Winter Cloaks

Daily Gratitude Year 7-Day 311: Today, I am grateful for winter cloaks.

I love a cape. I always have. I am my mother's daughter. 

Randy purchased a beautiful wool cape for me for one of our Christmases as a married couple. It was from Banana Republic and it was made out of what appeared to be Army Blanket wool. It matched my Dad's army blankets. I loved that cape. It was so warm and cozy... and it had a hood. The best capes do.

This image makes me smile. A red cape is a fashion statement in any season. There is something elegant and just a little mysterious about a woman in a hooded red cape. 

Winter cloaks are a necessity when you live in the Midwest and other cold regions where winter means deep freezes and snow. Today, it is literally freezing in our little village. It won't last, but it is a whisper of what is to come in the months ahead. I refuse to let winter take us too soon. I am declaring today too cold for fall... but it is just a cold snap; winter isn't welcome, yet. Old man winter must wait his turn, but the winter cloaks are sometimes necessary. 

We must remember to care for the widows, the elderly and children who don't have enough to wear to keep themselves warm. We can donate the extras we don't wear or purchase new ones for coat drives. It is good to be thankful for the coats in our closets.

"Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you." -James 1:27 

That is one of my favorite verses. It reminds me that love in action is a vital part of sharing the gospel. It points the way to Jesus.

Today, I am grateful for winter cloaks.

Make A Difference

Daily Gratitude Year 7-Day 310: Today, I am grateful we can leave people better than we found them. 

What if each day we woke up with this simple plan: 

"Always leave people better than you found them. Hug the hurt. Kiss the broken. Befriend the lost. Love the lonely." -unknown

How would that change our homes? Our neighborhoods? Our workplace hours? The grocery store waiting lines?

Simple and random acts of kindness can change the world, the culture and our own moods. Moods happen. We don't feel "happy" every minute of the day. We are human and... we live with other humans. Still, we can actively pursue the positive and the joyful. 

Every moment, we can choose how we want to impact our world. Together, we can do hard things. I like together better than solo.

"Two are better than one" for many reasons. That is not a vote against being "single". God has blessed many singles with a deep passion for service. Many  use the freedom that come with being single to step out in faith when the Spirit leads them. They inspire me. 

Two are better than one because we all need support and encouragement. One of my favorite verses comes to mind again:

"Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep" -Romans 12:15

We need each other. Each one of us can make a difference, but it is way more fun with friends. 

Take a look around and see... really see... the hurt, the broken, the lost and the lonely.

Today, I am grateful we can leave people better than we found them. 

Nature's Cofetti

Daily Gratitude Year 7-Day 309: Today, I am grateful for nature's confetti. 

Don't forget to take in the gorgeous colors on the ground.       

There are crimson, amber and merlot leaves under our feet. Some leaves hold on the green color a little longer, but most have to decide to give into autumn's whimsy and turn.            

As much as I enjoy the trees... the fallen leaves have their own unique beauty. They are like soldiers who have given it their best, and it is time to rest. Decorated and at peace.  

Today, I am grateful for nature's confetti. 

Index Cards

Daily Gratitude Year 7-Day 308: Today, I am grateful for index cards.

Index cards are some some of my favorite office supplies. They are perfect for so many things. They can be the home of a quick grocery list or the can be a quote box. 

I have a quote box I started in college. I would put positive quotes and related scriptures on the back the bathroom stall doors when I was an RA in college. It was a "mini devotional" moment. It made some of the girls laugh, but others really enjoyed them. I used index cards. If only there had been cute washi tape back then - they would have been more colorful. 

Index card are great for recipes and organizing notes and thoughts. They are so inexpensive, they can be found at most dollar stores. I do. especially, like the bright neon colored ones. 

Writing things down is a way of keeping them close our hearts and organized. Index cards are the perfect parchment for penning ponderings and promises. 

And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” -Revelation 21:5

Writing things down helps us refocus and remember what is important. 

Today, I am grateful for index cards.

Cozy Blankets

Daily Gratitude Year 7-Day 307: Today, I am grateful for cozy blankets.

There is nothing like snuggling up under a cozy blanket with a mug of hot coffee, tea, cider or coca! The cozy blanket or throw completes the scene. Sometimes, I will wear lighter weight clothing so that I can still use the blanket, even if it isn't really that cold. Add a fire in the fireplace, and the picture becomes perfect. 

In our house, we have favorite blankets, including the dog. Daisy Mae loves to burrow under the blankets, fully covered... without even bothering to put her nose out, most of the time. She perceives herself to be far more delicate than she really is and a blanket makes her feel like a puppy princess. 

The gift of a blanket to someone who is homeless can be lifesaving. When autumn chills set in, a blanket provides not just comfort, but some safety, too. 


"What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? Do you see, faith by itself isn’t enough? Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless."-James 2:14-17

This scripture reminds us to help provide for those who do not have enough. 

I often forget how blessed I am to have a warm, soft and clean bed every night. In fact, it is sometimes so warm and snug, it is hard to get up in the morning. When I lament that unhappy feeling of leaving my warm cocoon, I need to remember to be grateful that I slept warmly, safely and sound. 

Today, I am grateful for cozy blankets.

The Animals

Daily Gratitude Year 7-Day 306: Today, I am grateful for the animals in our lives.


Animals is a broad category. Today, I am choosing to remember the richness animals bring to our world. From the wild creatures to the ones we make family... animals fill our lives with smiles, joy and occasionally, muddy footprints on the rug. 

Dad was a sucker for sad stories. It is how we ended up raising orphan racoons and with an irritable poodle named, BeBop. Orphaned kittens made their way into the family, too. We never lacked for animals... wild and domesticated. 

Most of our dogs have been rescue stories of one kind or another. Each one has filled our hearts and our homes with happy tails and affection. Dogs teach us so much about unconditional love. 

In the garden, the first job Adam was assigned was the naming of the animals. 

 "So the Lord God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one." -Genesis 2:19

A big job, but a fun one, too. Animals bring a richness to our lives that I cannot imagine living without. 

Today, I am grateful for the animals in our lives.

National Writing Month

Daily Gratitude Year 7-Day 305: Today, I am grateful for the celebration of National Writing Month.

It is no surprise that I love words and writing is something that makes my soul sing. My sister, April, was amazing with pencils and paint. She was a true artist. Words have always been my medium. Vocabulary building is like getting the big box of Crayola crayons with the sharpener built into the box. 

Not everyone loves to write, but I assure you that after we are gone, our children and grandchildren will not be looking at our Word Documents and Google Docs with affection. It will be when then they pick up our cookbooks, our Bibles and our journals with handwritten notes and thoughts that they will feel connected. They won't judge the penmanship. They will celebrate every discovery and memory recorded. 

This month, I challenge you to write down something everyday. A gratitude or a memory is a good place to start. What about hand writing some family recipes that are required at every family holiday. We definitely have those in our family. On the back of the card, note the story of how the recipe was born and any personal tweaks to please your family members. 

Write out your love story for your children. What holiday memories do you want to keep forever? What is the most special gift you ever received or the best Thanksgiving memories?

The job of scribe has been around probably as long as the written word has existed. The word scribble is related to scribe. What you write does not have to be perfectly written. Begin with a scribble and grow your skills. Don't let perfectionism keep you from protecting the stories that matter. 

For me, I type way faster than I write, but I try to use my handwriting, too. I like the perfection of my typewriter font (I have considered having my handwriting made into a font, but have never done it). I need to remember that imperfections are part of what makes this life more beautiful. 

It makes me think of one of my life verses about carrying the message to the next generation:

"And the Lord answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it." -Habakkuk 2:2

Write it plain. Write it today. Make it easy to read. 

What story will you write today? 

Today, I am grateful for the celebration of National Writing Month.