Nov 27 2008
Happy Thanksgiving!
I hope this day finds you happy and well. Many of us will be spending it with family and friends — chatter and clatter and promising scents wafting from the kitchen, each ring of the doorbell welcoming another soul into our home. Maybe you’re spending the day quietly, or even alone. If so, perhaps it’s time for quiet reflection and now, more than ever, is the time to count your blessings.
For a while I kept a journal — a daily reminder of ten gifts I’d received that day, ten blessings to be thankful for. I know this may sound corny, but I went to bed with a peaceful heart every night when I kept that journal. It may have been a tough day. Maybe I got my feelings hurt or everything that could go wrong did go wrong. Those days I’d have to really reach for those ten blessings, but I always found them. I’d write that I awoke to birdsong so beautiful it seemed to echo in the trees, and that I was treated to a glorious winter sunset as I drove home from work. I’d be thankful to hear the rain pouring outside while I sat warm and cozy by the fire. Or my heart might have been warmed by the smile of a stranger. I’d write about the scent of a candle, the feel of my cat’s fur, or knowing that my family was safe at home with me. I’d think and think until I’d come up with ten blessings for my journal.
These days I often find myself “too busy” to count my blessings. Here I am, worrying about finding time to write a blog post with everything else going on in Life . . . silly. Of all the things to worry about! Today, I realize one of the things I’m grateful for is the opportunity to connect with so many of you through this venue called a “blog”. Every day, though this blog, I experience the joy of giving and the kindness of strangers. Now, that’s something to be thankful for!
So, thank you for being nice enough to visit with me and say such nice things so often. Thank you for putting up with my sometimes erratic posting. Thank you for everything because without you, this blog just wouldn’t be, and that would make me sad.
The card I’m sharing is one from the past which I hope is okay with you. What it says is what I’m saying to you. Thanks for your friendship — cyber, though it is, it’s very important to me. Happy Thanksgiving!
- Stamps: Fall Whimsey, Love Ya Bunches, Flannel Plaid, Linen (all SU!, some retired)
- Paper: Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, So Saffron, Cranberry Crisp
- Ink: Chocolate Chip, More Mustard, Cranberry Crisp, markers for coloring
- Accessories: Ribbon, linen thread, eyelets, 1 3/8″ square punch
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Leslie, you have such a wonderful command of our language. This is beautiful. And what a positive, encouraging idea! I think I may have to try out your ten blessings a day. My problem is that I’m faithful at those kinds of things for a while and then life happens and I am “so busy” I can’t take time to be thankful. Pretty sad. I still think I will try it. Good excuse to make a pretty new journal. I think I may link your post to my blog - we all need to read this. Hugs for a lovely Thanksgiving for you - whatever that means.
Thanks for this wonderful post. I have just started a “Grace in Small Things” blog to list 5 things I am thankful for each day.
Thanks for your post and the reminder that there are always things to be thankful for if we take the time to look.
Leslie - I just wanted to let you know that you are one of the reasons I am thankful today. For having come across your wonderful blog and for having “met” you. You have enriched so many lives, mine is certainly one. Your humble admirer….
Gabriela
What a precious post– your words touch my heart! Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
I always appreciate your posts….not just for the gorgeous creations you make, but also for your eloquent and thoughtful messages!! I am very thankful for our cyber friendship, and hope that some day we will be lucky enough to meet face-to-face.
Have a blessed Thanksgiving, sweet Leslie!
Happy Thanksgiving Leslie, to you and yours. Thank YOU for sharing your time and talents with us through the year!
Kathy
What lovely words. I am siting in the lounge warm and cosy whilst listening to the rain on the conservatory. Your card is also lovely and I enjoy all the emails I receive though I don’t usually make comment I am still grateful for the link . Thank You this was very thought provoking.
Ann- from the U.K.
Dear Leslie: Although I would miss your creations, I really think you missed your calling! I know, you are such a talented artist but you seem to me to have the heart and soul of a poet. Should you ever tire of stamping (how could that happen?) you should definitely gift the world with your lovely turn of a phrase and joyful view of life. Your post this morning made me reconsisder my attitude today and the way that I plan on spending my day. You just blessed my life and the lives of everyone I will come in contact with today! Wishing you and your family a happy and blessed Thanksgiving!
And a Happy Thanksgiving to you. You are a wonderful blogger, stamper and human. I like to count you among my internet friends. Your work is a delight.
Leslie, Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!! I love visiting your blog and enjoying your lovely art.
A very Happy Thanksgiving to you too, Leslie! And thank YOU for the reminder that we all have so much to be thankful for, and should acknowledge that fact often. I’m very grateful for your friendship and how you share your talents so often and so generously here. Love the beautiful window card too, perfect for today. Linda
In addition to your lovely card, your beautiful and heartfelt words spoke volumns to me today. Thank you for always taking the time to share so much of your artwork and yourself with us. I am thankful, and you are a blessing.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Wow, very, very nice post! I keep a gratitude journal also (from the book “Simple Abundance”), it truly makes you so much more appreciative of all the little things in life. I love your blog…thank you for your many inspirational creations. A happy and peaceful Thanksgiving to you!
I want to say “Thank you” for your posts. I don’t usually leave comments but today I jusst feel I want to let you know how I look forward to your blog posts, your creations and just whatever you have to say. You inspire me - thank you. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Beautiful post, Leslie. I do so look forward to coming here every day for inspiration, whether it be cards or the beauty of your words. Thanks for being here for us! Happy Thanksgiving to you, my friend!
Happy Thanksgiving Leslie!!
Made me think of 10 blessings. Australia should celebrate thanksgiving. Thank you very much for your beautiful blog, cards and lovely thoughts.
Dear Leslie,
Like many others your words today touched my heart (again). We don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in Australia but I wish we did - but now I am going to start a gratitude journal and as soon as my children awake I am going to tell them how thankful I am for them being in my life.
Your posts are often the brightest thing in my inbox and I treasure every one you send. After my family in my gratitude journal tonight, will be the lovely stampers I have found on blogs - and you will be the first.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Sherylee (in the wilds of Western Australia)
Dear Leslie,
this message that you wrote for all of us is so heartfelt… I was almost crying when I was reading it…
Thank you for your beautiful blog, your kind thoughts and for the inspiration that you are giving us!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Hope you and your family have a wonderful thanksgiving…………
The day is just winding down here in my Missouri home, family gone their separate ways after a wonderful day. We have so much to be thankful for. Your card is beautiful and thank you for sharing so much with us, your cyber friends.
i do hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and wanted to say thank YOU for all of your kind words and encouragement! i often feel like a *nobody* in the stamping world, so it really makes me feel good when you, a definite *somebody special* in the stamping world, leaves ME a comment!!
Leslie, this is the first place I come every day for your creativity but also for your kindness. Little did I expect you to answer the questions I’ve asked, yet you did. I think that is part of the meaningfulness of sending and receiving a handmade and handwritten card. We take time out of our “busy” lives to think about another, and isn’t this what life’s about? Your words and feelings are refreshing, and let’s hope, contagious!
Leslie, this is the cutest little card, so whimsical and pretty but it says it just right! I hope you had a magnificent Thanksgiving!! I love your posts - you’re such a down to earth person and it’s been a pleasure commenting back and forth with you! Big Hugs!!
Happy Thanksgiving my friend…….and that is just one of the many things I am so thankful for…….our 20+ years friendship
We have had so much fun sharing our love of family, gardening, stamping, the beautiful Oregon coast and more. Now I am sharing on your wonderful blog our Great Thanksgiving News…….our youngest son, Levi and daughter-in-law are expecting their 1st baby on May 11th. We just got the awesome news on Thanksgiving. We are truly Blessed. Leslie, I will be calling you soon 
Your friend always, Nancy
Leslie, you are a dear! I needed that, in many ways. Thank you not only for the beautiful card, and cards that make me smile each time I visit, but for the encouragement and for the challenge to do a little exercise like journaling your blessings. Sounds simple but sometimes a nudge is what we need. And yes, I know there are days when we may have to reach a bit to get to 10,….at least at first….but we will still find it an exercise well spent and a great reminder to give thanks in all things. I hope you had a wonderful holiday. I got to enjoy a wonderful visit with family. Thank you again.
What a beautiful post, Leslie. I love the idea of coming up with 10 things to be thankful for each day — such a wonderful thought!!! And the card — I assumed it was newly made — thinking to myself that it surely reminds me of the older leslierich cards I fell in love it — LOL — it probably WAS!!!!