Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.               (1 Thess. 5:18)

November is one of my favorite months of the year.  I thought I would go through this month being thankful, at least, once a day. Discover something good throughout my day.  Some will be inward focused (something I discovered about myself), some outward focused (noticing what the Lord is doing around me). It will depend on what I see, experience, feel, or breath in, reflect on that day (s).

Nov 3-7: It’s been hard for me to separate these days because the word Choice keeps rising to the surface. It’s not just due to Nov. 6 being election day, there’s more to it than that. It’s how all throughout my life I’ve had freedom to choose. The biggest for me is I have a choice between life or death… focused inward. I can choose whether to live a life where Jesus is the center or one where he doesn’t exist. I chose Jesus as my center…go figure. I don’t have to allow Him access to my life…..however, to not have Him in my life just doesn’t work for me. He has made things happen like no one ever could. He’s opened doors, He’s closed doors->which are best for my future ( I at think I have figured out, only to realize I don’t). If things don’t work out it’s not His fault…it could be due to a choice I made…I have to take responsibility for my own choices/decisions. BUT my God is so big when I screw things up, He eventually steps in to make things right. I can choose to be present in life or just a by standard. Don’t get me wrong there are times I feel like I’m just along for the ride…but that’s not bad. I’m still working on this freedom of choice, it’s an ever evolving, never ending lesson.

Nov. 2: My Kids... I was extremely thankful for my daughter Michele. November is her birth month. She is the daughter the Lord new I would need throughout my life. She has always been a challenge to my own self….even to this day she is (in a good way). However she is invaluable to me as her own person. I love that she has a little of me and a little of her dad…and a lot of herself wrapped up in one package. She loves Jesus, serves her family in every way that is her own. When her dad was killed, she was the one who kept our Jesus at the center of what was going on. She has cried with me, left me alone, prayed for me all while taking care of her own little ones. Even though our relationship has experienced rocky moments, I am very thankful for our relationship today. Michele is my emotional support and soooo much more to those around her.

I am also thankful for my son. I had to mention his sister first cause it’s her birth month…. :). He too is a great mix of his mom and dad…leans a little more towards his mom but has the logic of his dad…yay. Watching him be a father to his kids and a good husband has been such a joy. He too is becoming a person of his own. Brian’s ability with numbers is something he has created his own…especially since math was sooo hard for him throughout his younger years. He has cultivated this gift to help others achieve financial goals….amazing.

Nov. 1: As I reflect on my day….I’m thankful for quiet. My life has slowed down a lot. Some my choice, some due to circumstances. It’s been kind of hard sitting in quietness. Knowing people are buzzing all around, with places to go, people to see, things to do. I was one of them. There were times I wanted it all to stop. I would think being in noise and busy was so exhausting yet exhilarating at the same time. I like hearing the kids outside running around, laughing, enjoying themselves, cars driving by, sirens. This tells me life is happening. Walking through a forest to experience quiet is not available to me. Quiet for me is when I intentionally stop, listen to my breathing, stand outside at night, look up and see stillness, going somewhere to look at the Sandia Mountain and sitting still, listening to music. Sometimes it’s sitting on the floor, closing my eyes and listening to the space I’m in…. Doing these gives me moments to breath, be still and listen….it makes me pause. Noise has it’s purpose but so does quiet. Imagine if everyone stopped for 5 mins…how quiet it would be…maybe a little eerie at first but I think if it happened enough times…some would crave it. Quiet calms the soul to give it and my brain a chance to reset. Quiet is there…..I just have to stop and listen!!