Day 8: Gifts Eaten

This might just be my favorite thing to be thankful for so far haha. Just because I love food...A LOT! Here are two new recipes that I tried this past week. Both by Jamie Eason; Pumpkin Protein Bars and Turkey Muffins. Both made with all clean ingredients!! (Both photos are not my own)

A lot of the time I think I take food for granted. It is something that is so easily accessible in America. Only now, when I don't have a job and I have to be more conscious of my spending, do I realize how much money I actually do spend on food. It makes me a little worried about when I'm married with a family. That amount is only going to increase! Which leads me to be even more thankful for the money that I do have to spend on my groceries.

DAY 9

COLTON'S BLOG

Day 6: Gifts in Weakness

This is going to be a short post but I am thankful for weakness for this sole reason:

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.For the sake of Christ, then I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

-Ashley

DAY 7
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Day 5: Gifts of Conflict, and Change

When I looked at today's item to be thankful for, this one stirred up a lot of emotions for me. I have a very difficult time thanking God for all of my hardships. Hindsight, yeah, I can see why I went through the things I did, but now. Currently. This. Very. Moment. The last thing I want to do is give thanks for being stuck an extra time (with a very large needle might I add) or almost passing out while giving plasma. And this isn't the first time these things have happened. They occurred a few weeks ago! I just want to sit here and cry about it (I'm such a baby sometimes. ha.).

<<<Here is my battle would...It's not that bad.



In all actuality, what I went through today is very small compared to the grand scheme of things. Reflecting on my scary ordeals at plasma, I am thankful for the first scare. That conflict better prepared me for when it happened today. I wasn't freaking out as much, I knew that I was going to be okay, and I knew how to deal with it. It's very hard to be thankful for that, but I'm coming around to it.

Now to the topic of change. Hmmm. This is a hard one for me also. Goodness! Today is just a hard day all around! I have a difficult time with change. Moving, new job, unforeseen circumstances, sometimes even unexpected changes in plan; all of these things are quite a challenge for me. Eventually, I get over it and become accustomed to the new way that things are, but those first few moments of the change are very stressful for me. Like I said above, because I went through the first experience, it better prepared me for the second time around. The same thing goes with change. The more I experience change, the more opportunities I have to learn how to deal with it and for that I am thankful. I like to think that I'm getting better at it ;)

DAY 6
COLTON

Day 4: Gifts of Enthusiasm

I wasn't really sure what to be thankful for in the area of enthusiasm. Yeah, it's great to be enthusiastic, but I just didn't understand what exactly needed to be given thanks. I decided to Google some things and this is what I found:

People who possess the gift of enthusiasm are those that have a strong positive effect on the people around them. They are always optimistic, cheery, and have this infectious energy about them; they always see the good in every situation. Do you know the type??

Without these kind of people in our lives, it would definitely be hard to pick ourselves up after a hard battle, difficult to move forward with life. We desperately need enthusiastic people in our lives to show us God's grace and remind us the simple truths of the Bible. A few people come to my mind when reflecting on this topic. I am very grateful that I have those people in my life.

"Do not judge whether what you are doing is impressive or mediocre, spiritual or mundane. Just do it with enthusiasm. Just give yourself to whatever you do with this full knowledge: 'God is within me. All actions that I perform are an offering to God.' " - Swami Chidvilasananda

DAY 5
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Day 3: Persistence/Endurance

What is endurance?

<<<< This is a pretty accurate definition. I am thankful for having the ability to persist and endure in times of trial. I've encountered many trials in my short almost 21 years of life; most of them occurring the past year or two. 

When I'm in the heat of a trial, the last thing I want to think about is enduring and pushing on with persistence. I usually just want to give up all hope and quit. But then I think, "How is that going to change anything? I'll still be stuck where I'm at; upset and unsatisfied."

Many times, Colton will tell me that God has a specific plan for me and that I just have to trust in God. Yeah, yeah. I know that already. Honestly, it sort of feels like he is just giving me an easy answer without putting any effort into understanding how I feel. I'm completely wrong.
Basically, this picture says it all...>>>>>>>>>>

God does have a plan for me. And although, that isn't necessarily what I want to hear in that moment, I know that it is the truth and I'm thankful that Colton reminds me of that consistently. By experiencing these trials and enduring them, I know that whatever happens is the best possible outcome and it will definitely be worth going through all the hard stuff.

"By your endurance you will gain your lives." - Luke 21:19

DAY 4

Check out Colton's Day 3 HERE

Day 2: Gifts Read (authors, books, etc.)

Lately I have been making more of an effort to read books as opposed to watching Netflix all the time. The main reason for this is because of the book "Sex is not the problem (lust is)" by Joshua Harris (which I am very thankful for. ha ha.).

One of the chapters focused specifically on what types of things we are allowing into our hearts and minds via television, movies, magazines, books, Internet, etc. This chapter brought to my attention that although what i'm watching isn't terrible, it isn't necessarily glorifying God either. I can also apply this to the books that I choose to read. Because of this I have actually put down a couple books that I decided were not worth my time reading because of content. 

I am trying to use the website www.pluggedin.com to read Christian reviews on what I am allowing into my heart, media wise. It really brings a lot of things to my attention that I would normally just brush over.

With that, I am very thankful for the entertainment that we have today (specifically books), and I am also thankful that there are strong Christians who make it a point to review movies and books so that people like myself can determine whether or not it is a God glorifying indulgence.

Check it out >>>> I LOVE COLTON GROVES!

DAY 3

Gifts in Your Mom

July 1/Day 1: Gifts in Your Mom

Ladies and Gents, this here is my amazing mom (and dad). I don’t know what I would do without her!

1. She is always sharing her clothes with me.
2. She doesn't act her age (in a good way). Always up for having some fun; usually in the form of yard sales and attempting to glue quarters to the mall floor.
3. Along with yard sales, she is GREAT at finding bargains and definitely raised me the same way.
4. She is supportive of everything I do and is always willing to help me financially (school, rent, food, utilities, doctor visits, etc.).
5. She does my taxes. I would be completely lost without her accounting knowledge.
6. She never complains about doing my laundry when I come home for a visit and even cleans my house when she comes for a visit.
7. She is crafty and always shares her scrapbook supplies with me. In return, I do a little scrap-booking for her.
8. She is a great mountain biker. Even though at least one crash happens on every ride, she still gets back on the bike every single time.
9. She has a huge heart for people; always wanting to help. The majority of her time is spent investing in those she loves, even those she isn't very fond of.
10. She (and my dad) raised me with manners, taught me the importance of tithing my money to God, and teaches me in the way of the Lord.
11. She loves dogs even more than I do.
12. She will one day spoil my children.
13. She has funny, embarrassing moments, but doesn't get upset when I laugh “with her.”
14. She has always been my guinea pig (without complaining) when I would cook meals.
15. She (along with my dad) let me earn money from household chores and taught me the value of my money and hard work.
16. She is an overachiever. Always putting in extra hours at work and always serving at church (cleaning, nursery, and Sunday-school teaching).
17. She is my best friend who I can go to with any struggle I encounter. She listens very well even when i’m just crying to her.

This is just a condensed list. I could go on and on about my WONDERFUL mother. I love you mom.

DAY 2
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