Tag Archives: Gratitude Challenge

2019 Gratitude Challenge, Day 3

03 Sunday Nov 2019

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Day 3: Today, I am grateful for our new “home” church.

It’s hard moving around often, and it’s especially hard for us to find the “right” home church. Every move, this has been a struggle. We try to be patient. Still, as much of our “community” and activities and friends often come from our church family (wherever we may be), adjusting feels like it takes much longer than it should. Some years we have visited ten or eleven churches (and researched countless more) before we find the “right one.”

Moving to a new country with a new language and a vastly different culture made this extra challenging this time, but we finally found Mount Carmel Presbyterian.

This church has not only welcomed us with open arms but continues to welcome us every single week even more. Every single week, someone has introduced themselves and gone out of their way to make sure we have all we need. We have had Sunday School teachers walk this American mama through WhatsApp (it’s a chat app) and add me to the class group chats, personally making sure I know of each sign-up for an activity for the girls. Someone sitting beside us in the service handed my husband their business card – in case we needed help getting adjusted to living here and if we needed help with basic things – like how to set up a local bank account. (We didn’t, but the offer itself was such a kind gesture.)

Yes, we might be the only American family in the room, and almost the only non-Asian family in the church, but we knew the very first day that we have found something very special here.

 

This post is a part of the Homeschool Success Hacks: 2019 Gratitude Challenge series. You can find more posts and more participating blogger articles by going to this link. You can find my other participating posts here.

 

2019 Gratitude Challenge, Day 2

02 Saturday Nov 2019

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Day 2: Today, I am grateful for good attitudes while cleaning.

Yes, that’s right, all of my family members pitched in and helped me do a thorough cleaning of the house today, without complaining, without eye-rolling or moaning. (Which also might go to show how bad the house had gotten if they were so willing to help!)

After a late breakfast, I announced that no one was allowed to have any fun whatsoever until all the bathrooms were clean – and we split them all up and got them done. And once that was done, we kept adding to the list, and the house was pretty darn clean by lunch!

How much easier is it now that everyone is old enough to really pitch in and truly help in the cleaning, but also old enough to appreciate how much more relaxed and better it goes when we all do the work with a cheerful heart! Cleaning doesn’t make me half as grumpy when I’m not dealing with anyone else’s grumpy attitudes. Cleaning was . . . almost . . . pleasant. HA!

 

This post is a part of the Homeschool Success Hacks: 2019 Gratitude Challenge series. You can find more posts and more participating blogger articles by going to this link. You can find my other participating posts here.

2019 Gratitude Challenge, Day 1

01 Friday Nov 2019

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Day 1: Today, I am grateful for Air Conditioning!

 

Now, growing up in the South, of course, I’ve always appreciated air conditioning. However, it wasn’t until moving to a fully tropical climate, in a culture that considers air conditioning such a waste of money and resources that public spaces are only minimally cooled – and living with a subpar-working airconditioner in my bedroom, that I’ve learned to be TRULY GRATEFUL. And, finally, we got repairmen to fix our bedroom AC, so now I can sleep without constantly sweating! So very grateful for an AC that actually cools!

This post is a part of the Homeschool Success Hacks: 2019 Gratitude Challenge series. You can find more posts and more participating blogger articles by going to this link. You can find my other participating posts here.

2013 Gratitude Challenge, Day #14

14 Thursday Nov 2013

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I am so thankful for my Bible study group.  We came together this year to form one instead of several small groups – the “experienced” ladies, the moms, the singles and the eclectics to jumped from one group to the next. And we’re learning together and supporting each other. It has been an amazing experience to watch the women of our church bond and become a collective unit. I can see how God is forming His women in this Church to become a mighty army for Him.

Last night was especially touching, as one of the most “quietest” members began to share right from her heart about her struggles – and woman after woman stood up to encourage her and just cover her in love. I just stepped back (I’m leading the group right now) and just got out of Jesus’ way and let Him do His work. My co-leader was fretting before class that she wasn’t quite prepared – and afterwards we joked that God didn’t want us teaching that day anyway!

PS. In case you’re curious, we’re doing Priscilla Shirer’s study, Gideon: Your weakness. God’s strength.It’s A-W-E-S-O-M-E.

Join us in the 2013 Gratitude challenge and follow others that are participating HERE.

2013 Gratitude Challenge, Day #8

08 Friday Nov 2013

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Today I’m thankful for American medical care! Thursday night, my daughter burst into tears that “it” hurt. And sure enough, she had all the signs of a wicked UTI. Well, we happened to be directly across the street from an urgent care clinic at the time and were able to get her seen and a prescription in about twenty minutes. She improved dramatically once we got antibiotics and cranberry juice in her system.  Thank you God for American doctors and 24 hour pharmacies!

Join us in the 2013 Gratitude challenge and follow others that are participating HERE.

2013 Gratitude Challenge, Day #5

05 Tuesday Nov 2013

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Today I’m thankful that it is Voting Day. Not because I’m particularly civic-minded, or that I paid attention to this election at all.

But at least after today, the incessant recorded “vote for me” phone calls that hit all of my phone lines, including my business and cellphone numbers after 8pm every single night, will now stop!  Hooray for the democratic process!

Join us in the 2013 Gratitude challenge and follow others that are participating HERE.

2013 Gratitude Challenge, Day #4

04 Monday Nov 2013

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Today I’m so thankful for American Heritage Girls. We started our girls in a local troop this fall, and they are loving it. Even my youngest, who is insanely shy. Right now we have a Pathfinder (kindergarten) and a Tenderheart (elementary).

They love looking up to the bigger teenage girls, participating in all the activities, and strategizing  on how they can get all the badges. I love how they are learning all these different activities that I don’t have to deal with teaching now (last night the oldest was working on her fire safety badge – so happy that someone else is teaching that, as I’d be saying “See, this is what you’re not supposed to do!). I love how they are making friends, that this is helping my youngest come ever-so-slightly out of her shell, and that it’s a wonderfully supportive, caring atmosphere.

I didn’t grow up with “scouting” myself, so this is all a new experience for me. I’m so thankful that it is becoming a positive experience for them, as well!

Join us in the 2013 Gratitude challenge and follow others that are participating HERE.

2013 Gratitude Challenge, Day #3

03 Sunday Nov 2013

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Today I’m thankful for my oldest, who came right up to me and said, “I need more Mommy time. I need a Mommy date.” I love that she’s able first to figure that out and communicate it so clearly (and save me from the whining while I try to figure that out!), but also how easy it was to just give her the time she wanted and needed.

I offered to take her out to go to the coffee shop, but that’s not what she wanted. She wanted to read a particular book with me, have me watch her ride her bike (Daddy has been teaching her), a bit of hot chocolate, and then snuggle up and watch a movie together. She didn’t want stuff, or going out to spend money, she just wanted time. Time to have Mommy all to herself.

And considering she’s seven and hardly ever sits still for even a minute, I loved every single second of it. I miss spending all that time with her myself!

Join us in the 2013 Gratitude challenge and follow others that are participating HERE.

2013 Gratitude Challenge, Day #2

02 Saturday Nov 2013

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Today I thankful for Creamy Pumpkin Soup! I have been craving this for weeks, but the recipe makes more than hubby and I alone can handle, but this weekend, with company over, was the perfect time to indulge. Oh, and cornbread. I made cornbread to go with it. I’m super thankful for that too!

Creamy Pumpkin Soup
1 cup chopped onion
2 Tablespoons butter, melted
2 (14 oz.) cans chicken broth
2 (15 oz.) can pumpkin puree (original recipe calls for one, but I always add more)
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup heavy whipping cream

Saute onion in  butter in a medium saucepan until tender. Add 1 can chicken broth and stir well. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes. Transfer broth mixture into a blender or food processor. Process until smooth.

Return mixture to saucepan. Add remaining can of broth, pumpkin, salt, ground cinnamon, ground ginger and ground pepper, stir well. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in whipping cream and heat through. Do not boil. Ladle into individual soup bowls.

Join us in the 2013 Gratitude challenge and follow others that are participating HERE.

2013 Gratitude Challenge, Day #1

01 Friday Nov 2013

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Today I am thankful for dear sweet friends who have come to visit. We have been friends for such a long time, and have been able to renew our friendship. They were able to come down this weekend and stay with us for a short time. Plus, our girls adore each other as well!

Join us in the 2013 Gratitude challenge and follow others that are participating HERE.