One of my favorite things about blogging in November is setting aside a few weeks to focus on gratitude and remembering the great things that God has done for us this year. I love how the bloggy world comes alive with thanksgiving and I love being a part of that thanksgiving.
For the past few years, taking time to participate in GreaThings has been a highlight of the year. I look forward to getting together with old and new friends and mutually sharing our blessings and taking time to put into words all the reasons we have to be grateful. There is something wonderfully inspiring about focusing on the good things that God has done for us and I’m excited to be a part of GreaThings again this year and hope that you will want to join us, too!
I’m also excited because, Abigail (Paul) Westbrook, the original host of GreaThings back in 2007, has not only kindly given me permission to keep up the tradition of GreaThings by hosting it on my blog again this year, but took the time to create some beautiful graphics for us to use as a part of GreaThings 2011! (Be sure to check out the calendar image you can use to set as your desktop backdrop. It is perfect for November!)
Every year in the past, we’ve followed a basic outline during the two weeks that GreaThings has lasted, to help keep us on track. It has been a fun and easy way to count a lot of the common and uncommon things that we may not always take time to say thanks for. I’ve loved going and reading everyone’s list of thankfulness and seeing what has stayed the same and what has changed since the last year. This year, though, we thought it was time to change it up a little, both to give it a fresh feel and to keep it simple but meaningful for each one of us.
What I’d like to see is us all focusing on one or two specific things each day that have meant something to us this year. Instead of a long list of random things specific to a letter of our little acrostic, I want it to be real and personal for us. I want to make us all really stop and think about these GreaThings. It doesn’t have to be long, or fancy or elaborate. It doesn’t necessarily even have to follow the outline. Just write from your heart the things that have impacted your life this year that you are grateful for. I’ve also added a couple more specific prompts to the ones that we’ve had already and feel free to be creative and add your own touches to the outline.
Starting on Thursday, November 10th, I’ll be blogging about my year and what I’ve learned and have found to be thankful for. If you would like to be a part of spreading thankfulness this November, I hope you will plan to join GreaThings 2011!
Joining is easy:
1.) Use the outline below as a guide if you’d like and write a post each day on that particular theme. If you’d rather make your own outline, feel free! The point is to focus on our specific blessings, not necessarily to follow the outline precisely. Be sure to include the banner (you can grab the code below to use it in your posts) and link to this post. Also, come back and use the link up to share your posts and to be encouraged by what others have written.
2.) If you don’t have a blog, that’s okay! Leave a comment on my daily posts and take time to read some of the posts others are writing.
3.) Tweet some of your daily blessings on twitter! You can let me know by tweeting @beautifu1_wp474 or including the #GreaThings tag in your tweet so everyone can follow along.
4.) Spread the word! Let other people know about GreaThings and point them over here to join us in celebrating God’s blessings in the past year by linking back to this post, sharing a link on facebook or twitter. If you use the code below, the image will also be clickable and link back to the posts I’ve tagged “greathingsâ€.
5.) You don’t have to be an American, and celebrate America’s Thanksgiving to take part. This is for everyone!
I’m looking forward to reading your posts and comments and getting a glimpse into the Great Things that God is doing for each of you. I’m looking forward to blogging and sharing some of the things I’m particularly grateful for as we head into the close of this year.
Dont’ forget to click here to download the Calendar for November that goes along with the GreaThings logo! (Thanks again to Abigail Westbrook!)
<a href="https://beautifulsong.com/2011/11/greathings-2011/" target="_blank"> <img src="https://beautifulsong.com/images/greatings11.jpg" border="0" alt="GreaThings 2011"></a>
GreaThings 2011 Outline
November 10 – Gratitude is…(what it means to you)
November 11 – R (one or two special blessings beginning with this letter)
November 12 – Scriptures that have been a blessing during this year
November 13 – E (one or two blessings)
November 14 – A “
November 15 – Answered prayers and miracles from this year
November 16 – T
November 17 – Lyrics that have been meaningful to you this year
November 18 – Difficult experiences you are grateful for
November 19 – I
November 20 – N
November 21 – Special lessons God has taught you this year
November 22 – G
November 23 –Something important you’re learning about gratitude
November 24 – Thanksgiving Day! (favorite quotes about giving thanks and gratitude)
