At christianhomekeeper.org, Sylvia is hosting an “Attitude of Gratitude” blog carnival each Thursday through the month of December. For this second one, she’s asking us to share about the Little Things for which we’re thankful.

I can say without equivocation that the Littlest Thing for which I’m thankful is water – and running water, at that. We have been dealing with cold weather this week in Oregon (like many others across the country) and experienced frozen pipes, frozen water in the pressure tank, and frozen water in the storage tank. It is not all thawed, but after two days of working in the cold in panic mode, Jeff got water to us again.

In plain words, this week sucked. It was my birthday on Tuesday, and I spent that day and a couple other days out in the cold trying to help Jeff turn the water back on. (As I write this, I’m needing to be going outside with Mikah to hang heating lamps over the storage tank to try to melt the ice inside.)

I feel like I got run over by a herd of buffalo. I have been struggling to cultivate an “attitude of gratitude” and failing at it. In fact, I’ve been fighting against developing a resentful character this week.

I kept blaming God and people who gave us poor advice, and the weather, and where we live, and, and… for everything that went wrong. You know, they’re all to blame, even God because He let it happen (for mysterious reasons of His own that probably have something to do with character development). But I still shouldn’t walk around with a “woe is me” chip on my shoulder.

So I will concentrate today on remembering all the Little Things that make my life grand.

Running Water
Household servants – washing machine and dryer foremost
A warm fire
Rivers
Warm bed
Quilts
Movies for unwinding
Jane Austen books
Good, nourishing food
Hugs and Kisses
Christmas cards from friends and family
Knowing that others are praying for us
Birthday cards

I’m late with adding this to the Attitude of Gratitude – you can be late, too!

At christianhomekeeper.org, Sylvia is hosting an “Attitude of Gratitude” blog carnival each Thursday through the month of December. For this first one, she’s asking us to share about the people in our lives for whom we are thankful.

Since I am a good wife, I am going to tell you that I am thankful for my husband. But I feel doubly so today, on his 43rd birthday.

This will all sound so corny. I don’t usually gush like this.

He’s a good man. He works hard and doesn’t budge from his loyalty to God and his family. I am thankful that he is steady, consistent, persevering, and passionate about the Lord. He doesn’t keep “score” or do anything remotely tit for tat. Obstacles come up and he takes them as they come, not being swayed by past grudges, outside influences, or negative feelings. I’m thankful that I don’t walk alone in this life. He is God’s gift to me and to our children.

Years ago, I printed a poem on nice paper and painted flowers around it and gave it to him for his birthday (or perhaps Christmas). It is still in our bathroom, framed. Neither of us notices it much anymore, but every once in awhile, I read it, and think how true it still is.

Why Do I Love You?

I love you because …
you are
the love of my life,
my very best friend,
my past, my present,
my future,
my forever.
I love you because …
without you
I would not be who I am,
because you inspire me
to grow, and learn,
and to be better.
I love you because …
you love me more
than I could ever imagine,
because you are
my everything.

I know that Jeff doesn’t really do these things for me – it is God working through Jeff to make me a better person and to inspire growth and love in my life.

I am thankful for Jeff, and I am thankful to God for this precious gift.