the gratitude challenge. #littlethingsmatter

The little things matter.

Today, today on this week of Thanksgiving I am choosing to see the little things, the joy moments tucked in a life of busy. We talk about adopting it,  sweet moms, in the midst of our days - this finding joy posture of life. Yet, so often it's easy to live life on hold - waiting until this fixes or we have things the way we want them or until tomorrow - to let ourselves really live. I know, I've done it. I've lived on holding waiting for things to get a certain way and then missing out on the simple, beautiful, little things gifts found in today.

Let's not live on hold. 

Let's live today in the midst of crazy, normal, hard, beautiful, challenging, crazy, sad, ordinary days. And in that process of finding joy I challenge you to connect those joy moments with gratitude moments. It's really a matter of perspective. So today, today, we're about perspective. It's about slowing down in the middle of a season that has the potential to make us crazy with busy and us pausing to be thankful and grateful. It's a gratitude challenge.

This is my list of gratitude. 

I am grateful for little boys who wake in the morning, just a bit too early, who come to find me sleeping, ask if I'm awake, and tell me that they love me. And for daughters who love to cook and play games and watch silly reality television shows with their mother. And for moments around the table where we all just laugh and smile. And for the silly faces they sometimes make.

I am grateful for a family that loves me in the midst of the busy, who supports my book and speaking writing ventures, who cheers for me when I travel and cheers for me when I return, and who does the quick mom is coming home in thirty minutes let's straighten the living room clean. I am just so thankful for an amazing family.

I am crazy grateful for the abundance of gluten free food. Let me write that again. I am thankful for the abundance and always lowering of prices gluten free food. All of this gluten free food is a blessing and makes life normal for my sweet Samuel. And with that I am humbled to be a voice in this world for gluten free/Celiac Disease awareness. What a blessing to share that life can be beautiful and to bring a message of hope.

I am unbelievably grateful for dear friends, amazing business partners, and a team of people who believe in me and encourage me in this writing, speaking, and book publishing journey. I know, without a doubt, that their investing in me truly has blessed this process and helped in grow in unbelievable ways.  Friends matter greatly and I have amazing friends. Life is a grand adventure for sure.

I am grateful for the freedom to write, the internet, the time and space to write, and most of all the community of mothers that has developed in the process. Each email, comment, tweet, like, and all of that blesses me. But more than that, to see a group of women rise up and say I am enough is a beautiful blessing in the midst. I love the interaction on the Finding Joy facebook page - how it is a page, a place that is full of mothers who know there is no perfect, only real, and support each other and love others for their bravery.

I am grateful for the opportunity to travel to Haiti this past year. Traveling there shook my perspective, opened my eyes to real joy, and changed my life. I am thankful for the women that I was blessed to work side by side with and how they taught me to truly appreciate the little things in life. I mean look at that little face - he was thankful for so much that I had forgotten to see - I will simply never see the world through the same lens.

I am grateful for the little things - the sun that shines in the window in the morning and dances on the floor in my living room, the John Deere blanket that Samuel carries around with him, the red cups at Starbucks, the box of crayons that sits on my table every single day, listening to sweet stories from my six year old, the ipod with the Oregon Trail on it, my favorite black boots that will need to be replaced, warm gloves, coffee in the morning, and the gift found in normal. I am grateful for today. And in that, want to live today with joy.

Little things matter.

In the midst of the busy, my challenge for you, right now, is to stop, and to write down your gratitude things, perhaps ten little things that matter or ten amazing big things, down. It's easy to race through the day seeing everything we should be doing or could have been doing or forgot to do or need to do and to miss all the amazing things that we've done.

Don't miss the beauty, the joy, tucked into the crevices of life. It's the head on the shoulder moments, the I love you's that are whispered, the notes from a friend, the smiles in the store, and the moments where you just keep on trying, loving, giving, fighting, and still seeking joy, good, and beauty.

Ten things. Write them down. Share them with me. With your friends. Challenge them to do the same. Spread gratitude.

You can do it.

#littlethingsmatter

to receive finding joy via email simply click subscribe.
All photographs used by permission and credited to Hannah Nicole.
Images and original content are sole property of Rachel Martin and may not be used, copied or transmitted without prior written consent.

gluten free pumpkin bars

My son Samuel has been diagnosed with Celiac Disease for almost three years now. Many of you were reading my site those years ago - those years where everything was in disarray and where I simply craved normal for him. Well, as you all know, we found normal again.

It's a new normal, but it's normal.

When I speak or write about hard times I always share about how normal can be found again. I also talk about celebrating normal now - in the middle of life - because often we don't appreciate it until it's gone. Celebrating normal is like hitting the pause button on the craziness in life, even if just for a second, and just finding somethings to be grateful for. That's the finding joy posture in life.

One of the things that has helped our family find normal in Samuel's Celiac Disease diagnosis - which means a lifetime of not eating gluten - is cooking together. Instead of cooking two separate meals I've learned to adapt our recipes so that we all eat gluten free. In fact, the only exception to that family gluten free rule would be regular gluten full (as I call it) bread and the occasional pizza. Bread? Simply because gluten free bread is rather pricey for many children. We do, because of this, have two separate toasters to prevent cross contamination.

So as I've learned to cook and bake gluten free so have my children. All of them. Including Samuel.

We have flour blends that we love and we've learned the secrets of adapting recipes and using xanthum gum. We've also learned that there will be many, many, many flops. Cooking gluten free is like science for us - it's discovering ratios, proportions, and different blends of flours that makes our baked goods taste fabulous.

One of our favorite recipes in the fall is the infamous calorie rich and fabulously delicious pumpkin bar. Okay. I have no idea on calories or any of that. None. I'm not a food blogger - in case you didn't notice. I'm an encourager, a cheerleader, and a real life mom who's learned to adapt and find normal in a gluten free world. So when I realized I could make these pumpkin bars and serve them and no one know that they were gluten free it became even cooler.

It's the pumpkin, friends, that does the trick.  That pumpkin makes the not gluten part - the part in flour that gives bread it's elasticity and such - not noticeable. These bars are incredibly moist and incredibly fabulous and incredibly addictive.

So, today, since I'm not the cool food blogger with the pinnable recipes (don't you love them? they save me at dinner time) I'm just going to share pics and our adapted Betty Crocker Pumpkin Bar recipe.

Warning: they will be finished quickly. And children will tell you they are healthy because they have pumpkin in them. Hahah!

Here's the adapted recipe. And I really must thank my daughter Hannah - she put the recipe together a couple years ago and took the pictures. Now, that being said, I would have taken pictures of this whole thing as we had just made pumpkin bars yesterday in a giant jelly roll pan, but alas, they are already gone. Hahaha. They really are that incredibly good. Just add extra cream cheese frosting. Always.

Oh, and for what it's worth, I always use gluten free mama's flour. (and that's an affiliate link, but it's for a product that is the absolute favorite gluten free flour used in my house.)

Gluten Free Pumpkin Bars
(known in our house as the fabulous Harvest Spice Pumpkin Bar)
By Rachel Martin


Gluten Free Pumpkin Bars adapted from a Betty Crocker Recipe
Ingredients - The Bars
4 eggs
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (or pecans)
2 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
2 cups flour (we use gluten free mama's flour blend plus one teaspoon xanthum gum)
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

The Frosting
1 package of cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
2-3 cups powdered sugar (sweeten to taste)

Instructions
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease the bottom and sides of a jelly roll pan. Beat the eggs, sugar, oil, and pumpkin in a large bowl until smooth. Stir in the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, ginger, and cloves. Spread the batter in the pan and smooth. Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes, or until light brown. Let cool completely for one hour. While cooling, make the frosting by mixing the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla. Gradually beat the powdered sugar in until smooth. Frost the pumpkin bars, sprinkle with walnuts, and cut into 7x7 rows. Enjoy!

***********

This is a sponsored post as I am part of the Udi's Gluten Free Ambassador program. I've been blessed to be a partner/ambassador for Udi's Gluten Free for almost two years now. I love the company, love the products, and am so proud to be part of their family. In August I was blessed to visit their headquarters in Denver - amazing company - and I cannot wait to go back and bring Samuel. Their products have helped us find normal again. :)
to receive finding joy via email simply click subscribe.
Today's photos? All real life live from the instagram feed. Find me there at finding_joy
Images and original content are sole property of Rachel Martin and may not be used, copied or transmitted without prior written consent.

Learn more about living gluten free! Visit http://udisglutenfree.com/

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Udi's Gluten Free. The opinions and text are all mine.

why gratitude can change your life

I started writing Friday Favorite Things in the weeks following Samuel's Celiac Disease diagnosis. These simple posts were a way for me to force myself to look for good things in the middle of life. I've been writing them for two years now, and they have proven to be a beautiful written record of gratitude. And honestly, practicing gratitude has changed my life. I've become more aware of the little things, more positive, and honestly more grateful for each day I'm blessed to live.

It's interesting how the difficult moments in life can teach us about life. It opened my eyes to real importants and made me aware of how often I was looking over the little things in life. Little things that I write about - the toddler's peanut butter and jelly smile at you, little tags made just for mom on Valentine's Day {see mine in the pic from Caleb below}, coffee brewing in the morning, snow falling and coating the trees with a thick layer of beauty, time spent on the couch watching television with your teenagers, the smell of dinner when you walk in the door - all simple, easy to take for granted, stuck to your sweatshirt with masking tape moments in life.

I've learned to not only savor those moments, but to also actively seek out those moments. It's about slowing down and looking at your days, your life, even in the truly tough times. Sometimes, those hard moments in life bring beautiful rewards that we never thought possible. And some that honestly never cross our minds. Before Samuel was diagnosed with Celiac Disease I barely knew about gluten free living or even celiac disease. But now, here I am two years and some weeks later, a passionate voice for Celiac Disease Awareness. And not only that, I've become a really proud leader on the Udi's Gluten Free Community Boards because I consider it a blessing to be a voice of awareness. {find me over there - Udi's Gluten Free Community Boards}

In fact, just a couple weeks ago at the BEECH Retreat I had the opportunity to introduce Udi's Gluten Free as a Lunch Partner of the event. In the introduction I shared a bit of my story and Samuel's story - including how I didn't even know what Udi's was - and in the midst of it I began to cry. It was a cry of gratitude. It was a cry of thanks for a company - and the lovely people who are part of it - for providing "normal" for my family. I appreciate them greatly. So, in the midst of difficulty it brought forth a blessing for my family and great food for my sweet Samuel.

Today, I encourage you to take five minutes and sit with a piece of paper, or your journal, or in front of a computer screen, and sit there and write down your blessings. Don't question if they're legit. Remember, I cried over gluten free bread. A blessing is a blessing is a blessing. All of ours look different, but that is the beauty of finding joy in the little things. You see the joy moments in your life often are unique to you. Would all of you cry over introducing an amazing gluten free company? Probably not. But, I did. And I did because in my life they matter and make a difference. And I love being a voice for Udi's, Celiac Disease, and gluten free living. Especially for parents with children that walk this road. So yours will be unique and beautiful to you.

For instance, that picture below? That's the beautiful Minnesota countryside. I took that yesterday, and to you it might just look cold or lovely or like another snow picture. But, for me, it represents a moment in time - a moment where my oldest daughter and I decided to run and get coffee and then on the way back I took a country road that I love. And we laughed, looked at the snow, and enjoyed each other. So that picture reminds me of that moment - and for that I'm grateful.

Write yours down. Make it a habit to take time each week to simply record moments in your life that you are grateful for. Gratitude can change your life - it may not change the circumstances but it will change your response and how you see the world. My friend, you will be blessed.

What are you grateful for today?

If you'd like to join the Friday Favorite things link up: write yours, grab the button, and link below. This is week 102 - being intentional, loving the little things, and finding joy.


<a href="http://rachelmariemartin.blogspot.com/search/label/friday%20favorite%20things"><img vspace="none" hspace="none" alt="friday favorite things | finding joy" src="http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt255/ElvishAuthoress/fridayfavoritethings.png" /></a>

to subscribe by email - click HERE.

Images and original content are sole property of Rachel Martin and may not be used, copied or transmitted without prior written consent.

sunday stills {version seven}

I wrote this sitting in my living room, with a just put up Christmas tree glittering with lights, while the snow fell heavily outside my window. I'm so thankful for moments like this to step back, to ponder today, and to be thankful for the gifts that fill a life. Blessings on your Sunday. ~rachel

dictionary.com defines a still as: a single photographic print, as one of the frames of a motion-picture film.

today: shoveling the driveway, driving in snow, celebrating my nephews birthday, cleaning snow from the entryway.
want to be: joyful, loving my family, slowing down enough to laugh, intentional with my time.
blessings: Christmas tree in my living room, a pantry full of food, wonderful friends that love me.
thinking: about my December schedule, priorities, and what gluten free cookies to bake.
planning: blog posts for the week, what presents to buy, and on I love you surprises for my family.
writing: six Christmas traditions, emails, and notes of gratitude.
loving: colored lights twinkling now, big box of oranges from Costco, and grace.
grateful: for opportunities, for almost two years of my Samuel being healthy, and for a family that loves me.

today {again}: let me be grateful for today, celebrating the little moments, and finding joy.

sunday stills take about five minutes to write - it's my intentional way to ponder the week that has passed and to prep for the week to come. It's a single print out of the busy cycle of life, a pause, a way to plan, and to remember to breathe in the midst of the everyday.

what are you still moments {your grateful moments in life} today?

to subscribe to finding joy by email - click HERE.
Images and original content are sole property of Rachel Martin and may not be used, copied or transmitted without prior written consent.

reflections. a list of thanks.

Stepping back, reflecting on the year, and simply listing thanks today. ~rachel

Simple memories woven together to create a beautiful tapestry of life.

Moments with my family. Summer days. Times spent at the lake. Laughing. Joy. Fishing late at night as the sun sets over the Minnesota horizon. Sitting at the beach reading and taking naps. Swimming out to the raft with my girls. Going on the boat with my boys. Living alive.

Coffee runs early in the morning. Two for one deals at Starbucks. Sitting in Starbucks in the morning. Time to write.

Gluten free baked goods. Samuel's health. Opportunities to bring Celiac Disease Awareness. Udi's Bread. The Udi's Gluten Free Community (join me there).A little boy who never ever complains about not eating gluten. A little boy who teaches me about joy and what it is to see the world embracing all one can have and not to dwell on things one cannot.

Cars that run. Safety on the road. Gas to buy. Resources to purchase it.

A home that is warm. An abundance of blankets. Couches to sit on. Books to read.Worn piano books marked with notes. A piano to play. Music to listen to. And time to dream.

School books crowding my shelves. Spelling words scratched on paper. Pens. Pencils. Markers. And Mr. Clean Magic Erasers. Books to read aloud. Math answer keys.

New boots. Sweaters. Mittens in the winter. Shovels for the driveway. Boots, snowpants, and all of that winter stuff that piles by the door. Ice melt for my sidewalk. The beauty of snow falling. Snowball fights with my boys and letting them win.

Health. A shoulder that is strong again. Doctors who care. Physical therapy. Being able to do things that a year ago I thought I could never do.

Friends that care. Friends that email. Friends that fight for me. Friends. Being able to travel. Opportunities to speak and share my heart. Moments spent together. Seeing the world from the sky.

The ability to bless others. To give and not expect in return. Freedom.

Pomegranates that my kids love. Raspberries for me. Trips to Costco. Abundance in produce. That bringing home groceries brings great joy for my kids.

Simple memories. The sun dancing on the table. Kids running through the sprinklers. Tomatoes growing in my garden. Time tending my perennials. Morning frost. Stars at night.  Brisk walks as the sun wakes. Laughter at dinner. The smell of fall. Afternoons sitting in the sun.

Today I give thanks.
For all the good that I do not deserve.
For the year that has gone by.
For opportunities.
For simple little things.
For the moments of joy.

Thankful for today.

Step back. Be grateful.
What are you thankful for today?

to subscribe by email - click HERE.
Images and original content are sole property of Rachel Martin and may not be used, copied or transmitted without prior written consent.

never give up. choose joy.

Many thanks to my brother Joel for this picture that he took from a recent trip to Ireland.

Looks like life, doesn't it?

Too many things to do, too many places to go, directions, decisions, lists, expectations, dreams, and the day to day wrapped into one spot, one moment in time. Often it's little things - the black shirt or the blue shirt. Peanut Butter and Jelly or Mac and Cheese for lunch. Brewed coffee or a quick trip to Starbucks. And other times, huge decisions - where to send the kids to school, if you move, or go back to work. But honestly, often, everyday can feel like that picture above. Too much on the plate - all leading to sometimes almost doing nothing. But often? Often everyday, the ins and outs, and normal things can leave you sitting there not knowing what to do next.

There's laundry, dishes, cleaning, reading to the kids, driving them to classes, your time, your work, your dreams, homework, phone calls, emails, facebook status, blocks to pick up, cars to clean out, food to prep, fights to stop, kids who whine, bills to pay, relationships to deal with, expectations, and just way too much to do. Especially this week - this week of Thanksgiving here in America - I see it - when I'm at Target or Costco or driving about. Busy, busy, busy, busy.

All of that busy can rob of joy and can leave behind anxiousness.

Do one thing.

I know, I've written that to you before, but I'm writing it to you again this morning. There are certain reminders that we all need, and I need it as well, and today? Today it is to choose. Do one thing. Then do the next thing. And the next. And the next. Make a decision. Stick with it. Don't give up. Keep going.

This picture? On my fridge. I look at it every single day.

Put on your list, as the first thing, the idea of living choosing joy. When you adopt that strategy then every other item that is on your to-do list will go through the filter of joy. So when you're shopping and everyone is crabby and you're starting to get crabby and the cashier ahead of you is dealing with people who are less than patient you can choose to be joy to that person. Greet them, thank them, and be real.

It's the same with your family. Kids make messes. Kids test. Kids fight. Kids aren't perfect. Choose joy. Joy doesn't mean that you're faux happy - that's not real. Joy doesn't mean plastering a smile on your face when inside that's the last thing you feel. Honestly? Joy, to me, is living real. It's living awake, aware, and allowing one to be willing to allow the little moments, the little things, in life bless you. It makes those things, those times of simpleness, absolutely beautiful. I love you's from your two year old, sunrise, warm socks, a note from a friend from years ago, the sun streaming in through the curtains, holding hands, hot coffee, finished laundry, drawings taped to the wall - little gifts, joy, tucked into every single day. Life will simply keep moving and the little things will just pass by - look for them - practice gratitude.

Do your one thing, do it well, don't give up, and choose joy.

to subscribe by email - click HERE.
Images and original content are sole property of Rachel Martin and may not be used, copied or transmitted without prior written consent.

four simple ways to teach kids gratitude

Gratitude is something that I believe needs to be taught. I think, by nature, we often see the things that need to change, be fixed, we don't have, and often looking for the good things, the thankful times, the moments of joy goes by without notice. As parents, we are entrusted with a special gift - the opportunity to teach our children to look for good in the midst of challenge and to live with a heart that is thankful and grateful.

Here are 4 Simple Ways to Teach Kids Gratitude.

1. It starts with You. They watch us. They watch all of our moves, whether we grumble, complain, and never seem happy. One time one of my little ones came up to me and asked why I wasn't a happy mom. Those words stung - and got me thinking. I didn't want them to see me living a life that was void of joy even though it was challenging. In fact, a great deal of my life has been full of challenges - finances, health, relationships - and yet, at some point I realized that my life would either be a life of bitterness or joy. There really isn't much space in between. So watch yourself. Be real, but also make sure that your children observe you being grateful. It is very profound when an attitude is switched in the home - instead of grumbling about what's not right instead thanking for all one does have. Children are perceptive and pick up on the slightest shift in attitude. Choose to be grateful.

2. Practice Gratitude. Make this part of your family's structure. Begin working in times throughout the week when family members express things they are thankful for. At bedtime, when I tuck my sweet little boys in bed, often I will ask them to tell me about the best part of their day. That simple question gets one thinking and looking for the good. Now, I'm not saying to dismiss the hard stuff - we all have it and our kids do as well. In fact, the last thing that kids need is for us to ignore or minimize the intensity of whatever they are going through. Acknowledge those moments, those fears, and those worries. Always. This is more about practicing gratitude in your home. Simply make it part of your daily routine. Gratitude - it's contagious.

3. Live a Glass Half Full Life. I'm serious. Start believing that you are this way. Optimism goes a long way. A dear friend of mine, Amy, once told me that we are not to be the thermometer in our home but are rather to be the thermostat. (thank you Amy - she's the one who makes those beautiful Legacy Bracelets). When we're the thermometer we simply reflect the mood of the home. If there's grumbling, discontent, anxiety, we're just a part of it. If we are the thermostat then we regulate the mood even with all of that is going on. That's hard. I know. But, think about us living with a Glass Half Full mentality the difference it can make in your own life, your children's lives, and the lives of others. Life can be hard. We need moments, we need people, who choose to smile versus scowl and those who embrace the right now and love others unconditionally.

4. Give Back. Don't make life all about self and the accumulation of goods. A couple years ago I was getting ready to have a garage sale and my daughter Grace asked me why I don't just give the stuff to people that need it. It got me thinking. How often do I cling to things for myself or forget to give of time to others? Teach your children to give back. Grab a roll of quarters from the bank during the holidays so that you can give a quarter of two to your child to put in the Salvation Army kettle each time you go to the store. Let them volunteer. Donate. Adopt a Compassion International child. Fill a shoebox. Encourage them to help their siblings. Shovel for your neighbors. Give without expecting anything in return. That is a gift.

Four Tips to Teach Gratitude. Simple, but life changing ways to cultivate a grateful heart in a world that needs more people to step back and simply breathe thanks and joy.

Here are some posts of mine directed at teaching thankfulness.
The Gratitude Choice - Looking for Joy
2 Minute Gratitude Challenge
10 Days of Intentional Parenting Day 2 Project
8 Reasons to Embrace Living an Intentional Life

What are ways you teach gratitude? 

to subscribe by email - click HERE.
Images and original content are sole property of Rachel Martin and may not be used, copied or transmitted without prior written consent.

the gratitude choice - looking for joy.

some simple thoughts on gratitude and why my heart adopts this posture. ~rachel

I remember like it was yesterday.

I was in the hospital with Samuel. We were stuck in a teeny short stay room for four days - a room that was an old icu room - because the hospital was full of children sick with rsv and pneumonia. The staff didn't want to risk moving his room because his immune system was so worn, and he was so sick. And then, then we were told to stay in the claustrophobic small room - isolated even more.

I remember sitting there - with my messy hair, and worn out posture - in that room void of color in the bleak days of January. I had nothing to read, to do, and my cell phone had died days before. And Samuel, the shadow of the boy I had, would sleep and sleep in the crib only to be woken by medical staff coming in and poking and prodding him. My mother's heart ached as I stared at him with his worn out body and I just wanted normal.

On the third day of sitting there waiting and praying for my boy to rebound from Celiac crisis I couldn't hold back the tears anymore. I sat on the blue vinyl rocking chair with some show on TLC on the old tube tv playing above and I just cried. Big, fat, lonely tears poured down my face. It was that cry that once it starts nothing is going to stop it. I cried. Alone. In that ten by ten room while flakes of snow fluttered to the ground out the window and my Samuel slept.

Then I heard this sound - blip, blip, blip.

It was Samuel's monitors. Beeping. Life.

And in that moment I became grateful. Profoundly grateful in the midst of the hardest week of my entire life. My boy, although critically sick, was living. Fighting to regain health in that hospital crib two feet from me. And I was so overwhelmingly grateful.

So I sat in the room and began to list off every single thing I was thankful for while the tears poured. Monitors, nurses, glutenfree bread that could have been a doorstop, Samuel looking cute in that hospital gown, the tv playing reruns of What Not to Wear, clean clothes that my mother brought me, doctors who were listening, medicine, ivs, a family life nurse that came into bring toys, the moments where the nurses would sit in the room with sleeping Samuel where I could take laps around the floor - and in that moment of choosing to be thankful my heart shifted. It still ached mind you - my son had been sick for months and months and months and literally was fading away in front of me. I didn't forget or dismiss words like feeding tubes, surgery, more diseases, and yet, I allowed myself to look for beauty and good in that awful moment of hard.

I've kept that posture of my heart. Finding joy. Choosing joy. Being grateful. Looking for the good. Loving the little things. Embracing today.

You don't know how many days you have. I don't either. So that is why I choose to be grateful and why I write about embracing and living fully awake. So as I sit here, on a Sunday morning, in a Starbucks with the sun streaming in, I am once again, choosing gratitude.

May you, on this week of Thanksgiving, choose joy.

My challenge to you, right now, is to write out ten things you are grateful for. Type them in the comments, scribble them on paper, tweet some, write them on facebook, say them out loud. Make the choice.

Here are mine.

Family. Coffee. Gorgeous sunrise on the way to Starbucks. Laundry that is finished. Hugs from a healthy Samuel. A pantry that is full. Time spent with friends. Artwork taped on the door. Time to write. Sunshine. Today - this blessed gift of now.

That face? That's my boy almost two years later. And I don't take one smile, one day, for granted.

Now you do it too. Look for joy. 

Blessings on this day to you.

to subscribe by email - click HERE.
Images and original content are sole property of Rachel Martin and may not be used, copied or transmitted without prior written consent.

Operation Christmas Child #OCCGiving

Yesterday, Grace and I went shopping at Target and Dollar Tree. Now, those of you who know me or follow me on twitter or Instagram will know that me shopping, especially at Target, is not a rare occasion. But, yesterday, the shopping wasn't for me.

It was for Operation Christmas Child, part of Samaritan's Purse, and a little girl who we imagined to be eleven years old, just like my Grace, who lives somewhere else in this world. And we Christmas shopped for her.

It was an amazing experience.

We stood there, side by side, and looked at items - brushes, combs, barrettes, toys, crayons, books, flashlights, candy - and imagined this girl, this girl who we will never see but is already impressed upon our hearts - opening this shoebox filled with the treasures that we picked out on a mild November day in Minnesota.

It was an overwhelming experience of joy and giving and hope and gratitude.

We squished and pushed and rearranged and repackaged and bent and crammed all of those items into a much too small shoebox. And as I stood in my kitchen putting in those headbands, socks, candy, toys, color crayons, bags, and more my eyes filled with tears. This cost me $30. That is it. Thirty dollars that I would spend on so many other things without blinking an eye. Thirty dollars that to me, probably won't make a difference in my life, but for this girl in our hearts - these boxes are life changing.

They often get nothing. These children. All over the world.

And that is why, today, I am beyond proud to share our experience about packing our Operation Christmas Child box. These boxes matter. They are intentional. They are about giving back. And, my friends, you will be blessed in return. My eyes were so full of tears as I explained to my kids just why she'll be excited about this box wrapped in last years roll of Christmas paper will matter. I told them that these are the only presents she will receive and that these items will be treasured.

I put in a picture that Caleb drew her. And a sweet note that said Merry Christmas with a smile.

And tears fell down my cheeks.

This wasn't about me. This was about her. And bringing a bit of joy to someone else's life. Life isn't just about getting - it's about learning to bless. And, I'm so grateful to be able to share this experience with my children and teaching them the joy in giving to others.

Life matters.

This week is the annual collection week for Operation Christmas Child. I am so blessed to be able to share our opportunity with you and am thankful for Blogfrog for facilitating this mass media blitz.

You can make a difference. One shoebox at a time.
Please join Operation Christmas Child this year.
Bring joy.

Visit Operation Christmas Child to find out more.

Join the Operation Christmas Child Facebook Page.
Join on twitter at @OCC_Shoeboxes using hashtag #OCCGiveBack
Join on pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/OCCshoeboxes
And finally - watch this video about 100millionth shoebox given. And try to not cry.



to subscribe by email - click HERE.

This is a sponsored conversation thanks to Blogfrog. No compensation was given, and all opinions are my own.Images and original content are sole property of Rachel Martin and may not be used, copied or transmitted without prior written consent.
Operation Christmas Child and influencer marketing platform BlogFrog have teamed up with 200 bloggers like me to spread the word about this great cause.