Leaves!

November of course is a time of changing weather, cozy decor, good food, and gathering with the ones closest to us.  With thanksgiving coming up — so quickly the time sneaks up on us, doesn’t it?– I and I’m sure so many others begin to reflect on what to be thankful for.  I was looking back through my journal and came across this quote that I had written down, and it once again spoke to me and reminded me to be proud of who I am today and to not look back in regret of what life has thrown my way, but to embrace it and be thankful in every aspect of who it has made me today.

To be grateful for the good things that happen in our lives is easy, but to be grateful for all of our lives – the good as well as the bad, the moments of sorrow, the successes as well as the failures, the rewards as well as the rejections – that requires hard spiritual work.

Still, we are only grateful people when we say thank you to all that has brought us to the present moment.  As long as we keep dividing our lives between events and people we would like to remember and those we would rather forget, we cannot claim the fulness of our being as a gift of God to be grateful for. 

Let’s not be afraid to look at everything that has brought us to where we are now and trust that we will soon see in it the guiding hand of a loving God.

–Henri Nouwen

In the commotion of my daily living as a single mom, living on the farm, and pursuing my dreams, I tend to get caught up in the whirlwind that I’m in right now.  And as much as it would be easy to go back to the life I had, and in the moment thought was good, I reflect now and see how even more amazing God new it could be for me.  I am so thankful for what I have now, even though people may think I’m crazy for living with my sister and brother n law and four kids, starting a farm and having dreams and visions of what my life will be.  My past has brought me to where I am today and I will not regret!  Wow.. that kinda feels amazing to say out loud:)

I encourage you in where you are now in life to reflect.. where would you be without the challenges and  turmoil in your life.. would you be the same person you are today??  I know I would not have the most amazing gift of my daughter Liza..  I would not have this precious time to spend as an Aunt and sister in this full house.. I would not have the strength in my faith, and identity, and becoming a woman I am proud of my daughter looking up to. . I would not know the depths of my friendships or my family and how important they are to me.

I am thankful.. I am so thankful for it all.. period!