(Thankful Thursday and a giveaway:) )

I just finished reading this book......it might possibly be one of the most  straight to the heart books I've ever read.... probably the most I've cried too....maybe because like so many of you we share the same values, same faith, same dreams for our lives & families.... for our children and husbands...and when I was finished I was reminded of all the very most important things in life...that we have a Heavenly Father who loves us and watches over us, that our children and families are the very most important parts of life....that the smallest things are the biggest things....
some of my favorite quotes by Stephanie Nielson in this book are at the end:

"Because I have faith in something larger than myself-faith that God has a plan for me.That belief is a source of inner strength that leads me to peace, comfort, and the courage to cope, even when I don't really feel like coping."

".....The true source of happiness, self worth and authentic beauty doesn't come from the outside. Women are constantly being persuaded to want something unachievable, to look younger or thinner and above all to fit in because looking different is to painful and embarrassing. I have accepted myself in a world that does not accept me, because I have learned and more than any of the lessons of my accidents, this is the one I wish I could teach everybody-that our hearts matter most. Your heart matters most, so be gentler and more patient with yourself, and their hearts matter most,too, so be kinder and more compassionate to others. Its a beautiful heart, not a perfect body, that leads to a beautiful life."

"Happiness was my choice, and though it is hard won, I am the only person who can stand in the way of it."

"The more we make the choice to see and feel JOY, the more joy there is to see and to feel."

...I have cried, laughed, and cried some more reading her book and have felt so so grateful for the blessings and ever more thankful for what I am and what I have....especially the

little things I take for granted..little things like being home with my kids everyday or  moving my body or having our health....which becomes a big thing when you can`t or don't have any control over that....big things like my children.... their innocence..... their life before us and those that made things happen....

I learned that

 I may not be the most beautiful, skinniest, most talented person out there by a long shot....... but I have what matters most......despite any of things that don`t matter............and only matter in a `worldly way`

I have 

 a family that loves me and knows me..

I have 

a husband and children that love me and are mine for eternity..

I have 

a body that works and moves and is healthy

I have

faith, a testimony and a plan for my life here and hereafter laid in place for me if I make right choices..... how beautiful is that....

I have 

so much to be thankful for. I have laundry to fold, a full table and dinner to make, I have fingerprints on my walls and toys in my tub....and all of  it means I have children to watch grow and before I know it they will be gone.....
 I am so THANKFUL for the menial tasks of everyday that bring the greatest JOY to me and I may not fully recognize it or realize it some days.... because its hard..... but looking back 
I will cherish every load of laundry I've done 
and every pile of clothes I folded
and every favorite snack I've made that brought a big smile
and every soccer/football/basketball game I attended, 
and every ache I hug away, 
and every wet kiss for every hurt they run to me for....
because it is all of these things that matter most not the big huge exciting moments but every little day to day simple thing.....that matter most...

While I was reading this book I couldn`t help but feel like it was everything I`ve ever wanted in life too ...

the kind of life that dreams are made of 

as a child playing house or
a teenager daydreaming and fantasizing about....

the kind of life where I only wanted

to get married ..find the perfect man for me....have 8 perfect little kids 

...live the white picket fence life.... 

I dreamed about it, wanted it and craved it....just like in the book Stephanie wanted the same things that so many of us do....and I think that is what makes her book so relate able

I didn`t care to have a big degree or work...

I just wanted a good, solid, strong faithful husband and a houseful of kids and to have a life full of love and happiness together.... 

{preferably trial free in my naive mind of youth.}

I always thought I was born to early..... I too love the laid back kind of life of olden days....I love the apron wearing mother who`s kids play outside all day long and things are more hands on....kind of life....

of course we don`t really live in that kind of ERA but we do the best we can to bring that into our lives....especially the values of old.... which shouldn`t be old because thats what made them the good "old" days...

.....but along the way I`ve learned that we all have trials...THAT LIFE FOR SURE DOESN'T work out the way we dream it will and that trials come in many different shapes and forms for each one of us....they are never what we DREAMED of, they are never what we wish for  and they are never easy.... 

some looking in may think they are easier than others or their own trials...... 

but we have no idea what people go through..

our white picket lives become a bit more rough & weathered and a little less bright white 

a little more real life than the perfect picture in our heads.....

through our trials and as each year goes by....we learn that

the human spirit is an amazing, amazing blessing a strength we didn't know we could have but on the other so is attitude and deciding to take what is given us and do something about it...in the process we learn everything we can from it....because if we don`t it weathers us, wears us down and makes us unhappy.... 

we can find strength and find joy in everyday things if we make that choice....I learned that even more as I read this book....

I am thankful for what I have learned and am learning through each trial in my own life and through watching others in their lives...I  am thankful that through others lives I  can learn to be more thankful for the simple things in life that we all take for granted.

This book is a beautiful reminder of all that is good....all that is worth fighting for....... that our Heaven is HERE if we decide we are going to make it that way because one way or the other the choice is always ours...

Chose to be thankful.

{"Insofar as Heaven is a joyful place filled with people you love, and where you feel peaceful and genuinely happy, then it's true.
Heaven is right here."} -S.N
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Read the book.

SO because I loved this book so much and maybe you won`t as much but I personally loved it and I like to share the things I love.......SO ENTER for YOUR CHANCE TO WIN ONE I`LL DRAW ON MAY 2ND  

{because thats mine and D`s anniversary and this whole book is  about TRUE LOVE, trials, strength & triumph real life.....:)

SO ....enter away....

ps....now is your chance to come out of the lurker closet too ha ha:)

Tell me one thing that matters most...

that has changed your life for the better:)

or an everyday joy.....

and have an awesome weekend...

♥♥♥♥♥♥