Instead of "Hosanna!"

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. 

It turns what we have into enough, and more. 

It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. 

It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. 

Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. 

- Melody Beattie

And to that I would add, gratitude gives a bad attitude perspective, it turns complaints to praise,

it revives that which was dead and it turns mourning to dancing.

Gratitude precedes miracles.

Thank you, Lord,

for the ways You're humbling me,

for reminding me of my utter dependence on You,

for opportunities to trust in You,

for the way community mirrors Your kingdom,

and for still having more grace. 

Instead of crying "Hosanna!" this morning,

help me to pray "to You be the glory."

Because You are oh so worthy.

Monday Morning Pennies

My Preggle pillow

Seat warmers

Carpooling

Grace

Free coffee

The little kicks of our early riser

Initiative

Being challenged by God's word

Soft tissues

Thank you, Jesus.

Pretty Pennies: the weekend edition

Best friends

Progressive plays

Food trucks 

Spending with with my seester

The sound of the wind howling past our bedroom window

The smell of Fall candles filling the entire house

Jeremiah's back rubs

Slow weekend mornings

Bagels

Neighborhood restaurants and yummy food

Holding hands

DVR

The perfect find

Afternoon naps 

Our church

Budgeting with my CPA :)

Simplicity

A phone call from a good friend

The way our house stays 70 degrees even when it's 90 outside

Holy God,

In a life so filled with busyness 

and moving from this thing to that,

thank you for the way you still and quiet our lives.

Thank you for slowness,

for peace and quiet, for relaxation, for rest

and for weekends at home.

You know just what we need.

#SoThankful: the travel edition

Clean water

Blue skies and fresh air

Diapers

Smiling: the universal language

Knock off sunglasses

Traffic laws

Common courtesy

New perspective

The "silent" button

Picture menus

Our church
Caffeine
Still mornings
Neck pillows

Lines

The Christian community

Rosie sunsets

My bed

The value of life

Delicious restaurants galore

Helpfulness

Opportunity

Good books

Morning routines

Perfume

Family and friends who live close by

Holy God,

thank you

a million times thank you

Oh Monday, mercy me.

Sweet girls I haven't seen in a while

The freshness you feel when you wear a new top

No Friday morning meetings

An effective retrospective

The sound of the announcer as we walked past Petco

The way the sun set opposite the San Diego skyline

Special talents

New songs. Old sound.

Helpful parents

Swimming in white sauce

Afternoon naps x2

DVR

Being cooled by the pool and warmed by the sun at the same time

Low maintenance curly hair

Birthday celebrations

Eating tasty food around a table of good friends

How small the world can be

The Schanakers living in San Diego

Sweet babies and spunky toddlers

Community

Home-cooked Sunday lunches

Did I mention afternoon naps?

That feeling that lets you know you're growing for sure

Budgeting 

Shrimp and Crab Fondue a block away

The reason we broke our "No Friends on Sunday" rule

Running into friends at the grocery store

Nerf guns and slingshots

When staying up past your bedtime is worth it

The anticipation of vacation

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for those precious two days between workweeks

for the way they energize us, recharge us,

and fill our hearts with such joy and gratitude.

And thank you for work to go back to.

Pennies.

Text to order

Thoughtful gifts

Storytime

Being on the same page

Working from the couch

When Jeremiah stops at the grocery store on his way home

Home-cooked meals

Generous friends

Baked treats

Honesty and vulnerability

Reaching financial goals little by little

Dear God, thank you. Love, Jessi

Them Pennies

Spontaneous family dinner

Paint-covered fingers

Finally falling back asleep

Newness

Spending the day with my sister

An unexpected visit with a friend

A free milkshake

Good deals

The "Welcome Home" of a neighbor

Absolutely zero children at the community pool

Service dates

See's samples

Time to craft

Seeing my co-worker at church

Well-behaved littles

God is Able

Sunday afternoon joint grocery shopping

The way protein fills you right up

A courteous dad

Being in the kitchen with friends

Homemade cookies from our friend and her sweet boys

Late night conversations with my sister

Enjoying work

Opportunity

A really neat progressive prayer time

A surprise lunch with my cute boyfriend

The way girls carry on 15 minute conversations in public bathrooms

Compliments

Fried goat cheese, nuff said.

Bakeries that sell macaroons a la carte

Text messaging and Instant Messenger

A hidden walk with my co-worker

Candles

Cooking

Walking through the neighborhood on a warm summer night

Memory Lane

Laughing so hard it hurts

When my husband comes home from work

The relationship Jeremiah and my dad have

Heavenly Father,

The past few days have felt like something out of a story book

but not because anything huge has happened.

It's because you're little blessings are piling up so high

that they can't go unnoticed.

You continue to amaze me with your goodness.

Thank you.

Oh so thankful

Thoughtful friends

Maxi dresses

My mother in law

Coupons for free food

Unique flavors

Friendly people

Chloe and Morris
The way music takes you back
Cookie butter
Prayer
The beautiful starlit sky
Pillow talk

Heavenly Father,
thank you for being the God we can rely upon,
the God who wants what is good for His children,
the God who calls us to courageous living
and the God who gives so graciously.

Hump Day Treats

Light traffic on a beautiful commute

A happy little surprise

Long awaited good news

Courage

A surprise visit from the mister

Getting to be married to said mister

Motivation, creativity and a new type of challenge

Being remembered

Laughter

Free drinks

The sweetest text message

A new recipe

No commercials on the 24 channel

A successful meeting

Honest communication

Holy God,

Yesterday was filled to the brim with the shiniest of pennies.

Thank you for eyes to see them and to cherish them.

May I worship the Giver instead of the gift.

God you are so good.

Thanksgiving in August

Morning snuggles

New eyes to see

Pandora on my commute

Breakthroughs

The ability to problem solve

When people receive bad news gently

Spicy food

Catherine and the way God's using her

Chatting with my mama

Sharing

Free birthday desserts

Carrying each others' burdens

A clean house

The hot tub in the back yard

Evening snuggles too

Heavenly Father,

I am so grateful for the work you've given me to do

in the office, in our community, in our home and in relationships.

May you turn the ordinary into the sacred

and accept as an offering all I am and all I do.

Mercies for Monday

CBTL along my morning commute

When things turn out better than expected

The collaboration we always make fun of

Feeling safe

Beating the Yankees

Late night dessert with my parents

Slow Saturday mornings

Iced coffee

Friends that are practically family

The warmth of the sun

Freckles

Truffle oil

Watching the birds dive face first, straight into the ocean

The rosy sunset

Clean, free public bathrooms

New times that remind us of old times

Finding the Resees peanut butter cups

Dance

Watching God work

Glimpses of motherhood

Doug's new sermon series

Friendship

A kind gesture

An $8 top

Convenience

A nap in the sunshine

Discussing dreams and ideas

Change

Marshmallow fireside

Chlorine: the summertime perfume

A change of pace and scenery

Holy God,

thank you for sending your Son as you promised.

thank you for going before us and walking along side us.

thank you for Mondays just as much as Saturdays.

and thank you for prayer.

More Like Quarters

Postponed meetings and flexible schedules

A familiar face

God's sovereignty

The support of family

New friends

A safe place to be honest with and about myself

Prayer

Holding hands to cross the street

Teamwork

Sweet tea to start the day

The fact that God's justice prevails

Challenging conversations

The thoughtfulness and helpfulness of my husband

Good friends

The way getting my hair cut makes me feel rejuvenated

The 24 channel

Safety

The one-week countdown

Rest

Holy God,

This week has been such a reminder

of our need for community, for support, and for teamwork.

Thank you for the ways that you grow your children

and for the ways that you encourage them.

It still amazes me that you always know best

and that your timing is always perfect.

Monday's Mercies

The way the chilly mornings remind me of Fall

Grace

Positive feedback

Inspiration

To Do Lists

Air freshener

A challenging work environment

Unusually light traffic

Rare spontaneity

Finishing a good book

Having Jeremiah home while it's still light outside

Food on the table and a kitchen to prepare it in

Being all caught up on Parenthood

Lemon meringue s'mores

Staying up past my bedtime

Lord,

Thank you for making mundane Mondays so merciful.

I'm so thankful to know

that each day is worth celebrating.

Thank you for sustaining my every breath.

A Full Heart

The weekends always seem far too short

until I realize just how full mine really was.

Sitting on my own couch, in my own house, watching my own TV

Treats dropped off by the FedEx man

Secrets

My favorite tomato basil soup

Sea-salted caramels

Getting to do life with my best friend

Crying during every episode of Parenthood I've ever watched

Sleeping in

An unusually lazy Saturday morning
The Aleve I found hidden in the cabinet

Walking to the local coffee shop

Working on our co-grocery shopping skills

Getting back in the kitchen

Our church family

Macaroni and cheese

Tums for my upset tummy

Just the two of us

Bubbles, play dough and a book

Celebrating God's faithfulness

The way old things are made new

A delicious brunch

Passing on one of my favorite books

Running into co-workers outside of work

Living near the coast

Legs, feet and being able to walk

The way my sister always smells nice. always.

Italian sodas

Gift cards

Having a sister

Massages

When EscoGelato has my all-time favorite flavor

Being healthy

Mighty God,

I am so thankful for this time in my life.

A time to invest, a time to create,

a time to grow, a time to love, a time to laugh,

a time to see, a time to enjoy

and a time to rejoice in who you are.

Thank you. 

A Grateful Heart

Snuggling with Jeremiah before work

Ridiculously light traffic

A hot cup of tea

Havarti

Brilliant co-workers

Not crashing into the car who stopped abruptly in front of me

The sweetest text message from a cute boy I like {and am married to;)}

Playing in the park

Happy Hour with my co-workers

Not running out of gas

Friends who drive out of their way to make you dinner

Safe travels

Being able to work from the hot tub

A crisis averted

Unexpected performance enhancements

A husband who lets me hog the bed {every night}

A meeting-free Friday

The weekend.

Holy God,

Yesterday was such a breath of fresh air.

Thank you for time to play, time to {re-}connect,

and time to admire what you've made and blessed me with.

It didn't go unnoticed.

Gratitude for Today

The way the sky looked yesterday morning

The green golf course on my drive to work

Good news

An attitude adjustment

An unexpected text

Gratitude

The familiar voice of a good friend

A local store having exactly what I was looking for

Finally seeing eye-to-eye

Burgers with chèvre

Thoughtful gifts

Holding hands to pray

A compliment

The way the full moon reflects off the lake

That orange glow of the sky

Pillow talk after a long day

Heavenly Father,
thank you for granting grace and peace to your children
thank you that your grace is sufficient
thank you that you never leave a work unfinished
thank you that we can rest upon your promises
and thank you for the gift of your Word.
You are worthy of praise.

a {simple} thank you

Lord, thank you for rest

and for healing.

Thank you for power tools

and for gardeners.

Thank you for dogs

and for fish.

Thank you for dating

and for marriage.

Thank you for patience

and for grace.

Thank you for kisses

and for hugs.

Thank you for irons

and for ironing boards.

Thank you for fancy

and for simple.

Thank you for friends

and for family.

Thank you for email

and for text messaging.

Thank you for trials that bless us

and for blessings that try us.

Thank you for the opportunity to give blood

and for nutter butters.

Thank you that you are Lord above all,

above careers and finances,

above dreams and plans,

above health and safety,

above babies and elderly,

above church and above community

above marriage and above friendships.

Thank You.

Weekend Gold

Cancelled meetings

Successful testing

Chances to grow

Qualcomm Summer on the Lawn

Afternoon errands

Peppermint iced tea

Free samples

New books

A healthy choice

Dinner with the McGoverns

A good work out

Shared candy

A rest from work

Seeing God glorified through Weston

Double provolone

A clean bedroom

Spending half the day in the jacuzzi

The funny things kids say
Good hair days

Thoughtful texts

Becoming 'regulars'

Craft-your-own mac n'cheese

Good ideas for a craft project

Potty trained children

An encouraging word

Street-side brunch with my long lost boyfriend

A brand new phone that actually works

A little treat
A back rub for a sore back

Laughter at the grocery store

Delicious sweet tea

Summer rain

Parenthood marathon in our jammies

The Sunday night jacuzzi tradition

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for time to relax and re-charge.

Thank you for the work you're doing in my life

and the patience you have with me while I slowly learn.

Your grace is enough.

Celebrating Friday

Vulnerability and trust

Good news

Friday

A funny conversation

My mother-in-law's leftovers

Friday

Conversations with my mom

Willingness to help

Friday

Girl Dates

Happy Hour and amazing food

Friday

Funny text messages

Second dinners

Friday

Getting to see Jeremiah before midnight

Valet surprises

Friday

Extra helpings of forgiveness

You Tube videos

Friday

Snuggling

Dogs that don't go to the bathroom inside

FRIDAY

Mighty God,

thank you for Fridays.

and thank you for the days in between

and eyes to see your mercies - 

that makes Fridays that much more special.

Thankful Thursday

Pomegranate blueberry tea latte

Feeling productive

A good recommendation
Free lunch

Cake pops from a thoughtful co-worker

Enrichment and culture

Building K with my customers

A new route home

Willingness

The woman who helped me pump my gas

Healing tears

A fresh perspective

Holy God,

thank you for the days you turn on their head.

It is in those times that I'm reminded

what the kingdom is all about.

The master shall serve, the broken shall heal 

and the weary will be restored.