Christie Murrow: Counting My Blessings

Thanksgiving is a great time to reflect on all the ways we’ve been blessed, but the premise of this blog is to live in such a way that gratitude becomes an inherent, and ongoing, part of our lives. As I was thinking about this the other day and wondering what to write about, I realized I had a doctor’s appointment.

I happen to love my new primary; she’s encouraging, and trustworthy. This time I got a great report. Two years ago, that wasn’t the case. I was in the midst of a season of some heart issues, and it was scary, exhausting, and overwhelming. I was a compliant patient but it took several months, and lots of tests, to get my body to settle down.  Then this past fall, I went in to see my new doctor, and she expressed her concern with my weight, blood pressure, and lab values. I realized it was time for a change, and no one else could do that for me.

So, I joined Weight Watchers online, joined a friend committed to walk at least two times a week, and ordered a Jawbone to track my activity and sleep. I truly didn’t have much hope for losing weight because everything seemed ineffective. However, 10 weeks later, I am down ten pounds (even with the holidays), my labs are the best they’ve ever been, and I’m feeling better and moving a whole lot more.  I still have a long ways to go, but what a difference from a couple of years ago!

So, I’m counting my blessings, and naming them one by one.

I’m delighted, and excited, to be a regular contributor here, and trust that it will keep me looking for blessings that are all around me, and help me live in a lot more gratitude.  It’s easy to get overwhelmed in the midst of difficult situations; oh, I how get that. But today?

Start with five things you’re grateful for, and see how that changes your outlook. 

If you like the picture above, it is a free a printable from Landelu:  http://www.landeeseelandeedo.com/2013/11/sunday-encouragement-grateful-11-24-13.html

So, take a few minutes and let your list help you segue from gratitude to joy, and embrace, even if only for a few minutes, some grateful living.

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You can learn more about Christie Murrow on her blog, Charis Designs Jewelry

What are you grateful for today? Leave a comment and let us know!

Welcome Back to Grateful Living! So..what is this blog all about?

Friends sharing together, doing our best to define grateful living as:

Seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary.

Finding the small blessings in the big storms.

Waking up, breathing in, and recognizing that each day is a gift.

Seeing the glass as half-full.

Stepping off the treadmill of life and standing still for a moment to stop and smell the roses.

Looking beyond faults and recognizing the good in others.

Being thankful for what you have and not worrying away all your time wishing for what you don't.


This,
and so much more,
 is what grateful living is all about.


Please join us as we share pieces and parts of our personal experiences with you as we do our best to walk on the sunny side of the street.

Contributors Wanted For The Grateful Living Blog!

Grateful Living is looking for regular blog contributors!

If you think you would be a fit, leave a comment below AND e-mail molly@missmollysdesigns.com and we will send you more information!

Just Be Grateful...

Patty Gasparino: Grateful

When my boys were very little I had 4 under 5. I was grateful they were healthy. I was also very tired and many days only grateful for sleep. The year my oldest was 5, my twins were 3 and my littlest was 1.  I was particularly exhausted. Many days were really about survival. One particular morning I had locked myself in the bathroom to splash my face and brush my teeth.

Like any other day Justin (who was three) knocked at the door,

 ”Mama!!! Mama!!!”

 Let me state here my twins were speech delayed - they loved cooing to each other but had trouble with everyday words. I breathed deeply and probably was a bit cross,

 ”I’ll be out in a minute!”.......

 Was a minute too much to ask???.........

“MAMA!!! MAMA!!!”

 He was getting cross with ME!

“Just a minute – please!!!".

 Justin wouldn't take no that day, “MAMA!!! POISON!!!”......

My heart sank - I knew immediately something was terribly wrong.

I flung open the door and Justin raced ahead to our dining room where Devin (who was one at the time) sat in the corner eating out of a bottle of Ibuprofen. As I grabbed him and pulled what I could out of his mouth I could feel my entire body shaking. I must have gone on automatic pilot as I rinsed out my baby's mouth and dialed poison control.

My prayers were answered that day by the lovely lady on the other end. I knew the bottle was almost empty. I had pulled 5 or 6 out of his mouth. He would have to have eaten over 25 to require a trip to the emergency room. Did I mention this was a few days before Christmas that year?

The nurse on the other end said, “Merry Christmas Mom - he'll be ok.". Other than a bad diaper or two he was fine - I however - was a mess.

I will forever be grateful for a three year old Justin, who barely spoke, but on that day knew the word "poison" and knew he had something important to say. I remind him now and again that he saved his brother from getting very sick. Of course these days they fight constantly and he might like to forget!

What are you grateful for?

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You can learn more about Patty Gasparino on her blog, My Life Under The Bus