Isn't it sad the "we" have to learn to be grateful and that it isn't just natural for us? Talking to myself mainly. ;) I love your comparison and all your gifts. :) It really is a conscious effort. We discussed our "quiet time" Wednesday night at church...such as what worked for everyone, when and where, etc. I realize how fortunate I am to be able to stay home and most days it is quiet so I think I am more likely to just "talk" to God all day as I go about my day. But, I still have to work on the gratitude (recognizing it immediately) and especially the "hard echaristeo." :)

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    1. Thanks Gina, and yes, still working on that hard eucharisteo myself.

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  5. Beautiful thanksgiving this week, Elizabeth, and your photos drew me in. I love how you called being thankful a new habitrail. (Actually, I want to adopt that word in general. I love it.)

    I know you are excited to have the family home next month.Won't the thanksgiving be full to overflowing?

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  6. The joy dare has beautifully blessed my life as well. Thanks for splashing with me today. His Word always pours out.

    Be blessed bunches,
    Sarah

    And I love your music, this is one of my favorite IHOP songs.

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  7. There are numberless things to be grateful for. It's a mindset isn't it? So easy to do the opposite. You have a couple of adorable blessings here! So nice to know you came by!

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  8. nice post thanks for sharing i found you thrue other followers looking for to visit more blessings across the miles

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  9. Great insights. I look forward to reading what you're planning on next, because your post is a nice read.
    9xmovie

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