Coming SOON: November

It is CrAzY how fast October has gone by ... how fast time goes by in general, the older I get.  Around here, I look forward to November because it holds several special days for us - my first baby girl will be turning 11 years old ... and I'll have a birthday at the end of the month.  This year it holds a little bit of dread as my father-in-law will be having open heart surgery soon to undergo valve replacement.  I am looking forward to a little bit of (God willing) family time as Thanksgiving gives us a few days off school. 

And I am looking forward to starting my 3rd annual "30 Days of Thanks" here on my blog in November!!  In 2009, I got this brilliant idea to start blogging about what I am thankful for each day in November - kind of a Thanksgiving theme but more to help me overcome my tendency to think too negatively.  I invited my friends from MamaBuzz and my blogging friends to join me ... and though I really planned to just do this for myself, I was so excited and encouraged when several ladies joined in!  :)  Several of us are still around, visiting each other's blogs and even meeting in real life (I really wasn't an AXE MURDERER, was I, Melanie??!).

As of November 1st, I wll be blogging about WHAT I AM THANKFUL FOR each day this month.  I invite you to join me - every day OR any day you find time.  I'll have a linky up, if you want to share what YOU are thankful for.  I have realized (what I probably should already know!!) that focusing on being thankful every day helps you to stay focused on the GOOD, on what you have - not on the bad or on what you don't have.  It keeps disappointment and discouragement away.

“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” — William Arthur Ward