I heard many talk about this great book One Thousand Gifts – how it’s a must-read, awesome, wonderful, great, life-changing…but no one ever said what it was about really — other than being thankful.

Many commented on the wonderful, artistic style of writing. The author, Ann without the fanciful “e” stirs many hearts in her writing. What did she do? Write out all 1,000 gifts in the book? Is she just listing stuff to give us ideas of what to be thankful for? To show us the right way to do it?

I heard Ann speak at the She Speaks Conference and it was…different. Soul-stirring. Humble. And she sat in the hallway until the very last person who wanted to meet her could talk to her. I was in awe. I didn’t want to meet her, to take up more of her time, and I didn’t fully realize until now why. I don’t think very highly of myself.

Who am I to want to meet her? What would I say? I’m quite sure I would not be able to say anything of impact — nothing that would change her life for the better. What could I offer her that those other people in line couldn’t? I would just be another face in the crowd.

I was further intrigued by her book so I bought it. When I started reading it, I was drawn in fully. My brain had a hard time adjusting to her writing — it kept wanting to add words I felt she left out. I understood exactly what she was communicating, and I wondered how many times I add in words that are better left out.

I am only a few chapters in, but it is a good read. Being thankful for the little things helps keep your heart in tune with God and not caught up in complaining about all that’s wrong.

This post has been on my heart and in my mind for a few week’s now. How fitting that I am making the time to post it on a Thursday. I used to post Thankful Thursdays every week way back when I was writing more. There’s no better time to start back than today. But being thankful shouldn’t be limited to Thursdays. Think I’ll go buy me a pretty little notebook and start writing my one thousand gifts. I may share some here but some may be too personal. I encourage you to share some things you are thankful for today.

1. a wonderful, healthy, loving husband/best friend

2. a wonderful, healthy, sometimes loving/sometimes hormonal daughter

3. made bed

4. clean, organized, painted closet

5. raindrops on motorcycle windshield

6. a little kitten who cuddles next to my leg while I work

7. controlled allergies for said kitten

8. comfy bed and full night’s sleep

9. getting a second chance to meet Ann

All night last night, I desperately wanted to get back to my keyboard. I had posts running through my head and I wanted to get them out before they left my head. I kept thinking I’d write my Thankful Thursday post and get it up a day early even … then I remembered that yesterday was Thursday and today is Friday. Yep, I’m on top of things this week!

Well, I’ve decided to do my thankful post anyway … a day late. It’s nothing new for me, really. To be late

I am thankful for my hubby, Duck. Last night he was invited to sing at a revival. The revival preacher was the man who married us 12 years ago. Duck and his group got up to sing one more song before the preaching and Duck started. I knew when he started talking that both of us were going to end up crying. Good thing I didn’t have makeup on (sorry Shari!). A piece of the pre-marital counseling we received from this preacher was that Duck is God’s Perfect Gift to me and that I am God’s Perfect Gift to him.

Now that may confuse you because ultimately I think Jesus is God’s Perfect Gift to us all. But the preacher explained it this way — God doesn’t make mistakes. He put the two of us together and in the middle of the bad times that will come, we need to remember that God handpicked Duck for me and I for him. We’ve reminded each other of that many times over the past 12 years!

Duck takes such good care of me and Doodle too. He works hard at everything he does trying his best. I’m so very proud of him too because he worked hard at the contract position he had, and as of October 13th, he was hired permanently at The Big Company. He also took a leap of faith and started working out with my trainer too. He was skeptical at first that he would learn anything or get any good out of it. He’s stuck with it and has actually admitted he’s gotten a lot of good stuff from the trainer.

So enough gushing about Duck. I’m thankful also for my motorcycle and the fact I didn’t run it off the side of the mountain! I think I’m getting my blogging grove back, or at least I’m thinking of things to blog about again.

I’m thankful Doodle is doing ok in school so far. This year has been better than the past years. She’s growing up too fast though – literally. She’s shot straight up. I need to take some pictures and post, maybe I’ll work on that this weekend. She’s asking me some tough questions — like what was life like for me when I was 16. Yikes. Totally not ready to have that kind of conversation with her, because I was not in a good place back then. I’m thankful though that she feels ok asking me those questions and talking to me. I hope that lasts — but I also hope that God gives me the answers I need to give her.

I recommend checking out other people who posted their Thankful Thursdays on time at Iris’ site. Join in as well, even if you’re late like me!

It’s been way too long since I’ve done a Thankful Thursday post. I had a few little things to update y’all on, and decided to make them all into a Thankful post!

• My niece Tiffany was in the hospital last week. Thank God it was just a virus that went away and she and her baby are doing just fine.
• My buddy Heather survived flying out to San Francisco for BlogHer. She had a wonderful time and made it home safely.
• Duck’s work is still going through changes, I think, but he’s not freaking out about them right now. That’s a good thang!
• We had softball practice last Sunday and I’m thankful to say, everyone seemed to be really laid back. I don’t think we’ll have any up-tight, over-competitive people — although over half the team is family. It’s entirely possible the family was on their best behavior Sunday, and that the attitudes could show up later!
• I’ve been having some quiet time this week. I missed a day or two and can really tell it when I do that, but overall it’s helping me get a grip. I’ve been working on being more organized (yes, again).
• I’m trying really hard to be thankful for this, but Duck and I went through all my old clothes. You see, even with my new wardrobe, I was pulling out some old faithfuls to wear occasionally — old ball shirts and such. Ok, so they were like a security blanket for me. Yes, I let go of the majority of my clothes and it felt good to free up the space. Two huge garbage bags full, ready to go to Good Will. Duck was way too giddy helping me with this stuff.

I’m sure there’s more that I’m thankful for this week but I need to shower Check out Iris’ for more Thankful Thursdays and participate yourself!

Well, ok. Not more ticks — just another tick. . .on me. . .and I didn’t freak out. Now that’s a miracle

I did try the dish detergent on a cotton ball. I held it on there for about 30 seconds and it was definitely easier to pull that sucker off. I’m not sure it was actually turning to bite the cotton ball, but it’s entirely possible I didn’t leave it on there long enough.

So on to Thankful Thursday!

• I am most thankful for a patient mother who truly did have to go through a thick head of hair every night looking for ticks (I’d forgot about the rubbing alcohol!). When you’re born in the woods, it just becomes a way of life — looking for those little suckers. Although I’m not exactly in the woods anymore — I’m thinking it’s the dog’s fault
• I am thankful I was able to remove the tick off me and it’s now safely in a little baggie in case a doctor should need to look at it. I know it’s a deer tick — well, I think I know
• A non-tick thankful item: I’m thankful Dad taught me how to drive a straight drive. I remember talking to him about it and he said if I didn’t know how to drive it, that there were many cars I wouldn’t be able to drive — but that if I learned, there wouldn’t be a car I couldn’t drive. Hope that made sense Regardless, I’m thankful he had the patience to teach me in the Rose’s parking lot (remember Rose’s back before the day of Wallie World?) one night after work (my work not his!). I remember I couldn’t go up that steep hill out of the parking lot, but I got comfortable enough in my little pickup to start off on the steepest of hills. I think that contributed to my being able to pick up riding a motorcycle too, although I’m sure Mom doesn’t want to hear that!
• I’m thankful for the responses I’ve had to my simply His blogger giveaway (which you can still enter if you haven’t already!!!). I pray that God will use my knowledge to help others build relationships with people — to show them Jesus. That would just be down right awesome!

If you’ve never followed Thankful Thursdays, I highly suggest you go to Iris’ and visit! There are always things to be thankful for — you just may have to look harder some weeks than others!

Thankful Thursdays hosted at Iris’ place, have grown over the past several months. Hop over there to read what others are thankful for this week. It’s enough to change your attitude for the better

This week has been a difficult one. Doodle went back to school on Tuesday, and I thought I’d be back on some kind of normal schedule — in my comfort zone. But I had told a friend I would take her for outpatient surgery and would stay with her. I haven’t been really home in 2 days and definitely not in my comfort zone. Yet, I do need to look at the things I’m thankful for this week — even if it hasn’t gone anything like I’d hoped it would.

• Rain: I’m thankful for the rain and that we are no longer in a drought. I’m also thankful for the sunshine today as it has been a little depressing with the rain, clouds and cold weather.
• Friend: I’m thankful everything went well with my friend’s surgery. I’m also thankful that I was able to be there for her. She doesn’t have family in this state, and no really close friends who don’t have to work or take care of their own kids. I’m thankful I have a flexible enough schedule (sometimes too flexible I think!) to take care of her.
• Duck: I’m so very thankful for Duck. He’s been completely awesome this week. I know it’s been hard on him to not have me around — at least he’s said he misses me. I’m thankful that he cleaned the kitchen, went to the grocery store, did the laundry, and took care of Doodle. All on top of working hard every day at his job. He stepped up and took care of things that are my responsibility and hasn’t complained once. Of course I haven’t been here to hear it either
• Doodle: I’m thankful for Doodle. She’s growing up fast. She’ll be 9 in June and she’s just starting to exhibit her own independence with getting herself dressed, brushing her hair, etc. I know other kids may start earlier doing these things, but I’ve been letting her move at her own pace. She still gives me grief though and there’s no telling what we’ll be like together when she reaches teenage years, but for now, she’s sweet. She gave me a bunch of hugs and kisses and told me she missed me a lot when I was with my friend. She’s also very caring — she wanted to go with me to help out with my friend. She’s always thinking about others who are sick or hurting.

Speaking of Doodle — I need to run and pick her up. I’m sure there’s much more to be thankful for today — perhaps the pollen that’s giving me a headache because I know it’s Spring, but I’ll save those for next week!