A Holiday Noticed

warning: This post is a bit of a rant on Black Friday Campers, but it turns out pretty good in the end. 

thank·ful   [thangk-fuhl]  adjective

feeling or expressing gratitude; appreciative.

  

OK, so then what does grateful mean?

grate·ful   [greyt-fuhl]  adjective

1. warmly or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits received; thankful: I am grateful to you for your help.

2. expressing or actuated by gratitude: a grateful letter.

3. pleasing to the mind or senses; agreeable or welcome; refreshing: a grateful breeze.

So much of thanksgiving seems to be overlooked these days. Can you believe that people started camping out for Black Friday sales on Monday morning? Um hello!?! Are you gonna leave your post to celebrate the NATIONAL holiday tomorrow? Or just celebrate the holiday from your tent on the sidewalk!?! Or better yet just skip the holiday altogether?

That makes me wonder and frustrates me a bit too! I don't think a good deal is worth camping out for, fighting for in a store, or sleeping on a cold, hard sidewalk for. This is my opinion and it may upset you, but I feel that a NATIONAL holiday is meant to be spent actually celebrating what the holiday was intended for. In this case the holiday is thanksgiving, a time when we express our gratitude and thankfulness. The above mentioned definitions clearly state that it is a time "accentuated by gratitude." So, does one who sits on a sidewalk waiting for a store to open have a life accentuated by gratitude? It seems like it would be the contrary. It would be a life accentuated by greed and want.

These are the thoughts that run through my head as we head into yet another holiday where the news porters are quick to report on the shopping trends that we as Americans have.

So with all that said, I am thankful for much and I am striving to live a life "accentuated by gratitude."

Happy Thanksgiving Eve!

 

All definitions were found on Dictionary.com

Sunday Social: Deep Thoughts Edition

I am late to this game a bit today, despite having had this post written last night! 

How come it always seems like Sunday FLIES by!!!! 

This week forSunday Social the theme is:

Deep Thoughts 

with Ashley and Neely

1. What do you value most in life?

Geez, this is difficult to answer. If I really had to sit down and really decide it would have to be relationships. My reason behind this is because it can encompass so many aspects of my life. I value my relationship with my husband, family, friendships, and above all my faith in the Lord.

2. What do you think is the greatest invention in your lifetime and why? 

I asked hubs on this one and he immediately responded with "power" but then I changed the stipulation to be something within our lifetime. We were both born in 1980 and after a little debate, we both agree that the iPad is the greatest invention of our time. Not sure I have to explain this much!

3. What do you think is the secret to a good life? 

I think the secret to a good life is gratefulness  Without the perspective of being grateful for the things you have in life, now matter how big or small, a person could become bitter, jaded, and full of hate and frustration! With gratefulness a person can focus on the positive which then creates more positive emotions! I choose gratefulness!

Source: google.com via Kathy on Pinterest

Source: fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net via Linda on Pinterest

4. What would you most like to be remembered for when you’re gone? 

I would like to be remembered for being a great teacher! Not just to my students but also to my children! It really is such a blessing in life to see children learn and it really is amazing to see a child "get it" after struggling for a bit! It is heartwarming and especially rewarding to think you may have played even the smallest role in helping a child to learn!

5. What accomplishment in your life are you most proud of? 

So far, I am most proud of three things:

• My marriage. Marriage is hard work and I feel my husband and I have done a great job! I still love him and he still loves me. We just keep working to keep that going. It is one of my best accomplishments thus far in life and i hope to continue to keep it that way!  
• My education. I have worked extremely hard to be educated and put it to good use. My college experience was a definite time of GREAT amounts of learning for me!  
• Teaching. See question above.

 6. If a movie was made about your life, who would you want to play you? 

I would cast Emma Stone to play Simone! She is super talented and I think she may even make my life look that much more dramatic and entertaining.

via

Hope you all have a great Sunday!