What is in your heart?

While the beautiful plate above is empty….my plate is full. It is full of all the blessings that God has so graciously given me, it is full of being busy, and it is full and happy.

I’m busy right now packing and making homemade soup. The packing is for a trip to Louisiana to pet-sit. Yes…to pet-sit my daughter’s 5 pets.
Holly and Richard have a dog and 4 cats. They are so sweet really. See:

I’m pet-sitting while they are on a trip to West Palm Beach Florida, near Miami. I think I’m getting the short end of the stick here….

But I will help out where I’m needed. I will have lots of time *alone* to read, watch movies, sew, go to the awesome thrift store there…and just do nothing…Oh and feed the kitties and doggie, let the dog in and out, scoop poop, play with them and pet them.

The soup making….well it’s because I need to use to fresh veggies in the frig since I will be gone for over a week. So soup it is. There will be enough to tide Jackie over for a little while among other things he can eat while I’m away. To the fresh stuff like onions, bell pepper, carrots, and celery I added a few leftovers. These leftovers are suitable for soup that I freeze when I have a serving or two left from previous meals. I put them in a freezer bag marked “for soup” and there they are, ready for me later. These included chicken, turkey, peas, and rice. I also cooked three Brats that had lost their way and no one was going to eat them anytime soon. I peeled the casing off and browned the tasty meat and added my onions, peppers and celery to that and cooked it a while before adding my other ingredients along with potatoes, mixed vegetables and some jasmine rice. A little crushed basil and some Seven Pepper Seasoning topped it off. And there you have it. The smell is heavenly and the taste is awesome!!! *I had to sample it* A Gumbo of sorts! It will be so good later when Jackie comes in from the bitter cold. Now back to packing and list making so I don’t forget anything.

But before I go I want to leave a word with you….
"Thankfulness depends on what is in your heart, not what is in your hand."
 ~Think about that for a minute.

Most of us have no trouble finding things to complain about: slow traffic, gas is too expensive, bad weather, and high prices. Yet in every single situation, we should also be thankful for the fact that we can: drive, have a car, have a shelter to protect
us from the weather, and have the money to purchase necessary items.
~We are only human and we all complain but more than that we should be very thankful and acknowledge our Maker.

Your circumstances may not be all that great, but wherever you are it is God's will that you give thanks in everything ~1 Thessalonians 5:18. As a Christian, it is possible because no matter what your circumstances are, you can and should always thank God.
~I thank God everyday for what I have because it is just what I need
and He has provided it.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name ~Psalm 100:4.
Thankfulness depends on what is in your heart,
not what is in your hand.
~Such a good thought to remember and consider.

I am thankful for each of you. So until we visit again,
Blessings,

Keeping it real…..

Source: Weekly Wisdom
Pet photos by Holly!