Hmmmmm.. 9 things to be grateful for. That seems like a lot, but
after watching the video at the end of this entry, 9 things to be
grateful for is nothing. 1. I am grateful for my home. Is is warm and safe and dry. 2.
I am grateful for my bed. It is where I rest in the evenings and dream
great dreams. It is like sleeping on a cloud and I love it! 3. I
am grateful that I have exercise equipment right in my bedroom that I
get to use before I jump in the shower. I love the time saved there! 4.
I am grateful for my working van that gets me where I need to go. I did
not have the van working during the storm and I was without it for
about a week and it near killed me!! 5. I am grateful for my leader, Kim, who is doing such a great job as our Double Diamond! She is joy and a great teacher. 6. I am grateful for my music minister, Jim, who is soooo talented and giving. He is a treasure! 7.
I am grateful for my connections in the surrounding communities,
especially Hurricane Sandy, Helping Hands, started through my good
friend, Majella LoBello. She has done some amazing work!! 8. I am
grateful for the clergy in my life and their role in growing my life of
faith. I can be a tricky student and they are doing all they can to
guide my faith walk and I appreciate it. 9. I am grateful for my
health. It goes without saying that health is one of the most important
things to have in life and I am grateful that I am healthy as well as my
family, thanks be to God. Loudly yours, Alicia
Today I am grateful for God's little messages to me in my life.
I have been going for a pretty big goal in my business. I'm pushing hard for it making it a focus on my life lately... but I just seem kind of stuck. Well, this morning while I was dropping off my kids at the bus today, I got a little message with a big meaning. As the kids were getting out of the car, my son who always love to be first, shoved his sister to get in line to be first on the bus. The bus driver witnessed this and did not open the bus door leaving him out in the cold for a little longer than he is usually used to. She wanted to make a point that he was not making the right decision by shoving to get on the bus first without thinking of others before him. As soon as it happened I knew that there was some kind of message for me, but it took awhile for me to understand.
Later that morning, with the help of one of my leaders, I was able to decipher the message.The tugging at my heart was God trying to tell me not to be so quick to be first when it come to building g my business. That rushing to get to my goal was not most important and that just like my Son, I was going to be made to wait until I focused on others first. It made me stop and really think. My Mentor also guided me into understanding that I was making an idol of my goal and that I wanted it so badly that it would not come. I had to let go. Let others ahead of me. Be patient. Be patient. Not. easy. I am a Red/ Blue personality and I have very little tolerance for waiting. Anyone who knows me, knows I am usually chomping at the bit to get to whatever goal there is. Even if it is to church on time. So, what I am grateful for this 10th day of the Gratitude Journal? God's Messages My Business Leader The Ability to hear the message and understand.
DAY 11 Today, I am grateful for my cleaning help...some might say staff. They are the wonderful women who help me keep a handle on my home. One lady comes twice a month and the other, every day for about a little more than an hour to help me with light cleaning./straightening and laundry. I am so grateful for their help and I could not do it without them. I look forward to my business building up enough to have them around more often! :)
I am also grateful for extended family. I have a cousin in town visiting that I have not seen in person in a long time and I am excited to see her! I love having visits with family who I don't normally see. It is so much fun for me. She will be married soon and I am excited to hear about her future plans. Lastly, I am grateful for Community Leaders, specifically those popping up on the Barrier Islands of NJ. It is so great to see the people who can and are willing to take charge and take matters into their hands. One of them is a 26 year old, who makes it happen for the people of Ortley Beach, NJ. It is so great to have someone so enthusiastic and willing to make a change.
Today, I am grateful for Administrative Staff and those who answer
the phone. They are the ones, who usually have more patience than
others and are there to answer questions. They are the guardians of
their offices and the behind the scenes people who make things work. I am also grateful for Professionals who do the jobs they do in our
lives. Where might we be without them? I especially appreciate those
that are very practiced in their craft and who deliver quality work.
When anyone sees their work, they can truly appreciate them. One person
that comes to mind is the Music Minister at my Home Parish and the
Funeral Director in the next town over from where I live. They both are
excellent at what they do and it shows. Finally, I am grateful for favor. Favor that comes from up above. I
can see favor evident in my life and I am forever grateful. One little
aside, though. I believe that you have to see yourself receiving that
favor before you can get it. You have to feel as if you deserve good
favor. If you cannot see yourself receiving favor, guess what? It will
never come to you. Believing that you deserve favor is the seed you
must plant in order to receive the fruit that God’s favor brings. Loudly yours,
Alicia
Today, my gratitude goes towards my faith based Community. I have
been very lucky to have been given the gift of music and granted the
opportunity to share the gift God gave me with a Congregation who is
loving, appreciative and understanding when my delivery is not perfect. I
have been blessed with talented musicians who make me sound even better
than I would alone and who have been accommodating in many ways.
I
am also grateful that I have been fed spiritually through song when I
can feel the message of God pressing onto me in my own life when I am
proclaiming the psalm or singing a hymn. It is revealing to feel as if
the song is speaking to me in my own life while I am reaching out to
others.
I am also grateful for the patience of my Husband and
Family as I am continually leaning on them for free time to go and work
within the church at Masses, Funerals, Weddings and such. It is a
blessing to be able to provide for the family and feed my soul at the
same time. I am grateful for my friends and those relatives close
enough to me to call friends. These are women who I can lean on in times
of trouble and call on many of them for advice. I appreciate their
wisdom and their listening ears.
I am also grateful for the
Community in which I live and for all the things that are done to help
us all get together and do fun things. Like tonight, we will be lighting
the tree together, singing and sharing hot chocolate. I am grateful it
is not too, too cold out, so I will not freeze to death out there!
Lastly,
I am grateful for the ability to juggle my crazy, crazy life! I have
been running around a lot lately, trying to maintain my current job and
my 2nd job all in one. It gets hard at times. but are both fulfilling in
many ways. Both help people and many are very happy when they are done
meeting with me. I love my jobs! :) Loudly yours. Alicia ps-
I have to share my interview with a beautiful young lady who I know is
going to be a famous illustrator one day. She was so sweet and I have
fun interviewing her and getting to know her better.
