Thankfulness Day 6

*Edited: This is the normal post for today. I forgot to post Mondays, so there are two for today (Tuesday)


Today was a busy day for me, but enjoyable. I met a few lovely ladies at a nearby town. We had a cafe, then strolled through the market where I got Rucola (or Arugala in America), butter cookies, and 2 scarfs. We went and had lunch with half of it coming home with me in a box for lunch in a day or two. Then one of the ladies and I went to 2 shops further away. One is a store that sells fresh fruit, veg, and meat for cheaper than most stores. I got Brussels Sprouts; my friend got some cauliflower. They also sell common spices for cheaper than I can get it around the corner...less than $1. Driving home was distracting given God decided to showcase His latest painting. After I dropped my friend off at her house, I stopped on the way home to get this:

Although it's not as amazing as the previous sights, it was still beautiful. The pic was taken with my phone, so it's grainy and doesn't pick up either the lightning flickering above/behind the top cloud or the light pink just above the clouds.



Today I am grateful for a particular freedom. November the 6th, occurring every four years, Americans vote on who they want to work to run their country. Not too many years ago (definitely in my parent's lifetime....although they are older than most....besides the point.....anywho.....), the only Americans that were allowed to vote were white men. That's it. Now, all US citizens over 18 can vote. I'm doubly blessed since I am not currently residing IN the US at the moment.

Did I exercise my right? Yes I did. But not on this day did I drive my vehicle to a voting site, show my voter's card and ID, go inside a curtained booth, push buttons to select my choices, and walk out after receiving a sticker. I did 8 years ago. This year, as well as 4 years ago, I exercised my right via Absentee Ballot by mail. I requested my form via mail and waited. I received an email that allowed me to download and print my ballot....which included my state of residency (per the district) choices as well. I then mailed it off to the Election office for my state in order for it to be counted along with all of the other mail-in ballots. While I won't mention who all I chose, I will say that I am thankful that our forefathers, along with amendments and technology, allowed me to exercise a freedom on this day, a specific day held only once every 4 years.

Thankfulness Day 4

Today was a cool and rainy Sunday. I woke up and wondered if I shouldn't be still asleep. I looked over at the clock....nope, time to get up. That's one thing I don't like about days like today...you're body wonders for most of the day if it should still be recharging somewhere. I got plenty of sleep, but yawned all day like it was past midnight. As I'm typing this, I can hear it pouring. When that happens I know it's hard rain as my dad says. The walls of the houses here in Italy aren't built like American houses. Nope. The walls are cinderblocks and concrete. Yeah, hanging pictures are a blast! That is until we got smart, but that's for a different post. Anywho......the point is, the walls are thick! That is also kinda a bad thing in the winter. Once the walls cool down to the outside temp (it takes them a couple days of consistent cool), they hold in the cold. The way I explained it to my sister was this: think about it this way...it's like living in a electric/radiator-ran cellar....only above ground. The walls are solid....there is NO way there is a vehicle going through these babies!
Ummmmm.....where was I? Oh yeah. The point of this post. Thankfulness.

Today I am thankful for healing. One day (probably after this month is over) I will type up what happened a year ago in detail. Suffice it to say, I splintered both leg bones in my left leg last July. One year ago, I was hobbling down the stairs (all 24 of them) in the chill and the rain in this:

Some doctors call it a walking boot; some call it a moon boot. While I hated putting it on every. single. time I got out of bed or the shower and taking it off every. single. time I went to bed or took a shower, I was thankful I had it. The black contraption meant that I was allowed to walk anywhere without the support of a wheelchair or crutches. While I dreaded it, I grew rather attached to it.

A year later.....it's still rainy, but today my footwear was

.....a pair of white strappy dress shoes. The heel is no longer high (maybe an inch), but that little heel is a HUGE improvement to the sandals and the trainers I was wearing. :-)

Thankfulness Day 3

Today was still cool, but not as chilly as it has been. I spent the day inside...kinda bummed. Why? Who knows. I have days where I'm just "bummy" as I tell hubby. Maybe it's chick hormones or the weather or the earlier times for darkness. I am still reminded, even on those not-so-happy-cheerful days that there is much to be thankful for.

It's been difficult narrowing my choice for today. I could probably start at A and go through Z (Z might be hard one...hmmmmmm) with at least one thing that I'm thankful for. I don't want to pick just a random thing each day though. I want to choose something, each day, that I the most thankful for on that day. I already know what tomorrow's will be (I think...lol), but this is today.

Today I am most thankful for my salvation. One of the reasons I've been "bummy" is that I haven't felt all that "public worthy". Makes no sense? That's means that I have no desire to go out into public until I change something. Sometimes I have no choice....there are things to do, errands to run, and no hubby to send after work to do them (he's on a business trip). Today, fortunately, was not one of those days. Even when I feel at my not-so-good or even at my worst (those lovely days of sickness that we all have), He still loves me.

Years ago I realized I needed Jesus Christ, confessed my sins, and became His child. I strayed a few years later out of anger (long story....maybe one day). I came back to Him like the story of the Prodigal Son. Even on days like today or those "Ugh! Just kill me now and put me out of my misery" days, He doesn't see the "ickyness" or the "grossness" or the "illness". He just sees His child. And He loves me.

There have been times when it was just me and my 2 dogs (or now just 1) and I have felt so alone. I've cried out to Him for comfort...knowing that there was no one else I could call or turn to (sometimes because of my stubbornness not to call, but that's beside the point). Guess what? He heard me (as He always has and always will) and comforted me. I can't begin to explain it, but suddenly I didn't feel so alone. I didn't feel like the whole world was against me and hated me (yep, that's irrational...I have a loving family). I didn't feel unloved or unwanted.

The Bible speaks of Heaven. Yes, I do believe that it is a real place that I will go whenever I die. However, if there was no Heaven; no way to see loved ones that have passed on; no way I could thank Jesus (in person) for all He's done for me and all He gave up, I would still be thankful that I became one of His children all those years ago and came back those years later. The comfort alone in those times when I need it the most is worth it.

Thankfulness Day 2

While the weather is still the autumn-type chilly, it was nice and sunny all day. My lovely dog Belle was happy to spend a large portion of it outside if front of the drive-through gate watching/sniffing all of the folks that walked/rode their bikes by. That seems to be her favorite part...she's happy just to lay in front of the gate and people-watch.

Today (and all of the other ones too) I am thankful for my darling hubby.

We met in 1996 and married just under 3 years later. He is my best friend and soul-mate. He is one of the few people in the world I can talk to and tell just about anything. He loves me when I'm having a good day, having fun, joking with him. He also loves me when I'm cranky, whiny, and down. His job takes him away for months at a time....this time as well. We keep in touch via calls (him to me), emails, and Facebook (sometimes just "checking in" and sometimes chats).

Month of Thankfulness

Last year, a friend on Facebook reposted a challenge....I decided to accept the challenge and actually completed it. I've decided sometime during the year that I have spent waaaaaaay too much time on FB, so have decided to try to complete the challenge via this sorely-neglected blog.
What is the challenge?

To post something every day during the entire month of November for something you're thankful for that day. I did my utmost to never post duplicates, but something different each day. It helps give thanks back to the Lord for His many blessings. It also reminds us me that when those days of gloom and doom (even if it's internal) seem never-ending and bring us me down, that there is sooooo much to be thankful for. Kind of a reality check.

Today, for the 1st.
I am thankful that during this gloomy, rainy, chilly Autumn day, I have a dry roof over my head that is a house that we rent....so any upkeep is the landlord's responsibility.

FYI: It's a "two-story" house, but the only "livable" part is what's in the pic. Per local custom, the bottom half is the garage/storage. Yep, when we park our vehicle out of the elements inside the garage, it is actually directly under our bedroom.

Odd customs in other parts of the world sometimes.