30 Days of Gratitude. Day 2

Wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving.

Yesterday I raked leaves for 3 hours straight. It stormed last night pretty hard so you can't even tell where I raked. Apparently, winter is here now... so I wanted to get a little ahead of the leaves before they REALLY started to fall. For an idea of how it looks at our house in the fall, here you go:

Last year and the year before as I raked leaves, I focused on how crazy it is that the wind always seems to blow ALL of these leaves from our neighbor's tree into OUR yard! I mean, we don't even have a tree in our backyard at all, and we are stuck raking all season long! Yesterday, however, with a conscious effort to be grateful and loving, I was reminded of the wonderful blessing it is to have this huge tree hang into our yard! It is the perfect place for my kids to play on their swing set in the summer because the shade keeps them cool. They swing for hours that way... which also is a perk for me, because they are happy and occupied. I have been blessed with a huge backyard that has a lovely view of the mountains - what a blessing! I became quite emotional as I thought of a world without trees. I LOVE this time of year. Fall has always been my favorite season, and I love how the trees and bushes change color little by little. A bush in my front yard at the moment has vibrant shades of green, orange, yellow, red and bright pink on it - and I wouldn't have really noticed that if I had not been raking leaves right next to it. Each winter, and even into spring, I think to myself, "It seems like this tree NEVER had leaves!" But then, as if almost overnight, leaves fill the trees and the world is beautiful again. I also had the children helping me while I raked. Jackson, especially, hung in there for most of the time. It is a blessing to have opportunities to work together as a family, and I could see this as a blessing in that way. As I focused on these good points, the time flew by and seemed enjoyable. I am so grateful for the trees.... falling leaves and all! P.S. After just one day of an attitude of gratitude, my kids said, "why are you being so nice, Mom?!" My response? "I know! Weird, huh?!"