Gratitude and God | A Thankfully Imperfect Woman

Jan 4

Let’s Try That Again!

I’d like to apologize to the woman who I barked at today…and the people I barked at yesterday…there’s no excuse. Yes I was tired and have overdone it getting ready for this Estate Sale, but it’s no excuse. I hope you accepted my apology today as you seemed wary, which I would have been too! I’m not usually a crank-butt!

Let’s start that New Year’s Resolution of ‘pledging to look for the best in people and bring you a little happiness’ over again. So thankful that tomorrow is a new day!

Sep 3

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Fall’s Beauty and God’s Grace

Fall is here and it brings with it a renewed sense of energy for me – I love the cooler temps, the beauty of the colored leaves, the bonfires, the fact that school is back in session and learning is in progress and with the falling leaves brings the sense of renewal.

Every year we see the splendor of beautiful colors, we experience the sadness of the falling leaves, but as our weather turns color, we get beautiful white snow that covers everything…

And while the earth lays dormant we strongly walk on.

As it is with God’s grace.

Through tough times, God continues to show us beauty and even if we don’t acknowledge Him, He lays dormant in our hearts waiting for us to let His light shine in.

And then Spring arrives and with it the beauty of renewed life.

It’s in that moment in our lives that we acknowledge that He’s been with us all along.

Our lives awaken just like the flowers bloom.

God is good.

Patty O

Dec 22

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Sadness & Gratitude for Extraordinary People

This Christmas season finds me with feelings of both sadness and gratitude this year. For even though the season is filled with the joy that Christ’s birth brings, I selfishly mourn for the loss of loved ones this year…

My sadness comes from the loss of my very special, sweet father-in-law whose body succumbed to Alzheimer’s this summer…and from the loss of 2 wonderful friends this fall…and from the impending loss of another dear friend, given only days to live.

All three were extraordinary people…giving of themselves to help others: Read more

Nov 11

A Special Thank You to Veterans and Their Significant Others

A special thank you to the Veterans and their families this year.

Below you will find a link to a blog I read on a fairly regular basis. Today’s story honors Veterans and their spouses and families. I strongly encourage you to read it, it certainly inspired this post.

My Dad served four years in the Army, and while he served stateside during the Korean War, Mom was right there by his side raising our family.

Growing up, we’d hear stories from Dad about how his favorite time of day was when he would come home to Mom. One of my favorite memories is how she’d have his favorite glass of iced tea ready for him when he got home…every day…morning, afternoon, or night depending on his shift work at the mine. I’m sure that was his 3rd favorite thing when he came home…her hug and kiss were no doubt his first. They were quite a pair those two.

My brother joined the Army at age 18 and retired at age 40. While my brother served for 22 years, my sister-in-law maintained their home, raised their children, and kept the Faith. I can’t imagine how difficult it had to be when he would be flown out on a mission…she would have no idea where he was going, or how long he’d be gone. I don’t know if I’ve ever told her just how much I admire her and appreciate the love and support she has given my brother through the years. So today, on this Veteran’s Day, thank you Jody for being Steve’s love, his rock, and his home.

On this Veteran’s Day, I honor and thank all the Veterans out there, including my brother, nephews, friends, and Dad. You are the reason we are still here, safe and sound and thriving. And for the wives, husbands and families…thank you for being their home, their safe place, their love. You, too, I hold in my heart and prayers. You are amazing and you are appreciated.

(in)Courage Veteran’s Day Blog Post

God Bless You,

Patty O

Sep 11

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September 11 – There is Beauty

Ever since 2001, 9-11 has brought sadness to the hearts of many.

On that iconic day, so many lives were lost. So many dreams were shattered. So many families grieved.

And we grieved with them.

I’ll never forget where I was when the first and then the second plane hit.

I saw the pictures of the devastation of the first plane just as I was about to leave the house that morning.

I saw the second plane hit just after I got to the babysitters. I had told her to turn on her TV and we watched it together.

The feeling of sadness is still overwhelming when I watch the shows depicting what happened that day.

The feeling of heaviness and fear. The knowledge that there is true evil in this world. The feeling of insufficiency, wishing there was some way to reach out to the families.

Then I take a step back…

A step back from my sadness to remember.

To remember and revel in the love that was spread that day.

The show of caring, of bravery, of humanity.

Not only from the rescuers, the fire fighters, the police, and the EMTs. These people were incredible and I hold them in the highest regard.

But the everyday person. The people who opened their arms, their hearts and their stores and restaurants, to help everyone. The people who made food for the rescuers, the people who joined the rescuers, the men and women who fought back, the friends and relatives that surrounded the families in their time of need and fear.

This is the beauty of that day.

The day that beautiful buildings which held beautiful people were destroyed.

The day that changed so many lives.

The day that changed our world.

Forever.

While we must never forget, we must not linger in that sadness and pain.

We must look for the good…

There is beauty.

For you it might be a ray of sunshine.

Or maybe a call from a friend.

For you it might be the smile of a young child.

Or maybe spending some time with a relative.

For me, it’s remembering that on this day in 1999, I attended a barbeque where I was introduced to my husband.

It was a blind date.

For me, it’s realizing how blessed I am.

And for me, it’s looking at the beauty that comes from nature, from age. From hardship, from joy, and even from tragedy.

The picture you see is the bottom of a metal cabinet that I pulled from a dumpster.

The cabinet had obviously sat in water or was left in a damp environment. The rust was taking over the original shine. It had been neglected. There was a little rust visible on the outside, but I didn’t see this until I turned it over.

There, is the beauty. A beauty that came from age and neglect.

Find the beauty.

In the tragedy, after the tragedy, in everyday life.

There is beauty.

Patty O