thanksgiving thursdays.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

I feel like a broken record saying it has been a stressful week – however that is just the truth. This term has brought a couple of classes that are challenging (but, thankfully, have fantastic professors to help along the way) and one class that should be enjoyable – but is a nightmare owing to the worst instructor I have truly ever had on any level of schooling.

Yuck.

At the same time, it’s been super hectic in the Hippie Hut, both with some really good things for our family and also with some scary medical things last week that turned out to be all okay – but were still so frightening to deal with.

All that said, I am just worn out this week and ready for a fun Friday out with Bug and our sweet friend Ashley and then a cozy fabulous football Saturday in with my better half and our whole family at home. ❤

In all of the craziness, I’ve been making a point to take a little time each day for some non-school related reading – and this week it has been one of my favorite authors, Ann Voskamp. Though it has been awhile, I have written about her work here before as I absolutely love her book One Thousand Gifts and recommend it to everyone.

It is also available to check out for free if you look it up here on archive.org:

archive.org free library link.

It’s all about living a life of thanksgiving and gratitude – and in it, as the name suggests, she starts a notebook and lists her gratitudes, her blessings, counting up to 1000.

Her story of how it shifts her perspective and changes her life is beautiful – and, following her on social media as well as having read her other books, it has been so moving to see the impact this has had on the lives of so many people over time as her book has been read and shared worldwide over the past ten years.

The word at the center of the book, eucharisteo, is the Greek word for thanksgiving but it also has roots that mean joy and grace.

I was thinking, particularly with this stressing semester, that I would like to start my own list between now and Thanksgiving of gratitudes, big and small.

From there it occurred to me that it would be lovely to share eucharisteo together – as that is the whole idea – so I thought we would have Thanksgiving Thursdays, with gratitudes and scriptures each week.

While I have so many big blessings to be thankful for – and I am beyond grateful for them – sometimes it’s easy to get so flustered I overlook the small wonderful things too.

Here are some simple lovely gifts from HIm this week: