Gratitude and the Pursuit of Happiness

Being the month of Thanksgiving, I always try to make November a month to reflect on all the areas in my life that I should be grateful for. In my class of 5th graders, I have them each create a Gratitude Journal. Each day they are supposed to come up with 3 non-materialistic things to be thankful for.

I am encouraged when I read their ponderings: "I am thankful for the crunch of the leaves on a cool autumn day." "I am thankful for the sound of chirping birds when I wake up." "I am thankful for teachers who grow my brain." I even had a little boy who was "thankful for the sound of persimmons falling from the trees." What I love about Gratitude Journals is that no matter how bad of day you're having, there are still things to be thankful for.

I was first introduced to the idea of Gratitude Journals when I was a Junior in High School. My English teacher, Mrs. Logan had our whole class keep these journals. At first I rolled my eyes because it seemed like such a childish task. What I soon realized, was that there are so many little things to be grateful for: finding a really cool pen in the hall, hearing babies laugh, Jesus clouds shooting from the sky, and so many more.

This morning I was listening to Woody and Janet on 105.9 and I learned that this week is Pursuit of Happiness Week. He gave a list of ten things you can do to make your life more joyful and ways you can be more happy. Of course I know the root of authentic joy is none other than Jesus Christ, but I was interested to hear how to obtain joy through secular means. I really like this list. Look it over and see if there are any ways you can become a more joyful person.

10 Ways to Be a More Joyful Person
1. Plant and nurture something.
2. Reflect and be thankful about 5 things daily.
3. Talk for an hour with a loved one at least once a week.
4. Call a friend you haven't talked to for a while and set up a time to meet.
5. Do a random act of kindness for someone every day.
6. Exercise at least 3 times a week for at least 30 minutes.
7. Give yourself a treat everyday and savor/enjoy it.
8. Laugh everyday!
9. Say hello to a stranger every day.
10. Spread kindness.

Hope you have a great day. Enjoy the beautiful sunshine and think of all the many blessings in your own life!

After a brief hiatus...

Wow! It has been a LONG time since I wrote on this blog. It has been almost a year since I have written anything meaningful. For those of you who are still interested in what I have to say, welcome back to my thoughts. I'm really hoping that blogging will be a priority for me in this upcoming season of life. I look forward to it.

So where have I been for over a year? I have been working diligently on my Masters in Educational Technology from Mizzou. I started last August and I officially finished yesterday!! I got notice that my portfolio passed final review last night. I tell you what, I can tell an instant difference in my life already! I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. It's not so much that I let my Master's effect my social or personal life, it's just that there was always this shadow hanging over me and this gnawing guilt that I should be doing homework. I am so thankful that I no longer feel that guilt. I'd like to think I have so much more free time ahead of me, but so far it's looking like I'm going to be as busy as ever...maybe just without the guilt. Either way, I'm so glad to be done!! I officially graduate on December 18. Am I walking? Heck yes, I am!

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For those of you who haven't checked out Iamsecond.com, please do!! The videos are short, well made, and really inspire and encourage you. Check out Brian "Head" Welch's (former lead singer of Korn) testimony and how Jason Castro keeps the Lord in the center of his life. The website just launched on December 2, and is already turning heads. Check it out!!

Experiencing the Advent Season

The last several years I've really struggled during Christmas time. I'm not sure why. I think I let the old traditions become mundane to me and that I was never truly experiencing Christmas with the same zest that I once had. It even came to the point where I didn't even want to listen to Christmas music...at all. For those of you who know me, this is a big deal. I was the strange girl in high school who broke out the Christmas tape in the middle of July just because I couldn't WAIT for Christmas to come.


Though I'm definitely not that extreme this year, I'm definitely enjoying the Christmas season. I have a roommate this year, and we already put up the Christmas tree in my condo. Last year I did no such thing because I was alone and by myself. I've been listening to Christmas music on Pandora (the Peaceful Holidays station is my new favorite).


I think one of the biggest changes for me this year is my new outlook on the Advent season and the true meaning of the holiday.

This year I feel excitement for this season where we get to celebrate Christ coming to this earth. Not only do we get to celebrate that Jesus CAME to us, we get to wait with joyful anticipation for his coming AGAIN. For the first time during this holiday season, my hope and joy is focused on the right place. I feel like this new joy instilled in me is lifting weight from my shoulders, that a new light is shining in my heart. I'm excited to spend the rest of this month celebrating the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

This weekend, I went to a worship service and saw this video for the first time. I have now seen it twice and keep thinking about it. If you struggle with finding a balance between materialism, commercialism, and the TRUE reason for the season, this video is for you. Watch it and enjoy!

The Vacant House

The house had been vacant for months. As I drove by it everyday, I couldn't help but notice it's creepyness as it sat in a heap of aloneness. There was a mattress on the driveway and the biggest spider web and spider stretched across the open garage. I looked at that house every day. I wondered about it...How does a house just end up empty with nothing but a mattress in the front yard? I couldn't drive by that house without feeling strangely scared and uneasy. I just didn't like the feel of it.

One day I noticed a difference in the house. The spider web disappeared and soon enough the mattress disappeared too. Gradually I stopped getting the spooks as I drove by that old house. I began seeing a family. Two little boys who rode their tricycle in the driveway and a woman who worked hard to get the weeds from the front yard. I saw the man of the house taking many smoke breaks, in fact everytime I drove by. The vacant house had become a home, and I felt peace about that old house...Until tonight.

As I drove home, a police car whizzed by me with deafening sirens and I pitied the person he was after. As I drove down the road that leads me home I saw the bright lights and knew it had stopped at the house I had grown strangely fond of. What was going on that needed a police officer's attention? I'll never know, though I'll never forget what I saw. As I drove by the cop was jumping out of his car. That woman, who spent many hours in that same yard was standing with her two little boys at the bottome of her driveway. The smallest boy, only a toddler was wearing her sweatshirt. The older boy, porbably around 7 was only wearing his underwear. What happened in that house tonight that resulted in the woman rushing her half dressed children to the road? And where was the dad? Did he do something to those boys? I couldn't help but stare as I drove by, looking at that boy with no clothes on in 50 degree weather. My mind rushes through all the possibilities of what may have happened. I lift my prayers tonight to that family, to those children, that mother, and the house that I have ultimately cared for.

Times by Tenth Avenue North

This is a song by the band Tenth Avenue North. I love the words. If you haven't listened to it before, check it out! It touches my heart.

I know I need You
I need to love You
I love to see You, but it's been so long
I long to feel You
I feel this need for You
And I need to hear You, is that so wrong?

Now You pull me near You
When we're close, I fear You
Still I'm afraid to tell You, all that I've done
Are You done forgiving?
Oh can You look past my pretending?
Lord, I'm so tired of defending, what I've become
What have I become?


I hear You say,
"My love is over. It's underneath.
It's inside. It's in between.
The times you doubt Me, when you can't feel.
The times that you question, 'Is this for real? '
The times you're broken.
The times that you mend.
The times that you hate Me, and the times that you bend.
Well, My love is over, it's underneath.
It's inside, it's in between.
These times you're healing, and when your heart breaks.
The times that you feel like you're falling from grace.
The times you're hurting.
The times that you heal.
The times you go hungry, and are tempted to steal.
The times of confusion, in chaos and pain.
I'm there in your sorrow, under the weight of your shame.
I'm there through your heartache.
I'm there in the storm.
My love I will keep you, by My pow'r alone.
I don't care where you fall, where you have been.
I'll never forsake you, My love never ends.
It never ends."