Thankfulness Cures the Blahs

Do you ever feel like the task at hand is too big to be accomplished? Do you wonder if you will ever make it? Sometimes life does seem to dole out its share of ups and downs.  Perhaps living on the budget plan is difficult when all around us is the call to spend and have more.  Perhaps family relationships are stressed and strained making the  family gatherings anything but a good time of peace and happiness.  Perhaps...you fill in the blank here.  Got a problem? Got an issue? Got a need?

It's the season for thanks...but finding it in our hearts might be tough.  OK.  It IS tough.  But I want to suggest some ways to overlook and LOOK AROUND the garbage in this life to what is really, truly important.  I SOBER my thinking with the thought of my passing and what possible inscription will find its way on my toombstone. I don't think it will read: BEST HOUSEKEEPER! or BEST DRESSED! or Trophy Wife or Hummanitarian or this thing/attribute or that.  I think that more likely it will read: my name, birthdate and date of death along with MAYBE: Mother, Wife, Sister, Friend. . . or perhaps a Scripture.  I don't believe that all the description of this world's cares that can drag us down like how our home looks or how we dress will find our way onto the final tally card before the Maker of all things, God.  It's all just a "thang!" And for some of us, not a thing to concern ourselves with.

So to be thankful will require a focus shift from what to who.  It will take us from the place of things and situations to people and the Creator.  THANKFULNESS.  Beging truly grateful for all we are given.

How do I become thankful when I have needs and wants? How do I become thankful when I just feel low?

This focus shift will requrie some work on our part.  Do you journal? This is a good way to get your feelings out.  Do you have a friend who will listen?  Another way to take it off your mind.  Do you make a list of all the good in your life? Do this! WRITE it ALLLL out.  It's surprising how wonderful life is when we take the time to see~ Make a to do list of goals~make it short and long range in plans.  These are just some ideas for shifting our focus to a place of being Thankful.

Turkey and dressing, beautiful table decor, family gatherings are all GREAT, but a thankful heart will bring us peace and joy~something that is much more satisfying than what can be gained by other methods!

Curing the blah with a thankful heart! I am thankful for each of you.  Keep working your budget.  Keep planning and thriving in this economy! WE CAN DO THIS!

Thankfulness ALL Year Long

It's the season to be thankful.  Of  course, we should be thankful all year long! What are you most thankful for? As a woman working with her family (hub and two kids) I am thankful that we finally saw the situation we were in and where we were heading! I attribute this realization to God who has shown us why it is wrong to be in debt and overly concerned with the possessions of this world. 

So with Thanksgiving in sight, I want to share some frugal ideas for celebrating Thanksgiving. Let's keep the course for a wonderful season of thankfulness!

1. Mindset~This is the hardest part, I think.  Am I truly thankful for what I have? Am I content and fulfilled with the blessings I have been given? Commit now that each day leading to Thanksgiving to think of something or someone that you are thankful for~begin a log or journal.  Write them down if you want to, but purposely begin a "thankful journey" towards the holidays.

2. The Celebration~Menu plan. Guest plan. Decorate plan.
If we get ourselves in gear NOW, things won't sneak up on us to rob us of some of the joy of the day~Ever get caught rushing around at the last minute and feeling rushed? I have~not this year! Let's commit to planning NOW.

• Watch for the sale of your favorite "turkey"~is it turkey for you? Last year we didn't have an oven (we were in temporary housing without an oven, but we were able to borrow a large roaster from our church which made delishious turkey! STRESS over!)
• Are family and friends coming to your home? Plan it now~I would begin the preparations of cleaning and how to set the table or even just seat everyone.  Do you need extra tables, chairs, dishes, pots and pans? Borrowing and lending is an economical way not to hit the rental shops for items needed.  Do you verbally invite by phone or do you send written invites? Plan these now! Or you might be like our family, celebrating with just us.  This is nice too, but I've had it both ways.  I'd say that having family around is wonderful.  I'd even encourage it, if it's possible.  You can invite those who would enjoy your company for the celebration: friends long from home who are new to town, singles, anyone who would enjoy joining you for Thanksgiving.  
• A lot of emphasis is placed on decorations today for every holiday.  I enjoy a pretty table with linens and candles.  Not everyone thinks like this, so if you aren't into it, or prefer the disposables, then by all means go a head~but just remember that using the more convenient items like this can be more costly.  Look around NOW for table covers that are inexpensive.  I have found some of my prettiest ones in thrift stores and at yard sales~sheets: for around $4 you can have a twin flat sheet of almost any color to adorn your table . . . sheets wash up nicely too and are easy to reuse!   

Ideas for inexpensive table decorations:
I like to use what I have.  Do you have a fresh bag of apples or other fruit?  A pretty basket? You can combine these along with some fall leaves from your favorite colorful tree and have a nice centerpiece for the day~I am all about being able to GET RID OF IT after the fact too~but these are not items that I would be wasting or filling the landfill with~my kids would eat the fruit and the leaves will generally fall anyway off the tree and end up in the compost~so it's easy this way...

Do you have any pine cones? I love these, and as a southern gal, seeing these all over the yard: Have the kids made a "turkey pine cone or two or more! All you need are some color construction paper (several colors) and pinecones.              They are really cute for the table!
Another idea is to put pinecones or like this year, I am using Buckeye nuts in a basket for a centerpiece.  Candles are nice. . .what do you like? Do you have some goards or small pumpkins you have not prepared for eating yet?
With apples in mind, you can use an apple as a holder for a floral arrangement.  Core out the center and stick your flowers inside.  This is quite pretty, and you can use pumpkins for this too if you have a huge table.  You can also use a canning jar for a country vase~got any ribbon or yarn? tie it around the top!About.com's table arrangements  Hey, it's almost funny, but I found this exact picture~I didn't know someone else has done these!

Thankfulness is truly a matter of the heart and mind, and being prepared so that stresses don't jump on us will make the holiday nicer!

Being thankful today for ALL my blessings,
I am on budget! Are you?