I'm so thankful for my legs, I have the ability to stand, walk, jump, skip and run; I can do whatever I want to do instead I waste majority of my day sitting down watching TV.

We take for granted such small blessings like these especially in the more wealthy countries. We like to sit around all day catching up on the latest tv shows or playing video games online when their are people who are ONLY able to do those things. How they yearn to be able to just stand or to run outside in gorgeous weather. However, they can only dream those things due to illness, disability, war and many other reasons.

Yet, we who are blessed with the ability to walk take it for granted and waste our days in front of electronics.

Make a vow, beloved, to move more. I know I plan too. I made a goal for myself this month on my Nike+ app; I want to earn 4,000 nike fuel in 4 weeks.

Also, lets be thankful for not only the big blessing in our lives but also the smaller ones that others only dream of having.

Here is my thankful list for this past week:

1. Friends
2. Family
3. Jesus Christ
4. Scripture
5. Gorgeous weather
6. Legs
7. Education

How do you plan to move it more this month? What small blessings will you stop taking for granted?

I've noticed a trend on Instagram for the past few weeks where people will post this picture:


& the people who like it are judge whether they're "qualified" or not. I'm assuming if you are "qualified" you are considered good looking but if your "disqualified" you are not.

The way the person lets you know what they think of you is by first finding a picture from your profile that they will use to post on their profile with the caption reading your results, either qualified or disqualified.

It amazes me that people would put themselves through this torture and not only that but someone else thinks they have the right to judge what beauty is. God created us each individually. He formed us and knitted us together while we were in our mother's womb. We are "fearfully and wonderfully made." (Psalm 139:13-14)

To disqualify someone, we are suggesting God's work isn't wonderful and we are disqualifying our Creator.

How dare we think we have the right to judge God's handiwork!

While we may not see the beauty in everyone we need to understand that "charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain..." (Proverbs 31:30a) but TRUE beauty emanates from a person who boldly and unabashedly knows who they are in CHRIST!!

Therefore, beloved, do not disqualify God's work.

Let's stop this "trend" before it goes too far than it already has. Many people already suffer enough with body image due to media, why have our peers add to the issues?

Be the change, beloved!!

March 13 was the day my mommy died (I refer to my biological mother as mommy and my aunt who raise me as mom). This Wednesday was 12 years and for the first time I was struggling on how I should feel. When I was younger my mom (the aunt you raised me) took me to Galveston where we spread my mommy's and daddy's ashes on their death anniversaries or birthdays. We would let up balloons that said we missed them or happy birthday. After that we would get a Carmel apple as a dessert while we were in Galveston. We haven't done that in 6 years. This year I decided I wanted to do the same thing again however we weren't able to. So I was pondering the whole day, do I celebrate her death? But, I have no idea where she is. I don't know what my mommy's relationship with God was like when she was alive. However, I didn't want to mourn either. I've done that already and didn't want to restart the process all over again. (Now that I am writing this, maybe it would be a good idea to mourn again or take a grieving class at least).
As the day went on, I thought of how thankful I was for the decision my mommy did make on who was to raise me. I am who I am in part to my mom who raised me as her own. For that I am thankful and celebrate knowing I was loved.

Here is my thankful list for the week:

1. Date nights❤
2. Lazy mornings with my love
3. My doggies
4. Exercise
5. Bowling
6. My mom
7. Walks with my Molly

What are you thankful for this week? How do you use times of mourning to be thankful?