GreatFull Guest Post: Dionne

Guest posting today is lovely Dionne who is a fabulous illustrator and one of the nicest people you'll ever meet (even if it is just virtually).

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Do you ever have those weeks when your jaw drops open at how many things you are grateful for? When SOOOO many good things happen that it's almost like a dream?

My name is Dionne, and I blog over at City of Dionne. I love stopping over here at Lindsey's blog because it reminds me that these jaw-dropping moments should be every day - we are just so used to how blessed we are that we aren't in awe of it any more.

Here are a few of the little everyday pleasures that I am grateful for:

- Time to sit down, relax and contemplate



- That when one door closes, a whole new pathway opens up



- And of course - CHOCOLATE!!!!



What are your everyday pleasures that you sometimes forget to be in awe of?

GreatFull Guest Post: Cyndi

Cyndi is a sweet friend who I met through blogging--it is amazing what great joys the internet can deliver! Cyndi keeps a blog titled Southern Daze which chronicles her life and her inspirations. Be sure to check it out!

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I’m still pinching myself over the fact Lindsey asked me to do a guest post! I’ve been a huge fan of hers for quite some time and can’t believe a few of my words will be gracing this lovely blog. Before I get to my list I guess a little introduction is in order--my name is Cyndi and my blog is Southern Daze. What started as a way to keep our far flung family & friends informed of our adventures in a new city almost 5 years ago has turned into an outlet for the random + fun, things that catch my eye, inspirational words to live by, and photos of our travels. I’ve “met” many amazing people in the blogging community because of it and still can’t believe how blessed I am.

There are so many things that make my life both great + full…my supportive + loving husband, amazing family, good friends, and our sweet + cuddly kitties are always at the top of that list.

Other things I am grateful for this week include…

--Healthy recipes via Cooking Light. One of my goals for 2010 is to eat healthier and I’ve found a plethora of quick, easy, and incredibly yummy recipes that have made eating healthy much simpler than I ever thought possible.

--Volunteering at Sutton Children’s Hospital. Each week I spend at least one morning volunteering on the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) holding babies, playing with kids, and doing whatever I can to make them and their families feel more comfortable. Each and every time I walk through those doors my perspective changes. Kinda hard to be upset over silly little things when sweet little kids are dealing with things like infections + surgeries.

--February has arrived. Cold + dreary days will soon be replaced with perfect Spring weather. Here in Louisiana we have about three weeks of fantastic weather (sunny + warm with no humidity) and they’re one of the highlights of my year (seriously, Spring here reminds me of perfect summer weather in Lake Tahoe). With the flipping of the calendar pages it also means that fun trips are drawing closer. My step-daughters will be spending Spring Break with us and we’re on the hunt for a fun road trip, my 20^th high school reunion is in June, and most of our family will convene together in Park City in July. This will be the fourth year in a row we’ve all enjoyed “summer vacation” together and it really is so wonderful to hang out with everyone. This will be our first year in Park City and we’re all really excited!

--A guilty pleasure. I may be eating healthier these days but that doesn’t mean I’m not indulging my sweet tooth from time to time. Recently my husband and I took a quick trip to Dallas and I finally got to satisfy my months-long craving for a Sprinkles cupcake. I’ve always liked them but didn’t start craving them until I tried the very simple vanilla cupcake with sprinkles. Oh my. It’s full of the most amazing flavor and to me, is pure perfection. Great…just thinking about it has made me start craving one again!

I hope you enjoyed the list of things making my week both great + full. What are you grateful for today?

GreatFull Guest Post: Mrs. Limestone

When it comes to beautiful home decor and creative DIYs (and invitations!), Mrs. Limestone is the queen! If you've never visited her amazing blog and seen her Brooklyn Limestone tour click on over. Today she tells us a bit about what she's grateful for.

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It's Mrs. Limestone here. I always love to stop in on Great Full Day to see what eye candy she is sharing with her readers. So when Lindsey asked me to share my grateful list, I jumped at the chance.

Here is what I'm grateful for:
-Cheap flowers from the corner deli (Reminds me that spring will eventually get here!)
-Paint (Just about any piece of junk looks better with a coat of paint)
-My camera (So I can remember.)
-New York City (A great place to live.)

photos from here, here, here and here

GreatFull Guest Post: Melisa

Today's guest post is from my sweet friend Melisa who is a new mom to the sweetest little girl. She is also the genius behind Feather Report, also known as "every girl's best friend."

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Hi GreatFull Day readers! I’m Melisa from The Lil Bee (a blog about design, photography, pop culture, and my favorite people) and Feather Report (a daily fashion blog and iPhone app based on the weather). Here’s a list of some of the things for which I am eternally grateful. Thank you, sweet Lindsey, for having me!

• My daughter, Devon
• Spanx (I’m a bit late to the game on this one, but supremely grateful, nonetheless, given my new post-baby bod)
• Family walks with my husband, daughter, and dogs
• The community of people that have come together in the wake of Haiti (I can only hope that we’ll keep this fire burning and make 2010 the year that we eradicate poverty once and for all)
• New York City (because it will always be my home)
• Being able to work from home and be with my little girl
• Coffee (does wonders for sleep deprivation)
• Coffee ice cream (doesn’t serve quite the same purpose as its predecessor, but I am quite grateful for it after a week’s worth of dieting)
• The friends I’ve made through blogging
• My husband’s cooking
• Frequent flyer miles (because even though I can’t afford a vacation right now, there may be a light at the end of the tunnel)
• Music (when I am stressed out, sad, happy, exercising, need motivation, or just plain bored, there is nothing quite as uplifting as singing my heart out to my favorite songs)

I could go on, but I’ll end this list with one final note: I am grateful for moments like this, when I am asked to take a minute and think of the things that make me happy. It is so easy sometimes to take things for granted—family, fresh air, my body, my health, that there are children and families in this world who might never be blessed with the things I have in my life. I am thankful for people like Lindsey who remind me how important it is to just stop, take a deep breath, and appreciate all the wonderful things I have in my life.

GreatFull Guest Post: Tracie

Today's guest post is from my friend, Tracie. She too is a photographer and keeps a lovely blog full of her amazing photos and inspiring writing.

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When Lindsey asked if I'd be willing to guest post while she's away, I jumped at the chance. I love the premise of this blog ... being grateful for the everyday of life and the things we're surrounded with everyday. Whether that be "deep" thoughts or something as fun as a new stationery find!

Lindsey originally asked we write a simple list of things we're grateful for. But if you know me, or read my blog, "simple list" doesn't compute with me very well. ;)

After I replied to her that I'd love to be a part of this week's guest posting ... I got to thinking about what I'm grateful for. What's the one thing that I could "list" that would make the most impact ... well, and has impacted me the most?

And that answer, pure and simple, is: Grace.

There are many definitions and meanings ... but the Grace I'm talking about is the unmerited favor of God. Unmerited :: not deserved. God gives us favor we do not deserve and for that I'll be forever great.full.

"You have been saved by grace through believing.
You did not save yourselves; it was a gift from God.
It was not the result of your own efforts, so you cannot brag about it."
Ephesians 2:8-9

That's the kind of grace I'm talking about. That's the kind of grace I believe in. You know the old gospel hymn? Amazing Grace ... how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found, was blind, but now I see.

It wasn't until I truly understood. Truly mediated on what this magical word ... Grace ... really meant, that I was able to appreciate the full extent of the unmerited, undeserved favor, that I've been given.

And here's the thing ... let me tell you what you get for believing in that unmerited favor:

"And after you suffer for a short time, God, who gives all grace, will make everything right.
He will make you strong and support you and keep you from falling.
He called you to share in his glory in Christ, a glory that will continue forever."
1 Peter 5:10

Whew ... I have suffered, I have fallen ... but His support did make me strong. His grace did keep me alive.

Okay and listen to this ... this is the second verse of that old gospel hymn ... T'was grace that taught my heart to fear. And Grace, my fears relieved. How precious did that Grace appear the hour I first believed.

Powerful? Don't know 'bout you, but I've got me some chills right now!

Let me break this down for you a bit more. An everyday application that might hit closer to home.

There's a song I love that helps explain how we can give Grace to each other. The basic premise is ... there are some "bratty" kids the mother isn't seemingly able to control. But what we don't understand is that their father just passed away, or maybe even ran away. Let's give them some Grace.

Or there's an old man holding up traffic on the interstate. We yell, frustrated, that he shouldn't be driving. What we don't know is that he doesn't have anyone willing to drive him where he needs to go. His wife has passed and his kids don't have the time. Let's give him some Grace.

And oh, look at this ... I've got one last verse to cover that too ...

"Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt,
so that you may know how to answer everyone."
Colossians 4:6

I am over-the-top grateful for the Grace I'm given everyday. Aren't you?

GreatFull Guest Post: Kelly

Kicking of guest posting this week is the wonderful Kelly from Design Crush. I'm quite sure you've heard of her amazing blog that catalogs her creative finds but if you haven't make sure to drop by.

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In Oklahoma we don’t get a lot of snow. This winter we’ve had not one, but two massive snowstorms. And because we don’t get a lot of snow, when it does show up the entire state goes into a state of emergency. And then the complaining starts. The I-can’t-get-into-the-offices and the I-have-cabin-fevers among others that aren’t exactly G-rated.

The second of those two storms showed up at the end of last week. And instead of being one of the complainers I tried to look at things a little differently. From a different perspective. As I worked from home on Thursday and Friday I reveled in the little things. The snow blowing across my windows. My dog running through the yard, leaving tons of puppy prints. Having the time to sip a cup of tea. Just the magic of it all. And I’m grateful for something as crazy it taking me back to childhood memories of growing up Pennsylvania, getting bundled up to play and coming in to steaming mugs of hot chocolate. Lesson learned: revel in the little things.

Photo credits: Hot Chocolate, Paper Swowflakes, Sledding, Heart In Snow

Guest Post: Let's Give Thanks

Please welcome my dad, who is guest posting today. He sent over this little note to my family this morning and I thought it was worthy reading for everyone. I wanted to do a little bit more of a Thanksgiving post and he summed up what I was thinking perfectly. I am thankful for such great parents, they both instilled gratitude in my sister and I. This gratitude inspired me to start A GreatFull Day. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Without further ado please welcome my dad...

What most of us know, but may not think about much,

is that our overall happiness in this life, is directly connected

to how thankful and giving we are.

True happiness comes not from our external circumstances,

a job, a roof, food/ clothing, although those things are important.

But true internal happiness, comes from our faith in Jesus Christ,

our ability to love, the ability to give to those in need and Thankfulness.

Thankfulness for family, for today, our next breath, even our beating heart,

the very life that He has granted each of us, to live for Him.

George Washington realized how blessed we are as a nation

and our need to express Thanksgiving to our Creator, so he established

a day of Thanksgiving in 1789. Thank you George!

1 Thessalonians 5:18 says "In everything give thanks, for this is the
will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

I Thank God for sending His Son, saving us from condemnation.

I am Thankful for my wife and my wonderful daughters and son-in-law.

I am Thankful for all our family & friends that add daily to our lives.

I am Thankful for our great nation and all the rights and privileges that we enjoy.

Happy Thanksgiving to you & yours!

photo credit