3 day gratitude challenge, in one post

I have been challenged to do a "gratitude challenge" over three days. Well, I 'll be out of town ,and off the grid, so to speak,so I'm doing it all at once.I have spoken so many times about how blessed I am with my family and friends ,so I am going to talk about other blessings. The quality of my life is excellent! * Day one: 1. Waking up in a clean firm bed with air conditioning and indoor plumbing- I have better shelter than the majority of people in the world. 2. Sitting in a comfortable chair eating Lox and bagels with fresh squeezed Orange juice and French roast coffee. I can afford to eat very good food. I know many people are literally starving to death and lack even the accessibility of clean water. I am grateful to have never been poor or truly hungry. 3. How many creature comforts do I need? I have reliable transportation, too many clothes, a plethora of electronic devices, a myriad of books, DVDs and CDs , and comfortable furnishings. I realize that many people have none of the above. * Day two: 1. I am grateful my parents instilled in me a love of worshipping,learning, reading, fine arts and travel. How enriched my life is because of this one factor. 2. I am spiritually, physically and mentally healthy, and so are my husband and son( my daughter- not so much). Many, many people aren't. 3. I live in a great country where I have many freedoms. I sadly understand that in other countries, Christians are persecuted and women are treated horribly. *Day three: 1. I do not experience conditions of war daily. I wake up and don't think about being in danger. I am so grateful for our soldiers , who risk their lives. I am grateful I don't live in a high crime area, let alone a war torn region. I pray for those in harm's way. 2. I am retired with a pension. I can linger over a second cup of coffee, play the cello or piano if I want,take a walk and admire Nature's awesomeness , explore the hobbies I truly love- writing reading,cooking,traveling , visiting friends and family, dining out, volunteering, seeing movies, going to museums. Some people do not know when the next meal will be , or must work two or three jobs. I am not wealthy, but I am very privileged. 3. Above all else, I am certain that I am loved and experience Grace. I am truly blessed to have a personal relationship with Jesus. Yes, I know the world can be a cynical,dark place at times. I have personally survived tragic and despairing events, and I have experienced miracles. People are " skeptical", and I know many " intelligent" individuals who mock my Faith and call it a mythology. Nevertheless, despite occurrences of true sadness, I feel joy and peace in my life.

300th post, and 18,000 views- thanks for following!

This is my 300th post. I have been recently sporadic with blog postings. I guess that is because I've been reading a lot lately- good for the soul, you know. I am editing a couple books currently, and I joined a book club. This has been good for me,. because it gets me out of my "zone" , and I'm reading stories that would not otherwise be on my radar such as: "Me Before You" by Moyes, "Glass Castle" by Wall, " Night Circus", and "Darklight" by Zayn. I recommend highly, Jack Zayn's debut novel. He is a friend of mine and " Darklight" is a well-written fantasy story. When my friends MK and GH get their books published I'll be able to recommend those too. I am thankful to be associated with dedicated writers; I lack their writing discipline, and they motivate me to be a better wordsmith.