NaBloPoMo and Thankful Living

Last November, I was new to blogging and had so much to say that it felt easy to post everyday for a month (not that I managed to do it, but whatevs). This year, though, I am feeling dry and empty. I feel like I’ve said everything twice already:

·         Want a baby? Check

·         (Probably) Won’t have a baby? Check

·         Processing the divorce? Check

·         SSA housing? Check

Blargh. But I’m still excited to be taking part in NaBloPoMo! I want to take the time to recognize the things in my life that I am truly thankful for. (Whoops – ended that sentence with a preposition. Should be: for which I am truly thankful.)

I have the following phrase posted on my computer monitor:

Life is too precious to waste on complaints.

I would like to spend the next 30 days complaint-free. In the grand scheme of things, my life is good. Great, even! Of the things that I value (family, faith, home, creativity), I have each one in abundance. I was speaking with R on Tuesday night and asked him what is good in his life. What is worth getting out of bed for? What gets him excited? He had a hard time answering those questions. I can’t bring him out of his depression, but I can set an example of what “praise Him through the storm” looks like.

Each day, I will be posting something that I am thankful for:

Today, I am thankful for my family.

Being Little K’s mother and R’s wife makes me so very, very happy! I look forward to coming home each night and spending time with R and Little K. There was a time (oh, about six years ago) when I didn’t have that. When home was a source of stress and unhappiness. I am so thankful that I have these two wonderful people to spend time with each day.

*dspence’s paraphrase of Philippians 4:6-7, Message translation:*

Don’t fret or complain. Instead of complaining, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your complaints into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces complaining as the center of your life.

What are you thankful for today?