30 Days to Give Thanks: Days 25-30

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Davonne Parks

Day 25: I’m thankful that each person is created so uniquely and with their own talents and passions.

Day 26: I’m thankful that the world is full of color and that I am blessed with the eyesight to enjoy it.

Day 27: I’m thankful there is a great coffee shop just a few minutes away from my home, and that all of their delicious beverages are available in decaf!

Day 28: I’m thankful for doctors, medicine, canned soup, juice, and all of the other modern conveniences that make minor illnesses much more comfortable.

Day 29: I’m thankful for technology.

Day 30: I’m thankful that God is always in control, and for the promises found in the Bible such as Romans 8:28.

Link-Up

Thank you to everyone who participated in this link-up!

Special Reminder: If you linked up during this series, please e-mail me by Thursday, December 13, 2012 to receive TWO 75% off coupon codes to my eBook, 28 Days to Timeliness.

Davonne Parks
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30 Days to Give Thanks: Days 17-24

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Davonne Parks

Day 17: I’m thankful for fun experiences.

Day 18: I’m thankful for showers and make-up.

Day 19: I’m thankful to have two full bathrooms in our home.

Day 20: I’m thankful for the convenience of how easy it is to purchase anything we need.

Day 21: I’m thankful for cleaning help – I appreciate each person who has ever helped me to clean!

Day 22: I’m thankful for the amazing weather we had on Thanksgiving Day that allowed family and friends to enjoy a meal outside together.

Day 23: I’m thankful for my husband, who is a faithful Christian, works hard to provide for our family, is incredibly patient and kind, and who loves me abundantly.

Day 24: I’m thankful for my children, who are each so unique and wonderful. I treasure being able to see their different personalities, interests, and talents emerge.

Link-Up

Would you like to join our challenge? If so, write a post, as long or short as you want, about what you’re thankful for, and link up below. Please make sure to link up using your post url (http://davonneparks.com/30-days-to-give-thanks-days-17-24/) and not your blog home url (http://davonneparks.com). Also, please link back to this post so others can join. Your link will be deleted if it doesn’t follow the guidelines for this link-up. Thank you!

Special Reminder: All participants will receive TWO 75% off coupon codes to my eBook, 28 Days to Timeliness.

Davonne Parks
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30 Days to Give Thanks, Days 13-16

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Davonne Parks

Day 13: I’m thankful for encouragers! I appreciate the people who look on the bright side of life, don’t become upset when things aren’t perfect, and use their words to build others up.

“The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish pulls it down with her hands.” Proverbs 14:1

Day 14: I am thankful for the incredible team, and their amazing families, at High Performance Computer Services. God has truly blessed our business.

{Anyone in a leadership position who wants to learn how to build an incredible team needs to read Entreleadership by Dave Ramsey.}

Day 15: I’m thankful for great books! I am a self-help junkie.  I love books that challenge my mind and help me to understand how I can improve various aspects of myself. (You can go here to read a few reviews of books I love.)

Wonderful books have also helped to provide many wonderful afternoons filled with fun and imagination for my children and me. Anne of Green Gables, Charlotte’s Web, some of the Little House Series, and Mr. Popper’s Penguins are just a few of the fantastic books we’ve enjoyed together.

Day 16: I’m thankful for the ability to work and the blessing of rest.

I feel so much better at the end of the day, and  I more thoroughly enjoy relaxing, when I’ve been productive that day. My rest feels more rewarding when I’ve worked hard for it, and it makes me look forward to the eternal rest we will receive in Heaven.

“Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Revelation 2:10

Link-Up

Would you like to join our challenge? If so, write a post, as long or short as you want, about what you’re thankful for, and link up below. Please make sure to link up using your post url (http://davonneparks.com/30-days-to-give-thanks-days-13-16/) and not your blog home url (http://davonneparks.com). Also, please link back to this post so others can join. Your link will be deleted if it doesn’t follow the guidelines for this link-up. Thank you!

Special Reminder: All participants will receive TWO 75% off coupon codes to my eBook, 28 Days to Timeliness.

Davonne Parks
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30 Days to Give Thanks, Days 8-12

Day Eight: I’m thankful to be able to homeschool.

School in the living room for a fun change!

I love, love, LOVE being with my children and living in a way that learning is not conformed to the four walls of a classroon. The lines where school ends and life begins are sometimes so blurred that we’re not completely sure which is which and I never want to change that!

Day Nine: I’m thankful for my niece and nephews!

Being an aunt is just fun. I am also thankful that my children are able to create sweet memories with their little cousins. Birthday parties, occasional mail, holiday get-togethers, etc.

Day Ten: I’m thankful for the blessing of friendship.

I am so blessed to have a few good homeschool friends who are right there with me in this journey, to have a friend who is older and wiser than me, to have friends who are where I’ve been (I love to get to be the smart one sometimes!), and to have friends who are just able to offer a different perspective on life and enjoy being together in spite of not being exactly the same.

Day Eleven: I’m thankful for the freedom to worship.

While some freedoms for Christians are being taken away, I’m thankful that I can still choose where and how to worship.

I am also thankful for the veterans who have fought for those rights as well as for other rights that we have.

Day Twelve (a day early!): I’m thankful for the changing of seasons and weather.

I enjoy cozy rainy days that allow the plants to grow, beautiful sunshiny days that provide outdoor opportunities, hot summer days perfect for swimming, and cold snowy days that are wonderful for making snowmen and drinking hot chocolate.

I enjoy living in a climate where we get to experience all of that every year!

What are you thankful for today? Please link-up below or leave a comment! Go here to read details, instructions, and a special offer.



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30 Days to Give Thanks, Day Seven: Amazing Grace

I’m thankful for the amazing grace that God offers to us.

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” Romans 5:8-9

I first heard Chris Tomlin’s version of Amazing Grace when I watched the free film, Amazing Grace. It is a really, really good movie and I highly recommend it. I grew up singing Amazing Grace in church, but until I watched the movie I never knew the deep and moving story behind it.

Link-Up

Davonne Parks
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What are you thankful for today? Please link-up below or leave a comment! Go here to read details, instructions, and a special offer.



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30 Days to Give Thanks, Day Six: Shelter and Link-up

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Davonne Parks

I’m thankful for shelter.

I have never one time in my life been without shelter. Not only that but my home has heat, running water, and many other amenities that I often take for granted even though many others are without.

I didn’t realize how much I took shelter and other amenities for granted until my family went camping together this year.

We were outside all day in 90 degree weather this summer and thankful that it wasn’t hotter. When we camped this fall, it was cold, windy, and rainy, and we shivered as we zipped our sleeping bags together to keep warm.

Finding a water source to pump enough water to filter and drink as well as to wash our dishes in was a fun chore for a short time. Making a fire to cook meals on was a lot more time consuming than turning the knob on a stove to preheat.

I love to camp, but I’m also thankful to come back to a comfortable home that helps to protect from the elements.

I’m thankful for shelter, the family within, and the God who provides.

“For You have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings.” Psalm 61:3-4

Link-Up

Would you like to join our challenge? If so, write a post, as long or short as you want, about what you’re thankful for, and link up below. Please make sure to link up using your post url (http://davonneparks.com/30-days-to-give-thanks-day-six-shelter-and-link-up/) and not your blog home url (www.davonneparks.com). Also, please link back to this post so others can join. Your link will be deleted if it doesn’t follow the guidelines for this link-up. Thank you!

Special Reminder: All participants will receive TWO 75% off coupon codes to my eBook, 28 Days to Timeliness.

Davonne Parks
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30 Days to Give Thanks, Day Five: Generosity

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Special Offer: I’m teaming up with my friend Renee Brown to co-host this Month’s Link-Up blog hop. All month long we are posting daily about what we are thankful for. All participants will receive a limited time offer of TWO 75% off coupon codes for my book, 28 Days to Timeliness. Please join us in thankfully remembering the blessings that God has bestowed upon each of us.

30 Days to Give Thanks: Day Five

I’m thankful for the generosity of others.

Karen DeBeus is donating 50% of her book sales this week to the Red Cross to help with Hurricane Sandy victims. Karen’s husband recently lost his job.

Katie Davis is living out a life of service in Uganda – she moved there when she was just 19, has adopted 15 girls, and plans on staying permanently.

A missionary named Michael Mayo recently preached at our church. He was visiting from Thailand, where he and his family moved several years ago.

These people show Jesus to others. They are not giving out of excess – they are giving of themselves.

“Then He said to them all, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.’” Luke 9:23

I’m thankful for the generosity of others and for the examples they set. I want to help in being the hands, the feet, and the mouth of Jesus.

I want to use the unique talents that God has given me to really reach out. I do not need to serve exactly how anyone else serves but I want to give generously, not out of my excess – of my self.

Link-Up

Davonne Parks
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Would you like to join our challenge? If so, write a post, as long or short as you want, about what you’re thankful for, and link up below. Please make sure to link up using your post url (http://davonneparks.com/30-days-to-give-thanks-day-five-generosity/) and not your blog home url (www.davonneparks.com). Also, please link back to this post so others can join. Your link will be deleted if it doesn’t follow the guidelines for this link-up. Thank you!



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30 Days to Give Thanks, Day Four: One-On-One Time

I’m thankful for one-on-one time with my loved ones!

The free day I wrote about yesterday? Our goal for the day was one-on-one time, and by the end of the day each family member had spent one-on-one time with every other family member, plus we had a family dinner out together.

Having a goal helped us to not waste away our day, and only having one goal helped us to really slow down and focus on each-other, not just on a task at hand.

I loved our day and am so thankful that we were able to spend time together!

Grace’s new dress and matching leggings.

Lily’s new coat and jeans.

Link-Up

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30 Days to Give Thanks, Day Three: Free Days

“Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

Davonne Parks

I’m thankful for unexpected free days, when plans have been cancelled or rescheduled and I have an entire “extra day.”

When I force myself to not allow the free time to be filled with other things, unexpected free days also help me to reevaluate my time and to remember that I am in charge of my schedule, not a victim to busy-ness.

Free Day with my mom, and manicures all around from Lily.

These free days make me want to create more free days. So I refocus, slow down, and keep telling myself that:

People are more important than things.

It’s true, and we all know that. But how often do we allow things (TV, computers, smart phones, shopping, cleaning, etc, etc) to take priority over people?

I’m thankful for today, an unexpected free day, to help me live out my belief that my relationship with my children is more important than things or a perfect home.

So I’m capitalizing on my free day today by spending time with my children and forgetting that a to-do list even exists. The list will still be here on Monday. My children will not be small forever. I need to nurture our relationship now.

Link-Up

What are you thankful for today? Please link-up below or leave a comment above! Go here to read details, instructions, and a special offer.



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30 Days to Give Thanks, Day 2: Transportation

Special Offer: I’m teaming up with my friend Renee Brown to co-host this Month’s Link-Up blog hop. All month long we are posting daily about what we are thankful for. All participants will receive a limited time offer of TWO 75% off coupon codes for my book, 28 Days to Timeliness. Please join us in  thankfully remembering the blessings that God has bestowed upon each of us.

30 Days to Give Thanks: Day 2

Visiting my brother and sister-in-law in Florida in September 2011.

I’m thankful for various modes of transportation.

I can order something online or mail a package across the country and it will usually appear on the appropriate doorstep within a few days.

Last summer, my family and I hopped on a plane to take our first family vacation and spent a considerable amount of time visiting with my oldest brother and his wife.

This month I will sit in my car and drive less than three hours to be with my other brothers and their families, my mom, my grandparents, etc.

Without quick transportation, I would not be able to do those things.

Link-Up

Would you like to join our challenge? If so, write a post, as long or short as you want, about what you’re thankful for, and link up below. Please make sure to link up using your post url (http://davonneparks.com/30-days-of-thankfulness-day-one-and-link-up/) and not your blog home url (www.davonneparks.com). Also, please link back to this post so others can join. Your link will be deleted if it doesn’t follow the guidelines for this link-up. Thank you!

Davonne Parks
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