keeping a heart of gratitude

As the days creep closer to Thanksgiving,  I have begun to ponder all the things I am thankful for. I am literally overcome by how much God has blessed me, how kind He  is to me, and how I don't deserve anything...yet He's given me so much. He sent me His Son to die a horrible death on the cross. Now I have no condemnation(judgement)...I am covered by Christ's blood and washed of my sin.When God sees me, He sees His son. The fulfillment of the law is fulfilled in me because of Christ, because He lived a perfect life

and died and rose for me. I can live knowing I am forgiven! THANK YOU JESUS!

I'm thankful that I'm not simply "feeling" thankful this season...

but I know Who to give thanks to.

Do you know who you can give thanks to?

I wrote a post a couple years ago, regarding that subject

if you'd like to read it.

 

In preparation of Thanksgiving, my family and I have been busy getting ready to head down to visit family.

You can be sure that BAKING has been on our list of to-dos.

Apples have been mixed with honey and spices,  

piled into a pie tin, and baked in the oven.

A pumpkin pie has also been baked.

My mom made the two pies yesterday. They both smell so good,

It's quite hard for me to let them sit on the counter, because...well they're staring at me...

It's all I can do to restrain from eating them.

But, yes. I can wait...one more day! :)

Today we're baking some more delicious foods, another casserole to join the cranberry apple crisp

on the counter and some coconut cookies for my Oma

 (If you don't know, "Oma" is the dutch word for Grandma).  

I'm SO thankful for the fruits, spices, and other ingredients

that make up our Thanksgiving feasts

and are such a big part of our family gatherings.

This Thanksgiving, and throughout the holiday season...

I don't want to have a heart of entitlement

that can so easily creep in.

My prayer is that God would grow in me a heart of gratitude...

overwhelming gratitude to my loving Savior

who has blessed me with SO much,

and that I would keep a heart of gratitude throughout each day.

 

In my journal, I have undertaken a task to write,

as many days of this month as I can,

thankful lists of things simple or great that I am thankful for.

I have managed to write quite a few lists already

and thought I might share some of the things

I have written so far

Here are a few of my thankfuls from my November lists:

 

Nov. 2

-sleeping in

-an evening outing with my mom and sisters

-inside jokes

-water

Nov. 3

-sunsets

-time (to work on my essay)

-gluten free snickerdoodles

Nov. 5

-God's Word and His unchanging Love. Agape (unconditional) love

-peppermint tea

-bed. home. hugs. laughter. life.

-family <3

Nov. 8

-walking to the park

-leaves swirling in the wind as they fall from their trees

-rain

-my busy brothers

-sisters to laugh with

-light (my flashlight & all beautiful twinkle lights & the sun)

Nov. 17

-lemon-ginger tea..ahhh it's so warming

-the sound of the rain and the way it gives a glossy shine to the pavement and the world outside

-Emma and the time we had to sing together today (trying to strengthen our voices & practicing songs to sing on Christmas :)

-a walk during a break in the rain with Andrea

-the wind rushing against my face and being able to breathe it in...deeply

-creative endeavors with the camera

-goofy little brothers that make me laugh

- a hug (however goofily given) from my brother Aiden

Nov. 20

-shelter

-rain (once again, I know.) 

-little children & the ability to care for them and love them

-talks with my Papa

-Emma's humor

-green apples--crisp and sour and juicy.

Nov. 21

-the fact that my little brother Sam calls macaroon cookies "macaroni's"

linking my list of thankfuls with this lovely lady

Happy Thanksgiving, Friends!

What are you thankful for this season?