With a grateful heart...

Can you believe it's November already?

Where has this year gone? I'm not sure about you but I feel that I've been on a roller coaster ride since last January! If I started to recount all that has changed, all that has happened, all that we've gone through and all that we've learned; I don't think anyone would stay seated long enough to read this post! Days without number seem to pass me by and all that I want to accomplish never seems to be accomplished. But amid all of the hussle and bussle of my life, the ups and downs, twists and turns it is with a grateful heart that I post today's blog. We have SO much to be thankful for and this year more than any other I can remember, I am making a conscience choice to be thankful in all things! No, not just give the thought of gratitude lip service but rather heart service. God has brought me through some trying times, He's tested my faith and taught me to walk by faith and not by sight. When things couldn't have gotten worse or so it seemed, they did. When I couldn't go on or so it seemed, I did. When life seemed to hard and my strength so weak, God proved faithful. So, today with a grateful heart I count my blessings, numbering them one by one. I'm looking forward to this holiday season, knowing that the abundance of my life comes from above, from the One who made heaven and earth. I hope that you have a blessed day and take time to give thanks with a grateful heart. Love on your kids and grandkids. Shower your spouse with special care or gestures. Bake some cookies for your neighbor or surprise a stranger with a random act of kindness. Whatever you do, do it with a generous spirit and a heart of love and gratitude. Two years ago, we celebrated Thanksgiving at home. Just the four of us. Usually I deck the dining room in the gloroious colors of Autumn but in this setting I chose to use a pure white palette of Ivory dinnerware, white linen and lace and white ceramic pumpkins.

I called it "Pure Thanks". I name my tablescapes. That's probably weird but I've been doing it for so long that it seems weird to me not to give each creation a name.

The only color was the green and brown of the fresh magnolia leaves scattered and woven around the accessories.

While still living in Florida, I found the white, ceramic, Tom Turkey centerpiece at Marshall's in 2005 right before the holidays. I've displayed him each year since either on the dining table or a nearby tabletop.

Ivory candles and crystal goblets provided all the shimmer and shine required to set this table aglow.

Tomorrow I start pulling out the Christmas decorations and getting ready for this year's Colors of Christmas. I hope to give you a weekly countdown, as I did last year of our quest to bring holiday cheer to each and every room of our home. I hope you will stop by for frequent visits.

Until I see you again,

Live Life Beautifully!

~Alisa