40 Days...er 31 Days of Lent

So not surprisingly (to me, at least) it has taken me almost 10 days during Lent to figure out what I'm going to take up or give up during the season. Following the ancient church calendar is still relatively new to us...not being Catholic or formally part of any congregation where that is tradition...but we've been doing it several years now at Vox. And when I couldn't even recall what I did/did not do last year I realized I had better put some thought into it this time around. It was probably Dr Pepper. That's what I first thought of doing for this year...seriously, Resa? There has to be something more than rejecting my occasional indulgence in the sweet syrup of 23 mingled flavors to turn my heart and mind toward the Lord!

So I've been mulling ideas around in my head and I'm sure prayed about it here and there the last couple days...I've been a little under the weather so there where my mind has all drifted is a little hard to recall. Anyway, I've realized that I'm kinda whiny. How did I figure that out? Uuuhhh...I believe that would be in the three little reflections running amuck around here. I don't think the H.A.L.T. acronym (Hungry? Angry? Lonely? Tired?) will work quite as well to combat complaining for me as will conscience gratitude. Therefore, gratitude it is. Five items that I am grateful for each day, pictures optional, but posted to my blog to keep myself accountable. They will be, surprise again, bits and pieces of my life...most will be simple...all that incline my heart to thank God for the blessings in my life. Here's my beginning for day 31:

1. My new sewing nook at the far end of my laundry room. It makes me smile being able to sit down and create without having to set things up or go into the basement!

2. Notes to leprechauns on St. Patrick's Day. And the fact that she thought to use the dictionary to spell "leprechaun" when all I could think of was Google.

3. A big backyard and a big tree for climbing.

4. Hooded jackets to keep my boys cozy while swinging in early spring. Yay for recess!

5. That my husband knows to take us out for dinner when he's spent this whole day of vacation on the disc golf course.