Thankful Challenge//Giveaway

I started reading this amazing book "One Thousand Gifts" By: Ann Voskamp. My sweet sister gave it to me for my birthday and it was one of the very best presents to be given. In it the author speaks about writing down 1,000 reasons you are thankful. Since reading it I've been sounding off things I'm thankful for...from the moment I wake up until the time my head touches the pillow at night. And my friends, it has CHANGED MY LIFE! It makes waking up much more easier, too. :) One of the secrets to living a happy life isn't just living a thankful life it's living a thank FULL life and taking note of each thing. To actually fixate on each particular reason I'm grateful every single day is deeply humbling and satisfying. Simple things that I hadn't given a second thought have given my life more meaning with this new habit. Allowing God's perfect plan to unfold by being more aware of His gifts is making me grow stronger. We have been given countless beautiful gifts from God. Everywhere we look there is something. Just looking out the window and seeing the beautiful texture of the trees each being completely different. And looking up at the gorgeous blues of the sky with big white fluffy clouds that vary in size and shape. Looking into the eyes of your child so pure and loving. Listening to the laughter of your friend. Tasting the sweetness of fruit. So many gifts to see, feel, hear and taste. As well as so many moments to treasure.

Here are just a few of the things I have become more grateful for:

30.For the sun that allows natural light to shine while I'm reading outside

 31.For cold water in my kid's kiddi pool that feels so refreshing on my hot feet

32.For the calming sounds of the birds high in the sky

33.For a cool breeze that brushes by me in the heat of the day

34.When my child grabs my hand to show me something special to them

 35.For the sweet taste of refreshing watermelon

36.The joy that a baby turtle brings

37.Beautiful wildflowers that bloom in the field with no special attention

38. The smile of a stranger at the grocery store

39. My Mom's kind and beautiful eyes that brighten as she sees her grand kids together

40. Being able to read The Bible any time of the day and anywhere

41. The quietness of the house at night while all are sleeping

42. Pretty butterflies that Troy can always spot and run after to catch

::::The MORE thankful we are the MORE fully happy we become::::

I encourage you to take the "Thankful Challenge" with me!! Each day write down in a journal 5 (or more) things you are grateful for and do this for 200 days to meet our goal of 1,000 things we are thankful for. And it doesn't even have to end there :). I have a new journal I've dedicated to this. I've been waiting to use it, almost as if saving it especially for this. And how fun it will be to look back on in years to come. Writing down the gifts we are grateful for is key. I love this book so much that I'm going to send one person her book. Just comment below or "like" my post and I will randomly select one person to receive her book. I can't wait for you to be blessed with her Godly wisdom! The drawing will end this Friday at 11:59 pm. I will then contact the winner. 

Have a great day, Jamie :)

Being happy in the now

Have you ever said these things to yourself...

I will be so happy when _____

or 

When ____ I will be so happy

???

Source: HERE

Source HERE

I know I have many many times. Too many times.

Almost 4 years ago I got a new job as a part-time RN at a hospital and Billy got a new job after being out of work for a couple months. Austin was almost 3 years old and Troy was about 8 weeks old. I told myself "I'm going to be so happy when I buy a really nice new car." I wanted more room for my little ones and I was still driving my little '96 Saturn from High School. So car shopping we went on a Saturday... in the rain! We should have postponed our shopping day and taken the rain as a sign. Anyways, we went to 3 different car dealerships looking and looking. We finally decided on an almost new SUV that was a lot of money. We signed the paperwork and drove off in our new car. 

Over the course of the weekend I felt so sick and unsettled about purchasing that vehicle. And I realized that having a new car was not making me any more happy nor did I love everything about it. The Monday after purchasing it I prayed and prayed about it. And on Tuesday I called the dealership and told them I wanted to return it and didn't like it as much as I thought. I'll save the long story and just tell you that I was able to return it. And we purchased a used & much less expensive SUV repairable that my Dad helped us find.
#TRUTH: I was just as happy in that car. The newer car didn't make me any more happy. Actually, was just as happy in my old car from High School.

"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." 

-Philippians 4:11

I'm going to take you back to a couple of years ago. I would tell my hubby several times: "I'm going to be so happy when you finish our basement! We need more space." We live in a split level and I wanted our basement done so bad for when our second son was born. Well, that basement took a long time. And it finally got mostly finished in March of 2013. Troy was turning 2 years old. Billy did the majority of the work himself. Bless his sweet self. My hubby is such a hard worker. Did that finished basement make me so much more happier? For a period of time I was happier. But that wore off and I was onto the next thing. "I'm going to be so happy when we sell this house and get a bigger house."
#TRUTH: A bigger house is not going to make me any more happy. Actually, the finished basement didn't make me any more happy. I could've learned to make the upstairs work and been thankful.

"Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions."

-Luke 12:15

I believe God wants us to be happy right where we are right this minute. And the truth is that there is nothing in this world that is going to make us any happier. I have come to the point in my life (finally) to know that there is nothing that I can buy for myself that will make me any more happier. And I have learned to praise God right as everything is at this very minute.

 My happiness comes from the Lord. My joy comes from the Lord. 

God is the only one and the only way. 

"Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. "

-John 14:6

Jamie :)