What am I Thankful for ?

There are many things in life that I am thankful for... I have a nice bed to sleep in each night, food to eat each day, clothes to wear, and the list goes on. But when I dig a little deeper beyond the usual things that I am thankful for that most people include when asked such a question I often include the following things: (and these are just a few).

• I am thankful for the gift of music! The Lord has blessed me with the ability to sing and I am so thankful for the opportunity to sing with the Jubilee Singers over the past few months. Singing about the love of God lifts the spirit and causes me to look beyond the stresses of my day and focus my attention on Him. There are so many different kinds of music out there but my favorites are Praise and Worship & Gospel. And I am extremely thankful to the Lord for the Gaither Vocal Band & Ernie Hasse and Signature Sound. The GVB now consists of 5 members - Wes Hampton, Michael English, David Phelps, Mark Lowry & Bill Gaither. These 5 individuals have truly been blessed with amazing talent and I am so thankful for sites like youtube that allow me to view clips from their concerts and dvds! I am also thankful for things like Facebook & Twiiter which allows me to keep up on the happenings of my fave groups! Technology definitely has its benefits!
• I am thankful for Regal! For those who may not know, Regal is a Chinese Sharpei and he belongs to my cousin Chris. This week I have been dog-sitting him once again. I love spending time with Regal. Whether its napping, going for numerous walks, or playing out in the yard. Regal has a way of making me feel happy even on my most stressful days. And so I am very thankful for him and the time I get to spend with him.

Of course I am thankful for my friends! For their support and encouragement during some of the most challenging and difficult times in my life. I can't imagine not having each of them in my life. I am also thankful for the people at the Church who have been so encouraging and supportive over the past few months as I have joined the choir and began teaching Sunday School. The children in my Sunday School class - what a blessing! They are all so special and I am so thankful for each of them!

The list could go on and on but I think its important sometimes to stop and acknowledge some of the many things we are thankful for... it lifts up the spirit, it turns the mind away from the negative and focuses on the positive and it truly produces an 'attitude of gratitude'.