On Being Thankful - Week 1 of the #graditudetrain

I've been really quiet on here.  Some of that quiet came about because I've been really busy just living, but a good portion is because I've been letting the steam of my inner soul build up again.  I read this quote on another blog a long time ago, and it never left me; When the door of the steambath is continually left open, the heat inside rapidly escapes through it; likewise the soul, in its desire to say many things, dissipates the remembrance of God through the door of speech, even though everything it says may be good...Timely silence, then, is precious, for it is nothing less than the mother of the wisest thoughts.
So that's kind of what I've been doing these past several months.  I've been allowing the steam of my soul to build up again in hopes that I would come back  to share something that would be really good for you all beloved readers.  That above quote also reminds me of something that my grandmother used to always say to her kids, and then my mother said to me several times as a child, and now of course I say it to my own children;  "The smart one shuts up!"  Well, I don't know if shutting up really does make one smart, but I've been working hard to appear real, real smart these days. 
I decided today, November 1st was a good time to get back on here, break the silence(even if I may appear stupid for doing so) and share some thoughts with you all.
You'll have to let me know if all that quiet helped me to become infinitely wiser these past few months? (wink wink)   In my quiet I've been contemplating the state of our world at large as well as my own personal little corner in it.  I've been quietly mourning the tragedies occurring around the world, and at the same time still mourning the loss of my beloved friend Christeeny. In my mourning and grieving I've also been trying to attain a happy balance of gratitude and still have hope for the future. I'm not faking the happy, and I always have hope in Christ,  but it is very much mixed with sadness at the same time. I feel as though I can't just throw my hands up though, and stop hoping for a better tomorrow because I have 4 children who need to be reminded that there is still so much good in this world. 
(Enter John Mayers song The Heart of Life)
I wonder if anyone else feels the same in regards to seeing how crazy our world is right now and trying to make sense of it all for your children's sake if not for your own sanity? I know there are some things that will never make sense to me, but I desperately want to try and find a way to help my kids navigate the madness of it all. 
I have decided that to come against all this crazy from a different angle. I'm taking a totally different perspective than all the negative that is so easy to find these days.  Like that saying, "You can't fight evil with evil" that's what I'm trying to do here.  Fight the good fight. Run the race, and  Hopefully, Lord willing set a hopeful example to my children of what we do when the going gets rough. 
So today, I break the silence to invite you beloved reader to join me this month of November to get on a gratitude train with me.  For the whole month of November I am going to post what I'm thankful for in an attempt to  maintain balance and come against the spirit of sorrow, depression, and crazy in our world.  November is a good time to start, don't you agree ?  With Thanksgiving on the horizon I want to get on a train that gives thanks even in the midst of madness. I also know that giving thanks and living in a state of constant gratitude is a muscle you have to work out everyday.  Some days are better than others. 
I know there are actual studies out there that prove that when you feel the funk of life creeping up on you all that is needed is a good dose of giving thanks. My friend/pastor shared this past Sunday the very same state that I'm talking about so I know I'm not alone in this.      I have a wooden sign in my house that says this; "There is always, always, always something to be thankful for. " and I truly believe it. 
Even in the midst of pain and sorrow, heartache, and loss there is always something to be thankful for. 
Today I am thankful for contentment and courage to change at the same time. 
I'm content with where God has me right now and at the same time open to what He might want to change in me for better tomorrows.  I'm thankful for the state that I live in as well as the state that my heart is in.  It has taken me a very long time to find this place of contentment, especially in regards to living in Nevada again. Those of you that know me well, know that it has been a life long struggle for me to find the beauty is this place that I used to disdainfully refer to as  "Brown Town!"  I chose that above photo for todays post because, even though I have lived here most of my life and seen that Nevada fence in pictures countless times I never knew where it was located until today. 
Can I get a witness that in this life you find what you are looking for? 
If you look for the good in any situation you will find it , and vice versa.  I have searched high and low for the good in this state and worked very hard to find the purpose in being here right now.  I believe I have come to a place of true thanks for this season and the place where I live.  I'm thankful that I live close to my parents and amazing siblings.  I'm thankful that I get time with some of my nieces and being a part of their lives is priceless to me.  I'm thankful for the lifelong friends I have here who have walked along side me, and my family and made all of our lives richer and deeper because of their influence and devotion to us all.  (My friend/pastor very much included in that thanks)
I don't know what the future holds, but I do know that no matter what I won't look back on this time, on this season, and wish that I would've had a better attitude about it. 
So who is with me? Let's put out the energy of giving thanks and get on this #gratitudetrain