Giving Thanks

Chronicles 16:34

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

I want to thank the God of heaven today for a good year, and indeed, he is good!
Here goes:

• I've lived another year, fairly healthy
• I've had food to eat, a warm and nice place to sleep, and extras too!
• I've been able to spend time with family and some friends.
• I've learned some lessons in life that has been helpful to me, whether I enjoyed them or not.
• My hubby and I have enjoyed early morning reading sessions together.

• I'm seeing improvements in our home which we needed, but couldn't get done earlier for various reasons including time!
• I've downsized (which is hard for me to do!) in letting go of objects I no longer use or care about, but have held onto, just because

• I've been able, so far this year in seeing at least two more writing accomplishments: a fourth book in my Appleton, WV Romantic Mystery series: Toby's Troubles; a novella, Christmas Angels, in the Ohio anthology: From the Lake to the River; and made some advancements on other book projects.  

• I was able to learn how to navigate in Instagram
• I advanced in other areas of marketing

• Most of all, I've grown deeper and stronger in my faith with God. That is a blessing of itself.

I am truly most blest!

Now, tell me: what blessing have you had this past year. Share please, I'd love to hear!

About Carole:

Besides being an active participant in many writing groups, Carole is an award-winning author and enjoys mentoring beginning writers. She loves to weave suspense, tough topics, romance, and whimsy into her books and is always on the lookout for outstanding titles and catchy ideas. She and her husband reside in SE Ohio but have ministered and counseled nationally and internationally. Together, they enjoy their grandsons, traveling, gardening, good food, the simple life, and did she mention their grandsons? 

Personal blog: http://sunnebnkwrtr.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaroleBrown.author

Amazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/Carole-Brown/e/B00EZV4RFY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1427898838&sr=8-1

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/browncarole212

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sunnywrtr/boards/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5237997-carole-brown

Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/carole-brown-79b6951a?trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile

Google+:    https://plus.google.com/u/0/113068871986311965415/posts

Word Sharpeners: https://wordsharpeners.wordpress.com/

Stitches in Time:  http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/

A Month of Thanksgivings

The older I get, the more I appreciate the "little" things. This week I accomplished--with God's help, of course, some "big" things such as:

• finishing the edits on the first book in my new cozy mystery series: Sabotaged Christmas. Thrilled that it's ready to go!
• Won another notable award for my The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman, and no, I'm not bragging. So many people had a hand in encouraging and praying for my endeavor! God is good.
• A successful board meeting 

But those are the "big" things. What about those things that happen in our lives that don't seem as important--but are!--or that aren't seen or known about to others? Here's a few I'm thankful for this month:

The smile on my youngest grandboy's face 

when he's happy. 

The protection on my twelve-year-old grandson when he fell from a tree Sunday night. A trip to the doctor's and stitches, but will live, thank God!

Nice weather that gives me a smile.

flowers from hubby

Birthday roses

Accomplishment on my work
Hubby's so valuable help while I'm working
Seeing my oldest son and enjoying a meal out with him last weekend.

A fun cake from a friend!

Medicine that is helping a medical problem
Posts of encouragement I read most days.
Possibilities that keep me motivated.

Good food.  

Broccoli cheese soup.

 

Little things, but things that mean a lot to me.  This month, this day, I'm thankful for them and so much more. 

What's on your list of thankfulness?

ABOUT Carole

Besides being a member and active participant of many writing groups, Carole Brown enjoys mentoring beginning writers. She loves to weave suspense and tough topics into her books, along with a touch of romance and whimsy, and is always on the lookout for outstanding titles and catchy ideas. She and her husband reside in SE Ohio but have ministered and counseled nationally and internationally. Together, they enjoy their grandsons, traveling, gardening, good food, the simple life, and did she mention their grandsons? 


Personal blog: http://sunnebnkwrtr.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaroleBrown.author
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/browncarole212

Give Thanks

Tina here.

Can I just say yay. Halloween is over.

You've taken care of all the beasties and ghoulies and superheroes and princesses and pirates and well, you name it. You've pumped them with chocolate and candies and sent them into the night on a chocolate high. (probably got one yourself)

And some of us have a made a hiding place for the chocolate we skimmed from our children's bags and plan to nibble on throughout the year. (Not me of course) but now is the time to put away our masks and turn our focus to November. To the crisp cool air and the gold, red and burnt orange leaves of autumn (which I don't have in the part of Arizona where I reside) and the pumpkin pies and turkeys of Thanksgiving (not talking about the family here).

Unfortunately, as the years have passed, Thanksgiving has become more a day of shopping and food and football. And a day we gorge ourselves with fine rich food and deal with indigestion and our in-laws or outlaws. Christmas decorations have hogged the shelves at the local stores for weeks.

Thanksgiving decorations have been relegated to a few shelves near the card aisle in most stores, or completely forgotten.


When asked what they're doing for Thanksgiving, some people might even say "What do I have to be thankful for?" Or "I'm going to pork out and party."

What is Thanksgiving all about?

As you know I love short history lessons, so here is one on Thanksgiving.

In 1621, the Pilgrims, (Plymouth Colonists) newly off the Mayflower and having gone through their first brutal winter in the New World, joined with the Wampanoag Indians to share a harvest feast.

That was to be the first Thanksgiving in the colonies.

After that differing states and colonies would celebrate days of thanksgiving.

In 1863 durning the American Civil War, Abraham Lincoln set aside the last Thursday in November and proclaimed it to be Thanksgiving for the whole nation. He was not the first president to proclaim a day of thanksgiving. He was the first to set a specific day aside.

In 1939 Franklin Roosevelt changed it to the 4th Thursday. It's nice to think he did so because the fifth Thursday didn't come every year, but he did so at the request of the National Retail Dry Goods Association who wanted to extend holiday shopping by a week. The Macy's Thanksgiving day parade started in 1924 and was originally the Macy's Christmas Parade, but the 6abc Dunkin' Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade is four years older.

I never knew that. Perhaps the movie Miracle on 34th Street helped make Macy's Parade a household name.

Turkey, Cranberry and Corn were at the first Thanksgiving and are still favorites today. There was also shellfish, fish, deer and other roasted meats.

What no pumpkin pie. hmmm?

It is said Pumpkin Pie made it's debut in 1670. so it's been around awhile. And if you eat too much it will be around a while with you too.

LOL

As I said, the Pilgrims were thankful to make it through a hard winter and for the Indians that helped them. Abraham Lincoln wanted to remind a broken nation to be thankful. George Washington celebrated a day of Thanksgiving after the adoption of the U.S. Constitution, and James Madison did so after the War of 1812. All very momentous occasions and reasons to give thanks.

For myself. Hubby and I just moved into a new home, it's still not quite in the right state, but I will not quibble the Lord gave us a blessings.  Hubby still has a good job, I had four books release this year and there is much more to be thankful for.

It is important to have a day of Thanksgiving and remember all the blessings you've received, but it is good to remember them throughout the year too.

Have you gone through anything this year that has given you a reason to be thankful? Take this month and give thanks every day for just one thing.