intentional. (and some glimpses into my thankful journal)

what a difference being intentional can make. 

i unofficially started my thankful list in 2003 (it's original name was "happy book" - one of my growth group girls gave each of us a journal and suggested we write down things that make us happy - our plan was to share those things each week when we met)

so i started writing down things that made me happy...it took me nearly 8 years to reach 1000 items on the list -- over the course of those 8 years i would add things to the list every now and then - maybe a few each week...and there were times when it would be four to six weeks before i added anything...

Inside cover (little random pieces of paper, magazine cut outs and dove chocolate wrappers that have to do with God's gifts/being thankful) and the first page.  

somewhere along the line, i realized that the items didn't just "make me happy" but that they were gifts from God that i wanted to say "thank you" for.....and somewhere along the line (December 2011), i started making writing down things i was thankful for a more regular practice...at least weekly...and then i read on Ann Voskamp's blog (which is awesome) that if you write down 3 things - just 3 things! - each day, in a year's time you'll have 1000 gifts written down.

so that's what i started doing - my goal was to write down 3 things each day...some days the 3 come easy - so easy that the 3 become 10...but then there are days when it's hard to come up with 1 - much less 3.  but if i sit long enough and i stop thinking about ME long enough, God usually brings at least 3 things to the surface that my heart is thankful for...

so it took me 8 years to get to 1000 when i just sort of did it when i felt like it/thought of it/happened to remember....it took 8 months to get the 2nd 1000 once God helped me make it a daily habit. 

i just keep thinking about that...about how, as much as i would like for some things to "just happen", they won't, unless i'm purposeful, intentional and allow God to make a habit in my life.  scripture memory is one of the main things coming to mind... but really any habit could fit into this -- exercising, eating healthy, communicating well with others, reading the Bible, friendship, community, and on and on it goes.

i want to live intentionally - with my thankful list...and in every area of my life.

the front cover
there used to be a flower in a vase underneath the ocean heart (well, i suppose it's still there...just covered up).  the dirt came from Pai Katanga...not sure why it doesn't just come off...maybe because it's a reminder in and of itself to be thankful. 

thankful verses and quotes get written on the inside of the back cover

the back cover.  I need to go over the words/verses with sharpie again.

Since you can't really see them in the picture - here are the words from the back cover:

• Isaiah 30:8 "...go now and write this all down.  put it in a book so that the record will be there..."
• Isaiah 63:7 "...I'll make a list of God's gracious dealings, all the things God has done that need praising...:
• "10,000 reasons for my heart to sing...bless the Lord, O my soul...worship His holy name"
• "Let thanksgiving fill every corner of your soul."

so we've hit the 2000 mark of God giving good gifts and me attempting to say thank you (though i wonder how many i've missed...).  i'm looking forward to the 10,000 mark....wonder if i'll live long enough to reach the 100,000 mark....

our God gives good gifts...so thankful to be on the receiving end of His gifts.