Sometimes we should express our gratitude for the small and simple things . . .

It is easy to express gratitude when things in your life are running smoothly, but a little more difficult when things get rough. We have recently gone through a challenging time that made it more difficult to see the blessings in our lives. My husband was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and life has been a world-wind of medical tests, doctor's appointments and hospital stays. To say it has been overwhelming doesn't begin to describe what we have been through.

I'll admit that I forgot to be grateful for a while. My thoughts and emotions were so tied up in dealing with the unthinkable that I could no longer see the blessings in my life. I was blinded and running on empty. Just getting through another day took tremendous energy. At the end of the day, there was nothing left over to either recognize blessings or express gratitude.

But, we have experienced blessings along the way.  The greatest blessing is that his condition is treatable and he began Chemo treatments a few weeks ago. He has responded well and the doctors are hopeful. But those are not the only blessings we have received.

We have heard from people who we have not spoken to for decades, as they send their support and hold us in their thoughts and prayers. Knowing that we still hold a place in the lives of those we knew so long ago is indeed a blessing.

We have received words of encouragement from online friends who we have never met. Knowing that we have touched lives and made an impact on others lifts us up in this difficult time.

Our children have stood behind us and offered their undying support, even when their lives were filled with other obligations and we know they were running on empty, too. They will never fully understand how much that means and how proud we are of the people they have become.

The world is filled with kind and caring people and we are blessed to call them our friends and family.

So, today I am grateful for the outpouring of support, for the continued prayers and the goodness of people. May they be blessed mightily in return.

I am grateful for modern medicine that makes it possible to fight this horrible disease, for the experience, skill and compassion of caring doctors and for the many nurses and support staff that have eased our way through the darkness.

I am grateful for the peace and tranquility of nature, for my camera that allows me to capture the beauty God has bestowed on us and for stolen moments when I can get outside to photograph and share that beauty with you. 

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop and share my day. May you always find blessings to be grateful for like "the scent of the rain, the taste of your favorite food, or the sound of a loved one's voice."

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Keeping the faith is easy when all things work together as they should, but for many of us, when things get difficult, our faith begins to waiver. I've been waivering lately. Not because I don't have faith, exactly --  but because I am not sure of the direction I should go. 


As many of you know, I am a writer by trade. Recent situations have arisen where my main source of writing income has suddenly dwindled. This has forced me outside my comfortable bubble in search of meaningful and profitable work. 


I tell you all this, not because I want your sympathy -- but because it leads me to today's quote. 


After yet another blow to my livelihood as a writer -- which I won't go into here -- I checked my mail to see if I had any responses from the many leads I have followed. In frustration over the empty mailbox and the lack of immediate prospects, I settled myself down for a nap. 


When I awoke, I didn't jump out of bed to get to work, but instead mumbled "What's the use?" and turned my face to the wall.


Suddenly -- out of nowhere -- the phrase "Oh ye of little faith, get out of that bed." echoed through my thoughts. 


Needless to say, I obeyed. I'm not sure what is in store for me or the direction my life as a writer will take -- but I am sure that something wonderful awaits me right around the corner.


May you cultivate faith today as you strive to reach your dreams and goals.

Today, I am grateful for the starry sky, the brilliant moon and for the soft rustle of wind in the trees. I am grateful for the melody of my wind chimes, a lone dog barking in the distance and the soft damp air. 

I am grateful for my daughter as she works tirelessly on her studies knowing that they are the key to where she wants to go, for my son who has grown into a responsible and caring adult and my husband who is always there to support me. 

I am grateful for brothers and sisters who helped make me who I am, for parents who built my foundation and for friends along the way who have helped determine my path. 

I am grateful for opportunity to touch the lives of others with my words, for the luxury of a warm home, clean clothes and healthy food to eat. 

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you have the faith of a mustard seed, today  -- as you go forward in the direction of your dreams.

“Faith is like electricity. You can't see it, but you can see the light.”

CC-By 2.0 Generic VictorianMutant

So often in life we spend our time believing in only what we can see and we lose faith in that which we cannot see. Yet, it is that which we cannot see that often holds the greatest power. Get into the habit of seeing with more than your eyes, today and build faith that all will unfold as it should.

Let the power of God, or the Universe, or whatever you envision the source of your life force to be, guide you today as you work towards your goals and dreams.

My daughter takes the leap of faith, today, as she is Baptized--yet I am concerned that the money for college won't be there for her to pursue her first choice of schools. How short-sighted we human beings can be. (If you would like to help her reach her dreams, you can donate toward her college costs on the top right hand side of this blog.)

Today, I am grateful for family that surrounds her and supports her in her decisions, for a bright sunny day to celebrate her faith and for faith that all will unfold as it should.


I am grateful for the generous hearts of others, for the kindness of strangers and the beauty of this world. I am grateful for sunshine, for gentle breezes and clouds that float aimlessly across the sky. I am grateful for renewed energy, for a clear sound mind and for health.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop and share my day. May you have faith in that which you cannot see today, as you go forward in the direction of your dreams.

"To bring anything into your life, imagine that it's already there." — Richard Bach

by tinah

The gardener has no difficulty imagining the beauty of the flower when he plants the seed, why then is it so difficult for us to imagine the beauty of our future?

Develop the faith of the gardener today and know that as you plant the seeds of a prosperous and bright tomorrow that it will surely come to pass in its time. It will, however, require nuturing and care as it begins to grow. Consider the seedling that soon withers under the heat of the sun if it is neglected--but flourishes when provided the right care.

Nurture your dreams and desires by maintaining faith and cultivating a positive attitude, for the energy it releases provides the environment for your dreams to grow.

Today, I am grateful for the opportunity to dream and to go forward and claim those dreams. I am grateful for the courage to rise above seeming obstacles and to nurture my dreams even when they seem far away.


I am grateful for the power of the universe in its infinite beauty, for night that transitions to day and for the illumination the sun provides. I am grateful for the vast, unexplored regions of the brain that hold great power to manifest that which is good and just and uplifting.


I am grateful for people who share my dreams, for family that makes the journey light and for old friends who have been part of my world and always see me through.


I am grateful for those I have yet to meet, for I know they hold hidden treasures and insight into this journey we call life.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. You provide focus and keep me ever conscious that we are all in this journey together. May you cultivate the faith of a gardener today, knowing that the future you imagine is already there. May you nurture it with faith and a positive attitude as you go forward in the direction of your dreams.

The future is literally in our hands to mold as we like. But we cannot wait until tomorrow. Tomorrow is now. Eleanor Roosevelt

By: jzlomek

Many of us delay taking action because we are unsure of the direction we should take and mistakenly believe that leaving it until later is a prudent move. Naturally, there are times when thinking things through is desired, but when we use thinking things through as an excuse to delay action, we cheat ourselves.

The potter doesn't begin his work and suddenly stop and let it sit until a better time. He works steadfastly toward completing the vision his has set in his head and brings it to reality. Develop the mindset of a potter today. Take action and begin molding the vision of your future.

Today, I am grateful for hope, for faith and for the vision of a bright tomorrow. I am grateful for the ability to dream and the knowledge that I can go forward toward my dreams to claim my future. I am grateful for the courage and strength to step beyond my comfort zone to reach my dreams.


I am grateful for a comfortable home, healthy food and warmth from the late winter winds. I am grateful for family to share my life, for friends who share my dreams and for strangers who touch my life.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you be like the potter and take action to mold your future as you go forward in the direction of your dreams.

Most people wish to serve God - but only in an advisory capacity. ~Author Unknown

kananaskis_country

How often we turn to God when we have needs, lay our souls bare and ask for his guidance--only to then try to direct his answer. Instead of giving our needs to him and trusting that he knows the way to bring our hearts desires to pass, we take it back into our own hands and view it from our own limited view, thinking we can somehow direct God's hand.

Faith is letting it go and trusting God to show you the way--not using your own fallible intellect to direct God's way.


Get into the habit of offering up your heart's desires and allowing God to direct the way.

Today, I am grateful for dawn as it makes way for day, for a sleeping world that rests silently at night and for puffs of new snow that cover the world.


I am grateful for music that lightens the load, for artists who add new perspective and for the manual laborer who works quietly to complete his tasks. I am grateful for scientists that study our world, for parents who provide guidance to our youth and for communities who pull together to improve the world.


I am grateful for family and friends who form the foundation of my life, for laughter and pizza that enrich our lives.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you cultivate the art of allowing God to direct your ways as you go forward in the direction of your dreams.

Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results. Willie Nelson

by hotblack

Consider the lowly caterpillar that transforms into a butterfly able to soar above the treetops. He doesn't enter the chrysalis with thoughts of dread. Instead, he knows that all will transpire as it should.

Cultivate the faith of a caterpillar today, exchanging old negative thoughts with positive thoughts and watch your world transform.

Today, I am grateful to be warm and snug inside as yet another snowstorm engulfs Maine, for administrators who must make the important decision of whether or not to close schools and for the brave men and women who work diligently to clear the roads.


I am grateful for the ability to work from home uninterrupted by winter storms, for a clear sound mind and for vision to see where I must go. I am grateful for all the circumstances in my life that have worked together to bring me to where I am, for the joy of the day and the promise of a bright tomorrow.


I am grateful for family and friends that make me strong, for old friends along life's journey and for new friends I have yet to meet. 


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you replace your negative thoughts with positive thoughts and go forth to meet your dreams.

“We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.”

According to the Laws of Attraction, our thoughts determine the direction of our lives. For those who have grown accustomed to the belief that thoughts merely come and that we have no control over them, this may not be a comforting thought. But for those who understand that we choose our thoughts, or at least we choose which we will focus on, it opens the door to enlightenment.

Before you declare that you do not have control over the thoughts that enter your mind, let's take a moment to explore that belief.  If I ask you to think about pizza, surely you can change your thoughts to images of crispy brown crusts, covered with melted cheese and dotted with hot spicy pepperoni. Chances are you have no difficulty visualizing your favorite pizza complete with topping and may even conjure up the aroma, taste and texture as well. Sure, my suggestion may have prompted it--just as circumstances and events in your life may prompt thoughts--but you chose to entertain the thought and create the image.

As human beings we have the remarkable ability to govern our thoughts and determine the direction they will go. It is this ability to direct our thoughts that determines the direction and circumstances of our lives. Jesus tells us in Matthew 17:20 "... For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” Surely, if he instructs us in the measure of faith required to create action from our thoughts, the ability to choose those thoughts must lie within us.

Even though you are the director of your thoughts, there are times when it seems you simply cannot get an idea, a fear, or an annoying thought out of your head. Believe it or not, there is a reason for this. Your mind can not process a negative thought. Now, I know what you thinking. Look closely. I didn't say your mind can not think negative thoughts--I said it cannot process a negative thought. In this context a negative thought refers to your instructions to stop thinking about something. 

Let's give it a try, shall we? Right now. Right this very minute--do not think about penguins. Be strong. Be adamant. Instruct your mind not to think about penguins. What happened to your thoughts? The more you instruct your brain to NOT think about penguins the harder it is to move past the thought. The mind does not process the word NOT and focuses on penguins, simply because it is the way the mind functions. To remove the thought of penguins require a conscious shift in thought.

You probably had no problem erasing the image crispy pizza, but the image of penguins persisted. In the first instance, you simply changed your thinking away from pizza. In the second, you fed your mind a negative command and experienced your mind's inability to process a negative.

So what does all that have to do with your future? Everything. Many of us make the error or thinking about the things we don't want in life. We don't want to be fat. We don't want to be tired. We don't want to be poor. We don't want to think about penguins. In turn, our mind refuses to let go of the image and we release to the images of the things we don't want to the universe. It in turn complies and brings more of what we don't want into our lives.

If you want to change your life. Change your thoughts. Focus on what you do want and go forward to reach your dreams.

Today, I am grateful for the flickering light of a candle that adds warmth and comfort in cold winter months, for rich color that enhances my life and for artists who bring a canvas to life.

I am grateful for the department of transportation that works to keep winter roads clear, for firemen willing to risk their lives to save others and for electricians who keep our homes safe.

I am grateful for weathermen who warn me of winter storms, for news anchors who keep me informed and for television to brings news to the world.

I am grateful for my children who always make me proud, for a husband who shares my life and for siblings who have formed my world.

I am grateful for parents who taught me much, for teachers who showed me the way and college professors who encouraged me.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your thoughts be filled with goodness and light today that you may go forth and claim your dreams.

Chance is always powerful. Let your hook be always cast; in the pool where you least expect it, there will be a fish. Ovid

Photo by demondimum

Sometimes, we get discouraged when our goals and dreams don't come quick enough to suit our desires. Instead of exercising patience we give up and go in search of other opportunities or to test the waters in other areas. 

We will never know how many opportunities we have missed due to our lack of patience, for all things come in their own time.


If you are struggling to reach a particular goal today, use care not to give up too soon. Develop the patience of the angler today as he sits quietly casting his line over and over waiting for the big one to strike. 


Today, I am grateful for the sound of snow as it lights softly on the trees, for the silent flight of winter birds and for the fragrance of winter.


I am grateful for the muffled whoosh of cars as they travel past, for the joy of dogs as they tussle in the snow and for squirrels that prance lightly on the surface.


I am grateful for electricity to light my world, for old movies and well-loved books.


I am grateful for family, for friends and readers who share my day.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your lines always be cast and may your catch be great.

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day. ~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Photo by mconnors

As we turn the page to a new year, life looms before us filled with opportunities and unexplored dreams.  Take the time today to really consider what that means to your life and set goals for reaching your dreams this year.

Don't worry that you dream too big, as that is seldom the case. It is not that our dreams are too big that cause I us to fail, it is that our faith is too small.

Cultivate the faith to believe you can accomplish your hearts desires, as your life will follow wherever you thoughts lead. It is up to you to set the sails and determine the direction you will go.

Cast off the belief that people and circumstances control your destiny, for surely your faith and determination are greater than the minor details that appear to hold you back.

Go ahead. Open the book. Begin writing the pages of a brand new year, filled with hope and promise of all good things that will come to pass. Get ready for the amazing journey that lies before you. You have the power inside you to make things happen. It's always been there. Isn't it time you set it free?

Today, I am grateful for a fresh new slate to start a new year, for the faith to carrying through and for the vision to see where I need to go. I am grateful for the "still quiet voice" that guides me, for the power to realize my dreams and the courage to stand by my beliefs.


I am grateful for the drive and determination to succeed in everything I do, for a sound mind that will see me through and for a healthy strong body to support me. I am grateful for renewed energy and a renewed mind that sees clearly where I need to go.


I am grateful for family that share my journey, for readers who benefit from my words and for opportunities I have yet to see. I am grateful for love, for laughter and for quiet moments to reflect on the beauty of nature, the song of the bird and the incredible will and faith of people around me. 


I am grateful for those who share my vision of a bright tomorrow, who are willing to work toward their goals by casting their gaze on all that is good and just in the world, and who know that the real power to change the world lies within each of us.


I am grateful for music that lifts up my soul, for a higher being that knows exactly where I should go and who never tires of showing me the way.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your vision is bright and your heart be light as you go forth to realize your dreams in this glorious new year.

New Year's eve is like every other night; there is no pause in the march of the universe, no breathless moment of silence among created things that the passage of another twelve months may be noted; and yet no man has quite the same thoughts this evening that come with the coming of darkness on other nights. ~Hamilton Wright Mabie

 Photo by grafixar

I've always liked New Year's Eve, not for going out or entertaining guests, but because it holds that magical moment when our symbolic past and our hopes for the future lie in balance, waiting for the scales to tip. 


It's not that I don't value the past or that I have anything negative in my life that I wish to put behind me. I don't. It's the anticipation of new adventures, the hope of reaching new goals and the light of a brand new year approaching that I love the most.


In it lies the promise of reaching new heights, accomplishing new things and going new places.


Consider where you've been this year and take pride in all you have accomplished. Express your gratitude for all you have, but aim for more. 


Today, I am grateful for the hundreds of people who have voted for my daughter's entry in a photo contest so she may win a college scholarship. Your votes bring her closer to realizing her hopes and dreams for the future. (You can vote here, if you are so inclined.)


I am grateful for the opportunity to share my holidays with my son, even though he is miles away, for my brother who cared for my animals while I was away and for family to spend the holidays with.


I am grateful for another year to work towards my goals, for the opportunity to spend my days doing what I love best--writing.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you view your past with pride and view the future with hope and never lose sight of your goals.
 

Sometimes opportunity knocks, but most of the time it sneaks up and then quietly steals away. ~ Doug Larson

photo by cohdra


Many of us are in the habit of sitting back and waiting for opportunity to knock on the front door, but what we don't consider is that opportunity is every where if we but look. 

Sitting idly by expecting opportunity to enter our lives with fanfare and announce itself is a bit naive, to say the least. If you seek opportunity in your life, you must be ready to recognize and act when it appears.

Keep your options open today and don't be too quick to close doors that may lead you down the path you should go. I'm not suggesting you follow every "fly by night" opportunity someone puts in front of you--but I am suggesting you consider your options regularly.

Today, I am grateful for the winter sun, clear roads and grocery stores that provide fresh fruits and vegetables in the midst of winter. I am grateful for seeds that lie silent throughout the winter and burst forth into lush green plants in spring. I am grateful for snow laden trees that decorate the wintry world.


I am grateful for talented and intelligent children who express there concern for the world, for family that I can count on and for friends who share my journey. 

I am grateful for the approaching new year ready to unfold, for new opportunities to go beyond what I ever dreamed possible and for recognizing them when they appear.


And, I am grateful for you dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your opportunities be many and may you be ready to act when they arrive.

“There are always flowers for those who want to see them.”~Henri Matisse









Photo by nrichford 



Consider what you choose to see today. The world is filled with beauty, if we but take the time to look. Lift up your eyes today and gaze on all that is good an uplifting. 

Resist the urge to dwell on things that bring you down for they will surely color your day and blind you to your goals and dreams.


Today, I am grateful for breath, for a beating heart and for life that I might bring goodness to the world. I am grateful for the example set by those who have gone before me, for laughter of good friends and tears that wash away all pain.


I am grateful for summer flowers that succumb to frost for now, but will be reborn in the glorious spring. I am grateful for the changing seasons that remind me that there is a time for everything whether I recognize it or not.


I am grateful for family that keeps me strong, for community that that supports its members and for spider webs that glisten in the sun.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your day be cheerful and may you always keep sight of the flowers.

“Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.”~ Ovid

by seemann

Take time to rest today and resist the urge to make your work all-consuming. Consider why you have the goals in the first place. For most of us, they are a way to improve the quality of our lives, but when they begin to take over every waking moment, we defeat their purpose.

Rest your mind and your body today, if possible. If today is not an option, set aside a day soon that you can devote to rest.  You deserve it. 

Today, I am grateful for solitude that refreshes my soul, for the freedom to choose rest, and the ability to enjoy it. I am grateful for the distant cry of the blue jay that announces "the feeder is full," for the tiny hummingbird that has not yet winged his way south, and stray flowers that continue to bloom.

I am grateful for bright blue skies and scattered white clouds and the soft flutter of leaves in the morning air.  

I am grateful for family and friends. May their hearts be filled with warmth and their days filled with joy. 

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you find rest from your work and comfort for the soul.
 

A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world.” ~Oscar Wilde


Consider your dreams today, however faraway they seem, they are the compass to where you need to go. Dreams don't just float into your life for no reason.

If you have a dream, that is secreted away out of the light of day, bring into the light today and make it happen.


Today, I am grateful for moonlight and shadows, for the sun as it slides into night, and for the sunrise that promises a new day.


I am grateful for sleep that brings rest to the soul, for cool water to drink, and the fruit of the earth to eat. I am grateful for computers, photographers who willingly share their magnificent works of art and for dogs who sleep lazily in summer sun.


I am grateful for family and friends who complete my life, for the elderly who share the stories of the past, and for strangers who have yet to cross my path. I am grateful for great minds that bring knowledge to the world, for great hearts that fill the world with compassion, and for strong bodies that perform labor that we all might live in comfort.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your dreams be lofty and may you pursue them with conviction as you go forth with your day.

“People only see what they are prepared to see.”~Ralph Waldo Emerson


What you see in this picture depends on how you look at it. Some see a polar bear as he climbs out of a pool of water, while others see a seal. 

Many of us can see either by shifting our focus, but others become so fixated on one image that it is all they are able to see.


It's a lot like life, really. As Emerson says, each of us sees exactly what we are prepared to see.


Consider what you are prepared to see this morning, as it will surely color your day and your life. Focusing on the negatives around you fine tunes your ability to see the negative, but with a slight shift in focus you may be surprised at the positive you will see.


Practice shifting your focus today to allow yourself to see the positive around you. Look for opportunities today and be ready to act. 


Today, I am grateful for darkness that gives way to light, rain that replenishes the earth, and joyous birds that flit from tree to tree untouched by gentle rain.

I am grateful for a clear, sound mind, a heart that beats, and feet that will carry me through my day. I am grateful for the scent of summer as it gives way to fall, for wildflowers that punctuate the earth, and natural springs that bubble cool, fresh water from the earth.


I am grateful for family and friends who share my life and give me strength, for new perspectives that allow me to see the world in another way, and for opportunities I have yet to recognize. 

I am grateful for insight and understanding that improves my life, for laughter that lightens the load, and for forgiveness that allows me to release those who have wronged me.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you stretch your mind today to see the world through a new perspective and grasp the opportunities you find along the way.

Develop an attitude of gratitude and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation. ~Brian Tracy


Photo By: RAYWAL65


Take time to be grateful today. Often we become so involved in getting where we want to go that we forget to be grateful for the people and events that lead us there. 

All the great believers, those who have taught us the value of creating an image and holding fast until it comes to pass, have also taught that expressing gratitude is an essential step in achieving abundance in our lives. 

 Our want for the future must be tempered with a sincere gratitude for what we already have and for that which is to come. Why or how it works is a mystery. For those with religious beliefs, the explanation is that when we are grateful for what he has given us and have faith is his almighty power, God rewards us with the desires of our hearts. But, even those with religious faith admit that the technique works whether we believe in an almighty God or not. Those without religious beliefs attribute it to the Universe. Whatever your belief, whatever you choose to call the ever-present almighty power in your life, it must be combined with gratitude.

Express  your gratitude today as you work towards building the future you have always dreamed of.

I am grateful for air to breathe, for songs to sing and for chickadees. I am grateful for sunny days, starry nights and rain that fuels the earth and growing things. I am grateful for a sound mind that allows me to visualize what I want most, for the faith to see it through and for the knowledge that it will comes to pass. 

I am grateful for family and friends to share my life, for the song of the robin that announces the break of day and for opportunities that have not yet comes to pass. I am grateful for a bright future for my children as they seek their way  in the world.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your heart be filled with gratitude and your thoughts look to the future with hope and faith and the knowledge that what you desire most will come to pass. 

To believe in the things you can see and touch is no belief at all. But to believe in the unseen is both a triumph and a blessing.~Bob Proctor


 photo by wallyir

Consider the return of birds in spring, today. The robin and the swallow return not by knowing the month and day that promises the return of spring, but by faith in that which they cannot yet see.  They know in their heart that spring will return and take action as though it were already here.

Their joyous chorus rings out long before the first rays of sun that signals dawn, yet they celebrate the coming of day. How wonderful to be like the birds of the field and act as though what we desire most already exists.

Take your cue from the faithful birds today and take action whether so see your goals coming to fruit or not. Act as though they already exist and let your soul shout out in song.

Today, I am grateful for green grass that grows in rain knowing the sun will return. I am grateful for the chorus of birds that reminds me that all is well with the world, for sleeping frogs soon to ring out in chorus and for flowers that will unfold when it is time. I am grateful for spring rain and cloudy skies that prepare my world for the glory of spring, for people I have yet to meet who will enliven my soul and for strangers who I will never know but touch with my words.




I am grateful for family and friends who challenge me to think outside the box and who remind when it is time for rest. 


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop and share my day. May your day be filled with faith as you act on things not yet seen with the eyes, but you know in the heart will comes to pass. May your thoughts be joyous and your heart be light as you journey through your day.

Faith is Taking the First Step

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase. Martin Luther King, Jr. If you are new to the concept of the Law of Attraction, you may be struggling with where to start. You may be a little afraid to get your hopes up. Don't belittle yourself yourself for that today. It comes from years of conditioning and years of believing that your life is beyond your control. It's not your fault. No man can go further than what he has been taught. Consider the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. today. You may not see the entire staircase, but you can reach out and take the first step. Have faith today and step beyond what you have been taught. Take a moment to visualize your destination. Feel the joy, feel the peace and comfort of knowing your future is limitless and step forward to begin the journey. Great things are waiting for you today. May you have the faith and courage to go forth with expectation and the joy of knowing that what you want most in life is within your reach. Today, I am grateful for swirling snowflakes and crisp cold air that fills my lungs and wakes my body. I am grateful to hear the chirping birds, to see the rising sun and for clouds as they float effortlessly toward their destination. I am grateful for clean clothes to wear, for food to fuel my body and for family that shares my day. I am grateful for movies that make me feel and books that stir ideas. I am grateful for the generous souls who put pen to paper in a effort to improve my life. I am grateful for a clear sound mind that allows me to dream and to be and to act. And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, may you step out today and ascend the staircase to your future with faith and joy and peace. May your life be filled with rich experience and deep conviction. May your steps be sure and your journey fruitful.

Dreams Determine Your Tomorrows

Dreams are illustrations... from the book your soul is writing about you. Marsha Norman Consider your dreams today; they are the seeds of your tomorrow. Whether you dream big or you dream small determines the degree of the greatness you can achieve. Be the mighty hot air balloon that floats effortlessly above the earth with a clear vision of the world below. Many years ago a dear friend gave me a birthday card. A gorgeous Hot Air Balloon floated across the deep blue sky. The verse indicated that she wanted to give me a hot air balloon ride for my birthday, but could not. Taped inside was a bright red balloon with the verse.. . "So, I'm sending you the seed." What a marvelous idea. The card has long been misplaced, but the thought has lingered across the years. My very own hot air balloon seed was more than I could hope for. Of course, at the time I didn't see the significance, but I understand now. To reap the things we want in our life, we must sow the seeds. Isn't it time you rewrite the book of you? Illustrate it with your dreams and watch your life as it transforms from ordinary to extraordinary. Today, I am grateful for time -- time to dream, time to do, time to be, and time to become. I am grateful for the the sun that rises, the winds that blow and the air I breathe. I am grateful for the calming peace that comes from knowing my life transforms gracefully from old to new as result of my thoughts and dreams and prayers. I am grateful for birds on wing, for the music of the wind and cats that cuddle lovingly despite the circumstances. I am grateful for family and friends that make my life full. And, I am grateful for you, dear reader as you summon up the courage to dream big and make remarkable changes in your life. May your day be filled with peace and joy and all that is good.