Praise attitude...

Lately I've been trying to focus on having a praise attitude.  I read something the other day that made me renew my efforts.  It was a blog post by a woman (that I can't find now, of course), and she talked a lot about how having a praise attitude in ALL situations has developed into such a habit that when the big stuff hits, it's only natural to handle those bad situations with the same praise attitude.  Makes sense, and I want to work on this.

I love watching for things to praise God for instead of focusing on the little (or big) annoyances.  It's been humbling to try and re-focus my attention on praising Him for everything.  I don't think to stop and say "Thanks, God" when the milk carton spills all over the kitchen floor...but I want to change that.  I want to see the milk all over the floor, and say "Thanks for the milk in the first place.  Thanks for the wonderful invention of paper towels.  Thanks for organic cleaners.  Thanks that we have the means to just go out and replace the milk.  Thanks for the opportunity to extend grace to my children in the face of an accident."

I was toying with the idea of keeping a separate praise journal...but I know it would be just one more thing I would feel guilty for not keeping up with.  So, I'm just trying to jot down some thoughts in my prayer/quiet time journal, and I've been enjoying looking back on them when I'm having a particularly rough day.  Some of my favorites from the last few days...

• So thankful for my time spent chatting with Alyssa on the way home from school.  She loves to recap her day for Hailey and I, and I am SO thankful for those extra little tidbits that she throws in about her feelings, friends, etc.
• So thankful for my body.  My back has come a long, long way, and I'm so grateful for the strength that He provides to get me through each day.
• So thankful for the chats Ryan and I have each night.  I am so thankful that we still desire to share every little detail with each other...it's what has kept us close through these last two semesters with so much time spent apart.
• So thankful for Hailey's cheerful attitude.  She reminds us all constantly of what a praise attiude really looks like.
• So thankful for God's patience with me.  I know I'm not getting it right as often as I should...and His mercies being new every morning are what keep me trying!!!

I am finally starting to look through pictures from the last couple of months.  But of course, I haven't gotten very far...

And, now I need to get moving.  I have a load of laundry waiting to be folded before we head out to the gym!