No (insert action/noun here) November

"When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around."

-Willie Nelson

You know how people try giving up something in November, and then put 'No' infront of that thing and tack 'November' onto the end, well I'm giving up ungratefulness, because I have way to much to be thankful for to go around ignoring it. Unfortunately 'No Ungratefulness November' doesn't sound as catchy as say 'No Sweets November' or 'No Spend November' (although that last one could do me some good), so I decided to leave my action/noun empty and let you fill in the blank (maybe with what you're giving up this month!).


This month, I jumped on the bandwagon with these 'I'm grateful for' statuses on my Facebook, and I am so glad I did. Each day, it makes me realize how much I am blessed and how constant it is throughout the day. I've upgraded to updating my status multiply times a day because I don't want to leave anything out.


I decided to list on my blog my status updates (I'll be updating this post frequently, so check back!) and somethings I wrote down in my little black book while contemplating my blessings. In lieu of certain events, my eyes have been opened to the great and tender mercies of the Lord and the things he blesses me with each day to help me, as Rascal Flatts put it, 'Stand' (my goodness I am obsessed with that song right now!).  This blog does partly serve as a journal for me (since I'm much better at updating it than my actual journal(s)- and if you think my updating on here is bad...) so I thought it would be good to record these things so I never forget, and hopefully inspire some of my readers to search for the blessings in their life. So here they are:

I'm grateful for sleeping in and warm blankets.

I'm grateful for Advil and small prayers (they help make it through the night).

I'm grateful for long hugs and good cries (especially when they're put together).

I'm grateful for dance teachers who encourage us to explore out emotions through movement.

I'm grateful for weird dreams... they keep me on my toes (and I have had some weird dreams).

I'm grateful for talks at work about it being China's 'Nation Single Awareness Day'. 

I'm grateful for late nights with good friends who know just what to say.

I'm grateful for meeting new people.

I'm grateful for dogs (for they truly are man's best friends).

I'm grateful for hope (it reminds me to never give up).

I'm grateful for songs that make my heart flutter. They let me know I still love love.

I'm grateful for sleep after an exhausting week.

I'm grateful for hymns for the still my soul and remind me that I am ever so loved.

I'm grateful for watching Criminal Minds instead of doing my paper (stress release!).

I am grateful for my friends. Every last single one of them, old and new.

I am grateful for jam sessions alone in my room (because inside, we're all wannabe rockstars).

I'm grateful for a dryer that actually dies my clothing (because the last one didn't...)

I'm grateful for the beautiful girls that are in my dance. They make the choreography come to life.

I'm grateful for humor in class (PowerPoint slide title: Postcolonial Movement in British Literature: “The Empire Writes Back”).

I'm grateful for dance classes and study groups (I think I passed!).

I'm grateful for good deals on books.

I'm grateful for books (they give me a career).

I'm grateful for kind people and a stranger's smile.

I'm grateful for phones.

I'm grateful for mommies (not moms, not mothers... mommies).

I'm grateful that they call you in the wee hours of the morning to make sure you're okay.

I'm grateful for awkward conversations (they make us appreciate the normal ones).

I'm grateful for cold weather (because it helps me appreciate the warm weather).

I'm grateful for warm scarves.

I'm grateful for hot showers (and solving life's mysteries during them).

I'm grateful for crunchy leaves.

I'm grateful for cars (and their headlights).

I'm grateful for music.

I'm grateful for jokes (and those that tell them).

I'm grateful for the movement that is dance.

I'm grateful for the beautiful fall colors.

I'm grateful for erasable pens (because I make a lot of mistakes).

I'm grateful for soft pillows.

I'm grateful for computer screen savers.

I'm grateful for little siblings (they remind me that I have an example to set).

I'm grateful for nail polish (because where would we be without a little color).

I'm grateful for colored pencils (see above).

I'm grateful for soda.

I'm grateful for sweets.

I'm grateful for gyms.

I'm grateful for the beautiful stars that litter the night sky.

I'm grateful for planes (they make family seem so much closer).

I'm grateful for pretty jewelry. 

I'm grateful for long sleeved shirts (and short sleeved shirts too!).

I'm grateful for hot tubs.

I'm grateful for cursive writing (because I still use it!).

I'm grateful for little memories (they help me never forget).

I'm grateful for free wi-fi.

I'm grateful for funny youtube videos (and the bonding that comes from watching them... Kellee)

I'm grateful for Michael Jackson's "Thriller".

Believe it or not, I'm grateful for Michael Jackson.

I'm grateful for glasses.

I'm grateful for shoes and hats.

I'm grateful for plants.

I'm grateful for my family and the endless amount of love and support (even when I'm being exceeding irrational and difficult).

I'm grateful for oranges.

I'm grateful for names I can pronounce.

I'm grateful for my job.

I'm grateful for the amazing creation that is my body.

I am grateful for missionaries.

I'm grateful for letters and packages (coughcough)

I am grateful for paint.

I am grateful for a home.

I am grateful for the beach.

I am grateful for eternal marriage (and one day for the love of my life- wherever he is).

I am grateful for vacations.

I am grateful for little surprises.

I am grateful to be a daughter of God who helps me stand when I fall to my knees.

I'm grateful for the magnificent houses of the Lord that dot the Earth (temples).

I'm grateful for righteousness and obedience to his word (it saves a lot of heartache).

I'm grateful for Jesus Christ- the Son of God- and the sacrifice he gave to save me.

(TBC)