How is it the 3rd week of November already?!! Time is just flying by! November is such a busy month, I’ve been so blessed to try and slow down and focus on being thankful and counting my blessings rather than being busy and frantic about the holidays and the coming winter. (Winter = lots of extra work, usually in the dark, on the farm.)

Have you been able to slow down and be grateful this month? I know a lot of my readers have been challenged this month with storms (both literal and figurative!). If you’re looking for a little inspiration, feel free to pop over and take a look at my Giving Thanks Pinterest board for a little pick me up! I feel like I haven’t focused much on the coming Thanksgiving holiday itself, but I have focused on trying to be calm and enjoy this month and the special routine-busters that keep popping up. (We had Grandparents Day, Veterans Day, teacher training days, family visits and family visits and more family visits, and now we have a birthday celebration coming up and the holiday–whew!)

This Thursday, I find myself thankful just to keep my cool! {smile}

I’m thankful for beautiful fall weather, and snuggle up with coffee fall weather. {smile}

I’m thankful for extra time with my family, and time all to myself. {smile}

I’m thankful for busy little boys, and for bedtime! {grin}

I’m thankful for Wednesday prayer meetings, and watching Duck Dynasty with Mr. Fix-It afterwards! {grin}

I’m thankful for seeing the Ladybug’s school attitude improve, and seeing her grades reflect it!

And I’m thankful for the start of the “real” holiday season, and the way little Christmas surprises are starting to stack up in closet corners…this year is going to be different than last year. I promised the kiddos we could decorate early this year. I promised to bake Christmas cookies. (And I’m promising myself to give 85% of them away!!) And I promised to be crafty and fun and not worry about the mess. (Those “simple 5 step” directions for gingerbread houses on the back of the graham cracker box, uh yeah, never again!)

Let’s share and encourage and lift each other up! What are you thankful for today? Leave a comment or link up a blog post (even an oldie-but-goodie!) and share with us!

Oh yeah–and here’s something to be thankful for–great sponsors and GIVEAWAYS! Be sure to hop over to yesterday’s post and enter our Easy Lunchbox GIVEAWAY!!