Take twelve fine, full-grown months; see that these are thoroughly free from old memories of bitterness, rancor and hate, cleanse them completely from every clinging spite; pick off all specks of pettiness and littleness; in short, see that these months are freed from all the past—have them fresh and clean as when they first came from the great storehouse of Time.

Cut these months into thirty or thirty-one equal parts. Do not attempt to make up the whole batch at one time (so many persons spoil the entire lot this way) but prepare one day at a time.

Into each day put equal parts of faith, patience, courage, work (some people omit this ingredient and so spoil the flavor of the rest), hope, fidelity, liberality, kindness, rest (leaving this out is like leaving the oil out of the salad dressing— don’t do it), prayer, meditation, and one well-selected resolution.

Put in about one teaspoonful of good spirits, a dash of fun, a pinch of folly, a sprinkling of play, and a heaping cupful of good humor.

And, I would add…mix well and share generously.  Happy new year!

Why wait until a gift is given to be thankful? In the spirit of “Thanks-living,” I am filled with gratitude for gifts already present in my life. These gifts don’t come with ribbons and bows, are not wrapped in silver and gold, silver and gold, and they are not shared only on December 25.

Stockings are hung by the chimney with care, but I don’t have to wait for friends to be there. I encounter them everyday at work, online, or at various gatherings throughout the year.

It’s not the reindeer up on the housetop that I need to wait for, it’s being thankful that I even have a roof over my head. I have a wonderful home in a very nice house in a great neighborhood and know that many others do not have even the most basic shelter.

Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh, but it is also fun to drive to my daughter’s nearby home or hop on a plane to visit our son farther away. It’s wonderful to spend time with our daughter and son-in-law; we are lucky they are close by. We are fortunate that we can afford to travel to see our son and his family. Many others can’t – either due to finances or poor health – leave home.

We may sing praises of a long ago baby away in a manger, but technology helps me enjoy the new baby in our lives; our first grandson, just born last month. There is nothing like getting a quick snapshop in a text from my son. Our daughter-in-law sent a video last week of the baby cooing and smiling. We can skype or facetime with the entire family.

If we are lucky enough to let it snow, let it snow, let it snow, I am blessed with a great husband who will go walkin’ in the winter wonderland with me. He may not be quite as excited about some of the small wonders and joys of life as I am, but he indulges me! I think, in his own secret way, he has learned to appreciate them, too.

There are many reasons to be a jolly, happy soul – every day of the year. Don’t wait to find the presents underneath the Christmas tree; look around you for the gifts you already have.

What gifts do you have today? What are you thanks-living for? Please add a comment and share your joy!

On her website, Emily Post offers some great tips on everyday manners.  What I like best is this line:

It’s not just about knowing these manners,  it’s about being intentional in their use.

As she also says, no one wakes up deciding, “Today is the day I’m going to be rude to everyone I meet.”  Yet, in all the hustle and bustle, bargains and giftwrap, menus and garland,  it’s easy to forget the love and generosity at the center of the season.

What can you do?

Smile at people you meet.  Let the woman with the restless kids go ahead of you in line.  Hold the door for the person behind you.  Let someone else park closest to the store.  Be patient with seasonal help at the mall.  Say Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas as you checkout.

You can serve others simply by intentionally sharing common courtesy.  Make this last week before Christmas a merry one!

First, there is the natural curiosity and innocence of the very young.  Then, boundaries are stretched as independence is tested.  And, at some point, before you know it, your little one has grown up.  As parents, we have to shift from being involved in nearly every move they make to watching from afar hoping they stand strong on their own.

I think I’m on target when I say that all of us hope that our precious little children evolve into joy-filled, productive and caring adults.

Most parents work tirelessly to give their little children strong roots.  Things like personal values, integrity, and compassion; an appreciation of what is right in the world, the intolerance of what is not, and the courage to try and change it.  We hope our children will work hard and then be rewarded.  We want nothing less than happiness and peace for our children, though we know that sadness and unrest are sure to come along.

In the spirit of Thanks-living, today and every day, I am thankful for the woman that my little girl has turned out to be.

My daughter, Heather (aka @prTini), is a successful entrepreneur, president of Geben Communication.  She has a heart for those who have all kind of disadvantages; for example, she has served on the board of an organization helping battered women and last year she journeyed to Haiti to learn how the people are overcoming the tragic earthquake of a couple years ago.  Heather generously shares her knowledge and experiences with public relations students at local colleges and industry peers across the country. She inspires many with the courage of her convictions, the passion she brings to her work, and the kindness of her heart.

Heather is also  a lot of fun to be around.  She loves sports – especially her New York Yankees!  She loves politics – Election Day is her favorite day of the year.  She is a spark in a crowd; a great conversationalist and a kind listener.  Sit down and share a glass of red wine with her and you’ll instantly want to spend more time getting to know her better.  Heather is also married to a man who couldn’t be a better match for her, nor a better son-in-law and member of our family.

Tuesday night, I had the privilege of attending her first company holiday open house.  The theme was fun, the atmosphere was light, the food and decor festive.  As my husband and I stood across the room and observed her happily interacting with her employees, her clients, and her vendor contacts, we couldn’t help but smile with happiness and gratitude.

Our  precious little daughter has grown to up to be that joy-filled, productive and caring adult we prayed, hoped and dreamed she would be.

In the spirit of Thanks-living, today and every day, I am thankful for the wonderful birthday gift I was given 29 years ago; a son.

When he was a young child, we always celebrated my birthday the day before (which is also my husband’s birthday!), so that our son could have “his own special day.”  Then, at some point, it got to be kind of cool that we were “birthday buddies.”  Now, it’s just plain fun.

Many people I know don’t celebrate birthdays, or don’t think that birthdays are a big deal.  Who wants to acknowledge getting older, right?

For me, it’s not about getting older, it’s about celebrating life – mine and my son’s!  Happy birthday, Matt!

Image from http://dydara.wordpress.com

No matter how much we might try to keep the emphasis on the religious meaning or the general holiday spirit of giving, little children somehow know presents are coming and get very excited about that.

Unless you are poor.

Little children shouldn’t feel that Santa’s sleigh doesn’t stop if Mommy and Daddy are out of work.  The season of lights should have some joy in it, even if  child sleeps in a homeless shelter.  Just one present can make a young child’s eyes open wide with wonder and joy.

You can make this happen.

There are numerous ways to donate toys in communities across the country.  Two of the best known are the Marine Corp’s Toys for Tots and local collections programs established by firefighters.  Here in Central Ohio, Firefighters 4 Kids accepts gifts for babies, toddlers, youngsters, pre-teens and teens.

Baby dolls, card games, books, small electronics, coloring books and crayons, board games, building block sets, cars and trucks, fashion dolls, army men, little girl pocketbooks, and art sets are just a few gift ideas that you can help fill.  Go to your local discount store and look for sturdy, well-crafted items that will endure a child’s play.   Buy what you can afford and then drop it off at your local firehouse or Toys for Tots drop-off site.

Even if you don’t have much money yourself, you can still make a difference.  Yesterday, I stopped in a local “dollar store.”  There were all kinds of items for just one dollar each: coloring books, crayons, books for toddlers, dinosaurs, dolls, stuffed animals, building blocks, and more.

Giving is not just for the wealthy.  Giving comes from the heart, and everyone has one.

At this point in our family history, “whole family” time together is a rarity. 

However, due to the gracious generosity of my son’s in-laws, we were all able to gather at their vacation home (and they weren’t even there!), enjoy all the comforts of home – and then some, with a built in pool and hot tub.  Our family had Thanksgiving dinner together, spent lots of cuddle time with our grandson, enjoyed pool time with the “kids,” and watched the Buckeye game together.

In addition to enjoying every moment with the kids, my husband and I also went bike riding and for nice walks together each day.  We wrapped up the holiday weekend with a day and a half on Sanibel Island for some wonderfully relaxing beach tme before heading back home.

I know that times like these will be few and far between.  I could be really sad about that.

Instead, I’m choosing Thanks-living.

I’m filled with gratitude for our family time together, shared happiness, our grandson’s health, and the kindness of new friends.  I’m thankful that we had smooth flights coming and going, and perfect weather in between.  Everyday I remember the warmth and love from snuggling my grandson in my arms, and for his yummy baby smells that I can recall just by closing my eyes.  I’m thankful that we had delicious food to share and wanted for nothing.  I’m so happy that we were able to pitch in and help my daughter-in-law, still recovering from childbirth.  I’m glad that our busy daughter and son-in-law had a few days of R&R away from the normal hecticness of their schedules.

For all these experiences, I’m thankful that we had this time – our most precious resource – together.

What are you thanks-living for?  Please add a comment and share your joy!

Many of us will be doing the same thing today; taking a moment between turkey and touchdowns to be thankful.  Some of us may consider our good health, happy families, steady employment, or comfortable homes.  We may simply be thankful for the food on our table today.  Perhaps we are enjoying the day with friends and neighbors and are thankful for their presence in our lives.

Some of us might be in the middle of a health crisis, but appreciate the support of doctors and caregivers.  We might be in a financial crunch, but have enough to feed our children today.  Perhaps we’ve been enduring a personal struggle, but we see the light ahead.  Even in difficulty, one can find reason to give thanks.

But, what happens tomorrow?

I am challenging myself to not only give thanks today, but to live thanks every day.  Over the last year, I have found that concentrating on the practice of gratitude has enriched my life in many ways.  My emphasis on gratitude has also positively impacted other people. Some have read the posts and commented about them, or observed my practice and chose to adopt it, or even in just one situation realized gratitude mattered.

Attitude is a choice, and I choose gratitude.  I hope you’ll join me.

Give thanks today and live thanks tomorrow. 

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is no to utter words, but to live by them. -John Fitzgerald Kennedy

To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live in gratitude is to touch heaven. -Johannes A. Gaertner

At its most basic level, the beauty of a stained glass window comes when light shines from the inside darkness.  The dark colors of broken and fragile glass are transformed to glowing richness; beauty radiates.

So it is with people.

In Stained Glass Hearts, Clairmont shares personal stories, biblical quotes, suggested readings, musical and artistic resources, helping readers see that what may appear to be broken chards of life can actually be put back together to create new beauty.

Clairmont’s background as a Christian women’s inspirational speaker certainly comes through loud and clear.  Each chapter draws in the reader with an everyday life story that is easy to relate to.  However, when the story takes a sad or confusing turn, Clairmont reminds readers they can pull through the brokenness, seek grace and guidance, and transform ugliness into beauty through prayerful faith in God.

I enjoy reading books in which the author takes real life experiences and puts a positive and forward-looking spin on them.  Successfully getting through life’s challenges and tragedies often depends on the attitude with which you choose to approach them.  Clairmont inpires her readers to choose a healing, spiritual, positive approach.  By doing so, a broken life can become a thing of beauty.

If you would like to buy the book, click HERE to order it on Amazon.com or HERE to order it on Barnes & Noble.

Today, I am thankful for the gift of a grandson.

At just three days old, he has already caused our hearts to burst with new joy, inspired new hopes and dreams, and opened our world to so much love. Seeing that little wonder of life, watching my son and his wife gently and lovingly caring for their new son, being able to hold him myself and share the event with my husband; I can’t even put into words the feelings the last few days have inspired.

Are you a new grandparent? How did you feel when you first saw your grandchild?