To have so many wonderful friends–all of you. Your sweet, generous words always touch my heart.
Bernice is 15, and she does have arthritis, of course, but she’s still pretty spry. She’s always had dog steps–I believe in spoiling my pets. 
Speaking of blessed, my Gratitude Journal continues to fill up, day by day, page by page. I write in it every morning and every evening, just before I go to bed. I’ve been writing in this particular journal consistently since April 1, and I’ve gotta tell you, it’s changing my life. (Which, mind you, was pretty darn good in the first place.) Most days, I write five items for the AM and five for the PM, but sometimes it stretches to 11 or 12, and I have to force myself to stop.
Obviously, keeping a gratitude journal shifts a person’s attention–puts them on the look-out for good things to record.
It’s a low-key kind of Friday here on the Triple L–I’m listening to music on my Kindle Fire. My goodness, that device is amazing–I can watch movies, read email, listen to audiobooks. The wonders of technology!
On days like this, days full of music–today, Frank Sinatra and Emmilou Harris–I find myself wondering why I don’t play my favorites more often. I guess one of the answers isn’t too pretty–maybe, on some level, I’m thinking I don’t deserve it? Other times, though, it’s simply because music touches me in some deep and sometimes raw places. After my friends, John and June Cash passed away, I couldn’t listen to their music for the longest time. (Fortunately, I’m past that now.)
There you have it, for today. Remember, we’ll be announcing new winners on Monday, so be sure to comment for your chance to win. Have a terrific weekend and remember, God loves you exactly the way you are, warts and all.
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Hugs to all the animals on the Triple L and happy weekend to you as well Linda.
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I think the Lord had a message for me today! My daily devotional was about God loving you and blessing you at his will and not if you feel like you deserve it. Guess he wsnts me to know he loves me in spite of me being me! Thanks for passing his message again!
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I think I need to start a gratitude journal too. There hasn’t been too much to be happy about lately for me.
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I got steps for my cockapoo a couple of months before he died. I do everything for my pets, they are my children. Have a great weekend!
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A gratitude journal sounds wonderful. I might start one. Although today would not have found me in a pleasant mood to start. Here on the east coast it was 37 degrees, dark and snowing. I know I live I New England but it still is the end of April.
Yesterday you mentioned the lilacs are out near you, we have the forsythia blooming here. I so love when the flowers start blooming and smell so lovely. My favorite is the wisteria then the lilacs. Hopefully soon.
Diane McCarthy
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Music is a healer to the heart and soul! It lifts our hearts when we hurt. It often takes us back to a certain time and place. No matter how old we get, music never fails to warm the heart! Have a wonderful weekend! Keep hearing the music!
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I love John & June Cash’s music
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Johnny cash was from Arkansas I love and miss them
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I just finished watching something my mom sent to me a love letter from God. Then I read your blog and the end touched me. God does love us warts and all I cannot comprehend the reason for that but I do believe it. I like the fact that you write your gratitude journal. I am not into writing it down but I do a kind of mental one often and remember to be thankful for the little beauties of each day.
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Sometimes we need to remind ourselves to be grateful for what we have. I think I might just start a gratitude journal. I know it is difficult to listen to some music that brings up memories of a loved one who has passed. But it does get easier.
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Yes, those wonderful old pets are great. My 16 year old Pom had to go to the vet today. Looks like trachea bronchitis for him. On meds again for a while. Not sure how much longer I will have him but will love and spoil him while I do.
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I just came inside from push mowing the lawn, my exercise for the day. I was listening to Bob Segar while mowing, sometime I listen to country music depends on the mood. I will be going to visit my sister’s for the weekend for my birthday dinner. You just can’t beat getting to go to your hometown and visit with family and get a big dinner on top of that. I really enjoy going home.
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That you feel as if you don’t deserve something as inspiring as music makes me sad. You bring so much joy to your readers and your family and friends, I’m sure. Linda, YOU ARE WORTHY! Still waiting for the next Charm book.
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Yes, you are blessed with a wonderful talent you share with us!
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I love my Kindle Fire too! I am blessed to be a part of your community.
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THANK YOU LINDA YOUR WORDS ARE SO INSPIRING AND I AM THINKING ABOUT HAVING A GRATEFUL BOOK, I THINK IT IS A GOOD IDEA, NOW A DAYS LIFE GETS U DOWN AND IT IS SO HARD TO THINK ABOUT ALL THE GOOD WE TAKE FOR GRANTED, I am always down cuz I am over weight and have health problems but I need to think that at least I am here every day and have 5 beautiful healthy children, I need to focus on what I do have and not what I don’t, THANK YOU for helping me think about things and make them better, God Bless you and your family always, xoxoxoxxo
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Thank you for sharing your pieces of your life with us. we are all blessed more than we really realize. have a great weekend !!!
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Do you listen to the young country- some of it is heart-breaking. Love Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan.
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Sounds like a great Friday!!! I just put put some frozen mango in the blender with some piña colada mix- I didn’t add my points but it sure taste good. I love u LLM
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Linda, Hapoy Friday to you as well! I was pleased that you mentioned listening to Frank Sinatra today, and that agpfter Johnny & June Cash had passed you couldn’t listen to them for a long time. When my Dad (his favorite singer was Old Blue Eyes) passed in 2005, it took my Mom QUITE A LONG WHILE before she could listen to his songs again, but my younger sister who lived(s) with them found comfort in hearing Frank Sinatra as she felt it was my Dad singing to her (people told him he sang A LOT like him…and looked a lot like him too). Have a great weekend!
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Good to hear about Bernice they are our fur babies. Have a wonderful weekend.
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Linda, I pray you and yours have a good and Godly weekend, along with all your Blogging Buddies.
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I am always telling others that are in a tough place to do a gratitude journal, but do I do it myself….no, I think I need to get it going, what am I waiting for a crisis for.
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i have never heard of a gratitude journal. i use to write in a journal when i was taking a english course at ccac night class. reading your blog it just occured to me that all i ever thought of was sad or bad things. if someone asked me what is going on in my life i would say oh this person is in a bad way or i am having a bad day and not something positive.
thanks for giving me something to think about and i might just start to write in my journal again.
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I also love my Kindle Fire. My daughter set it up for me and now I can do so much more than just read books!
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Thank you for your uplifting entries. I am new to reading your blog and find it is coming to mind throughout the day with positive results. Your “real” life seems touched by grace and your willingness to share your insights go way beyond the standard author/reader relationship. We are fortunate.
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Have a great weekend on the Triple L.
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i have a 5 lb pomeranian and he has the doggy steps too.
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Hi All. Was a beautiful day here in Ohio. The sun was shining but still on the cool side. Will be glad when it gets warm enought to be out in the yard. Mine needs lots of work after the winter we’ve had.
Waiting for the 26th an new book.
Happy Day!
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Have a wonderful crafting weekend!! Enjoy the weather.
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Well Linda, I think you have talked me into that gratitude journal. Hope everyone at Triple L have a great weekend, and all of your dedicated readers.
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Love my kindle Fire too.
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nice journal to have
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Have a BLESSED weekend …..
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Have a wonderful weekend Linda !
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I have doggy steps too. Lol. The Gratitude journal sounds great and I’ve been planning to start my own but I keep procrastinating. Hope everyone has a great weekend.
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I admire that you are committed to writing in your journal morning and evening; good for you. I don’t think I could keep it up for more than a few days.
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Hi Linda, Glad to hear that you are listening to music that you deserve to hear. Yes I love my Kindle Fire that I received for Christmas. Love to read, check my e-mails, play games, catch up on facebook and watch shows. I know. Love technology.
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Thank You! I hope you have a FANTASTIC weekend. You DESERVE it
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Your comments are always good to read in the morning. Gives me something to think about the rest of the day. Have a great weekend.
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You are such a blessing. I need to start up my gratitude journal again.
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Blessing to you and yours.. I am blessed to have so many good things in my life to balance out the bad… Have a good day.
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You always write interesting posts, but this one was the loveliest I have read. You can tell that it was inspired by your heart and was filled with grace. The replies here are a testament to how much you touch others and that is a blessing unto itself. May God’s light shine on you and give you a joy filled weekend.
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I am blessed too and I write in my journal everyday! I thank God everyday for I wasn’t suppose to be here but with a lot of hard work and the suppose from family and friends I’m so glad that we never gave-up! I agree music can hit you in some way everytime I listen to a song from a favorite singer of my mom’s I get teary eye and sometimes can’t listen to Barbara for she was her favorite! I love country music-anyways, have a great weekend!
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I don’t remember who said it, maybe Wm. Shakespeare. “Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast.”
Perhaps the reason I don’t listen to my favorites as often as I’d like is because the raw edge of my emotions doesn’t need to be soothed for me to write the emotions of damaged humans.
I’m grateful for irises. My grandmother’s were dark purple. Mine are–so far pale purple and I have a few yellow ones. I got some in a mixed box at a garage sale. The tops are peeking out brown! I’m so excited to see what color they’ll be.
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YOU are a blessing.