grateful (a link-up)

I don't even know where to start.

To be honest, I started and stopped this post a million time, trying to find the right words.

So I'm forgetting the fancy intro and explanations.

I am thankful. Right now, I feel really blessed. There are points in life where it was hard to cultivate any sort of gratefulness. About three years ago, in a job I disliked, working weird hours and feeling disconnected from friends and my husband, I was far from grateful. I think at that point I was more bitter than anything.

Things have changed. I'm at a different job with better hours. I have dear friends who love me so well and my husband does far more for me than I deserve. I am so grateful that circumstances change.

I am beyond thankful for my little shop and blog, which has grown into something I never dreamed of. I am thankful for the roof over my head, my warm bed and the opportunities I take for granted.

Right now, it's easy for me to be thankful. I'm sitting on my couch, next to a sleeping pup, warm in my house. But the thing is,  I want to be able to be grateful in everything, at anytime. I don't want to be back where I was three or four years ago, caught up in bitterness, rather than gratitude.

Whether you find it easy to be grateful right now -- or whether you are in a place where things seem a little darker -- I pray that you will be able to find hope in being thankful-- whether it's for big things or something seemingly little.

xo, erika

I hope you join Julie, Leonora and I and share your own thankful post! Link your post up below (please link just your post, not the whole blog, and please keep it relevant.) And be sure to drop in and read others' thankful posts. happy thanksgiving!

<a href="http://rougeandwhimsy.blogspot.com/2013/11/grateful-link-up.html" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXS88rQA6L77ge5xmdNGVjURN4IYfIKnYe9yKVplgWxNyf4nXMsrUlH3M4GaNMlxqH4SCeuJUZjXmZBlpO7riZ08ytuqDF5nBx0OSGvC3Y_amNm6I5B85iTWo7wMF9X4v8Bwd2Yzk2SC1/s800/thankful%2520for%2520button.jpg" border="0" alt="Thankful Link Up" /></a>

I'm thankful for -- a link-up party!

 Every year my family has a tradition where we go around the Thanksgiving table and share what we're thankful for this year. To be honest, some certain family members don't love the activity-- but only because we usually dish up our food beforehand and listening to everyone's stories of gratitude is challenging when you're facing steaming piles of potatoes and turkey. ;)

But it's a good practice. And as much as I wish we could all gather around a HUGE Thanksgiving table and share what we're grateful for, I just don't know it's feasible. So instead Julie of Julie Ann Art, Leonora of Yellow Heart Art and I are hosting up a link-up party to share what we're most thankful about this season. Whether you're thankful for your dog, your family, or something way more complex, we want to share ours and read about yours.

Rules: 

The link-up will go live Tuesday, November 20 at midnight Eastern time and your post will show up on all three blogs.

You must link to just  your post, not your entire blog, with what you are thankful for. 

You must link back somewhere in your post to one of the link-up hosts. 

We're so excited to see what you all are thankful for! Be sure to come back here to link up, as well as read all the other posts people share. 

Grab the button below to promote the link-up on your blog.

 

<a href="http://rougeandwhimsy.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXS88rQA6L77ge5xmdNGVjURN4IYfIKnYe9yKVplgWxNyf4nXMsrUlH3M4GaNMlxqH4SCeuJUZjXmZBlpO7riZ08ytuqDF5nBx0OSGvC3Y_amNm6I5B85iTWo7wMF9X4v8Bwd2Yzk2SC1/s800/thankful%2520for%2520button.jpg" border="0" alt="Rouge & Whimsy" /></a>

xo, erika 

p.s. right now I'm still thankful for my leftover Halloween candy. Trick-or-treaters, you missed out by not stopping by :)